And the hits just keep on coming on the offensive side of the ball for BYU.
Earlier this month it was announced that star running back Jamaal Williams had withdrawn from school and would not play for the Cougars at all in 2015. Shortly thereafter, head coach Bronco Mendenhall announced that starting tight end Steven Richards will not play at all in 2015 because of injury.
Richards sustained a non-contact injury to his right knee during Monday’s practice. He will undergo surgery to repair the unspecified damage in the near future.
While Richards took a redshirt for his true freshman season last year -- he was a two-star member of BYU’s 2012 recruiting class who went on a mission prior to joining the Cougars -- he entered camp as the No. 1 tight end, and held on to that spot on the depth chart all the way up until Monday’s injury.
In addition to the injury woes for two starters, “10-ish” players are expected to be suspended for the opener against Nebraska because of their role in the infamous bowl brawl. The names of the suspended ones haven’t been divulged.
(Photo credit: BYU athletics)