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It appears that information is starting to come out concerning the BYU defense for next year. From what little I am reading, and quite honestly most of it is speculation, this is what I think is happening with some potential key players. It appears that Marques Johnson is going to redshirt and prep to learn the power forward position. Go Bucks! Spencer Hadley is moving to OLB. They play to have Craig Bills play this year and not redshirt and he will not be moving to OLB. Joe Sampson is being moved to safety and the likely starters at CB will be Preston Hadley and Jordan Johnson.
Here is my projected 2+ deep:
DL: 1: Manu, Fuga, Dulan
2: Tialeeva, Richardson, Muehlman
I see a lot a options here with a great deal of really experienced players. I think the DL will rotate a great deal. I don't know or have yet to hear if Bryson is going to return or if Baker Pritchard is going on a mission. In this core group the only real NG is Fuga as Tialeeva is likely not going to be able to get back to 300 lbs. My guess is Richardson will be the #2 NG. Regardless, I think this DL will be adequate to good. They were good this past year and I think Fuga should be much better next year with more time since his injury. BYU will miss Fangupo, but this will be a stout DL that has a lot of experience. I would feel more comfortable if Pritchard and Bryson are on the team as this group of six includes 5 seniors.
ILB: 1:Kaveinga and Ogletree
2: Stout and Beck/Pikula
I think that with Jorgenson's late shoulder surgery he might just redshirt next year. I have yet to hear if Manoa Pikula is mission bound and if he is not, I would not be surprised to see him share reps with Tyler Beck. My belief is this year Jake Stout will start to assert himself and I think he will get some reps but I think Tyler Beck and Pukula will only play if there is injury or in blow outs.
OLB: 1: Kyle Van Noy and Spencer Hadley
2: Uani Unga, Ezekial Ansah, Alani Fua and Kevan Bills
Similar to the OL, this group has a lot of options with various situational type of players. The obvious hope of us all is that Alani Fua can put on 20+ lbs this year and get close to 230-240 lbs. If Alani can get in the vicinity of 230 by next year he will start to see more reps because he will then be an everydown type of player. But if not I think we see Zeke and Alani as back ups in passing situations with Bills and Unga seeing back up reps in both types. I also think we will see BYU move Van Noy around a great deal and could have some alignments where we play 3-5 lbs.
CB: 1: Jordan Johnson and Preston Hadley
2: Robbie Buckner, Dequan Everitt and Kori Gaines
It will really help if Jordan Johnson can cover next year better than Corby Eason did this past year. I like Preston Hadley and think he will be an above average CB for BYU next year. I hope Gaines has figured out his situation at BYU because I think he could be a good player if he does.
Safety 1: Sorenson and Sampson
2: Bills, Galai, Hague
I think Sorenson will be moved to FS and Sampson will start at SS. I think Bills will still see significant reps as he can replace either Sorenson or Sampson, as Sorenson can return to SS when Sampson comes out of the game. I also think BYU will continue to play much more nickel alignments like they did this past year with Bills at FS and then Sorenson at SS and Sampson at NB. I think Hague and Galai will only play in the case of injuries. I think the safeties will be good next year.
Anyone know the status of Bryson? Or the mission plans for Pikula and Baker Pritchard?
Here is my projected 2+ deep:
DL: 1: Manu, Fuga, Dulan
2: Tialeeva, Richardson, Muehlman
I see a lot a options here with a great deal of really experienced players. I think the DL will rotate a great deal. I don't know or have yet to hear if Bryson is going to return or if Baker Pritchard is going on a mission. In this core group the only real NG is Fuga as Tialeeva is likely not going to be able to get back to 300 lbs. My guess is Richardson will be the #2 NG. Regardless, I think this DL will be adequate to good. They were good this past year and I think Fuga should be much better next year with more time since his injury. BYU will miss Fangupo, but this will be a stout DL that has a lot of experience. I would feel more comfortable if Pritchard and Bryson are on the team as this group of six includes 5 seniors.
ILB: 1:Kaveinga and Ogletree
2: Stout and Beck/Pikula
I think that with Jorgenson's late shoulder surgery he might just redshirt next year. I have yet to hear if Manoa Pikula is mission bound and if he is not, I would not be surprised to see him share reps with Tyler Beck. My belief is this year Jake Stout will start to assert himself and I think he will get some reps but I think Tyler Beck and Pukula will only play if there is injury or in blow outs.
OLB: 1: Kyle Van Noy and Spencer Hadley
2: Uani Unga, Ezekial Ansah, Alani Fua and Kevan Bills
Similar to the OL, this group has a lot of options with various situational type of players. The obvious hope of us all is that Alani Fua can put on 20+ lbs this year and get close to 230-240 lbs. If Alani can get in the vicinity of 230 by next year he will start to see more reps because he will then be an everydown type of player. But if not I think we see Zeke and Alani as back ups in passing situations with Bills and Unga seeing back up reps in both types. I also think we will see BYU move Van Noy around a great deal and could have some alignments where we play 3-5 lbs.
CB: 1: Jordan Johnson and Preston Hadley
2: Robbie Buckner, Dequan Everitt and Kori Gaines
It will really help if Jordan Johnson can cover next year better than Corby Eason did this past year. I like Preston Hadley and think he will be an above average CB for BYU next year. I hope Gaines has figured out his situation at BYU because I think he could be a good player if he does.
Safety 1: Sorenson and Sampson
2: Bills, Galai, Hague
I think Sorenson will be moved to FS and Sampson will start at SS. I think Bills will still see significant reps as he can replace either Sorenson or Sampson, as Sorenson can return to SS when Sampson comes out of the game. I also think BYU will continue to play much more nickel alignments like they did this past year with Bills at FS and then Sorenson at SS and Sampson at NB. I think Hague and Galai will only play in the case of injuries. I think the safeties will be good next year.
Anyone know the status of Bryson? Or the mission plans for Pikula and Baker Pritchard?
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