BYU: Biggest needs to replace

When Ezekiel Ansah heard his name called with the fifth overall selection in the 2013 NFL Draft, he left a gaping hole on the end of the BYU defensive line.

Ansah's departure for Detroit is notable, but he wasn't the only one of BYU's 2012 defensive linemen to end up on an NFL roster, as nose tackle Romney Fuga signed a free agent deal with the Denver Broncos.

Ansah was an impact player for BYU, but started only the final nine games of the 2012 season. Fuga was a stalwart who started all 13 games in 2012 and 36 games overall, while not not to be forgotten is Russell Tialavea, who was also a 13-game starter last season and played in 47 games over his Cougar career, starting 38 of them.

With all three defensive line starters now gone, BYU's front three is identified as the unit with the most talent to replace in 2013.

Honorable mention goes to BYU's linebacking corps, which placed both starting inside backers (Uona Kaveinga-Denver, and Brandon Ogletree-Miami) on NFL rosters as free agents, and the offensive line, which saw two players (Braden Brown-St. Louis, and Braden Hansen-Oakland) sign free agent deals.

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As the highest BYU draft pick since Jim McMahon went fifth overall in 1982, Ansah is the player hardest to replace, and while he shouldn't be expected to duplicate Ziggy's 2012 numbers, sophomore Bronson Kaufusi combines speed and size in a way that most closely approximates Ansah's style of play.

Appearing in all 13 games of his true freshman campaign last season, the 6'7", 275-pound defensive end-slash-basketball big man made an impressive impact in limited time on the gridiron, with 11 solo tackles among his 23 stops. Kaufusi recorded 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, while also turning in a QB hurry, pass break-up and fumble recovery.

Redshirt freshman Remington Peck saw action in nine games during the 2012 season, and although less involved than Kaufusi, saw enough snaps to make seven tackles including five solo stops--one of which was a sack.

Kaufusi and Peck sit atop the post-spring depth chart at the two defensive end spots, but Eathyn Manumaleuna returns as the veteran wild card, able to play either end or nose tackle position. Having received his senior season back on a medical hardship waiver, "Manu" enters 2013 with 38 career starts under his belt: 21 at end, and 17 at nose.

The post-spring depth chart had Manumaleuna in the middle of the three-man front, ahead of returned missionary freshman Tuni Kanuch and redshirt JC transfer Marques Johnson. Early in spring ball, head coach Bronco Mendenhall said that both players were "progressing; neither one is close to where Romney (Fuga) was, or how other nose tackles have played for the past long time. They're learning, they're capable, but they need every rep they can get--all spring, and all fall camp, to be where I'd feel comfortable."

As such, Manumaleuna is currently the safe pick at nose tackle, although in addition to Kanuch and Johnson, a couple of incoming freshman will get reps in August and a chance to impress the coaches. The most highly-touted inside rookie is JonRyheem Peoples, a 6'6", 340-pound middle man who is athletic enough to have: starred on the Rigby (Idaho) HS hoops team, won a state title in the shot put, and for good measure, returned a kickoff for touchdown last fall. The other incoming freshman is Merrill Taliauli--a 6'2", 305-pound interior lineman from East HS in Salt Lake City. Junior walk-on Justin Blackmore provides some extra interior depth.

At the end spots, converted tight end Austin Holt and walk-on Michael Doman have some time in the program, and are were listed as backups at left end after spring ball, while walk-on Logan Taele was named as a backup at right end. Not listed in the post-spring two-deep was 2012 redshirt Theodore King, who at 6'3" and 252 pounds, remains an intriguing DE prospect with potential. No one in that group gives BYU much in the way of experience on the edges, and it's an area of concern for Mendenhall heading into 2013.

Should any of the aforementioned nose tackle candidates allow Manumaleuna to move to end, that could give BYU some wiggle room and additional outside depth, but a pair of newcomers will get a chance to move up the depth chart at end, while a returned missionary may see a position switch to help shore up that position.

6'2", 285-pound juco transfer Kalolo Utu grew up as a rugby player in Western Samoa and New Zealand before getting into football as a high schooler and junior college player in California; he signed with BYU on national signing day in February.

20 days after introducing his 2013 recruiting class, Mendenhall announced that defensive end Tomasi Laulile had signed with BYU; he's a 6'3", 265-pound defensive end who recorded 10 sacks during his senior season at Westlake (Calif.) HS.

Lone Peak HS product Sae Tautu redshirted the 2010 season as an outside linebacker, then left for his LDS mission. Now that he's back, he may be asked to put a recent weight gain to use in a move to defensive end in 2013; we'll see how the coaches plan to use him during August camp.

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Top Photo Courtesy: Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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