BYU linebacker Francis Bernard to miss 2017 season


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PROVO — BYU's linebacker group — a unit as solid as it's been in years at BYU — just got a little bit thinner.

Junior linebacker Francis Bernard will miss the 2017 season, sitting out with a redshirt year for "personal reasons," the school announced Thursday morning in a brief statement. Head coach Kalani Sitake confirmed the decision following Thursday’s open practice LaVell Edwards Stadium.

“I shouldn’t say we’re prepared for everything, but there’s always got to be a plan in terms of developing depth,” Sitake said of Bernard. “We’ve had some injuries before, and you often have to rely on depth. We’re trying to establish depth in our program, and this is just one of those moments.”

Bernard, who will return to the team as a redshirt junior in 2018, started all 12 games at linebacker in 2016, after switching from running back during spring practice. The 6-foot-1 linebacker from Herriman High finished third on the team with 80 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and a pick-six against UMass.

In his absence, Adam Pulsipher saw significant playing time in the first-team linebacker corp with team captains Fred Warner and Butch Pau’u. Defensive back Matt Hadley has also made the move to outside linebacker.

“We’ve always had a mentality of next guy up,” Warner said. “Obviously, Francis is my boy and the fact that he has to redshirt sucks. But we have players in that meeting room that are going to step up and make plays for us.”

Freshman Chaz Ah You — a four-star recruit from Timpview High School — also saw time at linebacker during Thursday’s scrimmage portion of practice.

“We’ve tried a few things with him, and he’s a great athlete,” Sitake said of Ah You, the son of BYU front-officer staff member Jasen Ah You. “We wouldn’t have tried Hadley at linebacker and other places if we didn’t feel great about the depth at safety. He’s added a lot to that group.

“He’s just a freshman, but he’s really good. We’re going to be fine at that position. He can fit at other spots, as well.”

Photo: Sean Walker, KSL.com
Photo: Sean Walker, KSL.com

Johnny Tapusoa and freshman Isaiah Kaufusi could also help fill the void at linebacker.

Bernard was also suspended for BYU's 24-21 win over Wyoming in last December's Poinsettia Bowl and has been held out of practice since the second scrimmage of fall camp. When asked about Bernard's absence from the Bowl Game, head coach Kalani Sitake was vague. He said it was because he "got here a little late," and mentioned that Bernard was still with the team during organized activities, lifts and practices.

And Bernard has been participating with the Cougars, including at Tuesday night's "Cougar Kickoff" fan fest in Provo. As a redshirt, he will continue to participate in team meetings, activities and practices in 2017, according to school officials. He will also be part of the squad's scout team.

Backup quarterback named

Offensive coordinator Ty Detmer said Beau Hoge has distinguished himself enough to take the primary backup quarterback spot behind starter Tanner Mangum.

"He's the solid No. 2 right now," Detmer said. "He'll get the reps, and what little reps the backup gets during the season. But he'll take all of those."

Koy Detmer Jr. and possible redshirt candidates Kody Wilstead and Joe Critchlow will see some time during the remainder of training camp, but once the season begins, the “very limited” backup reps will go to Hoge.

“This is probably the last chance for them before the season when the backups get minimum work,” Detmer said. “We’ll keep them on the hook in case something happens in the first few weeks of the season.”

Mangum scored a rushing touchdown during the scrimmage portion of practice after a long pass over the middle to tight end Matt Bushman, and Beau Tanner burned the defensive backfield for a couple of big plays opposite Jonah Trinnamann at wide receiver.

Troy Warner and Cody Stewart each grabbed an interception for the defense.

“Some good things. Some coaching points, too, with a couple of interceptions,” Detmer said. “But overall, it’s not bad.”

Freshman Tonga excelling on D-line

Depth also won’t be a concern for the defensive line, despite returning just four players with starting experience from 2016, including defensive tackles Handsome Tanielu and Merrill Taliauli.

The emergence of true freshman Khyiris Tonga, a 6-foot-4, 320-pound Granger High product, has Sitake saying the defensive line is “definitely two-deep, and deeper in some places.”

“He’s a monster; he’s big, he’s got size, and he’s athletic,” Sitake said of Tonga. “I don’t want to put too much on someone, but their job is to disrupt and own the trenches. It’s not a flashy job, without a lot of stats, but they’ll do the dirty work and then allow our guys to make plays in the backfield. I think he’s up to the task.”

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