2014 BYU Football Preview: This Team IS Different

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I get it: Brigham Young University Football usually over-hypes itself; but the potential for this team truly is tremendous. Why? One word that best describes BYU Football 2014 is transfers (eligible now).

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Recent additions make this team different, and with the stellar duo in QB Taysom Hill and running-back Jamaal Williams, BYU fans have a reason to be excited for the upcoming season. People say the schedule is much easier, but it is actually full of trap games. Regardless, this team is set to have a better record than 8-5 from last year. 

Imagine having three new receivers who have the potential to put up big numbers like Cody Hoffman did. Add returning players Ross Apo and Mitch Matthews to the list, and you have what is an extremely deep receiving core for BYU in 2014.

What makes the BYU receivers more intriguing is their height. If you include tight ends, five receivers on the team are 6-6 or taller, one is 6-5, three are 6-4, and five are 6-3!

Who are these transfers?*

• WR- Nick Kurtz - Junior, 6-6. Grossmont College

At 6-6, 205 pounds, Nick Kurtz will contribute in many ways to BYU's offense. Expectations are high for him, but he will miss a few games due to injury.

• WR- Devon Blackmon - Junior, 6-1. Riverside CC

Blackmon actually went to Oregon for part of 2011, but ended up going to RCC.  This guy will likely be BYU's fastest receiver in years. He is also friends with Jamaal Williams, and both will likely be suspended for the opener.

• WR- Jordan Leslie - Senior, 6-3. UTEP

Leslie graduated after playing at UTEP for three years and was their most talented receiver. As an experienced Senior, he should be the most dependable of the new pass-catchers.

• WR- Keanu Nelson - Senior, 5-11. Stanford

Nelson is coming from Stanford after graduating. One source thinks he would do pretty well returning kicks or punts (he returned one punt for eight yards last year.)

• CB- Trent Trammel - Junior, CC of San Francisco

Trent was on the roster last year, but an injury during the spring kept him out. He should be a starter at Corner.

• Safety- Harvey Jackson - Senior, Nebraska

Jackson graduated and transferred from Nebraska and should start at Safety. 

• Linebacker/RB - Harvey Langi - Sophomore, Utah

Langi transferred at the last minute from the University of Utah, just after returning from his LDS Mission. May end up redshirting.

The Rest of the Team

BYU may still have some issues at offensive line this year, but the group has much more experience and some new faces to add in the mix as well. Phill Steel, a famous College Football analyst, thinks BYU has the 15th best o-line in the nation. If this is true, you know a ten plus win season is coming up.

The defensive side will do well, where the secondary should be the strongest group, thanks in part to the transfers. Craig Bills and Robertson Daniel are back, and Jordan Johnson returns after missing 2013 due to injury. 

The defensive line may be the weakness of the defense, with Kafusi moving to linebacker. Alani Fua, Minoa Pikula and Stoudt are the other projected starters at linebacker. Plenty of highly touted underclassmen will likely back them up. Pending a possible 2014 Redshirt, they include freshmen Fred Warner, Troy Hinds and Adam Pulsipher...

Who knows, but a big season may be coming up for the BYU Cougars. 

*Other recent transfers include De'ondre Wesley (O-line starter) Chris Badger (safety), Sam Lee (Corner), Christian Stewart (QB)...

Sources:
1: http://universe.byu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/FootballvHawaii_15.jpg