BYU football: Cougars focused on Max protection

PROVO — Most people tend to overlook offensive linemen, which is a little ironic because they're the biggest guys on the football field.

But any smart quarterback, like BYU's Max Hall, is quick to credit his mates in the trenches.

With four returning starters on the line, that position is expected to be a strength for the Cougars this season. When it comes to Max protection, Hall is happy with his O-line.

"It feels great. I don't have to worry much about the protection," said Hall, who took the brunt of several blindside sacks in 2007. "I can focus on my reads and stuff. Having those guys up there, they make their calls quick, they get to the line quick and it makes it a lot easier on me."

Based on off-season workouts, Hall said the the position on the team that impressed him most was the offensive line, which is deep, talented and experienced.

"We could have the best O-line in the nation," he said. "They're studs."

The returning linemen are tackles Dallas Reynolds and David Oswald, and guards Travis Bright and Ray Feinga. Reynolds has started 37 consecutive games, dating back to his freshman year, and Feinga, who has recorded 34 starts, were both All-Mountain West Conference first-team selections last year.

Bright sustained a broken leg in last year's win over UCLA in the Las Vegas Bowl, but he worked hard during the off-season to return to form.

"He's good. A pleasant surprise, probably beyond where we thought he would be at this point," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "He changes the complexion of the entire team because of his toughness. He's soft-spoken, maybe in dealing (with the media), but I think most of our team is afraid of him. He's physical and I really like having him around."

Bright, who set the program's bench-press record by lifting 540 pounds, has played in 26 games the past two seasons. Oswald, a 6-foot-8, 330-pounder, anchors the other tackle spot for the Cougars. He has seen action in 34 games in his career.

The only real question mark on the offensive line is at center, where BYU is trying to replace Sete Aulai, who graduated. Junior Tom Sorensen signed with Vanderbilt out of Brighton High School and earned All-Southeastern Conference freshman honors. Following a mission, Sorensen transferred to BYU, where he's been the past two seasons. He played in seven games last year.

So far in fall camp, Sorensen, R.J. Willing and Reynolds have taken turns playing center. The versatile Willing is expected to make significant contributions, having played tackle, guard and center in his Cougar career. He started 11 games as a freshman in 2004 and saw action in all 13 games a year ago. Others expected to see playing time include freshman Matt Reynolds (who redshirted last season after a mission), Garrett Reden, Nick Alletto and Jason Speredon.

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