BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill reiterated after Friday's practice that the best players will start on his defense, and that standard suits Raider Damuni just fine. The junior is busy making a strong case at strong safety.
Damuni returns after his first offseason wherein he wasn't nursing an injury. At 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, the former Timpview High star is battling to become Tanner Wall's (free safety) regular tag-team partner in the back of BYU's defense.
"It's a fun position to be at," Damuni said. "You can make a lot of plays there if you know what you are doing."
Damuni's athleticism has never been questioned, and getting his brain and brawn clicking together was his offseason quest. So far, the focus on film study and weightlifting has helped produce positive returns early in fall camp.
"He's gotten better as far as his position mastery. I see him thinking and communicating a lot better than he was last season, which is a good step forward for him," said BYU safeties coach Gavin Fowler.
"He's so athletic. He's so fast. He looks so explosive and strong out there. So far, I'm really pleased where he's at."
Damuni started the last two games of BYU's 11-2 season, and his career altering moment came during the second quarter of the Alamo Bowl. Facing third-and-seven, highly touted Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders dropped back to pass. A blitzing Damuni charged into the backfield untouched and dropped him for a 16-yard loss.
"It was a good confidence builder for me," he said. "When I got that sack I was like, 'Oh! Let's go! Let's go! Let's run!' It got me excited for this season."
Fowler isn't the only one who has noticed Damuni's development.
"He's had a great offseason," said Wall. "He's a lot stronger and faster. His instincts are really good. I love being back there with him."
BYU's 22 interceptions last season tied Texas for the most in college football, and it gives this year's group a barometer to be measured by.
"We know there are more picks to be made. If you look back at the season, there were a lot of opportunities that we missed. It goes to show what we can do and moving forward our goal is to be better," Damuni said.
"With us being so close to making it to the Big 12 championship, it gives us more motivation to go even harder. "That still hurts us. We are thinking about that. We are hungry. We want to be better at everything."
Damuni is a reflection of the experience and depth in the secondary that includes Wall, Faletau Satuala, Tommy Prassas and Talan Alfrey and has Fowler feeling confident after the first week of practice.
"It's a fun position to be at. You can make a lot of plays there if you know what you are doing."
"We have a lot of guys who are really talented and a lot of guys who played last year. The biggest thing that is going to separate who gets the most reps in games is who consistently makes the big play," Fowler said.
"There is a balance of being in the right spots and not giving up big plays, but you also have to make big plays, too. We want to see the guys take all their preparation and turn it into game changing plays."
Damuni is making a case that he can be one of those guys.
BYU safety Raider Damuni (3) celebrates with fans after a victory over SMU Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, in Dallas. | Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News via Associated Press)
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts "Y's Guys" at ysguys.com and is the author of the children's book "C is for Cougar," available at deseretbook.com.
