BYU football: Setting the table

Now that Mountain West media days are over, the focus turns to fall camps, which open in 10 days for the Cougars and Utes. With the college football season officially upon us, the Deseret Morning News takes a quick look at BYU and Utah as the teams prepare to open practice.

BYU COUGARS

2006 FINISH: 11-2, 8-0 (1st)

PREDICTED 2007 FINISH: 2nd

FALL CAMP BEGINS: Aug. 4

SEASON BEGINS: Sept. 1 vs. Arizona

STARTERS RETURNING: 13 (6 offense, 7 defense)

STARTERS LOST: 9 (5 offense, 4 defense)

WHAT WE LEARNED FROM MWC MEDIA DAYS: BYU is hopeful that injured players Ben Criddle, Brandon Bradley and Fui Vakapuna will be ready for the opener. Vakapuna's extra weight may set him on a special program designed to get him ready by the end of August, putting him behind during two-a-days. Deep snapper duties will go to John Pace and Chris Muehlmann.

KEY OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: Running backs Manase Tonga and Vakapuna should provide solidarity in the backfield, and receivers Matt Allen, Michael Reed and returned missionary Austin Collie are veteran targets for new QB Max Hall. The strength of the offense could be up front, where the Cougars return their best offensive line since 2001 with Dallas Reynolds, Ray Feinga, Sete Aulai and Travis Bright.

KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS: The 3-4 formation will be led by linebackers Bryan Kehl, Kelly Poppinga and David Nixon while the front returns starters Jan Jorgensen and Ian Dulan. Quinn Gooch, a signal-calling safety, and corner Criddle are expected to play big roles in the secondary.

TOP NEWCOMERS: Collie returns from mission service, and running back J.J. Di Luigi, star of Canyon High's California Bowl championship team, could see playing time, as could DBs G Pittman, Steve Thomas, Gary Nagy and offensive lineman Matt Reynolds, who enrolled after serving an LDS mission. QB Jason Munns will fight for a spot on the depth chart.

BEST-CASE SCENARIO FOR 2007: The Cougars can repeat as champions if they get on a roll after playing Pac-10 opponents Arizona and UCLA with league challengers TCU and Utah having to make the trip to Provo, where the Cougars were the most dominant home team in the country a year ago. Another MWC title and a 10-2 mark is optimistic.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO FOR 2007: The Cougars could start slow with losses to Arizona and UCLA, and any setback in league play, with road games at Wyoming, San Diego State, New Mexico and UNLV, could end hopes of defending the league crown — or set the Cougars up for a shared championship. Going worse than 8-4 — with no title — would be a slip for Bronco Mendenhall in his third season.