{"id":304021,"date":"2025-10-15T00:49:15","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T00:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/304021\/"},"modified":"2025-10-15T00:49:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T00:49:15","slug":"ex-utes-tanuvasa-and-ryan-are-enjoying-different-culture-at-byu-deseret-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/304021\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-Utes Tanuvasa and Ryan are enjoying ‘different culture’ at BYU \u2013 Deseret News"},"content":{"rendered":"

As BYU football coach Kalani Sitake said Monday<\/a>, it is not unusual for former University of Utah football players to transfer to BYU, or vice versa. It happens all the time.<\/p>\n

The schools separated by less than 50 miles that share the same media market often recruit the same players out of the high school and junior college ranks, and many times those players remember that recruitment when things don\u2019t work out at their initial school. Sitake, in particular, has been careful not to sever ties or burn bridges<\/a> with recruits who originally choose a school other than BYU.<\/p>\n

The 50-year-old coach who is in his 10th season at BYU after spending 10 seasons coaching under Kyle Whittingham at Utah is wise in that way.<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Special Collector’s Issue: “1984: The Year BYU was Second to None”<\/p>\n

Get an inclusive look inside BYU Football’s 1984 National Championship season.<\/p>\n

It is no surprise, then, that as No. 15 BYU (6-0, 3-0) and No. 23 Utah (5-1, 2-1) prepare to battle Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium (6 p.m. MDT, Fox) for the second time as Big 12 members, Utah\u2019s roster includes several former Cougars and BYU\u2019s roster includes several former Utes.<\/p>\n

Perhaps no player on either side of the rivalry has experienced more criticism and vitriol from the fan base from which he departed than new BYU defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa<\/a>, one of the anchors of the Cougars\u2019 nationally prominent defense. <\/p>\n

\u201cI knew that (the move) was going to cause earthquakes,\u201d Tanuvasa said while representing BYU at the Big 12 media days last July, after having played for Utah for three seasons. \u201cI\u2019ve never been hated that much in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other former Ute who landed in Provo over the offseason, tight end Carsen Ryan<\/a>, has arguably made a bigger impact at BYU than Tanuvasa, but with considerably less fanfare. More on Ryan later.<\/p>\n

Tanuvasa fueled by Utah fans\u2019 fiery jabs<\/p>\n

Three months after that turbulent day in Frisco, Texas, Tanuvasa appeared at BYU\u2019s weekly press briefing Monday to discuss his season and feelings about the first matchup of ranked teams in the rivalry since 2009, when the Cougars won 26-23 in overtime at LaVell Edwards Stadium behind a Max Hall pass to Andrew George<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just extremely excited and passionate to be able to take the field with so many individuals that have impacted my career, both at the University of Utah and now being here at BYU,\u201d Tanuvasa said. \u201c\u2026 A lot of people could say it\u2019s just another game. Obviously, I feel that it isn\u2019t. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019ve never had this game just circled, because I believe that every game deserves the fullness of my energy at that time. So now this game is circled, now that it\u2019s game week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will the 6-foot-4, 300-pound lineman use the harassment from scorned Utah fans and former teammates as fuel, or does he consider it water under the bridge?<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s both, which can seem contradictory. I recognize that there are moments where I need to recognize that people are going to say things, and the way of the world is just going to happen,\u201d he said. \u201cCommunication is a huge part of this field, and recognizing that mental strength has to be a battle we fight amidst a lot of voices. But it is also a blessing to have some extra fuel to the fire again, as long as it\u2019s siphoned into the proper performance and proper focus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tanuvasa said he has kept in touch with a few former teammates, attended a few weddings and events since announcing he was transferring last December. But he acknowledged there hasn\u2019t been any communication recently and probably won\u2019t until they see each other on the field Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m hoping the best for those guys, and I look forward to a competitive match,\u201d he said, noting that he doesn\u2019t have any secrets about Utah\u2019s offense to share because the Utes have a new offensive coordinator, former BYU coach and player Jason Beck<\/a>, and a new quarterback, the elusive New Mexico transfer Devon Dampier<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tanuvasa: Utah, BYU treat the rivalry differently<\/p>\n

