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Provo • For the first time since Dec. 30, 1991, when he guided BYU to a 13-13 tie against Iowa in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego, Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer will work the sidelines as a member of the Cougar football team on Saturday against Arizona.

That's right — the sidelines.

Detmer will be on the field — and not in the press box — in his role as offensive coordinator for BYU this season. He said he made that decision in conjunction with head coach Kalani Sitake, who prefers coordinators be close by during games.

"I have never been in a box, so I don't know what it is like up there," Detmer said Wednesday. "I like to be able to communicate between plays, right there on the sideline, instead of having to get on a phone and do all those things. I feel comfortable down there, and we figured that was the best place for me to be."

Tight ends coach Steve Clark, a former offensive coordinator at Weber State (2014-16) and Southern Utah (2008-13) will be in the press box with graduate assistants JD Falslev and Harvey Unga. Running backs coach Reno Mahe and offensive line coach Mike Empey will be on the field.

Detmer, whose only experience in coaching was at St. Andrew's Episcopal School, small, private high school in Austin, Texas, said he's ready to make his BYU coaching debut at University of Phoenix Stadium (8:30 p.m. MDT, Fox Sports 1).

"It is different, being a coach, rather than a player," he said. "Coach, you kind of call it and hope. As a player, you get to do something about it, so a little more anxiety as a coach, just making sure we are ready and everything goes smoothly with substitutions and all those things."

Captain Williams

Talking to reporters for the first time since he was named a team captain on Monday, running back Jamaal Williams said he is grateful for the honor.

"My first time being a captain, and it is my senior year, and it means a lot to me to have all my teammates … love me and select me," he said. "I am grateful for them, and I am going to try to be the best leader I can be for them."

Although he wasn't on the team last season, Williams said he still kept in touch with phone calls and text messages. "They knew I was with them, even when I wasn't here," he said. "It just shows the loyalty they have to me and that we are together and we are brothers forever."

Tight end update

Although sophomores Tanner Balderree and Hunter Marshall are listed as co-starting tight ends on the depth chart, Detmer said Wednesday that Marshall, a transfer from Snow College who originally signed with Georgia Tech, has emerged as the starter.

"Tanner Balderree is going to be playing a lot, so those guys will mix in there," Detmer said. "And then [freshman] Alema Pilimai is a young guy who needs some time, but he is athletic and we may see him in there, and Nate Sampson as well."

Detmer confirmed that sophomore tight end Solomone Wolfgramm, the former BYU-Hawaii basketball player, has moved across the ball to defensive end.

Briefly

Empey said 12 offensive linemen will make the trip to Arizona — the 11 who are on the depth chart and freshman Chandon Herring, who is expected to redshirt this year. Herring is traveling because he is from nearby Gilbert, Ariz. As an independent, BYU is not limited on how many players it takes on trips. … Empey said 2016 starter Tuni Kanuch slipped behind senior Parker Dawe for the starting right guard spot because the junior missed nearly a week of practice due to the passing of his grandmother. —

BYU at Arizona

P Saturday, 8:30 p.m.

At University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.

TV • Fox Sports 1