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PROVO -- The BYU defensive front has received a lot of praise for their hard nose, grid-iron style of play. But the defensive backs have had their fair share of drive-stopping plays as well.
Over the years BYU's defensive backfield has earned the reputation, fair or not, of not being athletic enough to stop a vertical passing game and of having the propensity of giving up big plays. If the Cougars' couldn't get to the quarterback, the opposition could easily and consistently move down the field. Hence, BYU's knack for simply outscoring teams with its high-flying offense.
With Bronco Mendenhall running the defense and with Nick Howell in his second year as secondary coach, the Cougar defensive backs are slowly changing that perception and showing they can hold their own against good passing attacks.
There have been as many as 10 different defensive backs for BYU that have seen some amount of playing time. Here is a look at the highest impact players of the bunch.
Travis Uale - At 6 feet 2 inches tall and 199 pounds, Uale is a position leader, and team leader. Through four games he is already known as a vicious hitter that hones in on opposing receivers (ask Utah's DeVonte Christopher) and has a nose for the ball. Along with his hard hits, the senior free safety from Hawaii has one interception and several pass breakups. "The thing I'm most impressed about Travis is his teaching of the other guys and his willingness to help the other guys," said Howell. "Travis is very smart."
Daniel Sorensen - This 6-foot 2-inch, 206 pound sophomore has a lot on his plate getting back his "missionary legs" and being the heir apparent to former BYU great Andrew Rich. Sorensen is as much a hard-hitter as Uale is and isn't afraid to fill a gap on run plays evident by his team-leading 21 tackles, 12 of which are unassisted; Sorensen also an interception and a fumble recovery. This strong safety has a very promising future for BYU football.
"You both have to be physical and agile and be able to cover the guys, that position requires a lot of physical athleticism," said Sorensen on the Kat position. "With hard work and the right preparation, you can go in there and make plays and be an athlete and dominate on the field."
Joe Sampson - Sampson may be small (5-feet 10-inches tall) compared to the receivers he lines up against, but he is a tough, instinctive corner that adds a great dynamic to the BYU defensive backfield and provides confidence for his coaching staff.
"Joe is learning the culture. In order to play BYU Bronco Mendenhall defense it takes a tremendous amount of effort. It's unlike anywhere you could go in the country. It requires a great amount of work," said Howell. "He's got great sense, he's got good athleticism."
A cousin to former BYU defensive back Brian Logan, Sampson looks to continue the family legacy for the Cougars. Sampson has been a great presence in the opponents' backfield with two tackles for a total loss of 12 yards. With that, he is also the only BYU defensive back with a sack (against the fast and athletic Central Florida quarterback).
The junior DB also picked off a crucial pass against Central Florida to preserve a hard-fought win.
"We just have to go out there and just do our best. We know if we play our best, we'll be hard to beat," said Sampson. "I believe that hard work pays off, and I've been working a long time for this opportunity."
Preston Hadley - Hadley has been somewhat of a surprise with his production as a boundary corner in the Cougar secondary. The junior from Pleasant Grove High School has come on strong for BYU's defense. With 11 tackles and four pass breakups, Hadley is quickly becoming the defensive back on the side opposing quarterbacks don't want to throw to. Working with BYU's tall and talented receivers is something that Hadley doesn't take for granted. "I think we have a lot of talented receivers. Definitely you can tell they've been working, their routes are a lot better," said Hadley. "Cody [Hoffman] and I sometimes yap a lot. It's fun to make each other look bad."
Corby Eason - The senior is right behind Sorensen in tackles with a whopping 17, a high number for a cornerback through four games, showcasing his willingness and ability to play against effectively the run. Eason is only 5-feet 8-inches tall so opposing offenses target him with their taller receivers, but Eason is physical and does a good job positioning himself to battle the bigger, taller ball-catchers, similar to how a guard would defend a center in basketball. Eason has six pass breakups and a forced fumble on the year.
As for the others in the BYU secondary, they provide great depth.
Carter Mees - The junior has contributed to the defense with three tackles, all of which are solo. Mees has shown progression throughout spring and fall camp, and will be an impact defensive back as the season goes on.
DeQuan Everett - The junior college transfer has great size for a defensive back (6-feet 3-inches, 205 pounds), but has yet to see any significant playing time. However, as he continues to work hard and progress in practice you can expect his time on the field to increase.
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