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Travis Uale was torn.

He was a Ute, and Utah was offering the invisible walk-on a new identity with a scholarship. But Uale also was a believer. He had just served an LDS Church mission, and the thought of transferring to church-owned in-state rival Brigham Young would not leave his mind. Uale's football dream was within sight, but his heart was pulling him in another direction.

In search of an answer, Uale sought unbiased advice.

But he did not turn to a close friend or family member. Instead, he moved himself as far away as possible from the tempting world of college football that he longed to enter, and sought refuge in a purer venue.

"I prayed about it and the Heavenly Father told me to come," said Uale, who eventually earned a scholarship at BYU after taking the risk of transferring as a walk-on.

Four seasons later, Uale has become a Cougar captain.

The 6-foot-2, 199-pound senior defensive back represents the best about BYU football: unheralded, undersized and unnervingly strong. And he's the proud, beating heart of a Cougars defense that ranks 16th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in passing defense (133.5 average yards per game) and 22nd in total defense (248.5).

Uale also trims his teammates' hair and has the freedom to make fun of coach Bronco Mendenhall's quasi-military cut. The Hawaii native spins records when he's not cracking helmets, operating under the pseudonym DJ Kid. He's a proud husband and father. And he's become the Cougar that Mendenhall respects more than any other currently playing football in Provo.

Not bad for someone who just four years ago had no idea what college he wanted to attend and was uncertain what direction his life was heading.

"You know the guys that are going to stick around, and so I always knew that kid was going to be something," said BYU senior linebacker Jameson Frazier, an Alta High School graduate who also carried the burden of being a walk-on at the start of his college career. "Coming up through the ranks without a scholarship, it earns you that respect because you've been able to come from the bottom basically to the top."

BYU football is not about chest-beating and self-proclamations. The sport ranks fifth on Mendenhall's list of life priorities, and the school's service-before-self approach spoke directly to Uale's heart when his young future was on the line. If there is a top to the Cougars' mountain, though, Uale resides at the peak.

During an amped-up rivalry week that has seen Mendenhall allow only four BYU players to speak with the media, Uale has been one of the chosen. As a result, he consistently has been asked about his decision, pressed by the media as they attempt to gain insight into what it feels like to wear blue and white during a time when Ute red and the flashy Pac-12 Conference are all the rage.

It feels great, it feels right and there no regrets, Uale said. He values and respects Utah coach Kyle Whittingham and his brief time under Whittingham's reign in Salt Lake City. But where the Utes coach is "highly aggressive all the time," there is a duality to Mendenhall that appeals to Uale.

Mendenhall "just made me feel at home," Uale said, "made me feel like this is where I need to be."

The coach's take?

"Maybe the player I admire the most on our team," Mendenhall said.

The Cougars (1-1) need Uale's devotion more than ever. Mendenhall has spent the week praising Utah's (1-1) speedy wideouts, while BYU's offense flirted with life support during the Cougars' first two games of the season. For BYU to stay close, Uale's unit must continue its iron-gate attack and prevent Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn from regaining the smoothness that has eluded him so far this season. Four years after being split between the red and blue, Uale knows where he belongs. When Wynn's offense lines up Saturday night at Edwards Stadium, Uale will be on the hunt. Reading formations, barking out Utah's offensive plays before they are called and sharply yelling out defensive assignments in response.

The Utah walk-on is now a BYU leader, and the Cougars follow his step.

"I love playing with him because I know I can trust that guy through everything," Frazier said. "No matter what, the kid's not going to give up, the kid's not going to make a lot of mistakes. I'm really confident with his ability to call things in the backfield; basically be the quarterback of the defense."

Jay Drew contributed reporting to this story. —

Travis Uale

Born • Feb. 13, 1987

Position • Safety

Class • Senior

Height • 6-foot-2

Weight • 199 pounds

High school • Kamehameha, Hawaii

Highlights • Born in Hawaii Kai, Hawaii. ... Global studies major. ... Married to Lotomata. ... Served LDS Church mission to Monterrey, Mexico, and speaks Spanish. ... Transferred to BYU after starting his college career as walk-on at Utah. ... Has made 12 tackles and an interception in two games this season. ... Made nine tackles (five solo) and the pick in a 17-16 loss at Texas last Saturday.