After coach Bronco Mendenhall addressed boosters yesterday on National Signing Day, he took some time with the media to answer questions. Over the next couple of days, I'll share some other info that came out of that news conference with both Mendenhall and recruiting coordinator Paul Tidwell.

One of the things that jumps out about the 2010 class is there are no junior college transfers in the bunch. With Scott Johnson graduating, Craig Bills leaving on a mission and Shiloah Te'o being kicked off the team last fall, the coaching staff had been indicating they were looking for some JC help to fill that need at safety. As it turned out, though, a couple of freshmen -- Jordan Johnson (who has been regarded as a cornerback) and Kori Gaines -- in this class could play safety next fall.

"After looking at Jordan Johnson more, even though our assessment at first was as a corner, he's similar to Brian Logan in that he's short, but he's not little," said Mendenhall. "He's physical, he's quick and he's smart. He could be a player who could play safety for us rather than corner. We also signed Kori Gaines out of Georgia, who played at the highest level of football there and was a three-year starter. He won't impress you by his stature, but his knowledge of the game, maybe his headiness and football knowledge, we started to believe he may be better prepared than maybe even a junior college player would be in terms of level of play he's had and the quality of coaching he's received. We ended up being confident with both of those choices rather than considering a junior college player."

Mendenhall went on to add that he and his staff are looking less and less at JC players -- except at cornerback. "That's where the fit is best for a young man to be here for two years at a position we have a hard time recruiting," he said.

Asked about the freshmen, besides quarterback Jake Heaps, who could make an immediate impact next season, both Mendenhall and Tidwell said it's difficult to know at this point. But using history as a guide, linebackers tend to have that opportunity. Zac Stout, the linebacker from Oaks Christian in California, could fit that bill. "I think Zac Stout is a special player. He'll have a great career here," said Tidwell.

In case you missed it, linebacker Collin Keoshian, from Santa Clarita Christian School in California, is the first recruit ever to sign with BYU from an eight-man football team.

Yesterday afternoon, after the Signing Day festivities, Mendenhall said he held a team meeting. It not only included current players, but former ones as well. Bryan Kehl, David Nixon, Dallas Reynolds, Fahu Tahi, Shaun Nua and Kelly Poppinga were among those who attended. It's all part of the "Band of Brothers" atmosphere Mendenhall has fostered at BYU.

"What are (the former players) doing here? They're coming back. Bryan Kehl even came back during his bye week (during the season) from New York. I said, 'What are you doing here?' He said, 'Renewal.' They love this place. They love the feeling with their teammates, they love the standards here and they love the feeling of the program. They're coming back here because after dreaming of being an NFL player, every one of them said, 'I'd rather be back at BYU.' That's not a hard feeling to get a hold of. When our recruits talk to those types of players, which they do, they believe them. Then they talk to our current players, it's a pretty compelling argument when you can get very good football, strong academics, and a social culture with a strong religious influence, kids like that, the ones who haven't had it, they find it like a safe haven to feel like they belong."