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Provo • The search already is on at BYU football spring practices to find a replacement for star running back Jamaal Williams, who is participating in the NFL Combine this week.
Junior Squally Canada probably is the leading candidate, after the Milpitas, Calif., product and Washington State transfer rushed for 315 yards and two touchdown last season. Williams had 1,375 yards on 234 carries last fall.
Riley Burt and Trey Dye, who redshirted last year, and KJ Hall also are in the mix.
Another candidate is returned missionary Ula Tolutau, who rushed for 2,465 yards and 31 touchdowns as a senior in 2013 at East High. Tolutau signed with Wisconsin and former Utah State coach Gary Andersen in 2014, but he changed his plans on his mission to Bakersfield, Calif., when Andersen left for Oregon State.
However, Tolutau checked into camp at a 260 pounds, according to running backs coach Reno Mahe, and is being asked to lose 15 to 20 pounds. He's listed at 255 on BYU's web site and 245 on the roster handed out Monday.
"But he's out here running and looking really good," Mahe said. "He's got such good feet and mobility for a big guy. I am excited about him."
Mahe said Tolutau will play halfback, although the fullbacks in camp are smaller. Brayden El Bakri, Creed Richardson and Kyle Griffits, who is listed as a tight end, are battling for that spot, with El Bakri the leading candidate.
Coaches also are taking a look at another possible option — projected starting free safety Matt Hadley, a senior.
"The more competition the better is how I look at it," Mahe said. "We think Hadley can bring something to the table. That's what spring is for, to find out who can do what as we get ready for fall."
Hadley, 6-foot and 205 pounds, said he practiced some at running back last fall when Williams and Canada were hurt as a safeguard in case more backs went down. He likely will be with the offense most of spring camp because he is so familiar with all the defensive schemes.
"I think this spring they just kind of want to see what I can do with the ball and see how it goes," said the former prep running back. "It feels really good, actually. It really does. But there are definitely some cobwebs I need to brush off."
Hadley, who is also a skilled kick returner, said he's not worried about losing a potential starting spot on one side of the ball for a tryout on the other.
"It was definitely a risk to come over, but I think at the same time, even if I was penciled in there and I stayed there, it was going to be a competition anyway," he said. "Even if you are penciled in at No. 1, it is always going to be a competition. There are guys right behind me that are able and will do just as good if not better than I. No, I wasn't worried too much about that, wasn't thinking too much about that."
Same player, different name
Sophomore cornerback Dayan Ghanwoloku, known as Dayan Lake when he played in all 13 games last year and made three interceptions and 48 tackles, explained Wednesday why he has changed his last name.
His parents settled in Layton from the West African country of Liberia when he was 5. Ghanwoloku was their last name, but his father switched it to Lake, previously a middle name.
When Dayan's uncle who still used the last name Ghanwoloku died last year, he decided to change it to that to honor him.
"That's pretty much it … a memory thing," the player said.
The Northridge High product said his father was a student at BYU-Hawaii in 2002 when Liberia was experiencing a civil war. He and his sister were sent to live with their uncle in New York before the family reunited in Utah.
Twitter: @drewjay