This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • It has been well-documented in these parts that No. 18 BYU (4-0) is one of the most penalized college football teams in the country in 2014.
What's amazing is that only two of the 44 penalties BYU has committed this season have been false starts, and neither of the two was against an offensive lineman. A receiver had a false start at Texas and a running back had one against Virginia.
"Probably just a lot of repetition, confidence, and playing in the system for awhile," said starting right tackle De'Ondre Wesley.
Continuity has also played a role; Wesley, right guard Brock Stringham, center Tejan Koroma, left guard Kyle Johnson and left tackle Ului Lapuaho have started all four games. Injuries have kept other expected contributors such as Ryker Mathews and Brayden Kearsley off the field for long stretches, but offensive coordinator Robert Anae said those two are good to go for Friday's 8:15 p.m. MDT battle with Utah State.
"I believe we have made tremendous strides with our O-line," Anae said. "And that's just one of the groups of the offense [playing well]. I think you can tell how well your groups are playing [because of] the productivity that they are showing. We have played some really good opponents to start off with, but I do believe our best football is still to come."
Last year, BYU committed 23 false starts. In 2012, that number was 24.
Offensive line coach Garett Tujague said discipline, focus in practice and holding players accountable for mistakes has done the trick.
"We don't like to talk about the false starts. It is like taboo, but guys are doing a lot better job with that, and being focused," Tujague said, noting that holding penalties aren't occurring as frequently, either. "Not holding and not getting called for it is a matter of having your hands in the right place and being more disciplined that way. So it has been a huge help for us."
No redshirt for Kurtz
Because he's got three years to play two, junior college transfer receiver Nick Kurtz was a candidate to redshirt this season after suffering a stress fracture in his foot in preseason camp. But Kurtz has been practicing this week, and is expecting to make his long-awaited BYU debut against the Aggies.
Obviously, that means he won't redshirt, despite missing one-third of the season. UTEP transfer Jordan Leslie, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the 41-33 win over Virginia, is also expected to play Friday.
"Both kids practiced today, and they did a really good job," Anae said. "So we are really looking forward to the return of all of those guys."
Running back Algie Brown (ankle), linebacker Bronson Kaufusi (ankle) and the aforementioned offensive linemen (Mathews and Kearsley) were also called "questionable" by coach Bronco Mendenhall on Monday, but are expected to play.
Rivalry talk
In the week leading up to the annual battle for the Old Wagon Wheel, BYU players are constantly asked whether they consider Utah State a rival. It is a rite of Fall. Here's Wesley's response:
"Yeah. I didn't get to play against them last year, but they are definitely a rival. They talk a lot. You can't let that just go. So we consider them a rival more than anything."
Twitter: @drewjay —
Utah State at No. 18 BYU
P Friday, 8:15 p.m.
TV • ESPN