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BYU Football: 2017 season preview, predictions

By Zach Bigalke

PROVO, UT - NOVEMBER 12: Running back KJ Hall #20 of the Brigham Young Cougars runs with the ball against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds during their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Provo Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images)
PROVO, UT - NOVEMBER 12: Running back KJ Hall #20 of the Brigham Young Cougars runs with the ball against the Southern Utah Thunderbirds during their game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Provo Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /
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BYU Football
SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 21: Brian Hill #5 of the Wyoming Cowboys is tackled by Kamel Greene #10 and Phillip Amone #22 of Brigham Young Cougars during the first half of the Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on December 21, 2016 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Defense

Despite playing a schedule that featured six Power Five opponents, BYU still owned one of the top defenses in the FBS in 2016. The Cougars ranked 14th in the country in points allowed, conceding fewer than 20 points per game last year. They ranked seventh overall in turnover margin, thanks to 31 turnovers generated by the defense.

But there was also a sense of imbalance to the BYU defense in 2016. The front seven held opponents to just 113 rushing yards per game, which put BYU ninth in the FBS in rushing defense. The secondary, on the other hand, was a boom-or-bust affair. Opponents had 21 passes intercepted (seven by linebackers), but they also gained yardage at will against BYU. The Cougars ranked 96th in passing yards allowed, 92nd in opponent yards per attempt, and 99th in opponent yards per completion.

Even then, BYU was great at keeping opponents out of the endzone. The Cougars ranked 10th in the country in red zone defense, holding opponents scoreless on one out of every four trips inside the 20. And while the passing game gave up a lot of yards, the BYU secondary coughed up only 17 passing touchdowns all season. If the Cougars can play at as high a level on defense this season, they could make major noise on a national scale.

Key transfers ready in the secondary

Perhaps the biggest loss for BYU following the 2016 season was defensive back Kai Nacua, who led the team with six interceptions last year. To stem the loss of talent in the secondary that also included seniors Michael Davis and Eric Takenaka, the Cougars will look to several players who were brought in last season as transfers.

One, Tanner Jacobson, transferred from Texas Tech and sat out the season due to NCAA rules. Now eligible to play for the Cougars this season, Jacobson showed promise this spring. He is currently in the hunt to lock down the starting free safety role this season.

The other, Isaiah Armstrong, made his way into six games last season for BYU at cornerback. The Riverside City College prospect was able to play immediately in 2016 as a junior college transfer. Armstrong snagged an interception against Massachusetts.

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