{"id":158163,"date":"2022-12-15T03:07:15","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T03:07:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/byu-football-cornerbacks-coach-jernaro-gilford-vital-to-byus-success\/"},"modified":"2022-12-15T03:07:15","modified_gmt":"2022-12-15T03:07:15","slug":"byu-football-cornerbacks-coach-jernaro-gilford-vital-to-byus-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/byu-football-cornerbacks-coach-jernaro-gilford-vital-to-byus-success\/","title":{"rendered":"BYU football: Cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford vital to BYU’s success"},"content":{"rendered":"
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico \u2014 All of the BYU assistant coaches retained by Kalani Sitake after the big shakeup a few weeks ago have a lot on their plate these days as they not only prepare for the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday, but also monitor the transfer portal and work on recruiting as the early signing period approaches the middle of next week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, personally I would say he is real, man. Real dude, keeping it buck with you. He is going to bring out the potential within these dudes. Everybody trusts coach G in this process. A lot of dudes that come here, like myself, I came here for G.\u201d \u2014 BYU cornerback Kaleb Hayes<\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Cornerbacks coach Jernaro Gilford is especially busy, because to date he has been the only defensive assistant coach kept by Sitake and new defensive coordinator Jay Hill after seven-year DC Ilaisa Tuiaki stepped down and was replaced by Hill. Gilford, Sitake and some graduate assistants and analysts are coordinating the defense that will face SMU’s explosive offense in the game at University Stadium.<\/p>\n
But BYU’s players say \u201cCoach G,\u201d as Gilford is called, is handling his new duties like a pro.<\/p>\n
\u201cG is chill. We break down some film, we chop it up, it is really easy when it comes to G,\u201d said cornerback Gabe Jeudy-Lally. \u201cSo if he is busier, he is a pretty calm cat. I have to be honest with you, I can’t really tell the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gilford, who was hired by Sitake and Tuiaki when they came aboard in 2016, acknowledges that he \u201chas a bigger role than normal\u201d this month, but notes that under his calm demeanor lies a man who is not getting a lot of sleep.<\/p>\n
\u201cCollectively, Kalani, myself, the GAs, the analysts, we are all kinda putting a part into it to come together with a whole game plan,\u201d Gilford said.<\/p>\n
The former BYU defensive back said changes like the ones this past month \u201care always surprising, but at the end of the day, we all know that this is the business that we signed up for, so it happens to the best of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tuiaki and Ed Lamb, the former special teams coordinator and safeties coach who took the head job at Northern Colorado, \u201care all my guys,\u201d Gilford said, so the parting is extra difficult.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no doubt, and I am 100% confident that Lamb will take over that place (UNC) and really get it going,\u201d Gilford said.<\/p>\n
Gilford said he and Hill, the former Weber State coach, knew of each other because when Lamb hired Gilford at Southern Utah 10 years ago, he almost went to Weber State to join Hill.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is a guy who I have always looked at his defenses and stuff like that, a guy that can coach his butt off and a good football guy,\u201d Gilford said of Hill. \u201cCan’t wait to get it going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hill and new special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga didn’t accompany the Cougars to Albuquerque on Wednesday, instead staying in Provo for a few more days to handle recruiting and some other issues. Sitake said Monday they will join the team before kickoff, which is at 5:30 pm The game will be televised nationally by ABC.<\/p>\n
Gilford said he knows Poppinga because he played with the former Boise State and Virginia assistant coach’s brother, Brady Poppinga.<\/p>\n
\n\n