BYU football: Bronco Mendenhall looking to see leaders emerge

PROVO — Fresh off an 11-2 season and facing the prospect of having to replace a bevy of experienced players at a variety of key positions, BYU head football coach Bronco Mendenhall is looking forward to the new challenge.

The Cougars began their off-season conditioning this week.

"This is one of my favorite times of the year. I love practice, I love the off-season, because I think that's where you shape young men," Mendenhall said Thursday during an informal interview with local reporters.

"You have a chance to really see who they are, push them to unique limits without so much exposure and outside interest. Now when you're talking about seeing young men that are fighting, or wanting, to be the leader of a program to see what they're willing to do, it's an occasion to rise to."

Of course, the most high-profile void is at quarterback, where BYU must find a replacement for three-year starter Max Hall, the winningest QB in school history.

Sophomore Riley Nelson, true freshman Jake Heaps (the top-rated high school quarterback in 2009, according to Scout.com), and recently returned missionary James Lark will battle when spring practices open on March 15. Later, after the completion of his mission, another highly touted QB, Jason Munns, will join the program.

"You're talking about four exceptional young men," said Mendenhall. "To anticipate how that's going to play out, it'll be fun. The difficult part will be making a decision. But I love watching people really trying to improve themselves and improve those around them."

Mendenhall said he would like to name a starting quarterback by the end of spring ball, just as he did with John Beck in 2005 and Hall in 2007. But that won't necessarily happen.

"I think it's important to name a starting quarterback when a starting quarterback emerges," he explained. "I see tremendous benefits in doing it at the conclusion of spring, if it's discernible. I like the ability for the starting quarterback to run the team through the summer. I would prefer to do that, if I can. If not, I won't do it just because a precedent has been set. I would rather do it that way if we could."

Because of Nelson's running ability, the Cougars are likely to add that element to the offensive playbook, whether or not Nelson is named the starting quarterback, Mendenhall said.

In other news around BYU's program:

Junior running back Harvey Unga, the school's all-time leading rusher, is still considering forgoing his senior year to enter the NFL draft in April.