A new quarterback and fresh defensive identity leading BYU’s charge into Big 12

Braden Bush Sports Editor

Over the next few weeks, The O’Colly sports staff will release its Big 12 preseason rankings in the form of team previews. This time, it’s the BYU Cougars, which our writers picked to finish 10th.

BYU needed to make some big additions in the offseason and do so quickly. The Cougars lost start- ing quarterback Jaren Hall, top running back Chris Brooks and leading receiver Puka Nacua, all now on NFL rosters, from last season’s 8-5 squad. On top of that, 20 players hopped into the transfer portal just as BYU headed into its maiden season in the Big 12.

BYU countered by picking up 21 transfers, and none bigger than quarterback Kedon Slovis.

A Pittsburgh transfer, Slovis also spent time at USC and has thrown for just shy of 10,000 yards and 68 touchdowns in four collegiate seasons. Now, the senior with plenty of Power Five experience will lead the Cougars into the Big 12.

“I love his decision-making and his efficiency. He is exactly what I expected him to be,” said

BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick during spring camp, “calm demeanor, and always in control out on the field. I wasn’t surprised how well he took to the leadership role because I had heard great things about him before I met him, and once I got to know him, I could see those qualities for myself.

Slovis passed for 2,397 yards in 2022 but only threw 10 touchdowns against nine interceptions. Since his freshman season at USC, when he threw for more than 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns, his performance has dipped. His completion percentage has dropped each season – last year he completed 58.4% of passes.

A season ago, OSU owned the secondranked passing attack in the Big 12. Fast forward to 2023, and the Cowboys are hoping to again be atop those same standings, but this time after losing multiple receivers to the transfer portal.

The OSU wide receiver room will heavily utilize 2023 preseason All-Big 12 wideout Brennan Presley, along with a returning Jaden Bray and multiple others from the transfer portal.

Presley, who’s entering his fourth year in a Cowboys uniform, caught 67 passes for 817 yards and two touch-

Captain wide receiver John Paul Richardson, in addition to Bryson Green and Stephon Johnson Jr., transferred after the season, sparking a major turnover in the wide receiver room. Presley’s experience and leadership will become even more important after a tumultuous offseason. “This season is gonna present different problems, so we’ve just gotta deal with it when the season comes, and then we have to be mature enough to know what it is,” Presley said.

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OSU faculty receive investment for new health care technologies

Canopy HealthTech has selected two Oklahoma State University faculty members to receive support and funding to further health care with innovative technology.

OSU, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Tulsa and Tulsa Innovation Labs announced, in January, the launch of Canopy HealthTech—a new multiyear program to further the commercialization of virtual health innovations from the state’s universities.

The initiative’s goal is to catalyze startup growth and increase and improve health care outcomes by backing the development of vital virtual health technologies that target regional health care delivery gaps. Canopy’s initial investment totals $400,000 and was awarded to four faculty members from different partnered institutions with two being from OSU. They were chosen to receive non-dilutive funding and professional mentorship to quicken the commercialization of their intellectual property.

“The Canopy Health tech program is well aligned with OSU’s One Health initiative, and in particular is helping drive virtual and data health technologies to market via venturebackable startup companies,” said Elizabeth Pollard, OSU Research Foundation executive director.

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