This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Provo • At last year's BYU football media day, the focus was on the health of the Cougars' two offensive stars, seniors Taysom Hill and Jamaal Williams.

Little did anyone know last June that Williams would withdraw from school about a month later for a variety of reasons, and Hill would be healthy until the second quarter of the first game and miss the remaining 12 contests.

The focus of this year's sixth annual get together, which begins Thursday at the BYU Broadcast Building with a 9 a.m. "State of the Program" discussion featuring BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe and new coach Kalani Sitake, will largely be on the rookie head coach and a new staff that includes one holdover from the Bronco Mendenhall era — defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi.

But Hill and Williams will also be featured, as both playmakers return for their final seasons of eligibility, Hill having been granted a medical hardship and Williams back in school since January.

Of course, Thursday's questions for Hill will not only center on the Lisfranc foot injury he suffered against Nebraska, but also on his pending battle for the starting quarterback position with sophomore Tanner Mangum.

New offensive coordinator Ty Detmer, the former Heisman Trophy winner who was brought in by Sitake last December, has repeatedly said it is an open competition and will largely depend on whether Hill has completely recovered.

As for Sitake, he said all through spring camp in March and April that he looks forward to having both accomplished quarterbacks in the fold and under the tutelage of Detmer.

"It is awesome," Sitake said in an interview in mid-April. "Taysom and Tanner being in the same room with Ty, it is beautiful. It is a great thing to watch, seeing how they communicate and seeing Ty connect with them. They are able to relate with him because he played the position. And having a quarterbacks coach who also controls the offense is going to be a huge benefit to them."

Sitake is also expected to update the status of junior center Tejan Koroma, the former freshman All-American offensive lineman who withdrew from school and was suspended from the team for some legal missteps in January. Koroma has been working out on his own with former BYU linebacker Jordan Pendleton.

Sitake has used the months between spring camp and media day to make dozens of public appearances, mingling with BYU fans and holding faith-based meetings called firesides from Hawaii to Washington, D.C., and several points in between. He has also widened BYU's recruiting net, making far more scholarship offers at this juncture of the process than Mendenhall's staff ever did.

"We are seeing every [local] school that we can," Sitake said in April. "Local kids are the most important thing for us. But we also live by what we say. We will sign the most [locals]. So blitzing it and advertising it sound great and all, but you have to sign them."

As usual, it is the earliest media day in the country for the 2016 season, a BYU tradition since it went independent in football in 2011.

No major announcements are expected after an offseason filled with them, unlike previous gatherings when BYU announced a contract extension for Mendenhall in 2013 or new bowl agreements in 2012. The Cougars will play in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego after the 2016 season if they are bowl eligible.

Twitter: @drewjay —

BYU football media day

Where • BYU Broadcasting Building, Provo.

When • Thursday, 9 a.m. (closed to public).

What • Interviews begin shortly after the "State of the Program" discussion with athletic director Tom Holmoe and new head coach Kalani Sitake.

Who • Offensive coordinator Ty Detmer, defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki and other assistant coaches and players will be available.

Also • BYU's 1996 Cotton Bowl team will be featured in a live television show (BYUtv) at 2 p.m.