As PK alluded to in a previous blog, there are big changes coming to the afternoon drive on 1320 KFAN.  While we can't tell you who's coming, this secret addition to the KFAN staff has decided to step slightly out of the shadows and post his thoughts on Utah's 24-7 loss to Oregon State....

So until the major announcement is made, here is the KFAN Mystery Host's thoughts on what went wrong in Utah's loss to OSU:

Third Quarter Thoughts;
 - Brian Johnson, out, separated shoulder....Matt Asiata, out, broken leg.  If you would of asked Kyle Whittingham this week, what two guys would you least lke to see get injured, those two may have been your answer. 
 - Sean Smith tones of talent and very athletic.  I liked the decision to move him to corner.  Looks it is paying dividends early.  He's only a sophmore, too. 
 - Tommy Grady looks better in game than he did in camp...so far.  Ute fans hope for that to continue.  As bitter as fans might be seeing Brian Johnson go down, it's nice to see Tommy Grady's patience pay off.  I thought Grady got a raw deal last year in camp.  He, in my humble opinion, was the best signal caller in camp last year.  His reward was to be put into a game in a no win situation, and he failed.  That was the only chance he got to prove himself last season.    I've been hard on him this fall as he looked, at times, like he was just mailing in his senior season.  But if he can seize this oppurtunity given to him with Johnson's injury, that is a good story of perseveriance.  I don't know how long BJ is out, but this could be Grady's last chance to prove the transfer from Oklahoma wasn't a mistake.
 - Second timely penalty to save the Utes bacon.  Better to be lucky than good.
 -  Bernard breaks the 100 yard mark on 54 yard run.  Coach Whitt said they would have to hold him under 100 to give themselves a decent chance to win the game.  Still though neither team has stepped up to take control of the game.
 - Starting to get the sense that the horses up front for OSU are wearing down the Ute front seven.  If this is the case, the 4th quarte is going to get out of hand.
 - Tommy Grady continues not to screw up, but he isn't doing anything to impress either.  3 possesions...9 plays....11 yards...no first downs...no points.  If the Utes are going to win this game, Grady is going to have to make 3 to 4 plays, and Andy Ludwig is going to have to adjust his play calling to highlight Grady's strong points.  If not, it's going to be a long couple of weeks waiting for Brian Johnson to get healthy.
 - Quick toss to Bradon Godfrey...good call by Ludwig.  Easy pass play to give Grady some confidence and rythmn.
 - First impressive stat from the broadcast crew.  Utah 27 rushing attempts, only 26 yards.  This is the stat that Ute fans and coaches dreaded to hear.  A replay of last year, no running game.  No run game, no dominating preformance.  Are you comfortable with the rest of the season to depend on the arm of Tommy Grady, and Brian Johnson when he gets healthy?

Fourth Quarter Thoughts;
 - Now 28 attempts....13 yards on the night rushing.
 - The Utes really need to start wrapping up on tackles.  Bernard, has about 60 yards tonight on yards after contact.
 - Tommy Grady needs to set his feet before he throws.  He is ineffective while rolling out and throwing on the run.
 - I looks like the Utes have officially decided just to get out of Corvalis without someone else getting hurt.  You're down by 17 and you continue to hand the ball off without success, warm up the bus.

Final Thoughts.
 The Utes, believe it or not, got luck tonight.  This game should have been much like other games of the night where one team blows the other off the field.  Oregon State played sloppy and in the first half almost uninspired.  So if you are a Ute fan I guess this is one silver lining on the night.
 The biggest obstacle the Utes are going to need to over come this year has now changed.  It's no longer the tough schedule, or the mid season slump.  But it's now going ot be believing that this team can function without Brian Johnson.  Throughout fall camp, this was billed to be Johnson's team.  He is the emotional and on field leader of this team. 
 Now who is going to step up and take his role on the offensive side of the ball?  Tommy Grady?  I don't think so.  He is going to be too busy just trying to wrap his head around his responsibilies.  Brent Casteel?  Still needs to mature some.  Talented?  Yes, but doesn't seem like a guy who teammates are going to look for for leadership (Please reference his post touchdown celebration).  I'm not sure where the leadership is going to come from.  If you are Kyle Whittingham, this has got to be frightening.  Just look back to last year, who was the leader then as well?

