Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
PROVO — Tanner Wall breathed a sigh, as of in relief.
The rising fifth-year senior at BYU didn't have a reason to be nervous, but the converted wide receiver-turned-safety was asked about the role of the linebackers in coordinator Jay Hill's defense.
Did it make his job — the one that amassed 53 tackles and three interceptions on a team that collected 29 turnovers, the third-most in the Football Bowl Subdivision — in a top-25 defense a little easier?
Wall took a breathe, smiled and nodded.
"When those guys are filling their gaps and getting depth underneath the intermediate routes, it's a lot easier on the back end to just do my job," Wall said. "I really appreciate all that they do."
There's been a lot of talk about BYU linebackers since the Cougars wrapped up spring practices before the first weekend of April. Since then, the transfer portal has come calling for BYU, like with most schools in the FBS.
The portal giveth, and the portal taketh away.
At BYU, that includes the program's strongest position group, where Harrison Taggart put his name in the portal, alongside a handful of younger linebackers like Carson Suesue and edge rusher Porter Small as the Cougars try to navigate roster limits under the forthcoming House settlement.
Taggart was likely a starter in BYU's defense, a rising redshirt junior from Corner Canyon who came to BYU after a brief stay at Oregon. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound gap filler was one of the Cougars' most sure tacklers a year ago, racking up 69 stops and 2.5 tackles for loss with an interception and four passes defended.
But when asked about the former top-40 linebacker recruit's decision to enter the portal — where he recently committed to Cal over Colorado and North Carolina State — returning linebacker Jack Kelly didn't have much to say, either.
The fifth-year senior out of Kearns High by way of Weber State is also a projected starter, having passed on a chance to declare for the NFL draft to run it back one more year with the Cougars. When it comes to Taggart, Kelly has nothing but best wishes for his former teammate.
"He did what he needed to do at BYU," Kelly told BYUtv last week in St. George. "He balled out and bought into this program; but at the end of the day, he had to do what's best for him.
"We have a great linebacker corps, and people are going to step up," he added. "We have plenty of guys who are going to come in and play that role."
In addition to "Sack Kelly," so nicknamed for the 10.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss he accumulated as a redshirt sophomore at Weber State prior to transferring to BYU, the Cougars also return starter Isaiah Glasker.
The former Bingham High standout was the Alamo Bowl defensive MVP after totaling 70 tackles, 42 solo stops, 14.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and three interceptions as a redshirt sophomore.
He also trusts linebackers coach Justin Ena and the Cougars' depth. Specifically, he's a fan of Siale Esera, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound former Timpview High star who returned from a Lisfranc foot injury and totaled five tackles and a sack in five games for the Cougars.
"That dude's a dog," Glasker said of Esera. "I'm excited to see what he can do."
Esera has been 100% since spring practices, he told reporters near the end of the session — and he believes this year's linebacker corps could be even better than a year ago.
"Last year is in the past, and we're not really thinking about it much more than the mindset of getting better every day in practice — in the film room and on the field," said Esera, whom like his quarterback, has big goals that include a include a starting spot and All-Big 12 first-team honors. "I think we've improved so much from last year. We will come back better and stronger from last year."
There are other younger names, like freshmen Tyler Payne and returned missionary Pierson Watson, who have also been mentioned for their potential. That potential will be tested next season, when the Cougars will attempt to build on an 11-2 campaign with eyes on bigger goals: a Big 12 title game berth, or even a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Those goals may be more attainable with a group that some have postulated could be the best — or deepest, at least — linebacker core in BYU history. Could it be?
"It's definitely up there," said Wall, a lifelong BYU fan from Arlington, Virginia, who added there's an argument to compare the group to what current 49ers star Fred Warner was doing from 2014-17. "I love the way he played when he was here, too.
"But those guys definitely have to be in the conversation, as far as the best corps we've ever had. I think they all have NFL capabilities, too."
