Van Noy eager for contact

PROVO, Utah - After a painful six months of rehabilitating his right shoulder, Brigham Young junior linebacker Kyle Van Noy is finally getting to inflict pain on someone else.

During a scrimmage Thursday, Van Noy delivered his first hit since the Armed Forces Bowl in December. The Reno product had surgery in January to repair a torn labrum and missed spring practice and the first two weeks of fall camp.

"I am 100 percent ready to go," Van Noy said. "Going through this process, I was able to be in the film room more, study more and talk with the coaches about schemes. I'm just mentally and physically ready for the season."

Van Noy is the leader of a deep linebacker corps. Last season he topped BYU with 15 tackles for loss, including seven sacks and 10 quarterback hurries. He also had three interceptions and blocked a punt.

■ BIG FALL FOR FALSLEV - At 5 feet 8 inches, junior receiver JD Falslev is the team's shortest player, but the Cougars envision a bigger role for the former walk-on from Smithfield, Utah.

BYU wants to use him much as the New England Patriots feature Wes Welker, with a lot of short passes that have big-play potential.

Falslev was awarded a scholarship after catching 31 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns in 2011. He also returned punts, including a 67-yard touchdown at Texas Christian.

"He's definitely a guy that has made the most of every opportunity that he's had," receivers coach Ben Cahoon said.

■ BACKUP QB BATTLE - Senior James Lark and freshman Taysom Hill are fighting for the backup quarterback spot behind senior Riley Nelson, the firmly entrenched starter.

The question is, do the Cougars play Lark, who has been in the program since 2006, or get Hill some experience right away? BYU faces its toughest schedule in school history, with games against Texas, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Boise State, Georgia Tech and Utah.

■ TIGHT END BY COMMITTEE - No clear-cut starter has emerged at tight end, where BYU plans to use a stable of players. Devin Mahina, Austin Holt, Richard Wilson and Marcus Matthews will share time.

Mahina (neck), Holt (knee) and Wilson (knee) suffered season-ending injuries last fall and missed spring practice. Mahina broke his hand last week and will miss the season opener.

■ KICKER QUANDARY - A back injury has kept junior place-kicker Justin Sorenson from practicing in fall camp. He is expected to be ready for the opener, but punter Riley Stephenson is preparing to handle both jobs if Sorenson can't play.

Dave McCann is a former Las Vegas newscaster now working at KSL in Salt Lake City. He is the play-by-play voice of BYU sports on BYUtv (Cable 352) and hosts 'True Blue' at 5:30 p.m. on Mondays on BYUtv. He can be reached at dmccann@ksl.com and on twitter at @DaveMcCannKSL.