BYU football notebook: Cougars eyeing first full scrimmage

"We certainly talked about it and I gave him my impressions. But it's not only where coach Doman needs to be, but we looked at the entire staff and looked at the strengths and where they match best. Looking at the entirety, we thought coach Doman on the field … was the right thing to do."

ANOTHER MANASE?: Sophomore fullback Iona Pritchard, who recently returned home from a mission, has been impressive during fall camp. Pritchard played linebacker as a freshman in 2008 before being switched to fullback.

Mendenhall paid Pritchard quite a compliment, comparing him to former BYU fullback Manase Tonga.

"I rarely like to compare (players), but the best analogy would be like Manase (Tonga)," he said. "He's going to be able to catch the ball well, block well and he can run it adequately as well. Really, really a nice addition. He's beyond what I thought he might be capable of this early. He's been one of the surprises to talk about."

email: jeffc@desnews.com