When BYU released its depth chart for Southern Illinois, 10 true freshmen were listed on the depth chart. BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick said everyone on the depth chart would play and he was right. Against Southern Illinois, 11 true freshmen played on either offense or defense for BYU. 5 out of the 11 played 10 or more snaps, led by former four-star recruits Faletau Satuala and Cody Hagen.

1. Faletau Satuala (S) – 14 defensive snaps played
2. Cody Hagen (WR) – 13 offensive snaps played
3. Therrian Alexander (CB) – 12 defensive snaps played
4. Tommy Prassas (S) – 11 defensive snaps played
5. Ephraim Asiata (DE) – 10 defensive snaps played
6. Tei Nacua (WR) – 8 offensive snaps played
7. Jonathan Kabeya (CB) – 6 defensive snaps played
8. Viliami Po’uha (DE) – 3 defensive snaps played
9. Orion Maile-Kaufusi (DE) – 3 defensive snaps played
10. Dom McKenzie (WR) – 1 offensive snap played
11. Ryner Swanson (TE) – 1 offensive snap played

Some of the most talented players in the BYU football program are freshmen. If BYU can keep this core of young players together, it would bode really well for the future of the program. Competing for a Big 12 championship in 2024 is probably unrealistic, but competing for a championship by 2026 should be the goal for everyone in the program. This young core has the chance to get BYU to that level if they reach their potential.

Faletau Satuala and Cody Hagen will be fascinating to follow in 2024. They are both in very deep rooms and, on the surface, it doesn’t look like they will be needed to play a lot unless injuries occur. They are both so talented, however, that they might be impossible to keep off the field by season’s end.

Hagen was a contributor on special teams, so it doesn’t look like they plan to redshirt him in 2024. Hagen could start to make the case to be in the regular rotation at wide receiver. Faletau Satuala played meaningful snaps against the Salukis. He was the first free safety off the bench after Tanner Wall and Micah Harper.

This list also highlights the importance of recruiting high-caliber recruits. The higher the star rating, the more likely they are to be ready to contribute early. It’s no surprise that the first few names on the list were highly-coveted recruits.

Two people in eastern Wisconsin and one person in northeastern Illinois have died of West Nile virus, according to health officials.

A third person in Wisconsin also has been hospitalized because of the mosquito-borne illness, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said in a release.

That state’s cases involve residents of Outagamie, Fond du Lac and Brown counties.

In Lake County, Illinois, three people tested positive for the virus over the last seven days, the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center said in a release.

One of the victims experienced symptom onset in mid-August and died shortly thereafter.

West Nile virus is commonly spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. While most people don’t experience symptoms, about 1 in 5 can develop a fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 1 out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness.

An average of 18 cases of West Nile virus are reported in Wisconsin each year, and the virus has been detected this year in mosquitoes, animals and healthy blood donors whose blood screened positive for West Nile virus, the state said.

West Nile virus was first reported in the U.S. in 1999 in New York. It gradually spread across the country. In 2003, there were nearly 10,000 cases.

Illinois will accept submissions for a new state flag design after Labor Day as commissioners decide whether to change the flag.

The measure creating a 20-member Illinois Flag Commission (IFC), was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker last year. The commission is currently deciding whether to change the flag.

“History is living, breathing, and ever-evolving,” said Democratic state Sen. Doris Turner, a co-sponsor of the legislation that started this effort. 

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In a statement, Turner said, “We need to ensure government is evolving with the times, so people are engaged and a part of what is going on across the State. To start the conversation, I led the initiative to create the Illinois Flag Commission….[It] is tasked with deciding whether the current State flag should be replaced with a redesigned State flag. We need a flag that truly represents Illinois – a state with a strong workforce, an agriculture champion, and so much more.”

Turner of Springfield and Democratic state Rep. Kam Buckner of Chicago created the legislation to allow officials to “evaluate if a new State flag would better represent the state’s diversity of urban, suburban and rural communities and inspire renewed state pride among Illinoisians,” the Illinois secretary of state’s office said in a press release.

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Illinois will accept submissions for a new state flag design after Labor Day as the commissioners decide whether to change the flag. (Fox News)

The IFC will select ten designs based on how they reflect the identity of Illinois. On January 1st, 2025, the commission will host an online public survey for residents to vote on their favorites and on whether to keep the current flag.

The development comes as several other states also have been redesigning their flags, including Utah, Mississippi, Michigan, and Maine.

Minnesota approved a change to its flag in January earlier this year.

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A final Minnesota flag design is on display Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023 St. Paul, Minn. The new state flag should feature an eight-pointed North Star against a dark blue background shaped like the state, with a solid light blue field at the right, a special commission decided Monday as it picked a replacement for an older design that many Native Americans considered offensive.  (Glen Stubbe  /Star Tribune via AP)

Minnesota in May unveiled its flag to reflect its motto of being the North Star State. The flag replaced an old flag that pictured a Native American that some critics argued was racist.

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Similar to Illinois, Minnesota state officials formed a committee and allowed entries from members of the community before voting and ultimately adopting a new flag design in December that included two blue shapes with a white star.

Fox News’ Lawrence Richards contributed to this report.