Brigham Young University hopes to stay unbeaten against Houston with help from a key position group.
The fourteenth-ranked Cougars came into Friday’s game against Houston with a top-ranked offense led by a Heisman candidate in quarterback Zach Wilson.
However, with all this praise going to the offense as a whole and Zach Wilson, one position group seems forgotten — the wide receivers.
Led by the trio of Gunner Romney, Dax Milne and Neil Pau’u, the pass-catching group looks to prove that this impressive streak by the Cougars isn’t a fluke.
A silent leader by choice, Romney hopes that his offense continues its strong play together.
“Overall, our line has been playing amazing; our running backs are running super hard; our quarterback is getting the ball where it needs to be, and our receivers are making plays. So I think it's just everything's coming together really well right now.”
Where did all this success come from? It started out on the practice field.
After the Cougars lost their talented starting trio of Micah Simon, Aleva Hifo and Talon Shumway, the Cougars needed someone to step up on the practice field, and some caught the challenge.
The Cougars’ trio of Romney, Milne and Pau’u all took the necessary steps to breathe new life into the Cougars’ offense.
Dax Milne has noticed the effect that this off-season training has had on their season.
“Throughout the off-season and fall camp, just extra reps, just throwing by ourselves and just timing, and so, like I said, I’m just glad we’re clicking right now. ”
This chemistry with Zach Wilson led to both Romney and Milne ranking in the Top 10 of receiving yards in the country, with Romney named to the watchlist for the Biletnikoff award, an award given to the best wide receiver in the country.
Neil Pau’u, the third member of this trio, knows that this offensive production isn’t just a coincidence.
“We knew, again, that we had a special team and what we could do. It is cool just to see the recognition that we are getting.”
The Cougars’ passing offense ranks ninth in the country with an average of 342 passing yards per game and eight touchdowns.
The Cougars hope that the explosive offense can continue as the Cougars travel to Houston.
“Cougar Nation” are now hoping that this “special team,” led by this receiving core, continues the explosive offense that Cougar fans have come to enjoy through the first four games.