PROVO — Micah Hannemann's return to the BYU defensive backfield was a breath of fresh air for the Cougars this week, but not just because it meant more talent and depth in the secondary.

Hannemann's return to practice after missing the first week of fall camp meant the sophomore defensive back had a clean bill of health — including being cancer-free. The the 6-foot, 185-pound Hannemann went in for testing and treatment for a minor knee injury over the summer, but magnetic resonance imaging showed signs of a possible cancer, he said.

"There was a little cancer scare, but it wasn't a big deal," Hannemann said after Thursday's practice. "They were just trying to be extra safe to make sure nothing is there."

Thanks to a specialist at the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, Hannemann was cleared and returned to practice on Monday. Even his knee feels fine, he said.

"They cleared me a couple of days ago from anything. Now I'm just working with a sore knee, but it feels good," Hannemann added.

Hannemann played in eight games as a freshman in 2012, recording one tackle against Weber State, before serving a mission for the LDS Church in Carlsbad, California. The former Deseret News all-state first-team member helped Lone Peak win the 2011 Class 5A state football championship. He also lettered in baseball and track.

The recently returned missionary started to turn heads during spring football and he's now tasked with playing catchup, having missed the first week of fall camp. Part of that task includes cross-training at free safety and his normal cornerback position.

"We're training him at both. Some of our corners are playing better than we had anticipated and we have a little more depth there," head coach Bronco Mendenhall said of Hannemann. "If that happens, our nickel (and) dime package could benefit."

At safety, Hannemann is learning to better read the playcalling — rather than focusing exclusively on one side of the field, as he did at cornerback.

"Mentally, I feel more comfortable at corner because I've been playing that and the assignment more. But then physically, I feel like more of a safety because of my footwork and size," he said. "I just need to get the mental part down at safety."

Hanneman's return also corresponded with safety Kai Nacua's cross-training at cornerback, and they have been seen helping each other learn the new positions.

Related Story:

Camp Cougar: Rest day, river outing boost BYU football

BYU football hit the 11th day of fall camp Thursday with a refreshed outlook following its first day off to ride inner tubes down the Provo River on Wednesday afternoon. It was a good day to take off, reaping immediate benefits, according to special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach Kelly Poppinga.

"We're short on corners right now, because some guys are getting hurt," Nacua said. "That's fall camp; it's a short change, but it was fun."

The secondary, which has been criticized by outside sources and pundits, is quickly congealing as a unit.

"I think it's more of a feeling. I know myself and a couple other guys just feel more connected," Nacua said. "Everyone is wanting to be together all the time, and just do stuff together."

Having Hanneman back in that secondary is good news for Mendenhall — both for football and personal reasons.

"They gave him a clean bill of health, and everything is good," Mendenhall said. "I don't know exactly what it was, other than there was a doctor that was super credible there and it put to rest everything."

Related topics