Small-town stars: BYU senior defensive linemen proud to represent central Utah communities
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- BYU senior defensive lineman Tyler Batty hypes up the Cougars before the Big 12 game against UCF at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
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- BYU’s John Nelson celebrates a sack against Baylor at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022.
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- BYU senior defensive lineman Blake Mangelson knocks down a pass attempt during the Big 12 game against Baylor at McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
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- BYU’s Tyler Batty greets fans after the Cougars’ 34-28 victory at Baylor in Waco on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
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- BYU senior defensive lineman John Nelson (center) attempts to tackle Southern Illinois junior quarterback DJ Williams during the game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.
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- BYU senior defensive lineman Blake Mangelson gets a sack during the Big 12 game against UCF at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
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- BYU senior defensive lineman Tyler Batty greets fans before the Big 12 game against Kansas State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
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- BYU’s Caden Haws (left) and John Nelson bring down a Utah State ball carrier during a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022.
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- BYU junior defensive lineman Blake Mangelson (93) and senior Jackson Cravens (91) attempt to block a kick during the game against Arkansas at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2023.
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- BYU’s Tyler Batty (92) chases Utah running back Micah Bernard in a college football game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.
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- BYU senior defensive lineman John Nelson tries to knock a pass down during the game against Southern Illinois at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024.
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- BYU senior defensive lineman Tyler Batty runs off the field with other Cougar players at halftime during the Big 12 game against Kansas State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.
When the BYU defense takes the field, usually a trio of seniors wearing uniforms with a straight sequence of numbers take up position on the defensive line: No. 92, No. 93 and No. 94.
Cougar senior Tyler Batty (No. 92) said the selection of numbers was pure happenstance.
“It’s really funny how that worked out,” Batty said. “We really are all right there. It wasn’t like a deliberate thing. It just happened that way. Bracken (El-Bakri) left and Blake (Mangelson) came in, and they gave Blake No. 93. Then John (Nelson) came in and they just gave him No. 94. We never really thought about it until this year, when it’s like, yeah, the three of us are starting up front.”
Batty, Nelson and Mangelson have more in common than just their jersey numbers or their senior status. All three come from the same general area — southern Utah County and Juab County — and represent smaller high schools in Payson (Batty), Salem Hills (Nelson) and Juab (Mangelson).
“There is a lot of pride in being from those little towns,” Batty said. “It’s fun being able to represent our towns and also everything kind of being so close.”
Nelson said he appreciates that heritage and is glad the reminder is as near as looking to the south end of Utah Valley.
“There’s a lot to be said about the part of Utah where we grow up, and especially Salem and Payson and Nephi,” Nelson said. “We don’t get a lot of love down there but it doesn’t matter. Football is football. I know Tyler takes a lot of great pride in where he grew up, and Blake does too. And when we do the Cougar Walk before each home game, I get to look down the street and see Salem down there. It just reminds me we play in our state and reminds me of where I grew up. It’s really, really humbling.”
Although they may not have come from traditional powerhouses, the three seniors have become the backbone of the Cougar defensive front.
“I love that they were here with me the whole time so I can see them grow up and get old now,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said. “What you see this year and what you see from what we’ve done transitioning to the Big 12 is a big part of what those guys have done for us and our program. Words can’t describe how important they are to us and how important they are to me. I love those guys so much and we owe them everything.”
Sitake said guys who come from lesser-known places like that often have a drive that makes a big difference.
“These guys have a vision,” Sitake said. “They want to believe in themselves and then they won’t stop. It’s crazy when I get to see it happening. They give so much to this program and to this school, so it’s been amazing. The state of Utah is really good at football and even more so when you give guys a chance. Guys who have a will and desire to keep playing and they won’t give up, it ends up working out well for them, especially here.”
Given how long they’ve played together, it’s not surprising that the trio have developed strong bonds. Here’s how they described each other and talked about their journey with BYU football:
Tyler Batty
As the first to arrive at BYU, Batty has seniority in the group and is also the most vocal leader.
“I’m the old man,” Batty said with a grin. “We’re all kind of graduating together but I didn’t play against either of them in high school. They both graduated in 2020 and I graduated in 2017. It’s just far enough that we didn’t have that crossover.
But he’s certainly gotten to know them well as they competed and worked out in Provo. He describes the other two as “hard-working, goofy dudes” who may not be the most talkative but who never stop pushing themselves.
“They’re two of the hardest working guys I know,” Batty said. “They just bust their butts constantly. They don’t talk a whole much, although John talks a little bit more than Blake. But they’re goofy dudes. They like to have fun, and so they’re great guys to be around. They’re great guys to train with and play with. They’re absolute beasts on the field but off the field, they’re just some of the boys. They’re just fun to be around.”
He recalled playing on opposite ends with Mangelson against Arizona State in 2022.
