- How The Grinch Stole the Rivalry
- 9-Line Prediction: BYU v. UMass
- 9-Line Prediction: BYU v. UNLV
- 9-Line Prediction: BYU v. Fresno St.
- 9-Line Prediction: BYU v. SJSU
- 9-Line Prediction: BYU v. ECU
- 9-Line Prediction: BYU v. Mississippi State
- 9-Line Prediction: BYU v. Boise State
- 9-Line Prediction: BYU at Utah State
- 9-Line Prediction: BYU v. Wisconsin
- How BYU’s offense & defense have stacked up since 2005
- 9-Line Prediction: BYU v. Utah
- 9-Line Prediction: BYU v. LSU
- 9-Line Prediction: BYU v. Portland State
- By the Numbers: 2017 Season Preview
Opponent Notebook: 10 BSU Players to Watch
- Updated: September 10, 2015
7. Jake Roh, Tight End, #88
BSU Athletics
Sophomore Jake Roh (6’3″/229-lbs) is the receiving tight end that the BYU offense has been missing for the past five years. In 2014, he earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors for a season in which he caught 35 passes for 408 yards and 2 touchdowns. In Week 1 against Washington, Roh brought down 3 catches for 23 yards. BYU’s linebackers will certainly need to keep an eye on him this week.
6. Donte Deayon, Cornerback, #5
BSU Athletics
A high-school teammate and good friend of BYU’s Jamaal Williams, this 5’9″/155-pound senior may be small, but Deayon is one heck of a cornerback. In 2014, Deayon earned 2nd-team All-MWC, recording 46 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 9 pass breakups, 15 passes defended, 1 forced fumble, 6 interceptions (including one returned for a TD), and 9 punt returns for 92 yards and a touchdown. Against Washington last week, Donte registered three tackles including one for a loss. At first glance, you would think that BYU’s tall receivers should be able to get some good separation over Deayon, but his closing speed and vertical should at least make things interesting for the Cougars.
5. Jeremy McNichols, Running Back, #13
BSU Athletics
The primary back tasked with replacing Ajayi’s 1800+ yards and 347 carries from 2014, the sophomore McNichols (5’9″/205-lbs) had only 17 rush attempts for 159 yards and a touchdown in 2014. McNichols added 15 receptions for 155 yards and another touchdown, along with his 19 returns for 393 yards as the Broncos’ primary kick returner. McNichols enters 2015 as the primary running back and kick returner. Against the Huskies, he carried the ball 24 times for 89 yards and 2 touchdowns and added a 21-yard kick return. Though Boise State will likely employ a “running back by committee approach” once again in Provo, expect McNichols to carry the bulk of the rushing load. Jeremy will likely get about half of the rush attempts with the QB Finley and the other two RBs Young and Demas splitting the remaining half.
4. Darian Thompson, Safety, #4
BSU Athletics
This 6’2″, 212-lb senior is a daunting presence in the middle of the secondary. In 2014, Thompson recorded 71 tackles (2nd on team), 5 tackles for loss, 7 interception (returned 1 for a TD), and 8 passes defended earning him 1st Team All-MWC honors. Against Washington, Thompson tallied four tackles and an interception. BYU QB Tanner Mangum will want to take an extra split second to account for Thompson before throwing anything across the middle.
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