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BYU junior defensive lineman Tyler Batty attempts to hurdle a tackler during the Big 12 game against Oklahoma State at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU junior defensive lineman Tyler Batty celebrates recovering a fumble during the game against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2023.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU junior defensive lineman Tyler Batty works to get past a block during the game against Southern Utah at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU junior linebacker Ben Bywater makes a tackle during the game against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2023.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU junior linebacker Ben Bywater rushes the quarterback during the game against Southern Utah at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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It’s been a few months since current BYU football players wrapped up the 2023 season and made decision about their future.

Some decided to transfer. Others turned their focus toward preparing to play pro football.

But some, like Cougar defensive lineman Tyler Batty, weighed their options and decided to come back to Provo for one more year.

And it wasn’t easy.

“When I decided to come back, that was a tough decision,” Batty said after practice last week. “There were a lot of offers on the table but at the end of the day, I felt like we had more to do. Now being back and being in spring ball, I’m stoked and I can’t wait for football to get back here.”

His desire to improve off of the disappointment of last fall isn’t surprising, since all of the BYU football players and coaches know they didn’t reach their goals including not reaching a bowl game.

“We’re still in that offseason and that’s something that the guys who have returned think about every day,” Batty said. “The way things panned out last season wasn’t how we wanted them to so we want to change that.”

He also felt like the BYU defense could be a lot better in the second year under the direction of defensive coordinator Jay Hill, which was another big factor in his decision.

“Jay is a player’s coach,” Batty said. “He’s someone you’d run through a brick wall for because you know that he genuinely cares about you. Not only that, he pushes you to be your best. You appreciate coaches like that because they really have your best interest at heart. It builds that relationship and that trust. My relationship with Jay was also a big part of why I came back.”

In order to do take the giant leap forward he wanted the defense to take, however, Batty knew he needed others to help shoulder the load. If veterans returned, it would increase the chances for the Cougars to bounce back from the losing season.

So he said he made a call to senior linebacker Ben Bywater.

“That was the first guy I called once I kind of made my decision,” Batty said. “I picked up my phone and I called Ben. I said, ‘Ben, I’m coming back. Come back with me and let’s do this thing.’ It’s been huge because Ben is a phenomenal player, a phenomenal leader with a lot of experience. He’s seen a lot of football and football at a high level as well. It was huge to get him back and I love Ben. I’m just super, super excited to play ball with him for another year.”

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said that having guys like Bywater and Batty back on the team for one more season makes a noticeable difference even in spring ball.

“The leadership has already happened,” Sitake said. “We got a bunch of new faces last year and a lot of those guys will return, but it’s nice to have the mainstays like Batty on the defensive line. Blake Mangleson has been here for a long time, as has John Nelson, and those guys are running the room. Then you have Ben (Bywater) in with the linebackers and Jakob Robinson with the defensive backs. There are a lot of veterans who are here who have played a lot of snaps and when they speak it’s easier to get the message across.”

Batty took a moment to reflect on his journey during his time wearing the BYU uniform and he said he is “massively” different than the young man he was when he arrived as a freshman.

“I owe a lot of that to former players and former leaders on the team, as well as the coaches,” Batty said. “That’s both the old defensive staff and the new defensive staff. I think they’ve just helped me to get to where I am today. It’s been a journey, but we’ve got one more season so I’m really looking forward to it.”

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