“I was like, dude, this is like my twin,” Batty said. “This is my long-lost twin that I never had that I always wish I did. I’ve loved playing with Blake from Day 1.”
He also talked about playing with Nelson and said it’s been great to see how the former Skyhawk has grown to make the most of his abilities.
“We were really playing a lot on the edges with each other in 2022 and 2023 and it was a lot of fun in all those games, getting after quarterbacks and wreaking havoc,” Batty said. “I think that was one of my one of my best memories is just watching John develop and seeing people realize that John Nelson gets after it with how much he pressured the quarterback last year.”
He said there is something surreal about knowing that in the next few months, all three will go their separate ways.
“It’s kind of a weird process,” Batty said. “You spend so much time together for so long. I spend more time with the guys on the team than with my wife. So it’s like you are together 365 days a year — and then you’re not. I’ve been through it before with other teammates and it’s a weird transition, but I’m really grateful for my time with those guys.”
John Nelson
Nelson had some connection to both Batty and Mangelson before coming to BYU.
He remembered seeing Batty’s Payson play against his older brother and then hearing about “a kid from Payson who was going to BYU.” He got the chance to face Mangelson when Salem Hills played Juab and remembered “that kid freaking played. He was clearly the best player on his team.”
Once all three joined the Cougars, he saw them put in the effort to be great.
“Blake’s had a lot of the same experiences I’ve had and to see him come from being a walk-on, his whole story has just been incredible and he deserves a lot of credit,” Nelson said. “And Tyler’s been the guy since I got here. To see him go from being the captain of the defensive line to the captain of the team has been awesome.”
One of his favorite memories came right after the end of the disappointing 2023 season at an optional workout where both Batty and Mangelson were running sprints in the indoor practice facility.
“Tyler was telling us that next year was going to be different and all this stuff,” Nelson said. “We believed since last December that we could do what we are doing.”
The former Skyhawk star has nothing but praise for his two friends and brothers.
“They’re great teammates and great dudes,” Nelson said. “Those guys will do anything you ask them to. They are really well-coached. They will do their jobs in the defense to the best of their abilities.
“Tyler’s a wrecking ball on and off the field. That’s how he is. Blake is a really humble guy. Both those dudes are just top-tier dudes. You can see it on Saturdays but it’s nothing different than what they do every day.”
Blake Mangelson
The “Mangler” from Nephi said Batty and Nelson were a big part of his transition to BYU.
“John and I came in at the same time, while Batty actually hosted me on my visit,” Mangelson said. “Both of them are just great, awesome guys and we have a lot in common, coming from smaller towns. I feel like the three of us have built off each other with our games. It’s been a cool experience sharing it with them and having similar stories.”
He did have one prior experience as he remembered when his Wasps took on Nelson’s Skyhawks in a non-region game and how Nelson was the “big-time recruit.”
“It was cool to play against him,” Mangelson said.
He said that he admires how both Batty and Nelson are great leaders, even though they go about it in different ways.
“I think Tyler’s led this defense since I’ve been here, even though he was an underclassman back when I first came around,” Mangelson said. “He’s just a great leader, a passionate leader, and just a great dude all around.
“It’s the same with John. They have different personalities and lead people in their different ways, but I would say John is also just a freaking solid dude. He doesn’t want anything but the best for you.”
He said some of his best memories with his defensive line teammates have been when they’ve been on road trips or out having fun.
“I remember on my visit that Batty took us rollerblading and we just tore it up,” Mangelson said. “We had a blast.”
Mangelson recalled how when he was moved inside during spring, the message was that he could be on the field with Batty and Nelson.
“I was like, heck, yeah, let’s do it,” Mangelson said. “It’s crazy to see how far we’ve all come. Sticking with them through these four years, it’s been awesome. It’s been great to have the season that we’ve had and become the leaders of that defense.”
Advice for the next generation
Batty, Nelson and Mangelson all take a great deal of pride in their small-town roots but recognize it can be tough to go from smaller schools to a big-name school like BYU.
They took a moment to tell athletes facing some of the same obstacles how they would recommend overcoming them.
“Work your butt off and don’t give up,” Batty said. “That’s really what it comes down to. I look at all of our journeys from high school to college and not being as highly recruited. No one really knowing who we were. But I think in all three of our cases, that’s what it came down to is we wanted to play football at the next level. We worked our butts off. And again, you just don’t give up. I think things have a way of working out when you do that like it did for us three.”
Mangelson and Nelson agreed the perseverance is crucial to chasing big dreams, as is taking advantage of every opportunity.
“Tt’s very difficult,” Mangelson said. “I had a hard time getting out of Nephi. I think the biggest thing is to get your name out there. I think it’s hard with smaller schools because athletes don’t go to as many camps, whether that’s skill or team camps. I don’t think at smaller schools it’s as emphasized to play at that next level. So you have to get your name out there and do everything you can to make it to any of the college host camps. Just go for it.”
