I feel very, very connected with the other guys on (defense) and I hope they feel connected with me. So all we can do is prepare and prepare so we can be fearless and completely confident. – BYU linebacker Harvey Langi
PROVO — If Harvey Langi's teammates take to him much like the media did on Monday, then the former Bingham standout is well on his way to being a true leader on the defensive side of the ball.
Early indication is that Langi's teammates do react well to him barking out instructions and even mixing in a little trash talk from his inside linebacker position.
"It seems that whatever group he is with that they try harder, have more fun and make more plays than the groups he is not with," said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall about Langi's presence.
Following Monday's practices, Langi addressed the media with enthusiasm and confidence concerning his role within the defense along with his progression.
"I feel very, very connected with the other guys on (defense) and I hope they feel connected with me," Langi said. "So all we can do is prepare and prepare so we can be fearless and completely confident."
Last year at this time Langi was brand new to the team and in playing at linebacker. Recruited as a running back out of Bingham High, Langi made the switch to defense following his LDS mission service.
This year, with the initial learning curve over, Langi feels ready for his next progression. The progression comes with being a true leader and as someone who, "dissects the defense and trying to know what everyone is doing so I can help myself be a better contributor to the defense.”
Basically, the next progression is to become a true leader, the natural role for any inside linebacker, or Mike linebacker, within a 3-4 defense.
"You got to lead. You're the quarterback of the defense," Langi said. "If Taysom (Hill) came out there (on offense) and didn't say a word, and all he did was put his knee up to hike the ball, everyone is going to just sit there in shock and (think), 'What the heck do we do?'"
So for Langi, he's taking a page from Hill in directing the defense.
"It's his offense and I feel the same responsibility on defense," Langi said. "And that's when the off-the-field things become important — knowing when to do things and how to get everyone's trust. To let everyone know that, 'Hey, I can count on Harv...I can follow his lead.'"
Leading was something Langi wasn't able to do during spring football practices, having to sit out the session to work through undisclosed issues. Now that those issues are said to be behind him, Langi is working hard to become the true leader on defense the team lacked for much of 2014.
"He's in shape, he's big, he's fast, he knows the defense better and now it's just a matter of watching him play and to see where he is," Mendenhall said. "But so far so good and I'm really impressed."
No running back reprise
Langi admitted to harboring some thoughts of switching over to running back in the wake of Jamaal Williams' departure. But any switch isn't currently in the works.
"They haven't come up and asked if I want to take reps at running back," Langi said. "If they do, whatever they ask is what I'm going to do. Right now I'm a Mike (linebacker) and that's what I'm going to do."
Email: bgurney@desnews.com
Twitter: @BrandonCGurney