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PROVO — Team sports are thick with bonds — links forged between teammates, coaches and fans of a given team or school.
For incoming BYU freshman Troy Warner, though, the “bond of brotherhood” is literal.
Warner is the younger brother of BYU linebacker Fred Warner, who played a key role in the recruitment of a Southern California star's move to BYU and helped younger brother bypass offers from USC, UCLA, Cal, Oregon and other high-profile schools and enroll in January.
“It’s just a big blessing that not many people have,” Troy Warner said of BYU. “My brother’s here, so my comfort level is really high. It’s great being around my teammates. They are also a brotherhood. The atmosphere is awesome.”
Warner was a two-way standout at Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, California, the same school as his older brother, before the four-star recruit took his talents to Provo. When he enrolled, his athleticism impressed new head coach Kalani Sitake so much that there was talk of allowing him to play both wide receiver and cornerback for the Cougars.
For now, though, Warner is focusing on the defensive side of the ball. He’s slotted into the top of the depth chart at cornerback, allowing former starting DB Micah Hannemann to make the full-time move to starting free safety.
Warner’s move has been a blessing for a loaded BYU defense that returned most of its starters from last season.
“Micah is a natural for that position,” safeties coach Ed Lamb said. “He has the skills to play corner and the physicality to play safety, which is exactly what we need out of our strong safety in the system we are running.”
If Warner needs help transitioning to college life and college football, all he has to do is look over his shoulder — to linebacker Fred Warner. The brothers share living spaces in Provo, as well, and football isn’t the only area of their lives where competition reigns supreme.
Video games. Basketball. Even household chores. Fred and Troy Warner are always competing against each other.
“Every day, we are arguing about something,” Troy Warner said with a laugh. “That just comes along with the competitiveness that we have. It just comes out on the field.”
For his part, Fred Warner doesn’t begrudge his little brother — even when the new guy is called over to interview with the press and big brother stands in the background.
“Troy is a very good player, and there are times when he’s gotten more attention that I have,” Fred Warner said. “But it’s been fun. I don’t look back and wish he wasn’t here. I’m so grateful that he’s here, because not many people get this opportunity.”
Still, the elder Warner makes sure little brother knows who is in charge — like when they power up the Xbox to play FIFA.
Troy Warner doesn’t mind; it’s all part of the college experience, one he gets to live with his best friend and sibling.
“He’s been very successful here,” Troy said of Fred, “and I’d be lucky to follow in his path and do what he has done.”
PADS UP — Monday was the first day of shoulder pads for BYU, per NCAA rules regarding heat acclimatization.
But the physicality was already top-notch.
“I liked seeing the O-line and D-line battle on the line of scrimmage,” Sitake said. “Now we get to see what real football is going to look like with our offensive scheme.
“I think overall, it was a really good day.”
BYU will introduce full pads to end the first full week of practice, and plans to scrimmage Saturday with a significant amount of live play-calling. But if Monday was an indication, that won’t be an issue.
“I’m glad we don’t have to teach too much of the physical part,” Sitake added. “It’s ingrained in these young men. They want to hit. They want to play.”
LONG SNAPPER CALL-UP — Among the missing players in the first week of fall camp was long snapper Matt Foley, the sophomore from Temecula Valley, California, who is known for his tattoo depicting him in a BYU jersey.
Foley picked up a minor injury in the offseason, but Lamb, who the special teams coordinator and assistant head coach, doesn’t expect him out for long.
“Matt’s got a temporary injury that is going to hold him out for a few days,” Lamb said. “But right now it looks like he’ll be back before the end of training camp and at full speed.”
True freshman Britton Hogan, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound specialist, has replaced Foley on the current 105-player roster for fall camp. The Olympus High graduate initially intended to grayshirt the upcoming fall semester before leaving on a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but curtailed his plans when Foley picked up his knock.
“He’s giving us a competitive run at long snapper,” Lamb said of Hogan. “He’s doing a good job. The confidence is coming more daily. When we turned him loose today, he took a big step forward.”
