BRIGHAM YOUNG COUGARS
2012 College Football Early Preview
OFFENSE - 9
------RETURNING STARTERS------
DEFENSE - 7
KEY LOSSES
OFFENSE: J.J. DiLuigi-RB, Bryan Kariya-RB, McKay Jacobson-WR, Matt Reynolds-OT, Terence Brown-C
DEFENSE: Hebron Fangupo-DE, Jordan Pendleton-SLB, Jameson Frazier-LB, Jadon Wagner-WLB, Corby Eason-CB, Travis Uale-FS
WR Cody Hoffman
Quarterback / Linebacker

BYU maintains two quality veteran quarterbacks. Riley Nelson has taken hold of the position and can hurt defenses his feet. The good news is the experience that exists here, but the passing game is in dire need of an overhaul by the staff. Three of the team's top four tacklers are at linebacker. Brandon Ogletree is the tackling leader and Kyle Van Noy has developed into a playmaker picking off three passes.

Running Back

The three-headed running back system that was highly regarded back in the summer failed to produce a 100-yard rusher in any game this season. That hasn't occurred since 1995. Quarterback Riley Nelson helps the ground game go.

LB Kyle Van Noy
* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic gauge for listing players that departed and players that received the most playing experience (consistent starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts, transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our full 2012 Preseason Preview due out this coming spring.
BRIGHAM YOUNG 2012 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
OFFENSE
QB Riley Nelson-Sr Jake Heaps-Jr
RB Michael Alisa-Jr Joshua Quezada-Jr
RB Zed Mendenhall-Sr David Foote-Sr
WR Cody Hoffman-Jr J.D. Falslev-Jr
WR Ross Apo-So ..
TE Austin Holt-Jr Marcus Mathews-Jr / Richard Wilson-Jr / Kaneakua Friel-Jr
OT .. ..
OG Houston Reynolds-Jr ..
C .. ..
OG Braden Hansen-Sr ..
OT Braden Brown-Sr ..
K Justin Sorensen-Jr ..
 
BRIGHAM YOUNG 2012 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/
Key Players
DEFENSE
DE Graham Rowley-Jr ..
NT Romney Fuga-Sr Travis Tuiloma-So
DE Eathyn Manumaleuna-Sr ..
SLB Tyler Beck-Jr ..
MLB Uona Kaveinga-Sr ..
BLB Brandon Ogletree-Sr Spencer Hadley-Jr
WLB Kyle Van Noy-Jr ..
CB Jordan Johnson-So ..
CB Preston Hadley-Sr ..
KAT Daniel Sorensen-Jr Joe Sampson-Sr / Carter Mees-Sr
FS Mike Hague-Sr ..
P Riley Stephenson-Sr ..
QUICK TAKES
  • A soft schedule helped make BYU look better than it may be but there is a wealth of veteran talent back in the mix for 2012. BYU is capable of beating teams like Notre Dame and Boise State. They will get the chance with an upgraded schedule but it won't be as easy.
  • This may very well be quarterback Jake Heaps' final year in a BYU jersey. The junior is just a couple of years removed from being a can't-miss prospect, one of the country's top recruits who had more than 30 offers and whose Mormon background took him to Provo where he was expected to be a four-year starter. It obviously appears Riley Nelson is coach Mendenhall's choice at this point.
  • Riley Nelson has been beneficial as a runner, but has been errant as a passer while missing his targets on occasion. Nelson is going to win this job but the door is open should someone be capable of wrestling it away.
  • Cody Hoffman has been a dual threat at receiver and kick returner this year. Still only a junior, he's starting to be compared favorably to former program standout Austin Collie, who only played three years at the collegiate level. Look for Hoffman to creep onto a few NFL Draft Boards.
  • The defensive stats are impressive. Other than failing to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks the rest of depth chart has plenty of positives. The secondary has to replace its best two players (Eason and Uale), which will create some interesting spring battles.
  • There is enough talent, especially on defense to keep this team in every game it plays down the road. With a bowl victory over Tulsa the Cougars will have complete another 10-win season, the teams fifth in six seasons.
  • What exactly is the BYU faithful wishing for? The last great season was 1996. Those types of results are hard to come by and won't happen any time soon. This more or less relegates them to the Armed Forces Bowl or the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl every year whether they win 10 games or seven games. The Cougars had their shot at getting into a BCS aligned conference and turned it down.

 

 

BRIGHAM YOUNG 2012 SCHEDULE

09/01 - Washington State
09/08 - Weber State
09/15 - at Utah
09/22 - at Boise State
09/29 - Hawai'i
10/05 - Utah State
10/13 - Oregon State
10/20 - at Notre Dame
TBA - Idaho
TBA - at Georgia Tech
TBA - at New Mexico State
TBA - at San Jose State