Speaker 1: Let's get to know the Cougars student athletes. Can a
player profile segments here on one oh three nine.
Speaker 2: Ninety eight three ESPN the Van.
Speaker 3: Welcome Back Cougar Sports one O three nine ninety eight
point three es be of the Fan. I've been brittle
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It is time for a little player profile. I'm gonna
get to know Kid uluave ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls.
Look at everyone's talking about Kid. Everyone's on that cad
train right now. And Ronald the three man Weaver. I
mean prior to this interview is that during the off
season by you got their transfer portal class. Ronald, you
said some crazy things. You said, this may be the
best acquisition via the portal like in portal history. I
was like, WHOA well, I was I was taken back.
I was blown away that you would say such a thing, Ronald,
because we've had some great portal acquisitions. But it could
it's maybe trending that way. Aaron Roderck was asked, Hey,
who on the defensive side had stood out to He said, oh, yeah,
a lot of them have been Ku Luave when out
of his ways say Cade okay, and so I thought
that was interesting. I know that Kelly Pepinga has definitely
been high on k.
Speaker 2: Too Luave as well.
Speaker 3: The six foot one, two hundred and thirty five pounder
out of South Jordan, Utah, via the University of California,
he played in thirty four games with the Cal Bears
up there over three seasons, starting in twenty six of
them started eleven of twelve games in twenty twenty, leading
the cow Bears with one hundred total tackles, twelve vfls,
five quarterback hurries, and a parts Regeni Para Tree. He
was First team All ACC in twenty twenty five. He's
got two hundred and thirty seven career tackles, twenty one
and a half TfL, six acts, three i in ts,
two forced fumbles in three seasons at Cal and Ronnie,
you caught up with him, and I'm sure this is
gonna be a fantastic player profile interview. This segment's gonna
be brought to you by Central Garage Utah. Central Garage
Utah dot com. If you have a garage store that
is in need of repair, call my guy Kelly. He's
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corner one fixed eight on one six oh four two
nine eight one six oh four two nine one nine,
that's Central Garage, Utah, Central Garage Utah dot com. All right,
let's get to it. Ronald the three man. We were
catching up with the starred linebacker, the stud linebacker kdol
Here with the.
Speaker 1: BA linebacker K Cade. I'll spring gone for football, go
gone for you.
Speaker 2: So far, it's been good. It's been good.
Speaker 4: This has been a good experience for me and you know,
to grow as a as a player and as a person.
So it's been good. It's been good to learn a
new system and you know how a bunch of different
opinions and everything. So I'm just excited to be out
here and just blessed and just happy you.
Speaker 1: Went into the transit portal. Well led to that decision
to change, to take a different journey your college football career.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it was. It was a hard decision.
Speaker 4: It was you know, being able to being able to
come into a new school and hopping the portal was
was a long decision and ultimately kind of led down
to you know, you know my time at CAL. I
loved it, you know, I you know, it was like
my second home playing at Cal.
Speaker 2: Uh.
Speaker 4: Some coaching changes happened, new staff coming in, so uh
for me, you know, being my last year, I was like,
you know what if I hopping the portal, see something,
get a new experience, new scenery, and then and then yeah,
so then once the b WHYU reached out? You know,
I'm like, Okay, there's no better opportunity to come back
home and play for my last year and just have
a good experience.
Speaker 2: So that's that's pretty much it.
Speaker 1: Well may be why you so attractive even after they
reached out.
Speaker 4: Yeah, I think I think one just it's b yu
really like you look at their season last year. There's
a sucessful season with a bunch of dudes on defense
especially that could you know, and so you know, kind
of filling in those roles, you know, and just working
each day is just like a cool opportunity for me.
And so you know, b I use that at a
national stage, right, and like people are like, wow, you
I use the real deal, you know, And so that's
something I want to be a part of.
Speaker 2: And then even stepping down.
Speaker 4: To the culture, you know, I want to be a
part of a team that has a strong culture. You know,
being from Utah obviously helps live like thirty minutes away,
and you know, just and then by you being a
part of the church. You know, I'm a member of
the church, and so that's definitely, you know, a pro
for me. But ultimately just just grateful to be here.
