Harvey Langi switched from running back to linebacker when he transferred from Utah to BYU in 2014 after his church mission. He played five seasons in the NFL, appearing in 44 games for the Patriots, Jets, Broncos and Raiders. As Langi watches BYU’s trio of linebackers, he does so through the lens of an NFL scout.
Ten games into the Cougars’ 9-1 season, Langi, who also works as a football analyst for BYUtv, sees plenty of things to praise and to constructively criticize. Judging in three different categories, Langi revealed his report card on the “Y’s Guys” livestream show.
Jack Kelly: 6-2, 242-pound RS-Senior
- Playmaking ability: A
“I almost put him at an A+, but I need more interceptions. He makes big-time plays in big-time games.”
- Pass coverage: C+
“I feel like he is in the right place, but a catch will happen, or he tries to do something too cute where he is acting like he’s blitzing and he gets out of (position) and now he’s chasing and he’s not (as) good when he’s chasing sideways (as opposed) to going downhill.”
- Run stop: A
“He can run stop everything. If I had (included sacks) here, he would have an A+. Quarterbacks fear No. 17.”
Isaiah Glasker: 6-5, 240-pound RS-Junior
- Playmaking ability: A
“The only reason why it’s not an A+ is lately when the game is on the line, he’s so dialed in in his coverage, sometimes you have to risk it for the biscuit. Jack does that all the time. Jack is like, ‘I’m just going to go.’ I want to see (some of) that out of Isaiah, like ‘I’ve been locking this guy down all day long, I see the QB coming at me, I’m going to go blow him up.’”
- Pass coverage: A
“You haven’t seen Isaiah in the box as much or coming off the edge as much as Jack because he’s such a lengthy guy. He has long arms, can move side to side, and can jump. What did he play before? Wide receiver. He knows the concepts and when you see his playmaking ability when he’s in coverage — it’s unreal.”
- Run stop: B+
“When he does get there, he brings the boom, but it’s when he gets there. He’ll get there 50-50 at the line of scrimmage and sometimes it’s three, four, five or six yards downfield because he’s in coverage. But when he does get there, you know he’s coming like a torpedo.”
Siale Esera: 6-3, 245-pound, RS-Sophomore
- Playmaking ability: D+
“Being in the middle of the defense, I truly do think that Siale needs to understand that his voice is way more powerful than he thinks. That comes with confidence and reps. He needs to make big-time plays. He’s young.”
- Pass coverage: C+
“He drops in his coverage where he needs to be, but sometimes he flows way too much with the eyes instead of understanding the coverage.”
- Run stop: B-
“He gets to the ball, but sometimes it’s not until it’s three or four yards down the field. If he can read it a little quicker and take it — and believe it. He is a pup. He’s gonna grow.”
Do your job
When the Cougars take the field Saturday (6 p.m., Fox) against Cincinnati in a game that could determine their postseason fate, Langi has specific assignments for the linebackers.
“Cincinnati takes pride in (having) no negative plays. Jack, you are going to have to get a couple of negative plays. Do what you do best. Make the offense fear you because you bring negative plays.”
“They throw quick passes. Isaiah, we need you in coverage. Go get one.”
And for Esera; “Control the defense. Have everyone (in position). Be that general. If everyone does what they do best, they should win this game.”
High on Bear
There is more than just the No. 47 remaining from Bear Bachmeier’s little league days of playing linebacker. There is also a strong residue of toughness, fearlessness and determination and Langi loves it.
After the true freshman quarterback struggled on the road against No. 8 Texas Tech and suffered his first collegiate defeat, Bachmeier responded last Saturday with a nearly flawless performance to rout TCU 44-13.
“One of the beauties of football is being able to see what you do against adversity. Being the age that he is, the journey that he’s been on and getting smacked in the face from Texas Tech — what are you going to do?” Langi said. “The quarterback position is the most important position in football.
“When you see a young man like that take control and respond in an (angry) bear mentality, that allows you to know that we really can finish off winning the rest of these games. Seeing him come back and controlling that game was incredible.”
Girls flag football
Sensing a need to teach girls about football, including his daughter, Langi founded Level Up Athletics, where he offers free coaching for girls ages 4-9 on Wednesday and Friday nights in Orem.
“We just want to teach the younger girls that this is football and it’s fun,” said Langi who also runs Trackit Verified — a company that functions much like an NFL combine to attract college opportunities for boys.
Instructing girls is a pleasant change of pace.
“It’s so much better than coaching boys (where) I have to repeat everything,” Langi laughed. “I tell the girls one thing, and they go and do it!”
Open gym will continue for the girls through December. After the Christmas break, those interested will be split into teams and create a flag football league. You can find more information on the Level Up Athletics Instagram account.
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.