BYU defensive again Talan Alfrey (25) tackles Notre Dame working again Audric Estime Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Las Vegas. The BYU redshirt freshman has crammed in properly at free security for the Cougars this season. John Locher, Related Press
When BYU security Talan Alfrey was in highschool, he and a few buddies purchased a piglet at an public sale, raised it for a couple of months, then bought it for thrice what they paid for it.
Did that launch a profession as a pig farmer?
Hardly.
“The time we put in was not price it, so we by no means did it once more,” Alfrey mentioned.
However the native of Auburn, Washington, discovered a great lesson concerning the worth of time, the place he ought to focus his priorities, and the way he can contribute to a successful soccer workforce.
“For him to come back again after such a troublesome harm, for me that's inspiring. Each alternative he will get, he has earned. So the sky is the restrict for that man.” — BYU linebacker Ben Bywater on Talan Alfrey
He received the primary begin of his school profession at free security a couple of weeks in the past when senior Malik Moore sustained a hand harm, and instantly added worth to the Cougars’ secondary. The redshirt freshman tied fellow security Micah Harper with a team-high 10 tackles in BYU’s 38-26 win over the Aggies.
Alfrey had six tackles in his second begin final week in opposition to Notre Dame, and is predicted to begin once more Saturday when the 4-2 Cougars host 3-3 Arkansas at LaVell Edwards Stadium (1:30 p.m. MDT, ESPN).
“I feel he has performed actually, rather well,” BYU defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki mentioned Tuesday. “Actually impressed along with his physicality, his willingness to deal with.”
Tuiaki mentioned it has taken Alfrey a while to grasp schemes and be taught the system, however he's bettering every sport and making fewer errors.
“He’s an incredible tackler with what he has introduced,” Tuiaki mentioned. “I believed this final sport in opposition to Notre Dame he performed effectively.”
Fourth-year sophomore Ben Bywater wasn’t actual conversant in Alfrey and his sport till the 2 defenders had been randomly picked to be roommates at motels the evening earlier than video games.
“I'm so completely satisfied for him. He’s been taking part in extraordinarily effectively,” Bywater mentioned. “Bodily cat. He's again there making performs. So when he's within the sport, I belief him. And he works laborious. He takes care of his enterprise. I respect that a bunch.”
Bywater mentioned “all people loves a great story,” and Alfrey has one after sustaining a season-ending Achilles harm final summer time a couple of weeks earlier than the season began.
“For him to come back again after such a troublesome harm, for me that's inspiring,” Bywater mentioned. “Each alternative he will get, he has earned. So the sky is the restrict for that man.”
Alfrey mentioned he injured his Achilles doing summer time conditioning work a couple of weeks earlier than fall camp in 2021, and it took him virtually a 12 months to get well, though he did seem within the bowl sport final December.
“There may be nonetheless some explosiveness and pace I have to get again,” he mentioned.
He received his first style of motion this season late within the 41-20 loss to Oregon, then performed somewhat extra when the Cougars beat Wyoming 38-24, the sport wherein Moore left along with his hand harm. He was primarily a robust security final 12 months and in camp this 12 months, however “the chance opened up at free security and I converted,” he mentioned.
He had his “welcome to school soccer” second after taking part in somewhat in opposition to Oregon at Autzen Stadium, and can always remember it.
“It type of hit me after the sport, simply reflecting again and realizing, ‘Wow, I simply performed soccer for BYU,’” he mentioned. “I used to be so grateful for that as a result of it was an incredible alternative and such an honor.”
After an impressive three-sport profession at Washington’s Mountainview Excessive, Alfrey received gives from BYU, Air Drive, Idaho and Nevada, and had curiosity from Utah and Boise State, earlier than selecting the Cougars.
He served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Uruguay and Fresno, California (after COVID-19 hit) and didn’t enroll at BYU till January 2021.
Coaches raved about him throughout spring camp in March 2021, however the harm took him off the radar for a bit.
Earlier this 12 months, he received married — his spouse Katelyn is from northwest Colorado — and now he’s settled in and doing what he can to assist the Cougars overcome their harm points and beat Arkansas.
“I’m simply attempting so as to add worth,” he mentioned.
Regardless of how a lot time it takes.
Cougars on the air
Arkansas (3-3)
at No. 16 BYU (4-2)
Saturday, 1:30 p.m. MDT
LaVell Edwards Stadium
Provo, Utah
TV: ESPN
Radio: KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM