PROVO — Today's climax of BYU spring football in LaVell Edwards Stadium will feature a lot of new faces, including quarterbacks many Cougar fans have never seen play.

Max Hall and Cade Cooper, the two leading candidates to replace John Beck, will take turns running the No. 1 offense against the No. 1 defense. Neither has played in a Division I football game.

The game will not be split into two different squads, as has been done in the past. As many as 30 players could be on the sidelines due to injuries sustained in 2006, or during spring drills, or because coaches believe they don't need to prove anything, according to head coach Bronco Mendenhall.

The Blue-White game will kick off at 1 p.m. and follows a Legends Game that features former BYU players set to clash at 12:30 p.m. A free youth clinic is planned at the stadium at 11:30 a.m.

The Blue-White game, a tradition for the past 40 years, will not exactly be a game, warned the coach.

"It will be a scrimmage, similar to what we've done in practice this past week," said Mendenhall. "We're anxious to have our players out in the stadium, anxious to be in front of our fans, and we're looking forward to a day of football."

Aside from Hall and Cooper, quarterbacks Brenden Gaskins, Sam Doman and Parker Magnum could get some reps. Veteran running back Manase Tonga will not play, neither will Fui Vakapuna and Harvey Unga, who has been limited to non-contact drills. In their places, Ray Hudson — who is nursing a groin-muscle pull — and Wayne Latu will join Zed Mendenhall and Issac Taylor in the back field.

"A lot of players who haven't been given much playing time will be out there," said Mendenhall.

Like Unga, recently returned missionary Austin Collie has been held out of contact but might make an appearance in the game at receiver. Another missionary, Dennis Pitta, is expected to be a key player today in the absence of suspended tight end Vic So'oto.

With the suspension of backup middle linebacker Terrance Hooks and an injury to another middle linebacker, Shawn Doman, it will be tricky for Mendenhall's defense. They are already missing starting outside linebacker David Nixon and may choose to give the other outside linebacker, Bryan Kehl, only limited exposure today.

Also defensively, both cornerback spots have been slippery due to injuries, graduation of starting field corner Justin Robinson and a foot injury to the other starter, returning field corner Ben Criddle. A number of players could shuffle in and out at the corner position, which is the only spot left open until recruits arrive in August and challenge for playing time.

One of the most consistent positions in spring drills has been three starting defensive linemen, who have taken all the snaps with the first team. These include defensive ends Ian Dulan and Jan Jorgensen and nose tackle Russell Tialavea.

BYU game activities

11:30 a.m.: Free football clinic, LaVell Edwards Stadium

12:30 p.m.: Legends Football Game, Edwards Stadium

1 p.m.: Blue and White Football Game, Edwards Stadium

---

E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com