Zac To Create a Stout BYU Defense

The BYU Cougars could be starting a true freshman at inside linebacker when they open the season September 4th against the Washington Huskies.

BYU coaches have told incoming freshman linebacker Zac Stout that they need him to come to Provo, Utah ready to make an impact.

Since the conclusion of the football season, the Oak Christian High star has been working out to increase his speed at Performance Gaines, a California training facility, that prepares football players for the NFL combine.

He’s also been following the strength regimen he received from BYU.

The results?

“I’ve gotten bigger and faster,” says Stout. “I’ve gained 15 pounds and I can feel that I have gotten a lot faster.” Stout says he hasn’t been clocked in the 40-yard dash recently but the 6′2″ All-American now checks in at 235 lbs.

Cougar coaches will be excited to hear the news since they are banking on Stout to be a difference maker in 2010.

Inside linebacker is one of the thinnest positions this year for the Cougars who lost both starting inside linebackers, as Matt Bauman and Shawn Doman have graduated.

“I called Coach Tidwell earlier this spring,” says Stout. “He said he was really excited to get me to Provo. He said they were looking thin there [inside linebacker] and need my help.”

There has been speculation among the media and those close to the Cougar program that Stout has a real chance to earn a starting spot for BYU as a true freshman on the inside.

Stout admits that he is feeling the weight of the expectations of coming in as a freshman ready to perform on the field. He also says he has known for a while that BYU will be counting on him to come in and play immediately.

“Oh yeah, I feel that. I’ve felt that as ever since they first started to recruit me. It’s kind of scary in one sense, but I’m also super excited,” said Stout.

“I just want to come in and make a statement,” Stout explains when speaking about his expectations for his freshman season. “I’m a freshman but I’m not planning on playing like a freshman. I want to come in and show what I can do.”

Stout was named as the top player at his position in the Greater Los Angeles area by the Los Angeles Times. He was also ranked by multiple recruiting services as one of the top 10 inside linebackers in the country. He became known as one of the self-proclaimed “Three Amigos," announcing his commitment to BYU at a press conference in June of 2009 along with Jake Heaps and Ross Apo.

One thing that most BYU fans may not know, however, is that in the last few days leading up to the press conference Stout still felt unsure about where he wanted to play college football.

“Jake [Heaps] was going hard on me,” Stout joked. “Every day he was calling me. He told me that he had set it [press conference] up and that he was not doing it without me. I finally said alright, let's do it.” 

Stoutclaims that Heaps’ persistence and the influence of his family were deciding factors in his final decision to become a Cougar.

Stout also says that although he is undecided about serving a mission, playing for his Church’s university was an important factor in his choice of schools as well. “That and the idea of playing early seemed really nice too.”

Stout will arrive in Provo in mid-June to start school in the summer semester and continue his preparations as to play a major role for BYU this upcoming season.