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Harvey Langi could be celebrating a 6-1 season and basking in the glow of a No. 18 national ranking and three big wins over Pac-12 teams right now.

Instead, he's trying to learn a new position and doing all he can to help pull a team out of a four-game nosedive.

But Langi, who transferred from the University of Utah to BYU last summer after a two-year church mission to Florida, said Tuesday that he has no regrets.

And he wishes his former teammates nothing but the best.

"I am just happy," he said, motioning non-stop with his arms and hands and excitedly rocking back and forth on his feet. "I am happy for them, I am happy for their team. I am happy for all my friends over there. They are working hard, and they are doing good things. I hope that they just keep it rolling, they keep representing the state of Utah."

Langi said the feedback he's received from Utah and BYU fans alike after his shocking announcement in July that he was not just leaving the U., but heading to its biggest rival has been mostly positive.

"We are all teams here in Utah, and we are all trying to represent Utah and represent everyone here. It is not just BYU. It is not just the University of Utah, but it is Salt Lake City, Provo, and all the cities around here. We are just trying to go out there and not only play for the university, but play for all of us. So they are out there doing their thing and I am happy for them. It is just a good thing. It is a positive thing when a Utah team is coming up like that, and has that kind of recognition."

At the start of the season, Langi said he transferred more for religious reasons than football reasons, and he alluded to that decision again Tuesday, saying he made the choice that was best for him and his future.

Langi, who plays middle linebacker for BYU, has played in seven of the Cougars' eight games and started in one — against Nevada. He has made nine tackles.

"Coming off his mission as late as he did, and trying to learn the system and position, my hat is off to him," said inside linebackers coach Paul Tidwell. "He's got a great attitude. His playing time has increased each game. So my concern is to throw him out there, and start him, and then have him not execute at the level we would like him to, and then pull him out, hurt his confidence. So my approach is giving more and more playing time, give him more and more of a role each game, get him as many reps as he can. He's going to be special."

Langi said he is not taking anything for granted.

"I go out there and I give it all I got. If they call my name or my number, then hey, I will be there first. It is more of go in there and do my job, not just, 'ooh,' I've got the starting position and the light is on me and I am shining.' It is not like that at all."

Somebody asked Langi on Tuesday if he's been asked to go back to playing running back because of Jamaal Williams, Adam Hine and Algie Brown injuries that have depleted the corps of backs.

"I love our running backs. Running backs run hard. Every time I watch them run the ball, it is like, 'ooh' it is so cool. They are running. And if they come and lay someone out or truck someone or get those [yards after contact] yards or those extra yards after contact, it just gives me the butterflies.

But I have committed to the defense. I just want to play linebacker, and that's something I am going to give my all in. Every time I see that, I get excited, and I get happy for them, and it is in the back of my mind, I remember when I used to do that. But right now I am trying to focus on being with coach Tidwell and the linebackers."