BYU football: Mendenhall's satisfied

PROVO — Aside from the injury to linebacker Terrance Hooks and no clear winner in the backup quarterback position, Bronco Mendenhall got what he wanted out of spring football just concluded last Saturday with a brief scrimmage in LaVell Edwards Stadium.

In short, Mendenhall protected his veteran offensive players from serious injury; introduced a bevy of junior college transfers and returning missionaries to the rigors of camp; got a good look at a new secondary rotation and successfully set converted tight end Vic So'oto on the other side of the line at linebacker.

In a session that keyed on "position mastery," Mendenhall didn't seem worried about losing key seniors on defense. These included starting linebackers Bryan Kehl, Kelly Poppinga, safety Quinn Gooch and corners Kayle Buchanan and Ben Criddle.

"I think we're at a point in our program where we can insert upcoming talent and not have a drop-off in performance," is how Mendenhall explained it to reporters.

Offensively, BYU's offense looked like it should have — it was dominating at times with Austin Collie looking as prepared as he's ever been in a Cougar uniform. While MWC freshman of the year Harvey Unga was used sparingly, veteran tight ends Dennis Pitta and Andrew George were significantly bigger play makers than a year ago.

Neither Brenden Gaskins nor Kurt McEuen resolved who will be Hall's backup this fall. The competition will continue into two-a-days in August.

On the defensive side of the ball, Mendenhall watched Brandon Howard and Scott Johnson step in for Buchannan and Criddle and fight off G Pittman and Brandon Bradley in what should be a similar coverage ability in coordinator Jaime Hill's zone-oriented secondary behind the 3-4 front.

Four-game starting safety Kellen Fowler has earned the spot vacated by Gooch, and David Tafuna, sidelined last August with a foot injury, slid into a safety spot when redshirt freshman Jordon Pendleton suffered a rib injury and sat out the final week of spring.

Mendenhall judged his transfers as equal trainees and was overall pleased with their effort in a new system and Division I play. These players included Snow transfers DT Tevita Hola, a 6-1, 310 inside tackle, safety Andrew Rich and Coleby Clawson.

"It's been pretty challenging, coming into a new program and adjust the level of play and everything," said Hola, "It's been quite a change."