and Jacob Conover) flamed out.

Tanner Mangum was a pleasant surprise as a freshman (and played the rest of his career through mental and physical injuries).

Untimely injuries will leave us wondering what might have been with Taysom Hill and Kedon Slovis. Both had huge potential.

Steve Young (most notably - from 8th string to starter to Super Bowl MVP), John Beck, Max Hall, Zach Wilson, Baylor Romney, Jaren Hall all developed into stars *in the program*.

So it's not just *getting* top recruits. It's *developing* them.

ARod did a nice job with Zach, Baylor, and Jaren.

But it's important to have a supporting cast. Oline woes last year literally hurt Kedon Slovis from proving his potential, and obviously hurt our offense (made us one-dimensional without a running game and forcing Kedon to run for his life).

Given time constraints, guys down the roster have to prove themselves in limited reps or spring games. That's not easy.

But anyone who thinks — right now — that Jake Retzlaff or Gerry Bohanon or McCae Hillstead won't be a star this year or isn't fit to start at BYU next season hasn't watched enough football. See freshman RM Tanner Mangum. That's what makes college football such a fun game to watch. Hope for the best, and expect the unexpected.

You're all entitled to your opinion, but until actual games, no one knows how good a QB or player or team is really going to be. Stay tuned!

Go Cougs!