2022 Fall Camp: 10th Practice Quotes and Defensive Line Preview

PROVO, Utah — No. 25 BYU football conducted its 10th practice of fall camp on Tuesday and concluded the session meeting with reporters to talk about the team's progress as it prepares to open the season at USF on Sept. 3 in Tampa, Florida.

Read quotes below from defensive coordinator 'Ilaisa Tuiaki, defensive lineman Tyler Batty and tight end Issac Rex among the many interviews that took place during Tuesday's post-practice media availability. Select the gallery button above to view photos from Tuesday's practice and the link below to see the entire BYU Photo Fall Camp Exposure Gallery.

Fall Camp Exposure Gallery

Defensive Line Preview

More Watch Lists

Mahe and Tuioti-Mariner named to Polynesian Player of the Year Watch List

The BYU defensive line features a bevy of veterans and intriguing youth eager to take a leap in 2022.

“As a defensive line, we need to make sure that our run defense comes first every game,” said edge rusher Tyler Batty at BYU Football Media Day on June 22. “When we have the opportunity to get to the quarterback, we need to get there. This season we need to get after it and get off the field.”

Batty, a 6-foot-5, 275-pound sophomore, returns after a 2021 season in which he played in 12 games, starting seven, and led the team in sacks. Batty also recorded the fourth-most tackles on the team with 43 stops (23 solo) and two quarterback hurries. 2.5 of Batty’s 3.5 sacks came in the Independence Bowl alone.

Pro Football Network named Batty to its All-Independent Second Team Defense following the season. Phil Steele’s 2022 Preseason All-Independent Second Team featured Batty as did the Wuerffel Trophy preseason watch list upon its July 27 release.

The Wuerffel Trophy is college football’s premier award for community service. In addition to on-field success, Batty created and operates Edward’s Hands, a non-profit organization that provides equine therapy for children with autism in Utah County.

“We do a therapy ride or two per week,” Batty said at media day. “We are advertising by word of mouth while we still work on getting someone hired to help establish a brand. My eyes have really been opened to the unmet needs in Utah County. There’s so much need for equine therapy here locally.”

Defensive ends and hybrids coach Preston Hadley sees potential in Batty for a big 2022 season.

“Tyler played his best football this last spring,” Hadley said at media day. “He has an opportunity to have a very good season with how he’s developed his body and football IQ.”

Earl Tuioti-Mariner and Pepe Tanuvasa return alongside Batty as key players with starting experience. Both were among the 26 players to play in all 13 games in 2021. Tuioti-Mariner enjoyed a career-best campaign last season with 25 tackles, one sack and one quarterback hurry. Tanuvasa finished the season as the team’s fifth leading tackler with 42 stops (23 solo), three sacks and an interception.

“Earl is versatile; he can play both defensive tackle or strong end for us outside,” Hadley said. “He’s very athletic and strong. He has a natural feel for recognizing blocking schemes.”

Atunaisa Mahe, Caden Haws, Gabe Summers and Lorenzo Fauatea return on the interior of the defensive line. Mahe, a 6-foot-1, 310-pound junior from West Jordan, Utah, recorded 26 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry a season ago. Mahe’s 2021 performance came just a year after he missed 2020 with a non-football related venous thrombosis diagnosis.

Haws, a 6-foot-2, 320-pound sophomore from Little Rock, Arkansas, made six starts in 2021 and recorded a career-high eight tackles vs. UAB in the Independence Bowl.

Summers notched 24 tackles (12 solo) to go along with three quarterback hurries in 2021. Fauatea looks to return to full health this season after missing eight games in 2021 with an injury.

Fisher Jackson, Blake Mangelson, John Nelson and Alden Tofa also lend experience to the BYU defensive line room.

“Fisher had a good spring,” Hadley said. “He’s getting bigger and stronger, and continuing to understand the position.”

Nelson played in all 13 games in 2021, and made a career-best two tackles, 0.5 tackle for loss and 1.5 sacks in the Cougars’ 66-49 win over Virginia. Nelson was also worked in the offseason to add weight to his frame, tipping the scales at 300 pounds now.

While Mangelson is still developing as a pass-rusher, Hadley sees great potential in the sophomore from Nephi, Utah.

“Blake has a wrestling background that allows him to better understand leverage,” Hadley said. “He has a natural feel that you can’t teach.”

Josh Larsen, Aisea “Ice” Moa, Bruce Mitchell and Alema Pilimai are but a sampling of the Cougars’ promising freshmen defensive lineman.

Post-Practice Quotes

Defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki (watch video)

On Tyler Batty's leadership

“He has been a guy that people will follow. He speaks up and says things that need to be said and his voice carries a lot of weight. He's done a really good job of using his influence to get us heading in the right direction.”

On player-centric leadership

“We want the team to be guided by the team, the players have a lot of say. We’ve also got a lot of return missionaries that come back with a lot more experience and a lot more leadership.”

On the defensive line's group effort

“We've got a crew where not to many people are talking about specific guys. We've got guys that are quietly doing their jobs really, really, well and it's making us play better as a defense.”

On how NIL has impacted his players

“It's been a big positive. We haven't really been a team where one or two guys takes $8 million each, it's just not the way that BYU is ever going to be. The defense does have guys that are getting NIL deals and they're sharing, like how you saw Jaren share his with all of the offensive linemen. I think it's cool and getting the players more is a good thing. NIL’s been really good for us.”

Defensive lineman Tyler Batty (watch video)

On the progress of the defense in fall camp

“We’re well on our way, the defense is looking really good. Guys are healthy, flying around, feeling good, looking good and making plays. I’m really excited to have the squad that we have on defense and the way everyone’s playing together right now. Things are clicking and it’s really exciting. Things are moving well for the time as we have left in fall camp.”

On his leadership role for the defense

“Part of it is my personality. I’ll see something I’d like to do differently and then just go after it. When I showed up, we had some really good leaders on the team like Troy Warner, Isaiah Kaufusi and Khyiris Tonga. They set really good examples of how to be a leader and how to be vocal and how to get guys to come out and compete. When I see something that needs to change, I try to do what I can to make it better."

On Lorenzo Fauatea's return from injury

“Zo is awesome. He’s a veteran who knows how to play. He knows the game of football, knows offenses and having him back is huge for us.”

Tight end Isaac Rex (watch video)

On Tuesday's practice

“It was good. We still have a lot of things to work on. The defense played really well today. I feel like they got the better half of us, especially the last period. We need to do better as an offense. We’re fighting out there. We're having fun. We're playing football. So, it's just good vibes out there.”

On the secondary

"They're all very long and very fast. Obviously, D'Angelo Mandell and Kaleb Hayes. They're stud guys. The safeties are studs and they all have a ton of experience under their belts. I feel like they've all played for four plus years now. So yeah, the secondary is top notch at BYU.”

On the health of his ankle

"I probably trust it like 80% here and there. I can't really jump purely off my right ankle yet. Running feels great. Braking and cutting feels really good. Walking feels good. It's just kind of that right foot jump that's a little hesitant. It's getting there. I'm getting close."