BYU LB Hunter on verge of realizing a dream

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Provo » Growing up in Idaho, linebacker Shane Hunter had but one football dream: to play for Brigham Young University.

But when the Cougars didn't come calling for Hunter out of Idaho Falls High School, he accepted an offer to play for Snow College in Ephraim.

He sandwiched two years of playing for the Badgers around an LDS Church mission to Charlotte, N.C.

BYU still wasn't that interested when Hunter's junior-college eligibility was up, but he walked on to the team anyway. Now, on the verge of his final year of college football, Hunter has a legitimate shot at becoming a starter.

"Starting at BYU, man, that would be a dream come true for me," he said, having earned a scholarship this fall for the first time. "When I was a little kid, my dream was always to play big-time football. And around here, it doesn't get any bigger than BYU."

Hunter intercepted a Jake Heaps pass and returned it for a would-be touchdown in practice Tuesday, showing some playmaking ability that coach Bronco Mendenhall has said he is looking for. The senior is one of five players in the mix for the two starting inside linebacker spots.

Hunter's strength is "more knowing what to do and helping others get aligned," Mendenhall said. "The playmaking part is something he can improve, but he is one of those guys who is letting the other 10 guys play at a higher level. There are others that are making more plays than him, but they don't direct the other 10 as well."

Other inside linebackers in the mix to start are Aveni Leung-Wai , Brandon Ogletree , Austen Jorgensen and freshman Zac Stout .

A coach's criteria

Mendenhall said that starters at quarterback, inside linebacker and tight end have not been determined. Asked to list his criteria for determining which guys will start at those positions, Mendenhall gave perhaps a hint that junior Riley Nelson has the inside track to be the starting quarterback over freshman Heaps.

"I think a couple of things: leadership, chemistry and playmaking. All those things are part of it. Sometimes the best player isn't the one who starts, it is the one who plays the best with those around him," Mendenhall said.

Briefly

The Cougars will conclude fall camp with a scrimmage today at the outdoor practice facility. ... Five players -- cornerbacks Brandon Bradley and Brian Logan , linebacker Leung-Wai, receiver O'Neill Chambers and defensive end Thomas Bryson -- missed practice Tuesday so they could take care of some class schedule and registration concerns that Mendenhall said "should have been done yesterday."