Provo » Asked to describe BYU linebacker Shawn Doman, teammates and coaches all seem to settle on two words for the senior from Oregon.

Quiet and tough.

"He just doesn't say much. He's quiet, but there's nothing wrong with that," said BYU linebackers coach Paul Tidwell. "He has the respect of his teammates because he works hard and he's a great guy to be around. He leads by example, and the other players love him."

Said linebacker Coleby Clawson: "Have fun getting a word out of him."

Doman, the Cougars' fourth-leading tackler (42) despite sharing time at the buck linebacker position most of the season with Terrance Hooks, shrugs when asked about being the strong, silent type and says he prefers to let his play do his talking.

And this year, the first year in his career in which injuries haven't severely hampered his playing time, he has been part of linebacking corps that coach Bronco Mendenhall says has improved with each game.

"If you were to say, 'Are we getting good pressure on the quarterback?' The answer is, 'yes,'" Mendenhall said. "Are we playing excellent run defense? I think we are. And the consistency of how those guys are playing is reflective of them being upper classmen.

"So Matt Bauman, in terms of leadership and where he fits and how he directs the front, is much more a presence than he did a year ago. Shawn Doman and Terrance Hooks are providing nice combination at the buck linebacker spot. Coleby Clawson is having a phenomenal year at the [weak] linebacker spot."

Bauman, Clawson and Hooks are seniors, like Doman.

"The linebackers are a tight-knit group. We've been together for a long time," Doman said. "We trust each other, which is a big thing for a defense."

The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder is the cousin of BYU quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman. He came to BYU with another cousin, quarterback Sam Doman, but Sam has since transferred to Oregon, where he plays on the scout team for the Ducks.

Shawn Doman said he's glad he stayed, although a variety of injuries has plagued his career. He has battled through problems with his lower back, and last year he suffered an appendicitis attack that caused him to miss the Air Force game.

"I've had injuries, but I've tried not to let them get me down," he said. "Just trying to stay positive has got me through it."

An exercise science major, Doman is married to the former AnneMarie Francom of Bountiful and is looking forward to completing his degree and beginning life without football in a couple of months.

"It has been great here," Doman said. "I have been here since 2005. I have grown a lot as a player and a person, which is all you can ask for."

Tidwell said Doman's toughness and coachability set him apart.

"He has battled through a lot of injuries and things, but to his credit he has never wavered in his commitment to the team," Tidwell said. "That's why we are going to miss Shawn. It's been great to have him in the program."

Defensive back Brandon Bradley said senior leaders in the linebacking corps have taken the pressure off the secondary.

"Guys like Shawn just do their jobs, and that helps a lot," he said. "You always know what you are going to get with Shawn."

Which is to say, a lot of toughness and not a lot of talk.

drew@sltrib.com