A month after the end -of -the -season stroke of the Defense of Defense byu against Colorado in the Bowl of Alamo, the unit of the coordinator Jay Hill continues to harvest the fruits of a Exceptional 2024 campaign.
The most important development may be that it seems that the three starting seconds – Isaiah Glasker, Jack Kelly and Harrison Taggart – plan to come back for more heroic in 2025. Add solid backups such as Ace Kaufusi, Miles Hall and SIALE ESERA, and this could be considered the group of seconds most talented and talented in the history of football byu.
“Well, we have great players (returning),” said Hill last week at “Sports Nation” in Byutv. “Keep these guys (was a priority). Jack is a good example. (He) is so important to us and our future successes and all that. We have to keep the guys who helped build it, and Jack is one of those guys. »»
There was also a question about future Glasker plans – he was not involved in the podium after Win the defensive game of the game of the game Prize- But the converted security appeared in the basketball match last Saturday at the Marriott Center with other team leaders when the football team was honored for its season and Kalani Sitake and Jake Retzlaff spoke to The crowd.
This is probably a good sign for cougars.
How good was byu’s defense in 2024? It was easily one of the best in the history of the program, given the quality of the competition – 11 of the 13 enemies were Power Four Schools – and what end of season statistics revealed.
Byu finished 13th in total defense, granting 308.8 yards per match. He was 18th in score defense, granting only 19.62 points per game.
In addition, 12 different players recorded interceptions for Byu in 2024, and the cougars linked to Texas for most of the country’s interceptions, with 22. Texas played 16 games, byu 13, therefore in petrol Byu led the nation as a choice per game.
What will he do for a reminder?
“We know we have not arrived. We have large pieces to return to the puzzle. I expect next year to be better than this year, “said Hill on Byutv. “So, is it sustainable?” I don’t know. You cannot continue to climb so high before there is no more points to climb. But I like where we are and we are heading in the right direction. »»
Another area where the Defense of Byu was ranked among the best in the country was the defense of the team’s efficiency. The cougars ranked n ° 3 in the country in this category, keeping the opposing passers -by on a passage rating of pass of 105.91.
Hill has credited the second coach Justin Ena, the half-back coach Jernaro Gilford, the defensive line coaches Sione Po’uha and Kelly Poppinguga and the main analysts Chad Kauha’aha’a and Gary Andersen for a large part Defense’s success, then reminded everyone that “it’s all the players” when the games must be made, the games must be won.
“I have phenomenal assistant coaches on our side of the ball,” said Hill. “These guys are phenomenal. … I really think we have the best defensive staff in the country, and I am lucky to be with these guys. They help me be much better.
With the start of spring training at about a month, here are the news from Deseret ‘ Annual look of a pre-resort ball by the defensive depth of Byu for the 2025 season.
Secondary must be solid again
Jakob Robinson and Marque Collins will be missed, but byu returns a multitude of half-corner half who contributed a lot in 2024. These returneurs include Evan Johnson (who had an interception in 36-14 victory on Colorado), be Alexander, Jayden Dunlap, Jonathan. Kabeya and, perhaps, Mory Bamba.
Hill told the “sports nation” in BYUTV that Bamba could be able to apply the new exemption from the Junior College of Diego Pavia’s decision and “hope” to recover a year. Hill said he and Gilford did not seek the corners in the transfer portal because they like what they come back to this position.
“I think it is important that these guys have the opportunity to develop and prove to us that they can be beginners,” said Hill. “I prefer to continue to recruit high school students and develop those we have here. And there are guys who can really play. … We need them to develop. I think that with them having the opportunity to prove who they are, they can do it. »»
Hill’s own security room has witnessed certain departures, such as Crew Wakley was transferred to PurdueAnd Micah Harper left for Montana, each with a year of eligibility to stay. But there is a lot of talent and a decent amount of experience with which Hill can work.
Free, senior Tanner Wall, which won the academic honors of the first All-American teamAnd some highly appreciated amounts in second year, Faletau Satuala and Tommy Prassas, give Hill a lot of options in this very important position.
In complete safety, Raider Damuni admirably completed when Wakley was injured and missed the Arizona state match and the Bowl match. Veteran Talan Alfrey is also in the mixture there.
Defensive line reinforced by adding transfer portal
The only defensive unit which obviously needed help from the transfer portal was the defensive line, and the cougars obtained immediate aid in the form of Utah Transfer Keanu TanuvasaTexas Transfer Tausili Akana and southern Utah Transfer Anisi Purcell. Fork Clegg’s former Hunter Out of Competition also heads to Provo, after having signed with Utah before a church mission.
