BYU defenders look ahead to Longhorns


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PROVO — The BYU Cougars ended their second weekday of Texas prep Tuesday morning, with defensive coaches and players meeting the media and previewing a key weekend meeting in Austin.

Saturday's matchup is highly anticipated by Cougar and Longhorn fans alike. While a win on Texas' home turf could have national ramifications for BYU, defensive coordinator Nick Howell says he tries not to look too far past the opponent.

"It doesn't matter. All that matters is what we can control, and that's doing our jobs the best we can," Howell said. "Every week is a one-week season. Nothing else matters … at practice; everything that we do is put into this game right here. That's what matters."

With the news that veteran Texas QB David Ash will be out for Saturday's game, the Cougars now set their sights on sophomore Tyrone Swoopes who will make his first collegiate career start against BYU.

Despite an inexperienced QB at the helm, the Cougars still expect the Longhorns to provide a stern challenge this week. Howell says the two quarterbacks have a similar style of play, and the absence of Ash will not affect BYU's game plan.

"It doesn't matter if he's a backup," linebacker Jherremya Leuta-Douyere said. "He's still a good player. We watched him in the spring game and he's a playmaker."

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The BYU defensive unit will be reinforced on Saturday, with the defensive backs Rob Daniel and Jordan Johnson, and nose tackle Marques Johnson after one-game suspensions (running back Jamaal Williams and wide receiver Devon Blackmon will also be back).

Howell says Daniel will start at boundary corner and expects Michael Davis to start at field corner. Johnson and Jordan Preator will rotate in as needed.

Saturday's game will also see the debut of sophomore linebacker Harvey Langi. Langi is coming off a knee injury he sustained in fall camp, but Howell is confident he'll be healthy enough to play against Texas.

Leuta-Douyere says he is currently practicing with the first-string at buck linebacker alongside Zac Stout, but that's subject to change as the week progresses. Leuta-Douyere forced a fumble against UCONN on Friday that resulted in a TD on the next play.

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One of the Longhorns' biggest threats is in their run game. With senior Malcom Brown and junior Johnathan Grey leading the charge for UT, the Cougars will have their hands full defending the run, but that's something sophomore nose tackle Travis Tuiloma says he's ready to handle.

"Personally, that's one of my favorite parts of a game is the run defense, so I'm up for the challenge, and they're gonna see something else," Tuiloma said.

After last season's decisive BYU victory over the Longhorns in Provo, the Cougars know they have a target on their backs, but they aren't letting that affect their preparation.

"It's doesn't matter who's on the other side of the field, whatever color they're wearing," Leuta-Douyere said. "Our goal is to go out there and dominate and play BYU football."

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