BYU football: Remaking O-line is BYU's top priority

PROVO — BYU's task of replacing four senior starters on the offensive line is a daunting one.

But sophomore left tackle Matt Reynolds, who is the only returning starter on the O-line, points out that the Cougars aren't exactly starting from scratch.

"The other guys actually have a little more experience than people realize," he said.

Those other guys include 6-foot-6, 318-pound junior tackle Nick Alletto and 6-5, 305-pound junior guard Jason Speredon, who both played in nine games last season. Senior center R.J. Willing (6-5, 310) saw action in five games a year ago. Sophomore guard Terence Brown (6-3, 351) redshirted last season after a mission, but he played significant minutes as a freshman in 2005.

"They've been around long enough to hold their own," said Reynolds, who's 6-6, 320, and started every game last season as a redshirt freshman. "They're all strong and smart. So far, things are going smoothly. We haven't noticed a big drop-off. I think we're doing pretty well. Normally it would be a huge change replacing four starters. But because of the type of players these guys are, they're really self-motivated. They're really easy to get along with. There's already a camaraderie, a sense of team in the O-line. I don't think there's as big a void as you would find most places in most seasons."

Of course, filling the shoes of graduating linemen Ray Feinga, Travis Bright, Dallas Reynolds and David Oswald won't be easy. Dallas Reynolds was a four-year starter while Feinga and Bright were three-year starters. Oswald started for two seasons.

"We're losing some pretty good linemen," said offensive line coach Mark Weber. "But the other part of it is, we've got some really good guys that need to start playing. It's their time. They're energized and excited. It's fun to work with them. It's always hard to lose guys, but they have learned and they've been waiting their turn. They're anxious and ready to go. They're talented and smart and good young men who work hard."

Reynolds said his former teammates taught him and the other younger players a lot about playing on the line.

"They were great guys. They showed how, when you're playing together on the same page, how that can have a huge effect on the outcome of the game. That's one of the biggest things they've shown. When the offensive line is on the same page, you can accomplish amazing things. That's mostly what we've learned from them."

Brown likes the challenge ahead of him and his teammates.