“The transfers we have obtained are those we think we know everything, and we know you can play and can integrate into Byu,” said Hill. “… We are so excited by Keanu (Tanuvasa), and all he represents, and the player he is and the person he is. This is the most important thing. He is a phenomenal young man. »»
Part-time starter Logan Lutui receives a year of eligibility for a medical exemption, a spokesperson for Byu Football confirmed.
Seniors Joshua Singh, Luke To’omalatai and John Taumoepeau, Bodie Schoonover and Sanimia, are also expected.
“These guys (return) look good right now in their training sessions. I am delighted to see them in Spring Ball, ”said Hill.
Snow College Transfer David Latu Hit the gate and land at Boisse State.
Byu improved slightly by opposing the opposing quarters in 2024, recording 20 bags in 13 games. It was better in 2023, but ranked the country’s 108th cougars in the team bags (1.54 per game), tied with Washington and Virginie-Western. Replacing the potential choice of NFL Draft Tyler Batty will not be easy.
“I feel good in this group. We have returneurs who have played a lot. We have young people there. They are the future of the program and they need an opportunity to prove that they can be, “said Hill. “We lose critical guys, of course. … But our guys will intervene. I think they will play very well.
Byu was 33rd in the country in precipitated defense, granting 126.3 yards per game on the field. It was also an opportunistic defense, forcing 29 reversals.
Only participants in the CFP Notre Dame (32 in 15 games) and Texas (31 in 16 games) forced more turnarounds than cougars. Byu was 24th on the sidelines of turnover at more.
The seconds will open the way – again
Obtaining the aforementioned Glasker and Kelly, the back, the cougars ” Linerbackers Corps took earlier this month when the brothers Aisea and Sione Moa hit the transfer portal. Aisea signed with Michigan State.
The coaches remain high Old recruit four stars SIALE ESERAwhich will have 2024 like a RedShirt year because it appeared in four games before the Bowl match. He had a bag against the buffaloes. Former High Star Mile Hall Skyline is also to watch, having shone in the ASU match with six plated and a forced escape.
“The objective will always be to be defense n ° 1 in Big 12. And we did this this year. I think we led in fewer points (against), yards and reversals, “said Hill. “The main and key categories, we led the Big 12 in. … But we have areas where we can get better – third conversions, the red zone.”
Indeed, the cougars were only 85th as a conversion percentage in third advance, allowing opponents to convert on 41.1% of their chances. Byu was 46th in defense of the red zone, while the opponents marked on 80.4% of their overvoltages inside the 20 yards line.
Byu Project 2025 Defensive Depth Depth Chart
Defensive line
Defensive end of the sides (se)
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Bodie Schoonover – 6-3, 265, Jr.
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Viliami Po’uha – 6-3, 260, SO.
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Tausili Akana – 6-4, 215, so.
Tackle
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Luke to’omalatai, 6-2, 315, Sr.
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Joshua Singh – 6-0, 285, Sr.
Defensive tackle
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Keanu Tanuvasa – 6-4, 300, Jr.
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John Taumoepeau – 6-2, 285, Sr.
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Sani Tuala – 6-5, 260, SO.
Outdoor defensive end (OE)
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Logan Lutui – 6-2, 255, Sr.
-
Ephraim Asiata – 6-3, 210, SO.
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Anisi Purcell – 6-3, 250, Jr.
Seconds
Second outside (rover)
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Jack Kelly – 6-2, 240, Sr.
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Ace Kaufusi – 6-4, 230, Jr.
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Miles Hall – 6-1, 230, SO.
Strong secondary (SAM)
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Isaiah Glasker – 6-5, 235, Jr.
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Choe Bryant-Strother-6-3, 235, Sr.
Second of the middle (Mack)
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Harrison Taggart – 6-1, 235, Jr.
-
SIALE ESERA – 6-3, 245, SO.
Corner
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Mory Bamba – 6-3, 195, Sr.
-
Marcus McKenzie – 5-11, 172, Jr.
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Evan Johnson – 6-0, 180, Jr.
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Therrian “tre” Alexander III – 6-2, 170, so.
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Jayden Dunlap – 6-0, 180, Sr.
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Jonathan Kabeya – 5-10, 173, so.
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Ethan Slade – 6-0, 195, Sr.
Security
High safety
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Raider Damuni, 6-10, 200, Jr.
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Talan Alfrey – 6-2, 205, Sr.
Free security
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Tanner Wall – 6-1, 200, Sr.
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Faletau Sattuala – 6-4, 200, SO.
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Tommy Prassas – 6-2, 190, SO.
Specialists
Kicker
Bettor
Cleaning turn turntable
Kick
