BYU football: Unga eager to carry ball today for Cougars for first time this season

PROVO — After missing the Oklahoma game and logging just three carries against Tulane, BYU running back Harvey Unga, who has been nursing a hamstring injury since fall camp, is eager to run today against Florida State.

While he is expected to play, what's not known is how much he will touch the ball. Is today the day that Unga gets a full workload?

"I'm praying for that. I feel good," said Unga, who has recorded back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. "I'm still taking it one day at a time. I'll probably find out how much I'll play on Saturday."

Unga needs 837 yards this season to become BYU's all-time leading rusher.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall said Unga is "looking better (at practice) than last week."

While Mendenhall would love to have Unga at full strength, he's pleased that others have made up for the void in the first two weeks. In last week's 54-3 win over Tulane, Bryan Kariya and J.J. DiLuigi combined to rush for 134 yards and together they scored four touchdowns.

"It's become not nearly as relevant as an issue with the play of Bryan and J.J. I think (Unga) will be healthier and certainly the other two are ready," Mendenhall said. "I think we're in good shape there."

BYU safety Scott Johnson, who suffered a concussion against Tulane, practiced Thursday, but he has not passed concussion protocol, BYU football media relations director Brett Pyne said Friday. Johnson will be evaluated again at game time.

Meanwhile, Marco "Moose" Thorson is expected to start at left guard in place of Braden Hansen, who suffered a knee injury last week that will keep him out 1-3 weeks.

NEW GRASS DEBUT: During the off-season, the field at LaVell Edwards Stadium underwent its first major renovation in nearly three decades. The 28-year-old turf was removed in February and was replaced during the spring with new sod, imported from California.

A change was probably overdue, considering Edwards Stadium had one of the oldest grass fields in college football. One of the noticeable aspects of the renovated field is a less-pronounced crown in the middle. Mendenhall made some recommendations, which included flattening the crown.

"It's really just personal preference. I'm not a huge proponent of the crowned field," Mendenhall said. "I don't think there are distinct advantages or disadvantages either way. My preference was that it be less-crowned. I did suggest that and they agreed with it."

BYU VS. THE ACC: BYU owns a 4-8 record all-time against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The last time the Cougars faced an ACC team was three years ago when they fell at Boston College, 23-20, in overtime. The last ACC team to visit Provo was Boston College. The Cougars fell to the Eagles, 20-3, in 2005. It marked Mendenhall's debut as BYU's head coach.

e-mail: jeffc@desnews.com