Speaker 1: Really, how has how has it been so far with
the culture getting adapted to the guys and welcome me
into the team.
Speaker 2: Yeah, it's been good. I love it.
Speaker 4: It's been awesome, and it's it's a good experience for me.
You know, something very different. I think Callum by you
were very different, very like a.
Speaker 2: Lot of ways. But I love it.
Speaker 4: You know, it's been great, and you know, at times
it can be difficult being the new guy, you know,
fitting into a new team, a new system and learning
all that.
Speaker 2: So simply you know, had bumps in the road.
Speaker 4: But you know, with the people well here and the
support that we have, you know, they you're help they're helping.
Speaker 2: You twenty four seven, you know, And so that's what
I love about this place.
Speaker 4: And so just continue to keep learning, keep building, keep growing,
and just you know, as string balls are kind of
wrapping up towards the end, just keep the momentum going
into you know, somewhere and into the fall camp.
Speaker 2: So and then next thing, you know, it's about to
be seasoned. So we're excited.
Speaker 1: Are you planning on standing here for the offseason, working
out or going elsewhere?
Speaker 4: I'll probably I'll be around, I mean, being only living
like thirty minutes away, you know, I'll be up and
down all the time, you know.
Speaker 2: So, uh, yeah, that's great.
Speaker 1: Well, when you went into the portal, who is the
person to contact you was? I guess you were recruitering
the process to come to Uyu.
Speaker 2: Yeah, the main guy was coach Pop Coast Pop.
Speaker 4: He reached out, and you know, me and him had
a relationship previous, but when I was in high school,
he was he was recruiting when he was at Boise State.
Same with coach Demo, he was there too, And so
both those guys, you know, I knew, you know, I
created a relationship with. So then you know, when they
reached out, I was like, man, this is awesome. Like
both those guys are phenomenal coaches and my little guys
off the field, you know, And so that's one thing
I really admired about both of them, and you know,
they've been great mentors to me and so trying to
soak it all in and learn each day.
Speaker 2: And it's been great.
Speaker 1: What he likes so far about playing in K pop system.
Speaker 2: It's great. I love it. I think, I mean him.
I think having a.
Speaker 4: Defensive coordinator as your position coach definitely helps because he
kind of sees the defense through your eyes, which I
think is awesome. So you know, so we're out here blitzing,
we're out here, you know, dropping playing man coverage, you know,
doing all sorts of stuff, and so that's what I love,
you know, I like I like being able to play
all over the field and doing.
Speaker 2: My thing rather than just sticking in one spot, you know.
Speaker 4: And so that's one thing I love and just just
super grateful to be a part of it.
Speaker 2: Really.
Speaker 1: How would you describe your your skill set? You just
said in coverage getting out the quarterback. If you look
at your tape, it's a lot of stuff you know,
that you can you can take away.
Speaker 2: And that you can like from that.
Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I just think you know, for me, I've
kind of just always been an explosive player really, and
I just honestly that's just God given talent. Really just
always been explosive since I was a little kid and
everything so pretty twitchy.
Speaker 2: And you know.
Speaker 4: And then another reason I came to buy used to
like to develop more really, and so there's been things
that we've been going through that I've been learning a ton.
Speaker 2: So it's been a big learning curve.
Speaker 4: But like I always think about this, you never you
never grow if you're comfortable. So that's really the main
thing for me is like change is inevitable, but growth
is optional, you know, And so that's what I love.
And so I've been learning along the way and learning
from all these great coaches and great players. So it's
been it's been great.
Speaker 1: What does it like to play with you know, Isaiah Glasker, Obviously,
Jake Clifton is new and then see all this here
in that linebacker around.
Speaker 2: Yeah, no, all those guys are dudes. They're all ballers,
you know.
Speaker 4: And I think I think Zay was one of the
first guys to reach out to me and you know,
be like, let's go.
Speaker 2: I'm hived. And so me and him have a good connection.
We get along well.
Speaker 4: And and then both and then both and and Zay
know the defense super well. So any questions I have,
you know, they're there to help me along the way.
And and then me and Jake were kind of in
the same boat, just being the new guys, working it in,
fitting it like, filling it out and just working each day.
