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Byrd Ficklin has played a huge role in the offense at the start of the 2026 season. He's lined up all over the field as he's helped the Utes steamroll everyone in their way. Ficklin spoke to the media about all the wrinkles that come with Kevin McGiven's offense. Question: Byrd, are you having fun? Byrd: That's a crazy question. I'm having a lot of fun, more than I can explain. Question: What would you say is the best part of watching this Utah offense unfold and showing the world what you guys can do? Byrd: Seeing everybody happy, you know. McGiven has been really good at spreading the love between each athlete. You see Braden Pegan touching the ball, Creed Whittemore touching the ball, Wayshawn had three touchdowns. Daniel Bray's touching the ball, and we're out there having fun. Everybody's putting their athletic ability on stage for the world to see. Question: Wayshawn, on that first play, you told him to throw it to you, and you'd make the catch. Just what was going through your mind on that deep shot to start the game last week? Byrd: I expected them to pull and run with Braden, so then it became who's going to take Wayshawn Parker on the backside. They forget how fast Way is. Way can catch, and he's a great standout athlete. He's a great overall player, whether that's lining up in the backfield or playing quarterback. It sounds crazy what I'm saying, but Way is a really great athlete. So to see him be able to break down the sideline, it was kind of like giving him a chance, and he'll get it. Question: This is kind of a dumb question, but like, how much more do you have to pay attention to the calls given, like your role? Like you're lining up all over the place. Like, how much more do you have to pay attention to what's being called? Bryd: We run the play so much throughout the week of practice. I ran it so much in spring, ran it so much in fall that when Dev tells me the formation, it's like, all right, bet, let's go. He doesn't even say the full play. He's just like, All right, we're in this formation. All right, I know what the play is. I know what I'm going to do. I know the motion. I know what's going to happen. I know what to expect. I know what not to expect. And it's the thing that McGiven has instilled in us, especially with Gundy as well, instilling in us to play the play ahead. And that's helped in my memorization of knowing the play. Question: Byrd, you and Devon Dampier have a close relationship that's been talked about a lot, but the unselfishness behind it allows you both to flourish on the field and celebrate each other's success. Is that a big part of why you stayed, and why you guys can have the success you have in the packages that are brought out on the field? Byrd: Me and Dev always talk about each other a lot. It's always been good things, but people don't see what Dev and I do behind the scenes, what we do at practice, what we do outside of practice. It's always, "Hey, do you know what's going to go on this week? Is there any way we could switch this? It's Byrd; you can go to quarterback this time; I'll go to running back." Like, it's deeper than what it seems on the field. Our relationship is a lot stronger than what it was last year. But we always try to help each other be in the best position. You know, I wouldn't put Dev at an outside receiver to run a goal ball and catch it. It's kind of, hey, you can go to the slot and do this, and I can be at quarterback, or I'm gonna go to the outside, and I'm gonna do this. You stay at quarterback. I wouldn't want you to be in that position. Question: We saw that package with you, Devon, Bray, and Wayshawn on the field last week. What does that mean for defenses when you have all four of you guys out there who can do so many different things? What do you call it? Byrd: I mean, it's so many things we call it. We have a lot of different names for it, especially about how we line up to get into that formation. But I mean, to see all four of us back there, it's kind of like a crazy sight to see. It's something you never really see. But McGiven has been really good at playing around and messing around with these types of things throughout spring and fall, so it's become normal to us. You know, it might look wild to y'all and like, what's going on, but to us it's kind of like, all right, let's go. Like, it's a next play, next play, next play, next play. We don't think too much about it. Question: So in the playbook, that option where it's you as the pitcher, does that also exist with Dev as the pitch man? Byrd: Of course. As I said, Dev is a tremendous athlete. People overlook what he can do on the field outside of quarterback. But at the same time, Dev is the full-blown quarterback, and Dev is just a great athlete, so I'm happy that we're able to switch that position.