2011 BYU Football Preview: Offensive Line

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By: Mitch Harper

Offensive Lines at BYU over the years have always been talented, but sometimes have never lived up to their full potential.  Prime example being in 2008, when the Cougars were a pre-season pick to be a “BCS Buster”, the Cougars returned four starting offensive lineman.  That group though underachieved in ’08, struggling with fast defenses against the likes of TCU and Arizona.

This year BYU returns four starting lineman.  But this time around with a completely new era chapter in the program taking place, there is change across the board.  Even for those hogmollies up front.  The program is taking a new strength-and-conditioning approach this off-season, focusing on specific units.  The goal with the O-Line is to get them more agile and lose the pregnant belly look, thus allowing more effective run blocking that can punish opponents for a full 60-minutes.

Regardless of the strength-and-conditioning regime this looks to be one of the top Offensive Line units in College Football going into 2011.

Continuing the weekly feature of previewing each unit on BYU’s squad in 2011, let’s take an in-depth look at the Cougar Offensive Line.

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OFFENSIVE LINE PREVIEW

Starters Lost: 1 (Jason Speredon)

 Offensive Line Coach:  Mark Weber (5th Season)

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 PROJECTED STARTERS

Left Tackle:  Matt Reynolds, Senior* (*=Returning Starter)

Reynolds turned down the dollars and the uncertainty of the NFL to come back for his Senior year at BYU.  Reynolds, has been a starter since 2008 at the Left Tackle position, and is a top NFL prospect for the 2012 NFL Draft.  Allowed only one sack in 2010. A soft-spoken guy who is a leader by example in this unit, will benefit greatly with his NFL Draft status from coming back for his Senior season.

Left Guard:  Braden Hansen, Junior*

This will be Hansen’s third year as a starter.  Last season, was a Honorable Mention All-MWC performer starting in all 13 games last season.  Led the offensive line last year with 134 knockdown blocks.  The blind side of Quarterback Jake Heaps will be well protected with two future NFL players in Hansen and Reynolds.

Center:  Terence Brown, Senior*

Last season was Brown’s first year at Center, replacing the departed R.J. Willing from the 2009 season.  Brown started all 13 games from the Center spot and earned Honorable Mention in the Mountain West last year.  One of the more versatile lineman in this unit, Brown played at Right Guard in 2009, and was seeing time at tackle as a true freshman in 2005.

Right Guard:  Walter Kahaiali’i, Junior

The lone departure from the 2010 Offensive Line comes here at Right Guard where Jason Speredon has graduated.  Speredon started all 13 games last season.  Coach Weber has a few options at this spot.   We give the edge to Walter Kahaiali’i a Junior from Lahaina, Hawaii.  Kahaiali’i was a return missionary last year and was considered one of the top reserves in the unit that could play at any spot.  Primarily was the reserve at Left Tackle to Matt Reynolds seeing action in seven games.  With Kahaiali’i’s versatility along the line and his experience in the program (since 2006) he gets the nod as the new starter in this group.

Right Tackle:  Braden Brown, Junior*

A converted Tight End who switched to Right Tackle mid-way through the 2009 season, Brown was at first skeptical of the move, but is now thriving and looks to be one of the best overall athletes in this year’s unit.  Started in all 13 games at the Right Tackle spot in his first full year at the position, and thrived, only gave up five sacks.  Look for that number to improve this season.

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 KEY RESERVES

Ryker Mathews, Freshman (2011 signee; Guard/Tackle)

A true freshman out of American Fork, Mathews enrolled early to participate in Spring practices.  Mathews instantly impressed during spring practices seeing time as the #1 Left Tackle with Matt Reynolds sitting out during Spring.  A natural at the position who has great fundamentals and technique; a U.S. Army High School All-American.  This fall camp will push to be a starter at right guard.  If not the starter, will be the “6th Offensive Lineman” and will see a lot of reps right away in his first season as a Cougar.  Not known at this time what Mathews’ mission plans are at this time.

Marco “Moose” Thorson, Senior (Guard)

Along with Mathews, Thorson will be one of the players factoring in to possibly being the starter at right guard during Fall Camp.  Saw action in only four games last year after a 2009 campaign where he played in 12 games.  Gained the nickname, “Moose” when he came back from his mission in 2008 as a redshirt; had to gain weight after losing over 100 pounds out on the mission field.

Houston Reynolds, Sophomore (Center/Guard)

Saw action in six games last year as a redshirt-freshman backing up Terence Brown at Center.  Been in the two-deep the past year as a Center or Guard.  Has the lineage in his favor, all the Reynolds sons have been great on the O-Line.

Manu Mulitalo, Redshirt-Freshman (Guard)

A redshirt last season out of Granger High School, Mulitalo was in the two-deep out of Spring ball at the guard position.  Mulitalo, while at Granger High was a Offensive Lineman MVP at a USC Camp prior to his Senior season.  Sleeper to watch for years from now in this unit.