And so me and him have a good connection. So
it's it's been great. Really, the whole linebacker room in
itself is a good group of guys that love football
and are super talented.
Speaker 2: So it's blessed to be a part of that group.
Speaker 1: Coach Bop said that Jake got off of a mission
of his power cleaning three thirty five. Can you confirm
you know, his numbers and just him in the weight room.
Speaker 2: Yeah, No, Jake's dude. He's strong.
Speaker 4: Yeah, me and him live together and he's he's a strong,
explosive guy.
Speaker 2: So yeah, he gets after.
Speaker 4: And we push each other in the weight room, which
I love. That's like what it's all about. Iron Sharpen's Iron.
So yeah, he's a baller, he's a dude, and he's
super smart, flies around, makes play.
Speaker 2: So yeah, he's a he's a good dude.
Speaker 1: He said, this is your last season of eligibility. What
do you want to accomplish them most in this last year?
Speaker 4: Really that's a great question because you know, that's kind
of a question I was asking myself, you know, hopping
into the portal, what do I really want? And that
kind of stemmed down to, you know, you know, I
wanted to be on a team that's one that's gonna
have a good experience, two that's gonna develop me, and
three that's gonna win that that's the main that's the
main three right there, And so got all three here, Yeah, exactly.
So when when the opportunity came, I'm like, dude, I
can't say no, Like this is awesome and so with
the guys we have and the talent we have, you know,
it's everything's looking well, you know, and so obviously everything's earned.
You know, we got to you know, keep building, to
keep getting better each and every day. But just from
what I've seen, I think one of the first things
I I realized when I came here is like, like
these are these are some dudes, Like these guys are
these guys are big, these guys are strong, these guys
are fast, you know, And so what's helped me and
pushed me even more and.
Speaker 2: So no, but I love it.
Speaker 1: It's an opportunity to play in the Big twelve conference.
Obviously playing over there, I thinking, you know, ACC, you know,
what is it like to your what your thoughts on
the play, you know, competitive football week in and week out,
and thoughts on Utah being in the conference.
Speaker 2: Yeah, No, it's great, It's great.
Speaker 4: I think I've had the crew opportunity of playing and
you know a few conferences. First played in the Pac
twelve and then out to the ACC for two years,
so I've kind of seen I've kind of seen a lot,
so I mean, and then going through the Big twelve,
I'm gonna see even more you know, and so that's
just gonna help me as a player. I think of,
you know, just getting a ton of experience and learning
just you know, all these different schemes and everything, and
so that's gonna be cool opportunity.
Speaker 2: Super excited just to get after it and learn.
Speaker 4: And I could tell, you know, like from coach A
Rodd's defense or offense excuse me, you know, like he's
he's the.
Speaker 2: Real deal, you know.
Speaker 4: So some of the times I'm out there, I'm like, well,
she's offense a little tricky, but no, it's good for me.
Speaker 2: So it's good for me.
Speaker 1: Thoughts on the rivalry, I mean, obviously you're gonna get
that in the season, but you're from Utah, you know
how that goes?
Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, yeah, that I'm super excited man. That That's
one thing I think, like one of the main things
I'm excited for is just game day at Lavelle Edwards.
Like I'm just super pumped. And especially the rivalry. I mean,
I think a lot of people obviously know the rivalry
and everything, and then I mean being from Utah though
then now you know, like it's legit, like this thing
is bigger than most people think. And so it's a
cool opportunity to playing it, and just super excited for.
Speaker 1: A b a linebacker Katy Luavi. Last couple of things
was seeing Jack Kelly and seeing what Isaiah Glasker did
last season. Was that one of the reasons why you
wanted to come to be a play in this defense?
Speaker 2: For sure?
Speaker 4: Definitely both those guys had crazy production last year and
they were fine Oali the field and everyone knew and
so you know, for me to be able to be
possibly in that role is just is awesome, you know,
And I think just that's really the one thing I
was looking for of like, you know, these linebackers are
out here making plays, you know, and that's awesome and
I love it.
Speaker 2: And so you know, to Jack, I've known Jack for
a while.
Speaker 4: We used to train back in the day a few
times cross pass and then and then now being able
to come and play with day, Like, it's a cool opportunity.
