We've just got to be comfortable with our team and stop worrying about what everyone else is saying. We just need to go out there and play our game. – Harvey Langi said.

PROVO — There have plenty of big-name linebackers at BYU during the Bronco Mendenhall era — Cameron Jensen, Bryan Kehl, David Nixon and Kyle Van Noy, just to name a few.

These players made a name for themselves as tenacious defenders who could change the game with a single, disruptive play.

That's the kind of culture and attitude the Cougars are seeking from their current group of linebackers, which is filled with both veteran experience and young standouts.

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These guys, too, want to prove they won't be satisfied with a fourth straight 8-5 season.

"We're a lot more competitive and we've got guys who know their assignments," senior Manoa Pikula said. "That's the biggest improvement I see. Guys are starting to get assignment sound and we're starting to run to the ball and build a culture that was here before. (We'll) try to bring that back."

Returning experience

At inside linebacker, junior Harvey Langi (6-3, 240) is stepping up as an emotional leader in his second year at BYU after transferring from Utah, where he played running back prior to his mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He made strong impressions during fall camp.

“Harvey Langi is an emotional leader," BYU coach Mendenhall said. "Any group that is out there with him performs at a higher level. He brings energy, physicality and intensity that elevates his teammates.”

Senior Manoa Pikula (6-1, 235) is the team's leading returning tackler, registering 49 tackles in 2014. He's the most experienced linebacker on the team — Pikula has played in 38 of a possible 39 games the past three seasons — and he started eight games last year. That amount of experience should prove invaluable for the Cougars this season.

On the outside, the most likely choices to start are a pair of sophomores in Fred Warner (6-4, 225) and Sione Takitaki (6-2, 240).

Warner had 24 tackles and started four games before fracturing his back against UNLV last November, but he's bounced back and has impressed in the fall after missing spring camp.

Following the team's first fall scrimmage, Mendenhall said, "It’s just taking a little time from both injuries that he had, and so he’s working his way back.” In the Cougars' second scrimmage, Warner had four tackles while running with the first string at will linebacker.

Takitaki, meanwhile, is one of two players — defensive end Bronson Kaufusi being the other — that Mendenhall tabbed as the team's best pass rushers. He also displayed his disruptiveness Saturday, when he stepped in front of wide receiver Trey Dye to intercept a Tanner Mangum pass. Takitaki's impact will have to wait, though, as he was charged with two counts of misdemeanor theft and is suspended for the Cougars' opener at Nebraska.

There are a litany of other linebackers who are returning who could have an impact as well. Seniors Jherremya Leuta-Douyere (6-0, 230) and Teu Kautai (6-1, 228), as well as juniors Austin Heder (6-2, 242) and Sae Tautu (6-4, 246), have plenty of experience in the Cougars' system and have rotated in for first-team reps in the fall. Sophomore Va’a Niumatalolo (6-2, 229) and freshmen Adam Pulsipher (6-1, 222) and Tyler Cook (6-3, 220) may also be asked to step in and contribute.

Freshman Phillip Amone (6-0, 230) was not with the team throughout fall camp while nursing an injury after showing promise in the spring.

The linebacking crew already is down a man, as sophomore Colby Jorgensen (6-7, 228) was lost for the year after fracturing his neck during practice two weeks ago.

Key additions

Two returned missionaries earned valuable reps during fall camp. Freshman Butch Pau’a (6-0, 220) redshirted in 2012 and had an impressive interception during the first scrimmage. Freshman Rhett Sandlin (6-3, 230), who redshirted in 2012 as well, was also with the team in the spring.

Dark horse candidate

True freshman walk-on Scott Huntsman (6-4, 220) earned praise from his head coach and some time in the spotlight during the past week. Huntsman turned down scholarship offers from several other schools to walk on with the Cougars.

"He's scholarship-worthy in terms of ability," Mendenhall said after BYU's scrimmage Saturday. "He reminds me a lot of (former BYU linebacker) Jordan Pendleton."

General outlook

There was some cross-training going on during fall camp to best utilize the team's talent at linebacker and help the coaches find the best mixture of personnel. How the group, both outside and inside linebackers combined, can mesh together will play a big part in how successful they are this season.

"Unity, man, we've got to be together," Langi said. "We've just got to be comfortable with our team and stop worrying about what everyone else is saying. … We just need to go out there and play our game."

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The Cougar defense, including the linebackers, dealt with its fair share of injuries last season, but Warner said that experience will help them this season.

"Last year, we just took a hit and didn’t really know how to respond to it. Now, we have a depth of guys who are ready to go," he said.

"The workouts we’re doing, I think those injuries will be less."

Email: bjudd@deseretdigital.com; Twitter: @brandonljudd

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