BYU’s defense is used to hitting its opponents. Monday, it was on the receiving end of a big hit.
During Monday’s weekly football media conference, head coach Bronco Mendenhall announced senior linebacker Jordan Pendleton sustained a season-ending knee injury on Oct. 28 against TCU.
“We had a pretty intimate and heart-felt moment in my office,” Mendenhall said. “It’s hard. Nothing has come easy for him here at BYU and yet he’s done very well in my opinion. Of all the things that become more difficult as a head coach is to see players get hurt.”
Injuries have plagued Pendleton throughout the past two years, causing him to miss 10 games since 2010. His sophomore year was the only year he appeared in every game of the season.
“[His career] shows a lot of determination, [it’s been] very difficult,” Mendehall said. “From his sophomore year, which would probably be the highlight of health and production, to then a real shift of real grit and determination and recovery. He has been instrumental in helping us play, I think, very good defense this year.”
When asked at which point Pendleton left the TCU game with his injury, Mendenhall said he never came out.
“That’s the amazing thing,” Mendenhall said. “We don’t know exactly which play it happened on. He doesn’t remember a specific hit, but the next day it became very sore.”
Through four years as a Cougar, Pendleton amassed 125 tackles and nine sacks and had two interceptions. Mendenhall said although his college career is over, Pendleton has done enough on film to attract NFL scouts.
“He’s one of our main leaders on defense and one of our main producers,” senior linebacker Jadon Wagner said. “There’s guys that will step up but it definitely sucks to lose him.”
During the media conference, Mendenhall said senior linebacker Jameson Frazier will take over the starting role this week against Idaho.
Mendenhall also said there are conversations taking place that would entail BYU possibly joining the Big East Conference.
“I trust our athletic director [Tom Holmoe] and President [Cecil O.] Samuelson to be able to follow that,” Mendenhall said. “I’ve been informed along the way that at some point there will be a decision with what our intentions will be.”
Boise State president Bob Koustra was recently given authority by the Idaho state board of education to actively pursuing a membership in the Big East. However, it is hoping to bring along a few teams from the western part of the country to create a Western Division within the conference. BYU could help to create that division.
“I can’t speak as to what we’re going to do other than just verify that we have been approached,” Mendenhall said. “But with the landscape changing, the main benefit that I could see on a short term scale would be inclusion into the BCS system.”
