With three BYU basketball games postponed last week due to an outbreak in COVID-19 cases among opponents, there hasn’t been too much in the way of news. But the BYU football team added to its ranks on Wednesday.
Most notable are the arrivals of two former Pac-12 players, Christopher Brooks and Houston Heimuli, as graduate transfers. Brooks comes from Cal, and Heimuli from Stanford. Both players are coming to BYU as running backs.
“Chris is a talented tailback with a power-running style who has been a leading contributor on the field for Cal,” coach Kalani Sitake said in a news release. “As a former fullback, I have a huge appreciation for the consistent and important contributions Houston has made for his team over his career. Both Chris and Houston are also outstanding students, and we are pleased they have chosen BYU to continue to achieve their on-field and academic goals.”
Brooks, who played his high school ball at El Camino in California, played 40 games for Cal from 2018-2021 and totaled 1,734 yards rushing with 14 touchdowns while adding 50 catches for 345 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Heimuli is the son of former BYU player Lakei Heimuli and played high school football at Bountiful. He played at Stanford from 2017-2021 after serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Getting Brooks and Heimuli could at least on paper alleviate the fact that the team’s top running back, Tyler Allgeier, left the program to declare for the NFL Draft.
In addition to the additions, six incoming players have enrolled at BYU. Those are Kingsley Suamataia, Logan Fano, Brooks Maile, Bruce Mitchell, Isaiah Glasker and Aisea Moa.
Quick hits
• Gunner Romney is coming back to BYU football next year.
• Baylor Romney, though, is moving on.
• Last time the men’s basketball team played, Gideon “Island Boy” George had himself a night.
Other voices
• Will BYU football be better in 2022? Deseret News explores.
• Wide receiver Chris Jackson entered the transfer portal, per KSL Sports.
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