Noticed or not, BYU’s Troy Warner earning dues as defensive leader

PROVO — Troy Warner has been a guiding light on the BYU defense since he arrived on campus as an early enrollee freshman, a time that nearly coincided with head coach Kalani Sitake's first season with the Cougars.

The senior from the San Diego area has been about as stalwart of a defensive back as the Cougars have had, despite injuries and a range of changes that have shifted him between safety and cornerback. But he’s also been there, done his job, and usually been there to lock down an opponents' top target.

Sometimes, though, that lockdown mentality hasn’t gotten him noticed — at least, not as much as he should be.

Warner made sure to be noticed Friday night.

The senior had his first career interception in a BYU uniform in the Cougars' 45-14 win over Louisiana Tech, a win that kept the 22nd-ranked Cougars undefeated at 3-0 in a his fifth season in the program.

And while Sitake was happy to recognize Warner for what could be seen — that pick, namely — he also was quick to point out what the younger brother of 49ers linebacker Fred Warner means to the program, namely in things that aren’t seen by fans, the media or most everyone outside the walls of the Student Athlete Building.

"I’m so happy for Troy and the things he’s been able to do," Sitake said. "The one thing he’s always been able to do is be a great leader for the team. It was easy for him to transition into that role.

"The stuff you see on the field is only part of the value you see in him. … I’m in his debt for the things he’s been able to do for us."

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Warner who wears No. 4 like his brother before him also had three tackles and an assisted tackle for loss.

But it will be the interception, a first-quarter pick that helped the Cougars lock down a Louisiana Tech offense that averaged 49.5 points in two games prior to Friday. It wasn’t Warner’s first interception — it wasn’t even his first of the game.

But it was the first that finally counted, after an early pick on LA Tech quarterback Luke Anthony was waved off by an offside penalty.

"I got a little excited about that first one, but it is what it is," Warner admitted. "Then the next drive out, we let up a big play. It starts with me, I take responsibility, but I made up for it. I knew I had to make a big play."

Five plays after Warner’s first interception was called back, the Bulldogs (2-1) scored its first touchdown, equalizing on Anthony’s 66-yard run-and-shoot to Smoke Harris to knot the score at 7-all.

But the San Marcos, California, native wasn’t going to let that happen again. He ended Tech's very next drive after just three plays. The Cougars opened the second quarter with Zach Wilson’s 22-yard touchdown strike to Carter Wheat, and BYU never looked back.

BYU’s offense gets plenty of credit for the Cougars' fast start to the season — as well they should, having outscored their first three opponents 148-24. But don’t overlook the Cougars' defense, which has 20 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and a pair of interceptions a year after combing for 17 sacks in all of 2019.

"What we’re doing as a defense speaks for itself," Warner said. "We pride ourselves on being a stingy defense. This is ingrained in BYU football every year I can remember.

"It’s a defense full of guys with short-term memories. If something bad happens, it’s on to the next play."

While they don’t always feature most prominently on the stat sheet, that defense starts with guys like Warner and fellow senior Zayne Anderson — guys who do their busy, and their jobs, to pave the way for guys like Khyiris Tonga, Zac Dawe and Tyler Batty, who became the first BYU defender with three sacks in a game since Bronson Kaufusi in 2015.

"What a selfish kid — I love it," Sitake quipped of Batty. "As long as he keeps doing that, we’re going to be good. … We knew he would be something special when we recruited him."

It starts with leadership — the critical component that is nearly impossible to see. But on some occasions, it makes itself visible, like it did Friday night for a few moments with Warner.

"I feel like it’s my responsibility; I’ve been a starter for a few years now, and I feel like it’s part of my responsibility to hold guys accountable, to do what I can to make this team the best team possible," he said.

"At the end of the day, it’s trying to make guys be better. And that’s the goal; we’re trying to be great this year."

No. 22 BYU 45, Louisiana Tech 22

BYU defensive standouts

Troy Warner — 1 interception, 3 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss

Tyler Batty — 6 tackles, 3 sacks

Keenan Pili — 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss

Max Tooley — 4 tackles, 1 interception

Related topics