Cougs find a tight end

PROVO — During fall camp, BYU coach Gary Crowton is looking for playmakers.

He may have found one in tight end Daniel Coats.

"Daniel's having an outstanding camp," Crowton said.

The 6-foot-3 redshirt freshman from Layton has looked impressive during drills this week, showing off his pass-catching abilities. Coats wants to make an impact for the Cougars this season in as many ways as he can.

"I try to see myself as a playmaker, making catches when the ball's thrown to me," said the Deseret News' Mr. Football in 2001. "Sometimes that means making blocks, too. The little background stuff."

Coats was a standout wide receiver at Northridge High and was recruited by UCLA, Washington, Washington State, Cal and Nebraska. After redshirting last season, BYU coaches switched him to tight end during spring ball.

"It's not easy. You can't pick that up in a day," Coats said. "The whole time as a receiver you're thinking finesse and speed. When you're a tight end, you're thinking of power and making a move. Since I have the receiver part down already, I can run routes. Blocking is the toughest part. It's like getting a lineman's mentality."

As part of the transition to tight end, Coats put on 35 pounds, which means he now tips the scales at 245 pounds. At Northridge, he weighed between 205 and 210.

"In the spring, I wasn't comfortable at all with my weight," he said. "I'm more comfortable with it now. At first it did (take away from his speed). I felt like I was really heavy and I couldn't move.

But once my body got used to the weight, it didn't affect it that much."

Besides Coats, sophomore Aissac Aiono and freshman Phillip Niu are also battling for playing time at tight end. BYU's starters at that position a year ago, Spencer Nead and Gabe Reid, went on to the NFL.

Another tight end in this year's mix, senior Justin Jory, broke a bone in his hand and is expected to return in a week or so.

"There's loads of talent (at tight end)," said Coats, who is seeing more action in fall camp because of Jory's injury.

"It's a very youthful position without Jory," Crowton said. "But it's very competitive."

OPTION LIVES ON: Two years ago, quarterback Brandon Doman and running back Luke Staley executed the option to near perfection. Last season, without Doman and Staley, the Cougars tried it again — with uninspiring results.