Analyzing BYU’s Depth Chart Vs. Ole Miss: Defense

BYU’s defensive Depth Chart heading into Saturday’s contest against Ole Miss.  Let’s break it down.

Starters in BLUE

LE GRAHAM ROWLEY
Hebron Fangupo

Rowley was seeing reps with the 1st-team defense throughout spring ball and fall camp.  This is no surprise, despite only being a redshirt Freshman.  Hebron “Loni” Fangupo finally makes his BYU debut.  The USC transfer had a solid fall camp switching over from NT to LE.

NT ROMNEY FUGA
Travis Tuiloma

One of the question marks going into fall camp was the status of Romney Fuga.  Fuga of course was recovering from a devastating ACL injury he suffered in the Nevada game during last season.  Looked like he hasn’t lost a beat, but how will he perform in game action?

RE EATHYN MANUMALEUNA
Simote Vea

Solid is Manumaleuna.  No surprise there.  The best lineman BYU has on the defensive side.  Simote Vea has been a nice story in camp.  The transfer from BYU-Hawaii has went from scout team participant to a solid contributor on the two-deep.

SLB JORDAN PENDLETON
Jameson Frazier

BYU’s version of “The Boz” (Brian Bosworth), Jordan Pendleton is 100% healthy and ready to make his final season as a Cougar a special one.

Despite being a Lott Trophy candidate, Senior Jameson Frazier is now a 2nd-string player on this talented Linebacking unit that is committed to playing the 11 best players at all times.  Took his “demotion” in stride.  Still a senior captain of this team, and a leader the defense looks to.

MLB UONA KAVEINGA
Austen Jorgensen

BYU fans have been clamoring to see the silent assasin who goes by the name, Uona.  USC transfer Uona Kaveinga has been waiting for this moment since the 2009 Las Vegas Bowl, where he approached Mendenhall about transferring to BYU.

BLB BRANDON OGLETREE
Spencer Hadley

“Tree” had some injury issues keeping him out of some fall camp practices, now healthy.  Return Missionary, Spencer Hadley turned some heads in camp and has a bright future at Boundary.

WLB KYLE VAN NOY
Jadon Wagner

Many wondered if the Senior Jameson Frazier would retain his spot at Weakside Linebacker due to his experience.  Nope.  The new coaching staff wants the 11 best players on the field, and Sophomore Kyle Van Noy is one of the 11 best players on the D.  By season’s end he could be the best.

FC CORBY EASON
Jordan Johnson

“Durrrty” as the team calls him, Corby Eason, heads back to the south to get a shot against an SEC foe.  This is Eason’s first start as BYU looks to replace both starting corners from a year ago.

BC PRESTON HADLEY
Joe Sampson

JUCO transfer Preston Hadley has done nothing but impress since stepping on campus back in January.  Been a starter on the defense since midway through spring ball.  And it hasn’t been close.

Joe Sampson who was able to qualify has shown glimpses during fall camp as the most athletic player in the secondary.  Still needs to learn the playbook.

KAT DANIEL SORENSEN
Carter Mees

Sorensen returned from a missionary prior to spring ball of this year.  Switched from LB to Safety, the same position he was originally recruited by BYU to play.  Sorensen was also recruited by Ole Miss when playing high school ball out in Colton, California.

FS TRAVIS UALE
Mike Hague

Mid-way through Fall Camp, there was some controversy as to who would start at Free Safety.  Uale is a Senior leader, and a brainiac in regards to Mendenhall’s playbook on D.  Hague, former RB, has more athleticsm and could see a lot of reps this Saturday in Oxford.

P RILEY STEPHENSON

Streaky at times.  Stephenson, when he is on is a terrific asset to BYU’s chances of winning.  He needs to pull out some coffin-corner kicks this week for BYU to control the tempo of the game.

CougarCenter.net hosts a weekly podcast on Mondays and Thursdays.  Subscribe to the Cougar Center Podcast via iTunes.  Search “Cougar Center” at the iTunes Store and it will send you directly to the Podcast.  Leave a rating or a comment while you’re there.