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PROVO — Even with a new defensive coordinator, the old cliche of "flying around and making plays" barely begins to describe what Tyler Batty hopes to do in BYU's first year under defensive coordinator Jay Hill.
The 6-foot-5 junior from Payson woke up choosing violence.
"They're going to let the dogs loose. That's what's going to happen," Batty said during Big 12 media days. "The handcuffs are off, and it's time to play ball and get after the quarterback. It's time to blow stuff up in the backfield. People are going to see a completely different defense.
"I don't want to say too much, but believe me, there will be plenty of pass rush. And I'm stoked more than anybody about it."
Fast forward to the opening days of training camp during Hill's first summer at BYU, and the long time Weber State head coach who recently shrunk his commute "from 80 minutes to eight minutes" with a move to Utah County was already at work putting his own brand on the Cougars' defense.
Speed. Violence. Grit.
Hill can use a lot of buzzwords when asked about his defensive philosophy; his players will give some, too. But more than anything, he's seeing the foundation of what he wants his defensive philosophy to be, and it starts with one thing.
"The thing that is obvious to me right now is we've got a bunch of guys that care, that want to do things right, that go hard," said Hill, who is also the Cougars' associate head coach. "That's a great place to start, and I think it's where most great defenses will build. I thought the organization and attention to detail was very good."
The 22-year college football coach who spent nearly a decade at Utah with head coach Kalani Sitake (and offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick) spent the last nine seasons at Weber State. He transformed a program that won four total games in the two seasons prior to his arrival and led the Wildcats to eight straight winning seasons, six FCS playoff appearances and four Big Sky titles.
Weber State's all-time winningest coach with a record of 68-39 often did it with a team that finished in the top 30 nationally in total defense and scoring defense for five straight seasons, including a top-20 team in third-down conversion defense, pass efficiency defense, passing yards allowed, rushing defense and scoring defense as recently as 2021.
In BYU, Hill takes over a defense that ranked 94th nationally in total defense in the Football Bowl Subdivision and 97th in scoring defense.
But the former Utah defensive back went to the transfer portal and brought in nine total newcomers to the secondary, seven at linebacker and six on the defensive line, to add to a group of returning starters like Batty, Atunaisa Mahe, Ben Bywater, Max Tooley, Micah Harper and Malik Moore (among others).
Eddie Heckard and Kamden Garrett, two multiyear senior starters from Weber State; Isaiah Bagnah and Jackson Cravens from Boise State; AJ Vongphachanh from Utah State.
Very quickly, Hill's energy and aggression started rubbing off on his players as he ran to each player after a big play, slapped palms, told them to "let it rip," and even learned how to (sort of?) dance to celebrate with them.
"Coach Hill is a high energy and high expectations type of guy," Batty told Sirius XM radio. "It's exactly what we needed. The biggest shift on defense has been just that, to up the ante a little bit more. He's asking a little bit more of the defense. And in return, he's giving a little bit back to the guys.
"This fall, we're going to see a much different defense from BYU than our fans have seen in the past few years. It will be a lot more aggressive."
That energy comes from his "love of the game" — something Hill hopes rubs off on his players, he says.
"I love the game when the game is played the right way," Hill said. "Excitement, energy, passion; I hope they pick up on all that. But also the details of it.
"You don't have to be the most athletic guy to be a great player," he added. "You've got to be detailed, you've got to be disciplined, you've got to outsmart your opponent. And a lot of times you've got to out-work those guys. I hope they take on all of those details of what I think it requires to be a great player."
Of course, aggression and rushing the passer requires a lot on the back four, as well. Harper, a redshirt sophomore who rates as the fifth-highest graded safety among returners in the Big 12 by Pro Football Focus, is ready for the challenge, along with his teammates in the secondary.
"It's a challenge for both the front seven and the defensive backs," he said. "We're expecting the front seven to get some nice pressure on the quarterback and they're trusting us to lock it in on the back end as well."
Hill has high expectations for his defense. But none higher than his players.
"No. 1 defense in the country," Harper deadpanned when asked what he wants the defense to be known for, a sneaky smile spreading across his lips.
"At the end of the day, if we play our best ball, it will be hard for offenses to score on us," he added.
