PROVO — While "freshman" and "leader" are rarely used in the same sentence, BYU redshirt freshman tight end Daniel Coats is leading the team and the nation in several receiving categories.
Coats, who starred at Layton's Northridge High and switched from studying at wide receiver last year to tight end for this year, leads BYU in receiving, averaging seven receptions and 103.5 yards a game, with three touchdowns. That's also good enough to be ranked as the nation's top tight end and top freshman receiver.
In just two games, he's already set marks for touchdowns and receiving yards at BYU for freshman tight ends. His 207 yards so far eclipsed the 172 posted by Chad Lewis in 1993, and his three TDs are one better than the two scored by both Kirk Tanner in 1974 and Ralph Martini in 1986.
He needs just two catches to tie and three to break Tanner's 16 total receptions in 1974.
The 6-foot-3 Coats bulked up to 249 pounds for his new position. In his first collegiate game, Coats snagged six passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia Tech, following it up with eight receptions for 114 yards and another score in last week's loss at Southern California.
PERSONNEL MOVES: Tailback Marcus Whalen, who suffered a hairline fracture of his foot before the Georgia Tech game, did not practice Wednesday and will not make the trip for Saturday's game at New Mexico. Also not traveling to Albuquerque is tight end Justin Jory, who sprained an ankle in practice Tuesday.
RETURN POLICY? Wide receiver Toby Christensen will be handling punt-return duties against New Mexico, as fellow wide-out David Christensen has been pulled from that spot.
It's not because Christensen fumbled a first-quarter punt in the USC loss, setting up a Trojan touchdown. Crowton said Christensen suffered several shoulder separations during the game — one while being worked on along the sidelines — and he wants to keep him as healthy as possible to play as receiver rather than returner.
Also, Christensen's special-teams departure means the kick-return pecking order now is DB Nate Soelberg, RB Robert Stancil, RB Rey Brathwaite, WR Brett Cooper and DB James Allen. Crowton may limit Brathwaite's return involvement to preserve his availability as a tailback, particularly with Whalen still ailing.
ELIGIBILITY ISSUES: Lance Pend-leton, the 2002 backup quarterback who switched from receiver to defensive back during the offseason and then back to receiver and No. 3 quarterback this week, may not travel to New Mexico. He still has an incomplete grade from winter semester, when he was battling mononucleosis, and may not be eligible. Crowton said Pendleton's eligibility chances are now 50-50.
E-MAIL: taylor@desnews.com and dharmon@desnews.com