This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • Before spring camp started last March, at the behest of one of the position coaches, BYU football lineman Houston Reynolds jotted down a few goals for himself.
The redshirt sophomore decided he wanted to be a starter in 2011, a goal more difficult than one might suspect because the Cougars have four returning starters on their offensive line. The fifth spot — at left guard, unless line coach Mark Weber decided to do some shuffling — was up for grabs.
Now it is not.
Coach Bronco Mendenhall said last week that Reynolds has earned the starting spot at left guard, holding off a strong late push from true freshman Ryker Mathews and beating out senior Marco Thorson.
"I set several goals, and I've achieved those goals," said Reynolds, younger brother of BYU All-American left tackle Matt Reynolds. "I have prepared really well over the summer. I feel like I have reached those goals progressively, and I've done a good job of keeping the end goal in mind, while working on several. So it has been a great experience."
Houston Reynolds played in seven games last year, backing up senior Jason Speredon at left guard and showing some versatility at other positions on the line as well.
"I just want to get on the field," he said. "I feel a little bit more comfortable at left guard, but it would take just a couple of practices at another position, and I would feel fine there, too."
Grimy and mean?
Much has been made about BYU's deep and experienced group of linebackers, and whether it will be the strength of the defensive unit.
Projected starting middle linebacker Brandon Ogletree offers this description of the group:
"I guess only time will tell how good we are, right?" he said. "I think we have the potential — if not because of our athleticism, because of our attitudes, because I look around and I just see guys that are grimy, guys that are mean — like bad people. And I love it. That could be different from what we've had in the past few years. So that's exciting."
Briefly
The Cougars have been practicing solely in the morning, but that all changes Monday with fall semester starting. Practice is in the afternoon from here on. ... Rarely do opponents have bigger offensive linemen than the Cougars, but that's the case in the opener. The average Mississippi offensive lineman is 6-foot-6 and weighs 330 pounds.
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Practice points
Countdown begins • Having spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday practices focusing on Ole Miss, the Cougars resume practice Monday with their eyes squarely on the Rebels and the opener on Saturday.
Meeting the media • BYU will conduct its first football media conference for the 2011 season at 10 a.m. Monday at Legends Grille on campus.
What to watch • The depth chart will be released Monday morning, but the only mystery left is whether coach Bronco Mendenhall names a starter at tight end, or continues to list several.