Predicting The Depth Chart: 2015 BYU Safeties
By Jeff Hansen
We are continuing our preview of what we think that 2015 depth chart will look like in September when the Cougars take on Nebraska. We’ve previewed every position on the offensive side of the ball and today we move over to the defensive side of the ball. There are a lot of questions at most positions on defense than there are on offense but there are a lot of talented players so hopefully everything will fall into place throughout the off season. Today we take an in depth look at the 2015 BYU safeties.
Players Lost
Craig Bills, Skye PoVey and Harvey Jackson have all graduated and moved on from the program. Bills was a standout player and PoVey (despite the social media criticisms about him) did some really nice things for the defense last year. Jackson really started to come into a zone and get comfortable in the BYU defense toward the tail end of 2014. All three players played a big role and all three players are now gone. Dallin Leavitt was also a multiple game starter that was going to be looked upon to take a big role in 2015 before he announced that he would be transferring to Utah State.
That’s four players no longer in the program that took a large number of the reps last year. There is serious opportunity for early playing time in 2015.
The Starters
Kai Nacua: Nacua burst onto the scene when BYU played UCF last year. Before the game in Orlando, Nacua was starting to take some backup QB reps in practice. After a great game against the Knights, Nacua started to establish himself as a legitimate option to replace Craig Bills in 2015. He hits hard and is good in coverage. He will be a very good option for the Coach Mendenhall to fill one of the most important positions in his defense.
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We’re listing Nacua as a starter because I think that he will be so long as he’s not suspended for his role in the Miami Beach Brawl. As we said in our first depth chart preview, we’re projecting as if there is not going to be suspension news. Until it’s official, we’ll just pretend the rumors aren’t there.
Eric Takenaka: Takenaka was a standout safety at Snow College last year. He didn’t have a lot of attention coming out of junior college but he had a huge impact for the Badgers. He led the team with eight interceptions and showed a unique ability to play the pass. BYU safeties are often asked to play a big role in run defense and Takenaka has the size to fit that position. He’s going to have to earn his spot and there will certainly be a learning curve as he transitions to the D1 level but he’s going to have a whole lot of opportunity.
The Backups
Zayne Anderson: He’s going to be a true freshman but he’s going to be in the two deep at BYU. Anderson has drawn comparisons to former BYU great Daniel Sorensen and he seems to fit that mold. At 6’3″ and 200 lbs. he has the size to develop into a player like Sorensen. It’s not fair to expect Anderson to be Sorensen when he arrives on campus as a true freshman, but I do think that he’s going to see time on the field at either safety position.
Morgan Unga: Unga is starting to attract some hype among former players and on social media. He’s big and looks like a slightly taller Aaron Francisco. He’s impressing in the weight room and seems to have a lot of momentum as the season gets closer. Unga is one player I’m going to keep an eye on during Spring Ball in a few weeks.
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Matt Hadley: Hadley is the younger brother of former BYU linebacker Spencer Hadley. The younger Hadley will return home from his mission before Fall Camp and will be given opportunities to earn playing time. He played in seven games as a true freshman and there is no reason to think that he won’t be able to earn that same kind of playing time this year. The opportunity will certainly be there.
Chris Badger: The former three-star recruit and Notre Dame transfer had offers from schools across the country when he came out of Timpview High School as part of the class of 2010. So far, he hasn’t lived up to the offer sheet that he had in high school but the talent is certainly there. He did some really nice things on special teams last year and is a little bit of a sleep candidate to earn a starting position next season. He’s been behind guys like Bills and Sorensen since he arrived at BYU.
The Sleeper Candidates
Grant Jones- The 6’5″ walk on is impressing in the weight room and caught the attention of ESPN 960’s Ben Criddle.
Michael Wadsworth- The former Hawaii transfer has seen flashes of playing time during his time at BYU. He will be given a chance in the Spring to impress the coaching staff.
Khari Vanderbilt- I know he didn’t sign on Signing Day but he still hasn’t signed anywhere else. I don’t claim to have any inside information but it does seem like BYU may still be a potential landing spot for the talented safety. If Vanderbilt does come, he should be an instant starter.
There are some names that I’ve missed and some players that weren’t featured but these are the guys that I think will be looked at the hardest to make up the two safety positions under Bronco Mendenhall in 2015.