BYU football: Big brothers on the block

So, as a father, if you had two giant-size sons playing Division I football on the same team, on the same offensive line, wouldn't every day be a little prideful celebration as you took turns fixing your eyeballs on one or the other as they took snaps?

You'd think.

But BYU assistant head coach Lance Reynolds doesn't have that luxury. He's paid to coach and watch the running backs in the Cougar offense. Later, when he breaks down film, he gets his first real glimpse at the performance of Dallas and Matt, part of what Bronco Mendenhall believes is the best offensive line he's seen since he came to Provo as Gary Crowton's defensive coordinator.

"It's gotta be rare," said Lance Reynolds of his predicament as father and coach.

This is the second time he's done it this decade. Earlier, he had his namesake and oldest son, Lance, play center as Dallas also started on the line.

And that's what makes this season even more rare: A Reynolds Redux.

Dallas is a 6-foot-5, 332-pound all-MWC left tackle, who is now starting at center. His younger brother, redshirt 6-5, 320-pound Matt, is starting in his older brother's spot at left tackle — he's the prime protector of quarterback Max Hall's back.

Matt, a year off an LDS Church mission to Germany, is young, although 21. He hasn't played a down of Division I ball yet, and it's been three years since he starred at Timpview High. He's raw, but his talent level has offensive coaches giddy.

Dallas, a wide body, has stunned his coaches with how quickly he's picked up the complicated work of a center, hiking before blocking, making all the front line blocking calls and communicating before snaps. Except for a few bad snaps early, he's dialed in his chores as the only other offensive player to handle the ball on every play besides Hall.

"They're both doing an excellent job," said offensive line coach Mark Weber. "Dallas is smart, he's learned fast. It's a lot to throw at a guy, but he's handled it because he's a great athlete and knows football. He fits physically inside, he really flattens out the line of scrimmage for us."

And the freshman?

"Matt doesn't make the same mistake twice," said Weber. "I don't know if he's made the same mistake twice in camp. Physically he's very gifted. He can get out of position and recover well. He's such a great athlete and so big and he's nice fundamentally and mentally."

Of the two, Matt is the one folks around BYU football have a fixation on. First, he's inexperienced and he could struggle. But expectations are high because of his God-given talent and a trait very rare in an offensive lineman — very long arms. O-linemen are usually squatty with short-thick arms. But Matt Reynolds has an extra few inches to his guns, and it gives pass rushers fits.

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