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It was a relaxed, congenial and friendly Bronco Mendenhall who emerged from the football offices on Friday morning to talk to reporters as the Cougars wrapped up their third week of spring camp practices.

Mendenhall delivered a lengthy opening dialogue, too, discussing Thursday's news regarding the SEC and the new football series with Mississippi State.

"Other than that, a lot of players are doing a really nice job in practice," he said after the SEC/Miss State stuff. "I don't think I have given [former QB] Christian Stewart enough credit or attention. I am not sure there's another quarterback in the country, another player, that when their team is down for spring practice, that they would just come out and practice for their team — and the commitment that he has. So I think that's phenomenal.

"I really liked our practice today; probably the strongest practice of the spring," Mendenhall continued. "Maybe it was just moving inside, maybe it was the [high school] coaches being there. Whatever it was, we had a really, really strong practice today, which I was excited about. So a lot of positive things today.

"And then Taysom [Hill] threw the ball really, really, really well today," Mendenhall concluded.

Mendenhall wasn't exaggerating about Hill, at least if the media-viewing portion of practice was any indication. The senior threw three touchdown passes to Mitch Mathews, including a 70-yarder that hit the 6-foot-6 Mathews in stride, and a fourth to Colby Pearson.

Mendenhall said Mathews "maybe is s having the best spring of any receiver that I've coached since I have been at BYU. He's looking really, really strong."

Mendenhall also had high praise for safety Eric Takenaka, a transfer from Snow College who has been learning all three safety positions (free, strong, nickel) in camp.

"A story that I think is worth talking about now, and I wasn't sure at the beginning, is Eric Takenaka, the safety from Snow," Mendenhall said. "I wasn't sure at the beginning, because he was making play after play after play, but he just keeps going. So he is carving out a really nice reputation for himself and has been a real bright spot, and he can catch punts. So that just happens to be icing on the cake."

Mendenhall said Takenaka, who prepped at SLC's West High, is a 4.0 student and "has fantastic social conduct. To be able to come in at three different positions in his first spring, in eight practices, that is crazy. We are trying to find the best combination of guys, and are kind of now starting to work around him. He's going to be one of them, we think, and now, who else?"

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Mendenhall confirmed that LB Harvey Langi is not participating in spring camp due to academic reasons. Fellow ILB Manoa Pikula is sitting out for the same reasons, Bronco said.

Other notes and quotes from practice today's media session:

* Moose Bingham and Chasen Brown, a walk-on from Las Vegas, handled the punting chores today, and were less than spectacular.

"They will be vying, and others will be vying [for the spot vacated by the graduated Scott Arellano]," Mendenhall said. "How about that mystery and intrigue? In fall, there could be one or two others that will be vying."

Mendenhall said senior Trevor Samson is the incumbent for the kicking spot.

"He's good. And we like him, and it will be tough to beat him out. I am much more comfortable currently with place-kicking than I am punting," the coach said.

* Regarding some previous hints that BYU and Ole Miss are working on a football series, Mendenhall said, laughing: "I am not sure. Mystery and intrigue is the theme today."

Mendenhall said he doesn't think BYU had to shuffle its schedule to accommodate the Mississippi State series.

"It becomes a little bit hard to remember," he said. "But I think it started long enough ago and with ESPN's help, I think it just really helped.

And when you see '16's schedule, '15 is a great schedule, but when you see '16 I think I think you will say it is every bit as good or better. So, pretty exciting."

The Cougars will play 37 games against P5 teams in the future, not including the four contracted with otre Dame that might be canceled.

"That's the direction I want to go, and so now besides the approach that Tom [Holmoe] and I are taking of scheduling those teams, to now have the recognition by every major conference that BYU is a P5 team, a P5 caliber team, and wants to schedule, that's great news for everybody."

More comments:

Mendenhall on having the high school coaches there:

"Really positive feedback. It is always fun for me to see our program through the lens of those coming to Provo for the first time, and quite frankly, how impressed they are, which is really fun for me as a coach to hear, but also for our players. And I think it is a great experience for families and coaches to come from other states and see maybe a different culture, and different state, and the beautiful mountains and everything else. So it is really fun.

Mendenhall on the spring scrimmage and how ready they are to put something on the field:

"Oh, there will be something on the field," he said, drawing laughter. "And who knows, it might even include members of the media in some type of challenge. You just never know. It is Friday Night Lights, so don't be thinking just spring scrimmage … so you might want to train, get loose."