The deepest and most talented unit on BYU’s No. 14 ranked football team in 2024 might be the linebackers, coached by the former Cougar great and four-year NFL journeyman. Justin Ena.

Weber State’s transfer trio Jack KellyOregon transfer Harrison Taggart and security/converted receiver Isaiah Glasker has been terrific and partly responsible for BYU’s status as the 58th best rushing defense in the country. The Cougars are giving up a respectable 139.2 yards per game on the ground.

That’s saying something, considering BYU has faced some of the best running backs in the country — Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon II, Kansas State’s DJ Giddens, Utah’s Micah Bernard, Utah’s RJ Harvey. UCF and Kansas’ Devin Neal.

The next step is perhaps the best of the best, as BYU prepares for Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo Saturday (1:30 p.m. MST, ESPN) at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Ena said the Cougars (9-1, 6-1) will be on alert for the Sun Devils (8-2, 5-2) and their transfer from Sacramento State who has totaled 1,074 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 31 passes. for 448 yards and two scores in nine games.

“Skattebo is a tough runner. No. 2 (Kyson Brown) and No. 25 (DeCarlos Brooks) are also very good,” Ena said. “You see Skattebo (5-11, 215) make incredible plays because of his balance. He is a little smaller and stockier. His legs never stop. So, as a linebackers coach, first and foremost I have to make sure our guys are adjusting properly to the run.

Defensive coordinator Jay Hill said the trio of backs could give ASU the most powerful group in the Big 12otherwise the country.

“We have our work cut out for us. I’m excited about the challenge. I think our guys will be ready to go,” Hill said. “It seems like every week that we face a big comeback, the guys have risen to that challenge. So we’d better start again.

Glasker said of Skattebo: “He’s a good ball carrier. Knowing Jay Hill, we’re going to be ready to race. And for me personally, I can’t wait to face good guards, just to see what our defense is really made of. We’re used to stopping good backs so I’m excited to see what we talk about in this game.

Taggart (63), Glasker (49) and Kelly (42) are three of BYU’s top four tacklers and I’ve been iron men this season for the Cougars. Safety is third on the Cougars’ priority list Wakley Crew (42), but the backup transfer from Utah State is questionable this week after banging his shoulder in last week’s 17-13 loss to Kansas.

“We are getting better every game. Obviously, Glasker and Harrison made a significant number of plays each game. I think it just shows their ability to get better every week,” Kelly told BYUtv. “Even the younger ones (are improving). You see Miles Hall in there playing. And Sione Moa, Ice Moa, they all played.

Hall, a redshirt freshman from Skyline High, briefly replaced the Jayhawks when Kelly said he “took a tackle on my knee” and suffered “a little bruise” against Kansas. Ena said Sione Moa has returned from injury and is expected to contribute more in the final games, alongside Hall, Aisea “Ice” Moa and UCLA transfers Choe Bryant-Strotherwho also just got injured.

Ena said Siale Esera and Ace Kaufusi redshirted and had bright futures in the program. For now, though, the Cougars are riding as much as possible with Taggart, Glasker and Kelly.

“I think they’re doing a good job. I think we had a disappointment last week. I don’t think we played as physical as we needed to. I think given their mission, they are there. Now we have to be more precise and more violent in our blitzes,” Ena said.

“When we blitz, I often think we’re stuck. Sometimes we get stopped by the tackle or the running back. This should never happen. We have to make sure we continue to work and be more violent, more tenacious to get to that quarterback.

Speaking of which, ASU has an outstanding one in Michigan State transfer Sam Leavitt, a dual-threat QB who was coveted by BYU when he entered the transfer portal. Leavitt’s father, Jared, played linebacker for BYU in 1990 and 1991. His brother, Dallin, played defensive back for BYU (2013-14) and Utah State (2015-17) and has been in the NFL since 2018 on active rosters and practice squads.

Ena said the entire BYU defense is eager to get back on the field and atone for the loss to Kansas.

“I feel like they’re hungry. It sucks to lose, right? But the first thing we need to do is figure out what we need to clean up, and then we need to lock down the state of Arizona,” Ena said. “We watch as much film as possible, because the worst thing you can do is let a loss cause you to lose the second game as well.

“We know what we have to do. The guys are hungry. We want to get back into this winning streak.