Transfer QB Slovis ready for first BYU fall camp

This isn’t the first rodeo for Kedon Slovis.
BYU’s QB 1 has prepared for fall camp four other times in his career (three with USC, one with Pitt) but never under these circumstances.
Slovis entered the transfer portal after one season in Pittsburgh and chose to dedicate his last year in college football to head coach Kalani Sitake, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and the Cougars. He’s part of a lot of newness on offense: A big-time transfer running back (Aidan Robbins), a rebuilt offensive line and several candidates trying to replace Puca Nucua’s explosiveness at wide receiver.
Former BYU quarterback John Beck, one of the partners of quarterback training company 3DQB, has worked with Slovis in preparation for fall camp, which begins on Monday.
What will Solvis’s main focus be during the next few weeks?
“I would just say situational play,” said Beck, a guest on Ben Criddle’s ESPN 960 radio show Wednesday. “Kedon has run a lot of plays in practice and spent a lot of time in the summer months developing chemistry with his guys, making sure they are on the same page. I’ve had the opportunity to be around them as they are talking through stuff. It comes down to being in those critical third down moments or red zone opportunities, trying to really find a way to get the ball in the end zone instead of having to settle for a field goal.”
“I would love to see them focus on competitive scenarios that are going to be the defining moments in a game. This offensive group hasn’t gone into game situation together yet. The offense has to go through those moments so they can iron things out, so they can look at each other and know they have been there before and how to make it happen. What can you do in training camp to get to that place as soon as possible?”
BYU opens the 2023 season against new FBS program Sam Houston and FCS Southern Utah and Beck is concerned about the Cougars getting tested before the rigors of the Big 12 schedule.
“Game 3 is Arkansas and that’s a tough task,” Beck said. “Hopefully they’ll get everything worked out. Sometimes, when you’re not playing a tough enough opponent — and that’s not a knock on Sam Houston and Southern Utah — sometimes your flaws aren’t brought to the surface or they are ignored because the opponents didn’t bring it out and capitalize on your mistakes. You have to have the kinks worked out before you start playing tougher games.”
Slovis mentioned during Big 12 Media Days that he’s never had the opportunity to play for an offensive coordinator he committed to during his career. At USC, Tee Martin left after Slovis committed to the Trojans and was replaced by Graham Harrell. At Pitt in 2022, Mark Whipple stepped away for personal reasons and was replaced by Frank Cignetti Jr.
BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis (in blue) and defensive end Tyler Batty are interviewed during Big 12 Media Days in Dallas on July 12, 2023.
Slovis has been singing the praises of Roderick ever since he committed to BYU.
In an interview with ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, Slovis said: “”That was the thing that excited me the most: ‘Hey, I get to play for this guy.’ I feel really comfortable with him. We align in a lot of ways. I feel like I’ve known him for a lot longer than I have. It really just clicked, like, ‘That’s the guy I want to play for. I want to play in his system.'”
After a productive spring, Slovis and Roderick are ready to team up for fall camp, which Beck said is crucial to the development of not just Slovis but the whole BYU offense.
“A challenging fall camp helps you be prepared for the best,” Beck said. “You don’t to just be cruising through camp. Staying healthy is also really important. Coaches have less time to get college football players, the 1s and 2s, prepared. Whoever you’ve invested time in, you want them to be healthy going into Game 1.”
BYU quarterback Kedon Slovis makes a throw during spring practice on March 29, 2023.