This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

As the 2014 football season was winding down, BYU's offensive line situation looked pretty good. The only big contributor the Cougars were expected to lose was senior right tackle De'Ondre Wesley. The only other senior on the two-deep was Solomone Kafu, a part-time starter.

Then former four-star recruit Brayden Kearsley announced in December he was transferring to Oregon State. In January, junior Terrance Alletto made it known that he was giving up football.

Senior Ryker Mathews, the projected starter at right tackle, isn't participating in spring camp but should return in time for fall ball.

So the Cougars aren't exactly deep at the offensive line spot as they head into Friday's scrimmage at LaVell Edwards Stadium (6 p.m. MDT).

"It will be thin this year," coach Bronco Mendenhall acknowledged. "Two players that are younger players that have done a nice job this spring are Manu Mulitalo and Jaterrius Gulley, who we moved from D-line. Those two guys, I have been impressed with. Then we will get Ryker Mathews back before the season. We need three [more offensive linemen], and those are probably going to be the three."

An in-depth look at the offensive line situation after my Monday interview with OC Robert Anae and my Wednesday interview with OL coach Garett Tujague was published in today's Tribune.

Anae said there will be enough offensive linemen to run a two-team scrimmage on Friday night, but Mendenhall said it will just be a 30-play scrimmage and there won't be two full teams on the field. Instead, the ones will go against the ones, the twos against the twos, etc. So it is going to be more scrimmage, less game.

"But any time you scrimmage, you are going to be careful with how you tackle, and who you tackle," Anae said. "So we are going to put it out there, but we aren't going to have a full arrangement of plays, or players."

What does the offensive line need to do collectively to get better?

"Everything, from top to bottom, and we look forward to guys getting off missions and getting more healthy," Anae said. "And we need better, and more, depth. So yeah, all of the above."

Here's more from my chat with Tujague that didn't get into the article:

On whether the starting five in spring is likely to be the starting five in the fall:

"There are no guarantees. The best five guys are going to play, depending on guys we got coming in, Ryker [Mathews] coming back. Guys are battling for spots. Some returned missionaries we got coming in will compete for spots, get their feet wet. So I would not feel comfortable saying those are the five guys right now. That will take care of itself in the fall."

On Brad Wilcox moving in to a starting role in the spring:

"Brad is having probably his best spring. He still needs to work on some things, but is definitely solidifying his spot and is a guy who will definitely play on Saturdays."

On why Terrance Alletto didn't come back for his final year of eligibility:

"You should ask him. We wanted him to be here, loved him. I know he has a good job lined up and is going to graduate [this spring]."

On Parker Dawe backing up Tejan Koroma at center:

"Yeah, Parker has had a really good spring. He has shown his energy and effort through the strength and weight training and going over drills. He came into spring ball ready to perform and is fighting his tail off for a spot on the plane."

On returned missionaries that can help right away:

"The only guy that I am hoping can make huge strides among the returning missionaries is Austin Hoyt. He came in, he's in really good shape and not overweight. He needs to get his legs stronger, but athletically, he is going to be special."

On why DL Jaterrius Gulley moved to OL:

"Jaterius is a very good athlete, and his biggest downfall is him. He is starting to pick things up. He is having a very good spring. His attitude is really good. But he needs to get some good weight on and some bad weight off and get ready to go. He can be one of those guys battling for one of those guard spots, because he does have the ability to play on Saturdays."