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During BYU preseason camp at this time last year, kicker Mitch Payne was atrocious on field goals and even extra points, causing quite a bit of consternation until he finally started to get it right later in August. No such problem this year. Justin Sorensen, the kicker from Bingham High who recently returned from a church mission, has been nothing short of spectacular in camp so far. Sure, he missed a 20-yarder today, but he recovered with boots of 27, 32 (twice) and 42 yards. He's going to be a weapon this year, said coach Bronco Mendenhall. "It is still a little early to call it consistent, but, man, it is a good start, and from a long ways away, too, which is nice," Mendenhall said. "I will have to make some hard decisions. When the ball gets to the 35-yard line going in, what we do from there. Because it looks like he is well within range, at least from that point, and maybe farther out. I have got to get a great feel by the time we get to our first game of how consistent he is from out there. We need to get him in enough situations to determine that."——————————————- This is easily the "quietest" preseason camp of the four I've covered, with no starting quarterback battle, few major injuries (knock on wood) and not a lot of suspense over position battles. Still, there are a few starting spots seemingly up for grabs. Let's start on offense: With all the starting offensive linemen except left guard Jason Speredon returning, the only open spot is there. So far, it looks like it is a battle between senior Marco "Moose" Thorson and sophomore Houston Reynolds. They alternate with the ones each day. Reynolds also gets some reps at center, where it appears Terence Brown will be the main man. Frankly, I'm surprised that junior Walter Kahaiali'i isn't in the mix to be a starter; Of course, his missing spring camp with a torn pectoral muscle probably set him back a bit. At tight end, sophomore Austin Holt appears to have crept ahead of Devin Mahina, if only slightly. Holt is having the better camp. When he's healthy, Richard Wilson is also knocking at the door, as he showed today with a nice snare. Riley Nelson threw a ball a bit behind Wilson, but he still came up with it in the end zone. Those are about the only first-string battles on offense. Certainly, Ross Apo, McKay Jacobson and Cody Hoffman will be the three primary receivers this season. Frankly, guys such as Rhen Brown and Dallin Cutler have been as impressive in camp, if not more, but when push comes to shove the aforementioned three will get the bulk of the receptions this year. Spencer Hafoka is kind of the forgotten man on the receiving corps, but did have a nice comeback catch the other day.On defense, the front three looks set with Graham Rowley, Romney Fuga and Eathyn Manumaleuna. USC transfer Hebron Fangupo will get some playing time, but does not appear to have the conditioning level to be an every-down player. Expect a lot of rotation from D-line coach Steve Kaufusi. Mendenhall said Wednesday that the linebacking corps of Jordan Pendleton (strongside), Kyle Van Noy (weakside), Brandon Ogletree (middle) and Uona Kaveinga would be a "formidable" one. That probably means that Van Noy has moved ahead of Jameson Frazier at WLB in the coaches' minds. Frazier, last year's starter there, has yet to get a live rep in camp due to a lower abdominal strain. Here's what coach Bronco Mendenhall had to say today regarding the battle for the starting cornerback jobs: "I would say it is still a number of practices away [from picking leaders]. I would love it to be when we come out of Saturday [scrimmage] that we would have a lot better idea than we do right now. I am not going to say too many players in the mix. But nobody has really emerged as thee player at either spot. Good news is that there are players there. What I would like to see is, similar to the tight end situation last year, I would like to see it emerging quicker than it is." Snow College transfer Preston Hadley has made the most plays among the corners in camp, and might have the edge at boundary corner. Corby Eason has the most experience at field corner, having spelled Brandon Bradley there quite a bit last year. Cameron Comer, Jordan Johnson, Joe Sampson, Robbie Buckner and DeQuan Everett are also seeing reps at corner. Sampson is the cousin of former BYU corner Brian Logan, who attends most practices. "His junior college experience is helpful," Mendenhall said of Sampson. "He is still learning our system, but he knows how to play the game. He likes to play the game, and he's confident. He's a good athlete. He is still learning about the conditioning and the level of effort it requires to play here. Really capable, and I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't earn a role in there."——————————— A few more comments from Mendenhall after Thursday's practice: On Iona Pritchard's emergence at fullback: "I really don't like to compare, but the best analogy is he would be like Manase [Tonga]. He is going to be able to catch the ball well, block well. He can run it adequately as well. Really, really a nice addition, and beyond what I thought he might be capable of this early. So he's been one of the surprises to talk about." On the fullbacks as a whole: "The fullbacks I would mention as true fullbacks would be Iona [Pritchard] and Zed [Mendenhall], and they are different styles. Zed is more the I-fullback and Iona is more versatile, and can do a little more with the ball after he catches it. Both will have their own role. Iona's will probably be more expanded than Zed's. His will be as a lead blocker." On the development of former linebacker Mike Alisa: "Mike is somewhere in between, and a little bit more of an athletic fullback, but also a potential ball-carrier. So we are still trying to identify what his role will be." On McKay Jacobson's camp so far, and what's different: "More confidence. More consistency, and just a higher energy and effort level. And I think coach Cahoon has really made an impact on him. He seems to be executing at a more precise level, and he is carrying himself with more confidence, and more excitement about the future."On J.J. Di Luigi as a receiver:Getting "slot time, and we love motioning him out. He is so elusive and quick in the open field. And he catches the ball well. We are continuing how to pinpoint how to use him best, and we are on the right track." On what he wants to do Friday as two-a-days begin: "Recover, refresh assignments, try to get as execution-sound as possible. And heal a few bumps and bruises so we can maybe have Saturday be the longest scrimmage of fall camp. Whether it is or not, I am not sure. But I would like to be able to prepare tomorrow for Saturday in order to get a higher number of volume plays so we can maybe establish our depth at a little higher level." On Jordan Pendleton's different training this summer, away from BYU: "I am really pleased with Jordan's training so far. The most impressed I have been with any player defensively is Kyle [Van Noy]. Jordan, in terms of where I thought he would be, and where he is, he is beyond where I thought he would be. Those two outside linebacker are special players, and really neat people. I like where they are."