[FREE ARTICLE] CougConnect Interview Highlights – Bruce Mitchell (BYU OL)

💥 Key Moments & Timestamps:

  • 00:01:10 – Stepping in as Starter
    Bruce explains how he found out he was going to start at center after injuries to Connor Pay and Sunny, and how he prepped for his first start vs Arizona.
  • 00:02:10 – Kansas State Game
    Bruce’s first start at guard and how it shook off the rust for him.
  • 00:04:49 – Arizona Breakout
    The offensive line’s dominant performance vs Arizona and the moment people realized BYU was for real.
  • 00:05:30 – Best Rushing Game of the Year
    Oklahoma State was the best rushing performance of the year from the O-line.
  • 00:05:50 – Loudest Environment: Utah
    Bruce dives into the chaos of playing center in a hostile road game against Utah and the need for a silent cadence.
  • 00:06:50 – Facing Keanu Tanuvasa in Practice
    Bruce breaks down how hard it is to block Keanu and praises his athleticism, strength, and leadership.
  • 00:08:31 – Center Background & Fall Camp Opportunity
    How Bruce went from emergency center to starter during fall camp — and made the most of his unexpected opportunity.
  • 00:09:53 – Hardest Part of Playing Center
    Bruce explains the technical difficulty of snapping and blocking at the same time.
  • 00:10:56 – Praise for Coach Woods
    He talks about how Coach TJ Woods has transformed the O-line and brought 23 years of experience to BYU.
  • 00:12:20 – Verbiage and D-line Knowing the Calls
    Bruce explains how predictable O-line calls can be and the effort to change up language to avoid defenses jumping protections.
  • 00:15:00 – Familiarity in the Offense
    Why the offense is smoother this year—everyone’s more experienced and knows the system inside and out.
  • 00:21:00 – High School Ball at South Summit
    Bruce looks back at his 2A Utah high school career, playing in 4 state championship games and throwing the ball more than most small schools.
  • 00:23:26 – Only Offer Came from BYU
    Bruce talks about growing up a BYU fan and committing immediately when he got his first (and only) offer.
  • 00:24:31 – Position Switch: D-Line to O-Line
    Originally recruited to play defense, Bruce shares how he transitioned to the “light side” of the trenches.
  • 00:31:02 – QB Sneak vs UCF
    Bruce details what it’s like to be at center for a sneak against two 330-pound DTs in double A-gap.
  • 00:36:38 – Guest Appearance by McCae Hillstead
    McCae jumps in to talk QB sneaks, practice highlights, and praises Bruce’s O-line play.
  • 00:37:44 – Final Thoughts from Bruce
    Bruce is hyped for the season and believes this team has what it takes to make a Big 12 Championship run.

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