Early Thoughts after two possesions for each team;
 - Brian Johnson looks like he is just a little hesitant, and needs to shake some game rust off.
 - Offensively, Brian Hernandez is goning to have a big year.
 - Defensively, Marteel Burnett may get double digit sacks. 
 - The commentators for FSN NW obviously didn't even look at the Utah media guide or the weekly press release (horrible mispronunciations).
 
Final First Quarter Thoughts;
 - The Utah defense looks par for the Utah course, not great, but solid.
 - Offensively,

First thought of the second quarter;
 - Lyle Moevoa's first snap...Interception.  Brings back memories of Tommy Grady at UCLA 1 year ago.

More...
 - Matt Asiata on his way to the hospital with a injury....Ute fans have got to be a little dissapointed.  He showed promise in the few touches he had.  Will Stowers or Poston be able to fill the void?
 - Finally, Brian Johnson shows the touch on a pass to Casteel that we've seen all fall camp.  Maybe that will be what he needs to get some rythmn going, because thus far he hasn't looked good at all.
 - Oregon State AD talking about the importance of having a TV outlet and how it helps recruiting...interesting...no other comment needed.
 - If the OSU recievers could catch the ball...
 - Brian Johnson out now.  OUCH.
 - Tommy Grady throws two very good balls, but no completions.

Final First Half Thoughts;
 - As expected, both teams looked pedestrian.  First game of the season.  There were some flashes, but nothing fantastic.
 - Two half time questions: Who starts second half as OSU qp?  And, can the Utes overcome two key injuries?

This could go down as quite possibly as the greatest prank in the history of sports....

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Here is BYU's official depth chart for the Arizona game.

No surprises at all on the first team - all these guys have been working with the first team since fall camp began, excpet for freshman nose guard

Eathyn Manumaleuna. who replaced the injured Russell Tialevea. The surprise at that position is converted offensive lineman Rick Wolfley is listed with the second team.

Another surprise is Daniel Tervort is listed as the backup at inside receiver. Tervort , who has never played in a college game, redshirted his first season at Southern Utah and then transferred to BYU.
The sophomore starred at Payson High, where he rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 300 yards in receiving as a senior.

Two oft-injured seniors - linebacker Markell Staffieri and cornerback Kayle Buchanan - are listed as starters. Staffieri, who is John Beck's brother-in-law, was hampered by a hamstring injury most of last season. Buchanan has battled an assortment of injuries throughout his college career.

Both players need to prove they can handle the rigors of a long season.

One point of interest is to see who actually starts at tight end. Andrew George, Vic So'oto and Dennis Pitta are all listed together.

All three will play, but one of them needs to establish himself as a playmaker. In BYU's offense, especially given Max Hall's inexperience, the tight end will play a critical role in catching passes.

My guess is that Pitta will be BYU's next sensational tight end. With the offense expected to run the ball more this season, especially early in the season, the tight end needs to block more than usual.

The scariest part of BYU's depth chart is on special teams. Kicker Mitch Payne, who has never played in college, didn't have a particularly strong fall camp.

Who knows how he'll do when the pressure is on.

OFFENSE
 
POS No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Exp.  Hometown/Last School   
XR 3 Michael Reed 6-1 202 Jr. 2L Baytown, TX / Robert E. Lee HS   
-or- 10 Matt Allen 6-0 177 Sr. 3L Peoria, AZ / Cactus HS 
 
HR 2 Bryce Mahuika 5-9 185 Jr. 2L Vancouver, WA / Evergreen HS   
 86 Daniel Tervort 5-11 200 So. Sq. Payson, UT / Southern Utah   
-or- 20 Reed White 5-11 190 Jr. TR Gilbert, AZ / Arizona State 
 
