Jason Buck (@jasonbuckspeaks) on Khyiris Tonga, Brady Christensen, and the Outland Trophy
Superbowl winning and former Outland Trophy Award winner and BYU great, Jason Buck, talks BYU football with ESPN 960 host Ben Criddle.
Buck earned the Outland Trophy Award in 1986 during his senior year at BYU. The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best college football interior lineman in the United States as adjudged by the Football Writers Association of America.
During his NFL tenure, Buck played for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1987 to 1990 and then with the Washington Redskins from 1991-1993, in which time the Redskins won Super Bowl XXVI by defeating the Buffalo Bills, 37-24.
TWO COUGAR LINEMAN ON THE WATCHLIST
Brady Christensen
Ben Criddle - “Jason, I want to talk to you about these two Cougars that are currently on the watchlist, Brady Christensen, left tackle, coming off a really good freshman season, a freshman All-American season and then Khyiris Tonga, on the defensive front. Let’s start off with the offensive tackle spot, Brady Christensen, what do you think about Brady, what have you seen from him and why do you think he deserves to be on this pre-season awards watch list?”
Jason Buck - “I think the whole O-line looks good, they are getting coached up really good. Honestly, to be a sophomore and to be up for it (Outland Trophy) is more of a preparation for his junior and senior year. You are up against the East Coast publicity….and you have to have everything clicking just right. I really like him. I think the offensive line play is going to be the anchor of BYU this year.”
Khyiris Tonga
Ben Criddle - “I know you love the 6’6”, 250 pound defensive ends, get that forty fronts up there and have them use their length, their athletic ability and let them get after it but Khyiris Tonga is a monster himself. He is 6’4”, 340 pound beast and he is on a lot of guys draft boards for the 2020 NFL draft as a two gapper but shoot, I’d like to see him on an edge and see what he could do in a seven technique with his running ability. I want to hear what you have to say about Khyiris Tonga, the monster in the middle for the BYU Cougars.”
Jason Buck - “I’d to spend a couple days and watch him and see if he could play on the edge like you are saying. Playing out on the edge is playing in space, a lot different than playing on the interior two technique. I can say that because I started every single position in the NFL from outside back to zero technique, to nose guard… I did them all and they are all very different. A big plugger is going to be loved by the NFL, they love those big bodies on the interior two technique. His numbers show to me that he is that plugger type, I don’t know about playing on the edge. Is he 34o (pounds)?”
Ben Criddle - “He lost some weight. I believe he is currently at 330 (pounds)…He was at 350 (pounds) so he has dropped 20 pounds. He is leaner, he’s stronger and he has taken the off-season very seriously because he knows that he is on draft boards, he’s on draft radar. He was timed, according to reports, now this is a hand start, laser finish so even if he is at 330 and running five flat though, that’s still impressive.”
Jason Buck - “Yeah, that’s impressive. I love big guys like that because it was always fun to see them weight-in in the locker room and see that they’ve gained 20 pounds on a weekend. The big boys tell ya, ‘I’m 320..’ and you’re like, yeah right. But if he is running a 5.0 second forty and those NFL scouts come out and time him and he is running a 5.0 forty at 340 pounds being 6’4”, the scouts will be all over that. They will draft him pretty high just because of those numbers.”
Catch all of Jason Buck’s interview with Ben Criddle as well as Jason’s take on whether facility upgrades make a difference in recruiting by clicking on the link below.