2010 BYU Preview: Defensive Line

The BYU Cougars start 2010 with the task of replacing six starters on the defensive front seven, including all three defensive linemen.

Gone are Jan Jorgensen, Brett Denny and Russell Tialavea.

The athletes stepping into the starting roles have playing experience and the Cougar coaches hope and expect them to step up to the plate.

Bronco Mendenhall has stated in the past that the program has reached a level of maturity such that he expects the next wave of players to come in and get the job done.

The overall speed and athleticism has been upgraded significantly on the defensive side of the ball, and as these players gain experience and gel together as a “collective,” as Bronco likes to say, this defense will be very tough.

Starting at nose tackle this season will be Romney Fuga (6’1”, 295 lb., Jr.). Romney was actually a part-time starter last year, starting seven of 13 games as a sophomore. Fresh off a mission to Madagascar, Fuga rotated in the middle of the BYU line with Tialavea in 2009. He accounted for 40 tackles, 16 solos, three tackles for loss and a sack.

As a true freshman in 2006, Fuga stepped into the rotation at nose tackle and made an immediate impact. He ended up playing in every game during that season and was a significant contributor to a defense that finished 10th in the country in points given up with a 14.7 per game average.

This season Romney will be asked to shoulder more weight as the full-time starter and there is every reason to believe that he will be up to the task. With Fuga in the middle, the Cougars have a solid foundation to build upon.

Cougar coaches are expecting that incoming true freshman Travis Tuiloma (6’3”, 300 lb., Fr.) will continue the BYU tradition of players coming straight from high school and making an impact at nose tackle. If he does, the Cougars will look to switch returned missionary Eathyn Manumaleuna to defensive end.

Since the Cougars moved to the 3-4 alignment a few years ago, the BYU coaches have had great success identifying high school players that have been able to come in and play key roles in the middle. They see similar traits in Travis as they did in Manumaleuna, Fuga and Tialavea, all of which excelled as freshmen.

Tuiloma starred at Washburn Rural High School in Topeka, Kansas and was tabbed as a Kansas 6-A All-State player and received scholarship offers from several Big 12 programs. The expectation is that the true freshman will break the two-man rotation with Fuga.

The Cougars currently list Idaho Falls native Jordan Richardson (6’3”, 275 lb., So.) as Fuga’s back-up. Jordan saw action in four games last year on the defensive line. He was the top-ranked heavyweight wrestler in Idaho in high school.

Starting at one defensive end as the Cougars start fall camp is Vic So’oto (6’3”, 265 lb., Sr.). Defensive end is the third position So’oto has played since coming to Provo as a highly touted tight end. Vic was switched to linebacker and then to defensive end where he saw action as a back-up to Jorgensen and Denny last season while learning the position.

A tremendous athlete, So’oto has struggled with injuries during his career, missing most of the 2006 and 2008 seasons. Last year Vic stayed relatively healthy and played in 10 games, registering 10 tackles, four for a loss and one sack.

After a year of playing the position, he now has the task of stepping up and stepping into the starting role. Look for Vic to have a breakout season in 2010 by using his superior athleticism to terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.

If the Cougars can get away with it, they will switch Eathyn Manumaleuna (6’2”, 280 lb., So.) from tackle to defensive end for 2010. The plan right now is to rotate him in with So’oto. Eathyn brings a real ability to stuff the run at DE. He recently returned home from a mission, so all eyes will be on him to see how he adjusts back to playing college football and how he makes the transition to defensive end.

Prior to his mission, the Anchorage, Alaska native was a key member of the BYU D-line as a true freshman. He started every game and recorded 25 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack.

His most well-known contribution was his blocked field goal in the 2007 Las Vegas bowl that preserved a 17-16 win over UCLA. Manumaleuna can play any position along the defensive line and will play a big role in helping to solidify an unproven defensive front.

2010 could be a make or break season for Matt Putnam (6’6”, 255 lb., Jr.) at defensive end. He has excellent height and a large wingspan that can create havoc in passing lanes for opposing quarterbacks.

Matt showed great promise as a redshirt freshman in 2008 making 27 tackles, 17 of which were solo take downs, three tackles for loss and two sacks. He also forced one fumble and batted down three passes, one of which he also intercepted in BYU’s 59-0 win over UCLA.

His production slumped as a sophomore last season though, recording just six tackles and one sack.

Matt has a higher center of gravity and has had a hard time putting on weight, which limits his effectiveness in defending the run. The big question about Matt is if he can be an every down player. He came out of spring ball as the starter opposite So’oto.

Freshman Thomas Bryson (6’5”, 230 lb., Fr.) should push Putnam for playing time. Bryson is one of those guys that brings added athleticism to the defense. He was a sack master in high school and showed good promise this spring.

Jadon Wagner (6’4”, 264 lb., Jr.) and Remmington Peck (6’4”, 240 lb., Fr.) provide additional depth at defensive end. The Cougars add two outstanding freshman to the mix in Tayo Fabuluje (6’6”, 255 lb., Fr.) and Graham Rowley (6’4”, 270 lb., Fr.) when fall camp kicks off.