BYU Football Depth Chart vs. UConn Released

Throughout fall camp, BYU was very hush hush about what their two-deep was going to look like against UConn.  With there being rumblings of other suspensions for week one besides running back Jamaal Williams, wide receiver Devon Blackmon, and defensive tackle Marques Johnson; we’ve been playing a guessing game throughout camp.

Now with game week finally here, we have a depth chart to dissect.  Let’s take a look at it.

What pops off the page right away is the cornerback position.  There had been speculation that both Jordan Johnson and Robertson Daniel were both suspended for the UConn game in week one, hence the reason we saw Michael Davis and Jordan Preator seeing significant time with the first team defense throughout camp.

Bronco said today, that he would “love both of them [Daniel & Johnson] to be able to start”.  What you can take from that quoute is, don’t be surprised if Preator and Michael Davis are the starting cornerbacks Friday night in East Hartford.

The offensive line has two players who saw starting time last year not in the two-deep.  Ryker Mathews and Solomone Kafu will not be making the flight to Connecticut, as Mendenhall will only be taking the top 10 linemen who are listed on this depth chart.

Mathews not being in the two-deep at offensive line is surprising to some at first, but it has been something we’ve been saying here at the site since April.

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Bit of a surprise to see Terrance Alletto beat out true freshman Tejan Koroma at center, as Koroma was arguably the most impressive lineman along with Brayden Kearsley down the stretch in camp.

Speaking of Kearsley, Brayden is starting at right guard.  Throughout spring and fall camp, Kearsley’s name has been absent from the two-deep for a variety of reasons that had nothing to do with football.  Now he is firmly entrenched in the starting lineup and is due for a big sophomore season.  Kearsley is one of BYU’s most versatile lineman.

With all the talk about linebackers Zac Stout and Manoa Pikula needing to earn their job again after their long hiatus from camp, that turned out to be much ado about nothing.  Stout and Pikula are both starting in the linebacker unit at Mike and Buck respectively.

Staying with the linebackers, Utah transfer Harvey Langi, was one of the better stories from fall camp.  One month ago he was coming home from an LDS mission, and now he made a strong impression on coaches to consider putting him in the starting lineup.  Langi will be Stout’s primary backup.  Also, Michael Alisa and returned missionary freshman, Troy Hinds, are neck and neck to be the backup to Bronson Kaufusi on the weak side.

One of the positions that many had questions on who would emerge as the starter was at the KAT spot next to senior captain Craig Bill at safety.  Sophomore Dallin Leavitt gets the start with Kai Nacua (a.k.a Magic Kai) as his backup.  Absent from the safety two-deep? Nebraska transfer, Harvey Jackson.

There were a lot of question marks surround the special teams unit this season.  Starting at kicker is walk-on Trevor Samson, and Scott Arellano returns for punting and kickoffs.  We will all hold on to our collective seats as we watch the Cougar kicking game unfold this season.

The returners come as a bit of a surprise.  Hine of course returns as one of the best returners in the country, and then Paul Lasike is the other kick returner.  Now with the suspension of Devon Blackmon, that might shed light into why Lasike is with the starting returners.  Still came as a bit of a surprise.  Would have guessed Jordan Leslie to be alongside Hine, but Leslie will be returning punts in week one.