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2022 BYU football Countdown to Camp: Being No. 1 shows how important this position is

By Jared Lloyd - | Aug 2, 2022

BYU Photo

BYU defensive lineman Tyler Batty celebrates after making a sack during the 45-14 Cougar win over Louisiana Tech at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020.

It’s almost time.

The endless summer of wide-ranging speculation and prognostications can be put in its proper place in just a few short days.

As college football teams across the country gather to initiate their final preparations for the upcoming season, the focus goes toward honing every skill and mastering every concept.

Fall camp isn’t for basic physical development, nor is it when a squad should be focused on understanding strategy. If a team is using the next month for those things, it can virtually guarantee that the season itself is going to be a struggle.

No, camp is when good programs push themselves to be great by improving in every area to become an efficient, effective fighting unit.

It happens at each level, from individuals to position groups to phases of the game (offense, defense, special teams) to the team as a whole.

Each player and coach must be part of the universal effort but even more responsibility rests on the shoulders of the leaders. They can’t let up in pursuit of the big goals.

That’s the position these final BYU players and coaches find themselves in as the Countdown reaches its conclusion.

The player who holds the top spot on the list may be unexpected but his impact might be truly monumental for the Cougar program.

No. 1: Tyler Batty, sophomore defensive end

Few might point to a defensive lineman as the player who would be the most significant for BYU in 2022, but they would be overlooking just what a player like Batty could mean to the Cougar defense.

First of all, in addition to 56 total tackles Batty has 7.5 sacks in the last two seasons, which leads the team. While that number isn’t all that impressive, it shows his potential to be a disruptor in the backfield.

Also, don’t underestimate the leader Batty has become on the defensive side of the ball for BYU. He is a vocal, charismatic athlete who can be key in getting everyone on that side of the ball to excel.

Most importantly, the former Payson star plays a position where the Cougars need to see the biggest improvement.

BYU got gashed in the run game and didn’t create enough havoc for opposing offenses in the losses last year, so Batty has to spearhead a resurgence on the defensive line to give the Cougars more chances to win.

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