ZR 10 Matt Allen 6-0 177 Sr. 3L Peoria, AZ / Cactus HS   
-or- 9 Austin Collie 6-2 212 So. 1L El Dorado Hills, CA / Oak Ridge HS 
 
TE 88 Andrew George 6-5 240 So.  1L Englewood, CO / Cheery Creek HS   
-or- 37 Vic So’oto 6-3 233 So. 1L Carlsbad, CA / Carlsbad HS   
-or- 32 Dennis Pitta 6-5 230 So.  1L Moorpark, CA / Moorpark HS 
 
LT 65 Dallas Reynolds 6-5 328 Jr. 2L Provo, UT / Timpview HS   
-or- 64 RJ Willing 6-5 300 So. 1L Kahuku, HI / Kamehameha HS 
 
LG 76 Ray Feinga 6-5 322 Jr. 2L West Valley City, UT / Hunter HS   
 75 Walter Kahaialii 6-3 320 Fr. RS Lahaina, HI / Kamehameha-Maui HS 
 
C 67 Sete Aulai 6-1 297 Sr. 1L Carson, CA / El Camino JC   
 53 Tom Sorensen 6-5 315 So. RS Salt Lake City, UT / Vanderbilt 
 
RG 74 Travis Bright 6-5 320 Jr. 2L Queen Creek, AZ / Highland HS   
 73 Jason Speredon 6-5 275 Fr. RS West Valley City, UT / Granger HS 
 
RT 68 David Oswald 6-8 325 Jr. 1L Sandy, UT / Brighton HS   
 66 Garrett Reden ‘6-3 290 Fr. RS Valley Center, CA / Valley Center HS   
-or- 64 RJ Willing 6-5 300 So. 1L Kahuku, HI / Kamehameha HS 
 
QB 15 Max Hall 6-1 200 So. TR Mesa, AZ / Arizona State   
 6 Brenden Gaskins 6-5 220 So. TR Farmington, NM / Glendale CC 
 
RB 27 Joe Semanoff 5-11 220 Sr. 2L Lehighton, PA / Lehighton HS   
          
HB 45 Harvey Unga 6-0 221 Fr. RS Provo, UT / Timpview HS   
-or- 1 Fui Vakapuna 6-1 234 Jr. 2L Glendale, UT / East HS 
DEFENSE
 
POS No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Exp.  Hometown/Last School   
LE 77 Ian Dulan  6-1 270 So. 1L Hila, HI / Kamehameha-Hawaii HS   
 92 Brett Denney 6-4 251 So. 1L Thornton, CO / Legacy HS   
          
NT 62 Eathyn Manumaleuna 6-2 280 Fr. HS Anchorage, AK / Timpview HS   
 71 Rick Wolfley 6-3 326 Fr. RS Afton, WY / Star Valley HS   
-or- 90 Mosese Foketi 6-0 270 Jr. RS Oakland, CA / Laney CC   
          
RE 84 Jan Jorgensen 6-3 260 So. 1L Helper, UT / Carbon HS   
 91 Judd Anderton 6-5 270 Sr. 3L Tacoma, WA / Curtis HS   
          
SLB 41 Bryan Kehl 6-3 231 Sr. 3L Salt Lake City, UT / Brighton HS   
 39 Grant Nelson 6-2 225 Fr. RS Hopewell, PA / Hopewell HS   
-or- 48 Austen Jorgensen 6-3 230 Fr. HS Mt. Pleasant, UT / North Sanpete HS   
          
MLB 46 Kelly Poppinga 6-2 240 Sr. 1L Evanston, WY / Utah State Univ.   
 35 Matt Bauman 6-1 225 So. 1L Salt Lake City, UT / Skyline HS   
          
BLB 36 Markell Staffieri 6-3 232 Sr. 3L Del Mar, CA / Torrey Pines HS   
 42 Shawn Doman 6-2 219 So. 1L Woodburn, OR / Canby HS   
          
