By: Mitch Harper
It’s always a difficult thing to replace one of the best players to ever play at a particular position. Andrew Rich has graduated, and leaves BYU as the best defensive back he has ever coached according to Bronco himself (New Mexico Bowl post-game press conference). Who will replace Rich at the KAT Safety spot in 2011?
Let’s look at BYU’s Safeties in 2011 as Cougar Center keeps up with its weekly positional previews for the upcoming season.
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SAFETIES PREVIEW
Starters Lost: 1 (Andrew Rich)
DBs Coach: Nick Howell
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PROJECTED STARTERS
Free Safety: Travis Uale, Senior* (*=Returning Starter)
Bronco loves walk-on defensive backs making something of them selves in the program. Travis Uale has become the next in line of BYU’s recent success of finding gems from the walk-on ranks to productive scholarship starters. Uale, a former walk-on knows Mendenhall’s defense inside-and-out and is looked at as a leader in the back four (Secondary) this season, as he is the lone returning starter.
Not a flashy guy, but knows his assignments and schemes. A solid player who isn’t a liability out on the field as some would be led on to believe.
KAT Back: Daniel Sorensen, Sophomore (RM)
Sorensen returned from his mission this past winter where he served in Mexico City, Mexico. Sorensen back in 2008 was a heralded Safety recruit out of Colton, California. Had offers from the likes of Ole Miss (BYU’s opener in 2011). In his first year as a Cougar in 2008, went over to Linebacker due to the lack of depth at the position that season. Sorensen was in the two-deep and saw significant amount of reps that season as BYU went on to have its third straight 10-win season that year.
Flash forward to this past Spring, due to the lack of depth now at Safety and the abundance of talent at Linebacker, the defensive staff switches Sorensen back to the position he was recruited as, Safety. Sorensen flourished in Spring ball and is clearly the player to beat-out going into Camp Cougar as the starter at KAT Back. A hard-hitting player who has a knack for making plays, Sorensen will have a great career at BYU from the Safety position.
Cousin to Kicker Justin Sorensen.
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KEY RESERVES
Jray Galea’i, Sophomore
Out of Kahuku High School, Galea’i came to BYU with some high-profile press clippings. A top-25 Safety recruit in the nation in the 2009 class. Galea’i had an opportunity to win over the starting job at KAT this Spring but was beat-out by Sorensen who has the clear edge going into fall. The talent is there for Galea’i it is just a matter of producing on the field and keeping the academics up. Has had some issues with academics the past few seasons and this past spring with a test, forcing him to miss a few Spring sessions.
Mike Hague, Junior
Switching over from Running Back/Fullback, Hague is now back at Safety. Was slated in 2006 to play at Safety for BYU out of Brighton High School but went back over to the position where he flourished as a Bengal, Running Back. Came back from the mission in 2009, and was an odd man out in the RB rotation. Hague was struggling transitioning to the D-1 level at RB. Instead of wasting Hague’s natural athleticism, he went over to Safety this past spring. Dropped 20 to 30 pounds and is a walking P90X commercial. Hard-hitter but still needs to get better familiar with the position, has a high ceiling at this position.
Joe Sampson, Junior (JUCO Transfer)
The lone JC transfer in the 2011 signing day class, Sampson was ruled ineligible on Signing Day but still signed a binding agreement to go to BYU. Expected to enroll at BYU for Summer semester which starts on June 20th. Sampson, is a cousin to former BYU cornerback, Brian Logan which was one of the reasons why Sampson chose BYU over the likes of Utah and OregonState. If Sampson gets eligible, he’s a athletic player who is expected to play at Safety at BYU, but is very versatile and could also play cornerback.
Kori Gaines, Redshirt-Freshman
Some off-the-field issues/rumors have been the rage with Gaines’ young career in Cougar blue thus far. Suspended during the past spring for breaking team rules, Gaines rejoins the team this fall. A versatile athlete out of Grayson High School in Georgia, Gaines along with being a key secondary player in H.S. was a talented return specialist.
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CURRENT MISSIONARIES AT THE POSITION
Craig Bills (Returns in 2012)
Serving inVentura, California. Bills was a top-flight recruit out of Timpview High School in 2009. Played in all 13 games as a true freshman in ’09 for the Cougars. When he comes back from the mish next spring, he will be battling right away for a starting job. Still has four years to play three.
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REST OF THE UNIT
Chase Pendley, Sophomore
Pendley redshirted last season after transferring from Southern Utah. 6’2 210-pounds, Pendley was an all-state performer in high school at Skyline High.
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Previous Cougar Center 2011 BYU Positional Previews
CORNERBACKS
DEFENSIVE LINE
TIGHT ENDS
OFFENSIVE LINE
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So what are your thoughts on the BYU Safeties for 2011? 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 Safety unit more in-depth on the show.
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