BYU football: Jake Heaps still Cougars' starting QB

PROVO — During last year's spring drills, Riley Nelson and high school All-America Jake Heaps were vying to become BYU's new starting quarterback.

The two battled during spring ball and fall camp before the Cougar coaching staff named Nelson the starter. Both QBs took snaps until Nelson went down with a season-ending shoulder injury and Heaps became the starter the rest of the way.

After experiencing growing pains, Heaps finished the season with a flourish, putting up impressive numbers and leading the Cougars to five wins in their final six games.

Spring practice opens today, and coach Bronco Mendenhall told the Deseret News that Heaps remains entrenched as the starter.

"That's where he finished last season," he said. "The way he progressed and the way our team performed under his leadership through the season is something that he's earned the rightful chance to begin the spring as our quarterback."

But Nelson, who is healthy and ready to participate in spring ball, will have a chance to compete for the job.

"Riley's recovered really well. He's exhibited the same type of leadership which I chose to recognize when I named him the starter going into last season," Mendenhall said. "He's back 100 percent in terms of how he's working out, how he's leading and how he's training and adding chemistry to this team. He's had a very good off-season. We're not allowed to have footballs out there prior to spring, so I haven't seen him throw a pass. That will be fun to have a chance to see exactly where he is now in terms of mechanics and decision-making.

"Riley, and our other quarterbacks, will have to beat Jake out now to become the starter," Mendenhall continued. "Spring is a great chance for competition. We have a number of quarterbacks that would like that spot, but Jake will begin the spring as the starter. His intent is to continue to grow and mature and perform at an even higher level than he did in the fall."

As a true freshman, Heaps started 10 games, completed 219-of-383 passes for 2,316 yards, nine interceptions and 15 touchdowns.

With new offensive coordinator Brandon Doman at the helm, how different will the Cougar offense be?

"I think it will be different, but not to the point where the fans will watch and say, 'That doesn't resemble anything like we've seen before,'" Mendenhall said. "It will be simply preserving the core of what we've done at the highest level over six years and then stimulating some progress around the outside of it that could possibly complement what we already do well.