Manaaki Vaitai, Sophomore (Guard/Tackle)

Redshirted last season coming home from a mission.  Vaitai a highly-regarded recruit out of Trinity High School in Euless, Texas looks to see reps this season for the first significant time of his career.

Blair Tushaus, Redshirt-Freshman (Center/Guard)

Tushaus last season as a True Freshman was seeing reps with the 1s during Fall Camp as BYU tried to find a new Center.  Tushaus ended up redshirting as Terence Brown emerged as the starter.  Tushaus has a bright future at BYU, will be the future starter at Center for BYU in 2012 and beyond.

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 RETURN MISSIONARIES

Brock Stringham, Redshirt-Freshman (Served inPhilippines)

Stringham came back from his mission this past Spring and participated in Spring practices.  Long-shot that he factors in this season, but years from now Stringham is a athletic player who should see time at the tackle spot.

Solomone Kafu, Redshirt-Freshman (Served inNew York,New York)

From the Northern California area, Kafu signed with BYU as a Defensive Lineman out of High School in 2008.  In his first season with BYU switched over to Offensive Line.  Redshirted in 2008.  An underrated talent out of High School who didn’t receive many offers but is a talented prospect at Guard at 6’2 309.

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 CURRENT MISSIONARIES AT THE POSITION

Fono Vakalahi (Tackle/Center, Returns in 2012)

Saw significant reps as a true Freshman in 2009.  A highly-recruited player out of Bryan, Texas that can play any position on the offensive line, Vakalahi spurned the hometown Aggies of Texas A&M to be a Cougar.  Had a four years to play three when he returns.

Terrance Alletto (Guard/Center; Returns in 2012)

One of the top recruits in the state of Colorado back in 2009.  Redshirted in his lone season in 2009.  Younger brother to former BYU player, Nick Alletto.  Currently serving his mission in Riverside, California.

Tui Crichton (Tackle, Returns in 2012)

A top-50 Offensive Tackle in the nation as part of the Class of 2009 according to Rivals.com, Crichton redshirted in 2009.  Currently serving in Houston,Texas.  Crichton left BYU at 6’3 353-pounds.  Will be interesting to see where he is at next season when he returns from this mission.

Brad Wilcox (Tackle, Returns in 2013)

An athletic tackle at 6’7, 265-pounds, Wilcox is the type of Offensive Lineman that BYU looks to have in the program going forward with its new regime.

Jordan Black (Tackle/Guard, Returns in 2013)

Out of Alta High School, redshirted last season.  Was one of the best Offensive Linemen in the state of Utah in the 2009 High School season.

Ului Lapuaho (Tackle, Returns in 2013)

Lapuaho was a signee in the 2011 recruiting class and will serve a mission prior to enrolling at BYU. Lapuaho hails from the same high school as former BYU Offensive Lineman standout, Hunter High School.

Brian Rawlinson (Tackle, Returns in 2013)

Member of the 2011 recruiting class, Rawlinson put a high priority on serving a LDS mission.  Which was one of the reasons many schools backed off their recruiting efforts with the Oologah,Oklahoma native.

Walk-On Missionaries:  Cole Jones (Guard; Returns in 2013), Matt Jensen (Tackle; Returns in 2013).

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REST OF THE UNIT

Michael Yeck, Redshirt-Freshman (Tackle)

This tall Texan returned from a mission in 2010 and redshirted in his first season.  Stands at 6’8 and is a big option down the road at Tackle.  Was a 2nd Team Offensive Lineman in the state ofTexas back in 2007.

Quinn Lawlor, Redshirt-Freshman (Guard) *Walk-On

Redshirted last season out of Orem High School.  Lawlor made a name for himself with the BYU coaching staff after attending BYU Summer Camps, getting him the chance to be a preferred walk-on in the program.  Lawlor is a sleeper to keep on who could be in the Two-Deep down the road.

Famika Anae, Redshirt-Freshman (Tackle)

Son to former BYU Offensive Coordinator, Robert Anae, it was unknown if Famika would stay at BYU after his father resigned. Decided to stay in the program, still recovering from an ACL injury.

Ryan Freeman, Junior (Center/Guard)

Redshirted last season.  Freeman has been buried on the depth chart seeing time with the 3s.  Once was a starter in replace of Sete Aulai back in 2006 at the Center position as a true Freshman against Utah State.  Looked to have a promising career but has since regressed and doesn’t look to see much time in 2011.

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Previous Cougar Center 2011 BYU Positional Previews

CORNERBACKS
DEFENSIVE LINE
TIGHT ENDS

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So what are your thoughts on the BYU Offensive Line for 2011?  Is this the best collection of talent at the position BYU has ever seen?  Let us know what you think.  Post your comments here on the site or Tweet us @Cougar_Center and your comment could be read on this week’s Cougar Center Podcast when we discuss this Offensive Line unit more in-depth on the show.

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