BYU football injury update — Apo, others out for spring ball

Now that running back Harvey Unga has made his intentions known (staying at BYU for his senior season), one thing we’re keeping our eyes on is possible coaching changes. Coach Bronco Mendenhall said a couple of weeks ago he expects at least one — maybe as many as three — of his assistants changing addresses. He added that it could be something that won’t be fully resolved until after spring drills.

Two weeks from tomorrow is national signing day. Many are calling this BYU’s best recruiting class in a long time, maybe ever. It’s way too early to know how this class will fare, but, right now, on film and on paper, it looks very good.

Meanwhile, BYU football media relations director Brett Pyne released some information this afternoon on the status of some injured players. Those who have had, or are scheduled to have, post-season surgery are safety Andrew Rich (ankle), cornerback Robbie Buckner (shoulder), offensive lineman Marco Thorson (shoulder), offensive lineman Braden Hansen (thumb) and wide receiver Ross Apo (shoulder). Apo’s injury was suffered in high school. He is one of a few early enrollees to the program, along with quarterback Jake Heaps. Heaps and Apo are good friends and they’ve proven to be a formidable combination when they’ve played together at various camps.

Apo and Thorson will not participate in spring ball, which starts March 15. Hansen is listed as probable while Rich and Buckner are questionable. All of those players are expected to be ready for fall camp, according to Pyne.