With 2008 starting cornerback Brandon Howard out during spring drills for personal reasons, the Cougars are even thinner than usual at that position. But Mendenhall has an influx of corners coming in the fall, including junior college transfers Lee Aguirre and Brian Logan; and returned missionary Robbie Buckner, who redshirted in 2006.

"Our hope is that they are able to give us enough depth there to where we can keep Scott at safety," Mendenhall said.

NOTES: BYU held its first practice this spring in full pads Friday. During a scrimmage between the first-team offense and first-team defense, a scuffle broke out between numerous players on both sides after Johnson drilled tight end Andrew George as George caught a pass over the middle. Mendenhall halted the scrimmage for a while and ordered his players to do "up-downs" before resuming the scrimmage .... Quarterback Max Hall completed 7 of 13 passes for 84 yards while backup Brenden Gaskins was 5 of 7 for 46 yards and a touchdown pass. Running back Harvey Unga rushed twice for 50 yards and a touchdown, and J.J. DiLuigi had a 12-yard TD run.

e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com