Provo • It is not exactly an embarrassment of riches.

But the cornerback situation on BYU's defense is perhaps the best it has been since Bronco Mendenhall became head coach in 2005 or Jaime Hill became the defensive coordinator in 2006.

"Yeah, yeah," Hill said. "I mean, it is still going to be hard out there. It isn't going to be easy. But we feel very comfortable with the guys we have right now. We have at least three that can help us."

Those three are seniors Brian Logan and Brandon Bradley, and junior Corby Eason. The fourth corner in will likely be sophomore Robbie Buckner, although he's out with a broken hand.

So how did a school that traditionally struggles to attract Division I-caliber cornerbacks come up with so many talented guys at the same time?

Hill said it reflects a change in recruiting philosophy, to a certain extent. Coaches decided that it was difficult to recruit non-LDS high school players to the position and ask them to stick around for four or five years. So they went the junior college route, and lured a guy such as Logan, who was a two-year starter for Foothill College in California before landing in Provo.

"It is just harder to be here longer for certain guys. So we try to give them the best opportunity we can for them to be successful in this environment," Hill said. "… If you bring a kid here who is not a member of the [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which owns and operates BYU], it makes it challenging for him to be here for five years. … So we end up losing guys that way. So we try to go a different route."

Logan, who is not LDS, chuckles at that suggestion, saying "I would love to be here for five years."

But the ever-smiling, always-positive Logan acknowledges the difficulties others face adjusting at BYU. He has publicly acknowledged that 2009, his first year in Provo was difficult, but most of those struggles were football-related and had "nothing to do with the community, the faith, the honor code or acclimating. None of that was a problem. It was more physical and mental, when it came to football," he said.

The other starting corner, Bradley, is LDS and has been in Provo for five years.

But Eason, who figures to see a lot of playing time this year, is not. He grew up in Columbus, Ga., and sat out a year before playing one season at Erie Community College in New York.

"At first, I was in culture shock because I am not used to everybody being so nice," said Eason, who played in 12 games last year and had two tackles.

"There were some other things that took getting used to. But I eventually realized this is a great place. People want me here, and people respect my faith here."

Two other corners in camp, juco transfer DeQuan Everett and freshman Jordan Johnson, are also not LDS. They will likely redshirt.

Hill said the ideal formula for corners as it relates to BYU is a guy such as Eason.

"What we are really trying to do is get a guy who is a sophomore, who has played a year of junior college. That's the best situation. He has already had a year of experience, and he comes here. He may redshirt, or he may not play much, but by his junior year he is ready to play," Hill said.

Mendenhall said not only have Logan and Eason shined on the field, they've established themselves as role models for the younger players. Logan, for instance, has emerged as a team leader and is often chosen to represent BYU at community functions such as last Saturday's Big Blue Bash in Salt Lake City.

"Like I have said, I still pinch myself," Logan said. "It is just an unreal feeling. I never thought in a million years that I would be at a Top 25 school, be a starter, let alone be a fan favorite. It blows me away, the position I am in. I am truly blessed to be here."

drew@sltrib.com —

Cornerbacks in BYU camp

Player Year Ht/Wt Comment

Brian Logan Sr. 5-6/185 Starter at field corner

Brandon Bradley Sr. 6-0/193 Starter at boundary corner

Corby Eason Jr. 5-8/172 Third-best corner, coaches say

Robbie Buckner Soph. 5-10/176 Sidelined with broken hand

DeQuan Everett Jr. 6-3/200 Juco transfer likely to redshirt

Jordan Johnson Fr. 5-10/175 Referred to Y. by Danny Ainge

Dallin Tollestrup Soph. 6-1/175 Walk-on was a former QB