Defensive line? Tremendous depth.

Linebackers? Potentially the best group ever.

Running back and quarterback? Have you heard of LJ Martin and Bear Bachmeier?

Special teams? Well, not so much.

BYU will enter this season having to replace not only its starting kicker and punter from a season ago, but also its primary kick and punt return specialist. And then there’s two of the more underrated positions on the entire team; both the holder and deepsnapper, both of whom no one ever wants to notice because if you do, it means things aren’t going all that well.

It’s a load, and new special teams coordinator Justin Ena, who switched over from coaching the linebackers, has his work cut out. But the good news is that Ena is relishing the work in putting together another productive special teams unit and is working ardently to make the units top catalysts toward the team’s overall success.

“I’ve got a great special teams assistant in Dylan Almond and the kids are already stoked and ready to go,” Ena said. “They’ve had a great special teams coordinator with Kelly Poppinga the last three years. So all we’re trying to do right now is make sure that we’re on top of it, and turning in the right direction.”

Ena certainly isn’t coming into his position new to the process of putting together productive special teams units. Over his lengthy coaching career, he’s able to cite more than several instances where he’s coached in his current capacity.

“I think that would be at least five to six years of my coaching career,” Ena said. “I started as a special teams coordinator at Southern Utah, and then I was a co-special teams coordinator at Utah for three years as well with Coach (Jay) Hill. So I’m used to the position and now to be able to carry on the great special teams that was established here by Coach Poppinga is something I’m excited about.”

As far as fielding a productive kicker, the task is a tough one in trying to procure a consistent contributor much like Will Ferrin, who booted through a number of clutch field goals over the past two seasons. The two vying for top place-kicking duties are senior Matthias Dunn and true freshman Brody Laga.

“Matthias and Brody Laga are brand new, and they’ve never kicked a PAT or a field goal in a game, so it’s going to be a big change for them,” Ena said. “Saying that, they’ve done a good job. We’re trying to put them in the most stressful situations possible to (simulate a) game-like scenario, but it never really is until you actually do it.”

Ena lists Dunn as option, ‘1A’ currently, with Laga termed as being ‘IB’ in the competition.

As for replacing Sam Vander Haar at punter, the responsibility is likely going to rest on the ample foot of sophomore Fuller Shurtz.

“Shurtz is definitely the top guy right now. He’s hit the ball well in spring and he’s continued to do so during this fall camp,” Ena said.

Backing up Shurtz is freshman Cole Shulman.

And then there’s the deepsnapper to replace Garrison Grimes, who was never noticed throughout his career, which is exactly the kind of obscurity desired for anyone playing the position.

“Right now Ty Smith has done a really good job with the short snaps and the deep snaps. He’s the most consistent,” Ena said. “He’s got great pace on the ball, and great accuracy as well. For field goal snaps for the most part, he’s almost a laces-out type of guy, so he really hones in on his craft.”

Smith is a sophomore from Gilbert, Arizona.

And then there’s the players competing to return both kickoffs and punts this season, replacing Parker Kingston. Ena metioned those vying for spots include true freshman Legend Glasker, sophomore cornerback Cannon DeVries and senior receiver Tiger Bachmeier. Also in the mix is freshman DeVaughn Eka to return kicks, among several others.

Overall Ena is impressed with the buy-in and willingness of everyone on the team to contribute in both kick and punt coverage units.

“If you’re going to play on defense, you’re playing on special teams. And if you think you’re better than special teams, then you ain’t playing on defense,” Ena concluded. “Coach Poppinga is doing the exact same thing, honing in and making sure that the guys understand, again, that’s the philosophy that we’re doing. And then Kalani does a great job being from the very top understanding that, again, if we’re not playing our best players, then we’re a deficiency.”