WLB 43 David Nixon 6-3 223 Jr. 2L College Station, TX / A&M Consolidated   
 31 Chris Bolden 6-0 248 Sr. 2L Hephzibah, GA / Riverside CC   
          
FC 34 Kayle Buchanan 6-1 201 Sr. 3L San Jose, CA / Santa Clara HS   
 4 Brandon Howard 5-9 170 So. 1L Riverside, CA / LaSierra HS   
          
BC 21 Ben Criddle 6-0 185 Sr. 1L Glendale, AZ / Glendale CC   
 19 Andre Saulsberry 5-10 178 Sr. 1L Long Beach, CA / Riverside CC   
          
KAT 14 Corby Hodgkiss 5-11 206 Sr. 2L Irving, TX / Irving HS   
 18 Aaron Attig 6-2 204 So. Sq. Logandale, NV / Moapa Valley HS   
          
FS 25 Quinn Gooch 6-0 196 Sr. 3L Tucson, AZ / Sabino HS   
 16 Kellen Fowler 6-0 195 Jr. 2L Kaysville, UT / Davis HS 
SPECIAL TEAMS
 
POS No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Exp.  Hometown/Last School   
K 38 Mitch Payne 6-2 201 Fr. RS North Ogden, UT / Weber HS   
          
P 26 CJ Santiago 6-2 215 Jr. TR Honolulu, HI / Orange Coast CC   
 24 Brian Smith 6-3 165 Fr. HS Orem, UT / Orem HS   
          
DS 56 Chris Muehlmann 6-0 205 Jr. HS American Fork, UT / American Fork HS   
 59 John Pace 6-2 210 Fr. RS Yorba Linda, CA / Espinosa HS 
 
KR 2 Bryce Mahuika 5-9 185 Jr. 2L Vancouver, WA / Evergreen HS   
 9 Austin Collie 6-2 212 So. 1L El Dorado Hills, CA / Oak Ridge HS 
 
PR 2 Bryce Mahuika 5-9 185 Jr. 2L Vancouver, WA / Evergreen HS   
 9 Austin Collie 6-2 212 So. 1L El Dorado Hills, CA / Oak Ridge HS 

Just one week away from kicking off his season against UNLV, Aggie Head Coach Brent Guy joined DJ and PK to talk about the upcoming season for USU.  Listen to it here.

BYU's final scrimmage of fall camp was a crack up, with players on both sides of the ball hooting and hollering during a goal-line drill Wednesday.

As the drill was about to begin, the offensive players started yelling. Their counterparts on defense followed suit.

All in all, it made for a spirited conclusion to fall camp. Taking a day off from practice, BYU will being preparing for Arizona on Friday.

"Every thing I would have hoped to accomplish at this point as camp closes, I feel like we're on track," said coach Bronco Mendenhall. "I'm optimistic."

Getting the ball on the 3-yard line, the offense scored two touchdowns in five plays in an all-or-nothing fourth-down situation. After each play, depending on the outcome, one set of players went crazy.

On the first play, defensive end Brett Denney recovered a Manase Tonga fumble. Max Hall hit tight end Andrew George for a touchdown across the middle on the second play.

Linebacker Bryan Kehl tackled Fui Vakapuna short of the goal line on Play No. 3. On the next play Hall threw a touchdown to Austin Collie, who chucked the ball with his left hand off the fence that runs along the east side of the practice field.

Wayne Latu did not score on the last play. And with that, fall camp closed.

"I wish it was over two days ago," Mendenhall said. "The team has hit each other enough, the coaches have coached against each other enough, and I've been in the middle of it long enough.
"The team came in ready to compete and play, and if they hadn't come in like that maybe I would feel differently. But really it's managing the intensity for the last four or five practices that has been very difficult."

There's one other benefit to fall camp's conclusion - for the first time in three weeks, Mendnehall gets to see his family. As they do every year, Holly Mendenhall and their sons head out of town during the first three weeks of practice.

Mendenhall's parents will pick up his family tonight and they'll reunite around 8:30 p.m.

"The rest is private," he said, drawing a laugh from reporters.

