Patrick Kinahan: BYU coaches pushing NFL for players


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PROVO — Both freshmen last season, Troy Warner and Dayan Ghanwoloku performed admirably well at the difficult position of cornerback for the BYU football team.

Benefitting from their significant playing experience, they will go into next season as the projected starting cornerbacks. But as good as each is, if all goes according to plan, neither player can expect to have a long-term future at the position.

Eventually, Warner and Ghanwoloku, who changed his last name from Lake in the offseason, probably will be moved to the safety positions. The switch is part of the new regime’s desire to give players the best opportunity to showcase their skills to NFL teams.

The BYU coaches believe Warner and Ghanwoloku could have futures in the NFL playing safety. For now, or until players such as Chris Wilcox further develop, the two will continue to play cornerback.

“I think that (playing safety in the NFL is) their best shot,” said defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki. “We want to give them their best shot.

“For us, it makes sense for their future.”

It also makes sense for BYU. More NFL-caliber players benefit the program in the present and future. Under second-year coach Kalani Sitake, the goal is to put as many Cougars in the NFL as possible.

In recent years, under coach Bronco Mendenhall, BYU didn’t put many players in the NFL. Mendenhall gave mixed messages regarding the NFL, saying he wanted to help his players make the league but at the same time speaking of the negative aspects of playing professionally.

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The greater emphasis on getting Cougars into the NFL was on display last week during Pro Day for last season’s graduating seniors. BYU went to great lengths to welcome NFL personnel to campus.

“Yes, it’s an emphasis,” said assistant head coach Ed Lamb. “If we’re getting guys to the NFL, it means that we’re doing the best that we can of recruiting, developing and motivating guys. There are countless players that I can remember in my time playing here and then in my time coaching everywhere that I’ve been, countless players who could have made it but didn’t have the right motivation.

“Coaches weren’t able to get through to them. So it’s a real challenge for us to inspire those guys to be the best they can be and then provide them all the resources, from nutrition, to work ethic, to tactical, to technical — everything that they’re going to need in order to help them advance.”

Lamb spoke on the importance of Pro Day, noting NFL scouts know BYU treats them well. In turn, future recruits will know that BYU coaches will do whatever is necessary for their players to reach the NFL, even if it means switching positions.

“A Division I scholarship athlete at any level of football should have a goal to make it to the NFL,” Lamb said. “That doesn’t mean it’s to the detriment of their academic life, just like it doesn’t mean it’s to the detriment of their spiritual life or their social life or any other thing. We all have hundreds of priorities in our lives. We don’t always have to sacrifice one for the other. I think pro football should be an aspiration for every guy. We always want to operate as a coaching staff to help them reach that.”


About the Author: Patrick Kinahan ---------------------------------

Patrick is a radio host for 97.5/1280 The Zone and the Zone Sports Network. He, along with David James, are on the air Monday-Friday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m.

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