The BYU Cougars will need to replace some key starters on both sides of the ball as they take on another difficult schedule in 2017.
Following the unexpected departure of longtime head coach Bronco Mendenhall, the first year of the Kalani Sitake era was certainly eventful for the BYU Cougars.
BYU closed the season on a five-game winning streak to finish at 9-4 for its sixth straight campaign of at least eight victories and 12th straight bowl appearance. Two of those wins came on field goals at the final buzzer in addition to a double-overtime triumph over Mississippi State, while the Cougars’ four losses came by a combined eight points.
Once again, eights or nine wins and another bowl berth will be the minimum expectation for one of the most consistent programs in the nation The Cougars are expected to start up to 15 upperclassmen alongside a number of talented sophomores looking to build on strong debuts.
Even with longtime starter Taysom Hill gone, the quarterback position is in good hands under Tanner Mangum, and the defensive back seven should lead another strong unit. Still, the Cougars have plenty of questions to answer at the skill positions and will need some unproven pass rushers to produce in order to reach the double-digit win plateau.
As always, BYU will take on one of the more difficult schedules in the country. Following the opener against Portland State, the Cougars will face the brutal stretch of LSU, Utah and Wisconsin, with later games like Boise State and Mississippi State also set to provide a challenge.
Here’s a look at BYU’s projected depth chart for 2017, via ourlads.com.