BYU's Bernard makes 'exciting, thrilling' move from RB to LB


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PROVO — Francis Bernard came into BYU his freshman season and had a solid impact as a running back.

But he felt like he could do more at linebacker, where he played most of his snaps at Herriman High School.

The coaches agreed.

The 6-foot-1, 230-pound running back who returned from a two-year mission for the LDS Church in Atlanta last year was one of a handful of full-time position changes as BYU continued spring practices Thursday under new head coach Kalani Sitake.

"It's been exciting, it's been thrilling, but there's a lot of new things that come with it," said Bernard, who ran for 334 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman. "But for the most part, it's been fun."

First-year defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki compared Bernard to middle linebackers Harvey Langi and Fred Warner in a lot of ways — athletic, long linebackers who can play in the middle of the field and on the edge, if needed.

But Tuiaki said Bernard's position doesn't matter. The sophomore from Herriman could have a good career almost anywhere on the field. Bernard's first collegiate carry went for 13 yards in BYU's offensive struggle during a loss at Michigan, proving he could have success at running back, even under adverse circumstances.

"Francis would be successful whether he's playing running back or linebacker; he's that type of athlete," Tuiaki said. "It's just what the team decided, and we felt like he would add more by going there. But he would be a weapon regardless of the side of the ball he's on. He's a really good player."

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake watches players during practice in Provo, March 1, 2016. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake watches players during practice in Provo, March 1, 2016. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)

Bernard isn't the only Cougar to change positions at the start of spring practices, but he is one of the most high-profile. His switch also seems to be more permanent than many others. Cornerback Micah Hannemann, for example, was practicing with the safeties Thursday, but Tuiaki said that was much for cross-training purposes, and it's still undecided if his switch will become permanent.

"Right now, there are a couple of hybrid guys that we're deciding if we'll end up leaving them there or moving them back," Tuiaki said. "(Hannemann) is one of those guys in the secondary."

As usual, the switches go both directions across the line of scrimmage.

"Micah Simon looked really good at receiver," Sitake said of one move. "I know how (assistant head coach) Ed (Lamb) and E (Tuiaki) think, and they'll try to look at the receivers as possible DBs. The linemen look bigger than when we first got here, but it's still a work in progress."

It's still the first week of spring, but it may be hard to pull Bernard back to the offense, Sitake admitted.

"There are a lot of players that could project to other positions. It's still a work in progress, but we had some really good things that we saw," he said. "Francis Bernard looked really good at linebacker. I don't think Tuiaki will be willing to give him up anytime soon."

That's not to say it's been all easy in the first three days of spring football. Bernard and the rest of the defense have been adapting to a new scheme Tuiaki calls "multiple and aggressive," as opposed to the every-down 3-4 defense used by Bronco Mendenhall and the previous coaching staff.

"More than anything, on the defensive side you have to react more," Bernard said. "On offense, they give you a set path of what to do. On defense, you can come in on different formations and you have to check out of it or react to other guys."

BYU spring football

Tuiaki has made the transition a little easier, Bernard added. The Polynesian brotherhood has had strong success early in the new staff's tenure, and the coaches have been open and downright jovial at times — even leaving their doors at the football offices open to invite players in to talk at a moment's notice.

"He's awesome. He's funny, he's Polynesian, and we can joke around," Bernard said. "It's nice.

"The cool thing is we can hang out with them whenever we want. It's been light, it's been funny, and we're enjoying it."

The position change isn't the only new thing for Bernard. The ex-running back also traded in his No. 36 jersey from a year ago for the No. 13. Bernard wore the "unlucky" number all through high school, but Chase Andersen's senior year gave him priority in 2015.

Now the No. 13 white jersey belongs to Bernard. It's a change from the blue of a year ago, but Bernard hopes the unlucky number he made lucky in four years with the Mustangs will bode well for his transition back to defense.

Unless the coaches need him at another position, of course.

"Where ever I am needed," Bernard said. "Where ever I can make plays and help the team, it's all that matters."

Listen to postpractice interviews with Bernard, Tuiaki and other players and coaches in the "Cougar Cuts" section below.

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