BYU football: Pendleton patiently waits to deliver the pain

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Provo » The BYU Cougars will don full pads for the first time Thursday morning at fall camp, but the team's most-feared hitter won't be out there during 11-on-11 scrimmage sessions.

Starting strongside linebacker Jordan Pendleton still hasn't participated in any hitting drills this month, and could go until the opener on Sept. 4 against Washington before taking part in any contact scrimmages. The former 5A MVP from Bingham High had offseason shoulder surgery -- there was a point when he wondered if he would ever play football again -- and has been a sideline observer for many parts of practice.

"If I could go right now, I would in a heartbeat. But it is more of a precaution thing," said the 6-foot-3, 239-pound junior "I am just trying to get ready and get back to 100 percent before I start hitting. Hopefully I will be able to get out there and hit some time next week. But right now I am just getting the mental reps in and getting prepared."

Pendleton might be a little overly optimistic. Coach Bronco Mendenhall said the outside linebacker who started 10 games as a sophomore hinted Tuesday that coaches may keep him out longer than that.

"I would [not] be concerned if we went all the way into game week without him hitting," Mendenhall said. "I don't worry about him."

Pendleton said his shoulder still gets tight and sore really fast, and he has to pull back a bit.

"I don't have my full range of motion, and my strength isn't there yet," he said. "But it is getting very close, so I am starting to feel a lot better."

The brother-in-law of former Cougar great Austin Collie said his only concern about not hitting until the opener is his confidence level.

"Unless you are going live, and unless you are hitting, it is a lot different," he said. "Once you get put out there, the game is a lot faster, and you are not used to it. That's the only thing I am concerned about. I am not concerned about me being able to play or to fit in or play to my capabilities. My only thing is the confidence. I don't get timid when I hit. That is why I would like to get some practices in before I hit [in a game]."

A three-quarterback race?

Quarterback Jason Munns missed practice Wednesday to attend a summer school class, so one of the other QBs besides junior Riley Nelson and freshman Jake Heaps got a chance for some extra reps, and sophomore James Lark delivered.

Lark led the second-team offense the length of the field for a touchdown against the second- and third-team defense, completing 4 of 6 passes for 48 yards.

"Yeah, it was good," Mendenhall said. "He's really a good player. He's a good athlete, he throws the ball well, and as I shared at the end of spring, he is just slightly behind the other two -- not leaps and bounds, just slightly. I think he showed that again today."

Asked later if it was still a three-quarterback race, Mendenhall replied, "I think so -- at least."

Heaps was 6-for-11 for 61 yards and a TD, while Nelson was 2-for-4 for 25 yards and a TD.

Briefly

Kicker Mitch Payne missed two field goals and a PAT and had a PAT blocked on Wednesday, but Mendenhall expressed confidence in the senior. ... Kick returner and receiver JD Falslev missed practice with an ailing back. Freshman running back Drew Phillips still hasn't been cleared by the NCAA clearinghouse, and Mendenhall said he's no longer putting a timetable on when the matter will be resolved.