Tanuvasa, a redshirt junior who is from Mission Viejo, California, but served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Provo, coincidentally, said that Sitake treats the rivalry somewhat differently than Whittingham.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the position that I\u2019m in (having been) on both sides,\u201d he said. \u201cI think that the way that both teams attack it is recognizing that there is extra passion, extra emotions going into this game. I do believe that BYU, not just in the difference of culture, but in the perspective of the way that they go about the game, is handled a little bit differently. Both (approaches) are great. I\u2019m just buying into what BYU\u2019s and what Kalani\u2019s culture is for this week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI knew that (the move) was going to cause earthquakes. I\u2019ve never been hated that much in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014 \u00a0BYU defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Asked if he was surprised by the way Utah fans reacted to Tanuvasa\u2019s departure, Sitake took the high road, as he usually does regarding anything rivalry-related.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think fans are gonna react however they want. I just hope that they respect the fact that it is a personal decision for these young men,\u201d Sitake said. \u201cThere are players up at the U. that played for me here, you know, and I love what they did for us in the program, and their presence when they were here playing. I was honored to be their coach. I\u2019m proud of them. I\u2019ll always cheer for their success as they move on, but just not this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ex-Cougars Daley and Fano shining for Utah<\/p>\n

Former BYU players on Utah\u2019s roster include defensive ends Logan Fano and John Henry Daley. Daley, who has blossomed into a star at Utah<\/a>, made three tackles in three games for BYU in 2023.<\/p>\n

\"\"Utah defensive end John Henry Daley (90) hits Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton (2) during game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Daley began his career at BYU before transferring to Utah. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News <\/p>\n

\u201cI hope that everybody can understand that those are the rules of the transfer portal, and it doesn\u2019t have to be so negative,\u201d Sitake said. \u201cI want these young men to be happy and be where they feel like they belong. And it goes both ways. We\u2019ve lost players in the portal and gained some, and I feel like the players that we\u2019ve gained have been a perfect fit for what we want here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tanuvasa off to a slow start at BYU<\/p>\n

After playing in seven games for the Utes in 2024 and making 17 tackles and a sack, Tanuvasa has yet to make that kind of an impact for BYU in 2025. He\u2019s played in all six games, with one sack and 10 total tackles. <\/p>\n

He\u2019s also picked up personal fouls in each of the past two games, wins over West Virginia and Arizona. He was flagged for a late hit against WVU and a roughing-the-passer penalty against Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita that resulted in a disqualification for targeting because he lowered his helmet into Fifita\u2019s helmet.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunate. I think potentially West Virginia\u2019s (penalty) was a little bit more of a dumb play on my behalf. Noah\u2019s a great quarterback. He\u2019s a little shorter than I am, so I need to learn how to tackle those shorter quarterbacks.<\/p>\n

\"\"Referee David Alvarez throws a penalty marker after Brigham Young University Cougars defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa (57) hit West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Khalil Wilkins (14) during the second half of the game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Friday, Oct. 4, 2025. | Rio Giancarlo, Deseret News <\/p>\n

\u201cBut they are bumps in the road and they are learning experiences to go and be even better this week. It is just (about) staying disciplined to my technique, my fundamentals, and just staying consistent,\u201d he continued. \u201cThat happens to everybody. Unfortunately, it was a little undisciplined on my behalf, but I recognize that I can bounce back and learn from those lessons.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryan\u2019s Hope: TE a nice addition to BYU offense<\/p>\n

Conversely, tight end Carsen Ryan<\/a> has given BYU just what it needed after stints at UCLA and Utah. Although he didn\u2019t have a catch in the 33-27 win over Arizona, Ryan has excelled as a pass-catcher and a blocker. He rarely leaves the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s good in everything. He\u2019s a very good front-line zone blocker. He\u2019s good on the back side. He\u2019s good at gap-scheme blocking. You can get him on the perimeter (to block),\u201d said BYU tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride. \u201cIn the passing game, he\u2019s fast enough to be a vertical threat. He goes up and gets the ball because he\u2019s got great hands. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe runs very crisp routes and knows how to create separation from man defenders and knows the areas to attack in zones. So he\u2019s the complete package.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last March, Ryan spoke to the Deseret News<\/a> about what it would be like to face his former team in October.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like it is going to be an exciting game. I like to play in it. That rivalry game last year was such a fun game for me even though I was on the losing side of that game. It was a fun experience and such a close game, came down to the end,\u201d he said. \u201cI have a lot of friends on that team from last year, so it is going to be fun to play them and see them and hopefully get some bragging rights over them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cougars on the air<\/p>\n

No. 23 Utah (5-1, 2-1) at No. 15 BYU (6-0, 3-0)<\/strong><\/p>\n