Don't ever mistake Mendenhall for LaVell Edwards, who could work a room like a professional comic. But once you get to know him, Mendenhall has a sense of humor.

Just be prepared to dig a while.

With two-a-days coming to an end, Patrick Kinahan had a chance to sit down with BYU starting qb Max Hall to get his thoughts on the upcoming season.  Listen to it here!

After two weeks of BYU’s practice, it’s become clear that Harvey Unga has positioned himself to play a major role in the offense.

The redshirt freshman running back shined during the 50-play scrimmage Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium.   His 27-yard touchdown run down the left side was the highlight of the scrimmage.

 Listed at 221 pounds, Unga has the best combination of size and speed of all the running backs. My prediction is by the end of the season he will be the featured running back, taking nothing away from Fui Vakapuna (who sat out the scrimmage) and Manase Tonga.

 Check out my interview with Unga that should be on our website Monday.

 Coach Bronco Mendenhall used the scrimmage to iron out the depth chart. With several starters sitting out, including linebackers Bryan Kehl and David Nixon, the reserves saw plenty of action.

 Quarterback Max Hall led the offense to three scores, including Unga’s touchdown run and two field goals by Brian Smith. First-team kicker Mitch Payne sat out the scrimmage.

Hall continues to look good at finding the running backs on short passes. His best pass was a 31-yard completion to Matt Allen, who made a diving reception.

Quarterback Branden Gaskins ran the second-team offense. He is still recovering from a finger injury suffered during the first week.

On the injury front, receiver Austin Collie sat out with a hip injury. He left the field with his hip wrapped in ice.

Linebacker Austen Jorgensen suffered what could be a serious injury to his chest or shoulder. He lay on the field for several minutes and then was taken to the sideline, where the team doctor attended to him.

Defensive lineman Judd Anderton suffered an ankle injury early in the scrimmage and didn’t return.

Mendenhall said he liked freshman G Pittman as a kick returner. Pittman joined Bryce Mahuika as the two returners.

After practice, players and coaches gathered at midfield to give a signed “Y” flag to a family that is coping with major health issues. Tight end Vic So’oto arranged for the family to meet the players, who joined together to sing the BYU fight song.

John Beck lead the Dolphins to a preseason win over Kansas City

News and notes from BYU's practice Tuesday:

Max Hall had one of his worst days during fall camp, although not all of it was his fault. Only the first possession of the controlled scrimmage, Mike Reed and Daniel Tervort dropped catchable passes
Kellen Fowler and Blake Morgan each had interceptions.

Conversely, after a poor showing during Saturday's scrimmage at LaVell Edwards Stadium, the defense looked sharp.

"It wasn't a matter of intensity, it was a matter of execution," said coach Bronco Mendenhall.
Dustin Gabriel, who is scheduled to have season-ending foot surgery, was at practice in uniform (BYU practiced in shoulder pads and shorts). The senior safety, who will appeal to the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility, will participate in team functions.

Mendenhall has been pleased new starter David Tafuna and primary reserve Corby Hodgkiss.

"David is gaining confidence in his assignments daily," Mendenhall said. "He already had a solid understanding."

Converted offensive lineman Garrett Reden continued to work with the defensive line. He moved over after Russell Tialavea suffered a season-ending knee injury in Saturday's scrimmage. Mendenhall said Reden's status will be re-evaluated after Wednesday's practice. If necessary, another offensive lineman could move to defense.

"He's the sixth offensive lineman right now, so his role will have to be substantial in terms of game play for us to keep him there (on defense),' Mendenhall said. "He's done a great job."

J.J. DiLuigi is headed for football surgery and likely will redshirt. The first-year freshman running back re-injured his foot last week. Running backs coach Lance Reynolds said DiLuigi's injury affects BYU's depth in the backfield. Because Manase Tonga will serve a one-game suspension in the opener against Arizona, BYU's running backs will be Fui Vakapuna, Harvey Unga and Joe Semanoff.

The complete interview with Reynolds will be available Wednesday on the website.