Last year he earned Academic All-Mountain West Conference honors. He ranked third on the roster with 70 tackles, including 35 solo takedowns. He averaged 5.2 tackles per game against MWC opponents. He was part of a BYU defense that ranked fourth in the nation in turnover margin. And now, in his senior year, Bryan Kehl is coming back more prepared than ever to win.

He learned from his mistakes and has been working this summer to fix the things he could have done better last season.

"Last year I didn't watch as much film as I could have, and I would have had a better year of more success had I done that," Kehl said. "One of the things I am going to add to my game this year is a higher study of film this year - of myself, of my own mistakes and my own successes, and also of my opponents' so I can attack their weaknesses."

Kehl follows in the footsteps of his four older brothers, two of whom also played for BYU.

"I'd say there's a little bit of pressure. My brothers came here and they had success and went on to the next level," Kehl said. "So, yeah, there's definitely, I won't say pressure, but definitely an expectation. It's a tradition you've got to carry on - big shoes to fill."

It takes more than just watching game film to fill those shoes. Kehl knows it is going to take a lot of work, and is ready to put in the effort this season and lead by example.

"When something needs to be said, in terms of leadership, he says it," coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "When a play needs to be made in a critical moment, he makes it. When practice might be dragging, he's the one providing the example."

During Kehl's senior year, Mendenhall has only a few things he would like to see him continue to work on.

"I'd like to see leadership. I'd like to see performance. I'd like to see production," Mendenhall said. "And all of those things is what he's currently doing at the highest level that I've seen since he's been here, and I'm really pleased with him."

Kehl's goals for this season are to win every game, go to a BCS Bowl in January, and finish in the top five nationally.

He has no doubt that playing football is what he is supposed to do.

"I think it is just the tradition in my family," Kehl said. "I was born and bred to be a football player."

Copyright Brigham Young University 10 Aug 2007