Much has been made of the returning starters on BYU's touted offense, but there are still some key positions that are being manned by freshmen who are trying to learn the ropes of playing on a big-time college football team.

Freshman Matt Reynolds, has picked up the starting nod at left tackle, one of the most important and difficult positions on the offensive line. It is his responsibility to guard quarterback Max Hall's blind-side, and the team's hopes for a perfect season with it.

"It's a big responsibility," Reynolds said. "Everyone can see when you make a mistake, and not many people notice when you do a good job, but that's just part of playing that position."

The visibility of his position was on full display against Northern Iowa, when he was beaten off the line by defensive end James Ruffin, who sacked Max Hall and forced a fumble that was recovered for a Panther touchdown.

Reynolds, however, has developed a thick skin and won't let plays like that get him down. He is fortunate to be surrounded by an experienced group of offensive linemen, including his older brother Dallas, that is willing to accept and encourage him.

"The whole offensive line has done a great job of integrating me into the starting five and making me feel that I'm a part of them," Reynolds said. "They make me feel like if I have a question that they'll help me out, and if they don't have the answer, they'll point me in the direction of someone who does."

Other freshmen who played a key role, for better or worse, in Saturday's game are wide receiver O'Neill Chambers, kicker Justin Sorensen and running back J.J. Di Luigi.

Chambers wowed fans when he showed his speed and athleticism with a 51-yard kickoff return, then drew boos for his decision to fair-catch a punt on the Cougars' own 5 yard-line, giving his team terrible field position, which ended in a sack, fumble and Panther touchdown.

"I wasn't nervous at all but just played crappy," Chambers said. "It was my first college game and I can see what I did wrong and I'm looking to improve for the Washington game."

Sorensen was solid on Saturday, knocking five of his seven kickoffs for touchbacks, three more than the team had all of last season.

Di Luigi struggled in his debut, fumbling his only carry of the evening.

These players represent the future of the program, and head coach Bronco Mendenhall must take the good with the bad as he helps them to realize their potential.

Mendenhall has publicly praised his younger players on several occasions, but that doesn't mean that he doesn't see room for improvement.

"Certainly all of [the younger] players need to be coached, and they play reflective of how they're coached," the coach said. "Inexperience possibly had some role in the mistakes, and now those players will understand at a higher level what it means to do their job correctly, as will their coaches."

Copyright Brigham Young University 4 Sep 2008