Like those guys are some ballers, and so I'm excited
to get after it.
Speaker 1: Which one's a linebacker's dream to pick off the quarterback
and have a pick six or a strip sack.
Speaker 4: H That's a good that's a good question. I would Honestly,
I would have to say pick six. Really, I mean,
you get you get a nice drop going, you read
the quarterback size, you get a pick, you take it
to the house. Man, Man, now you're just now you're
up six points, like you know, so as long although
a strip sack is pretty sick, I'd have to get
to the pick six.
Speaker 1: Have you had a pick six to your career?
Speaker 2: Pick six? No, I haven't.
Speaker 1: I've had a lot of play, so it's hard.
Speaker 2: I've had a scoop and score. Okay, so I've had
a scoop and score. I've had a.
Speaker 4: Strip sack, but I've never had a pick six. So
maybe that's on the goal this year's.
Speaker 1: Want to go this year, we'll get you out of
here on this Who would you like to highlight from
the defensive side of the ball and then from.
Speaker 4: The offense defense side? Man, honestly, just everybody, I think,
especially the D line. I think I think those guys
are awesome. Keanu is a dude like I've you know,
playing behind a bunch of guys like Keanu is a dude.
Speaker 2: That's he's he's nice, and he's and.
Speaker 4: He's a leader, and he gets after and he you know,
hypes everyone up and so he's a dude.
Speaker 2: And then I think the whole team. You know, you
look at the other linebackers and you know, all those
guys are ballers.
Speaker 4: And then you look at the second ear of the dbs,
I think both our corners are studs. You know, both
of our safeties are dudes. So across the board, it's
defenses is awesome. And then on the offense, the side
of the ball man a lot of talent too. I mean,
bear like that dude is he's good and you could
see it and you could see that, you know, he's
he's developed and he's and he's not the same as
he was last year, and so that's super exciting and
that's good for us to play against. And you know,
I think the offensive line is big and strong, and
running backs are good.
Speaker 2: You know, I'm excited to play with LJ.
Speaker 4: You know, he hasn't been able to get any reps
so far, but once he gets in, I'm super excited.
And then tight ends are good too. Tight Ends are big, strong,
fast guys.
Speaker 2: So I mean, like across the board, it's like it's
looking good. So we're excited.
Speaker 1: Last messages for Kugernation as you head into you know,
the off season, but you'll still be working.
Speaker 4: Yeah, man Kugarnation, excited to get it going, get it rolling,
keep working, stacking days one by one, and when it's time,
we'll be ready and we're gonna get after it.
Speaker 2: So let's go.
Speaker 1: Ko Kok's ba linebacker Kidulava.
Speaker 3: Everyone they go, that's Ronald the three Man. We were
interviewing Kate Uluave. Impressed by the young man. He's he's
gonna be a good one for b Yu if if
he's healthy, which he is right now.
Speaker 2: He is clubbing.
Speaker 3: H he's got a club on his end, but he's
healthy enough to still ball out and make plays. Uh
and uh get past breakups, make tackles, et cetera. Man,
if he's healthy, he's gonna be a beast on the
football player. I would not be surprised if he leads
the team in tackles. Runald the three Men Weaver.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm with you right there. Uh Gunna leaded teams
and tackles like Ben bay Water had him on the
program last week.
Speaker 2: He missed it.
Speaker 1: Go go check it out.
Speaker 2: It's still linebacker you Ben.
Speaker 1: You know, I know we call it offensive line, you tighten,
you joke bo He's got a plethora of great positions
and NFL talent that's played and guys that have played
at b AU. But no, I mean when I said
that take that he was this was arguably the best
get out of the transport on b A in BAU
football history.
Speaker 2: It wasn't.
Speaker 1: I probably because the number one linebacker like this guy
could have gone anywhere else. And he said, why coach
and change? You know, kay Pop reached out to him.
I thought that was interesting that he knew Demo too,
you know, knowing them going back to Boise State that
a connection knew Jack Kelly from working out back in
the day. So there's a caide was always supposed to.
I feel like, make his way eventually to BYU and
like you always singing, I won't sing it because I'm
terrible and no one wants to hear the bad vocals
in my throat. But you know, they brought him home
and I think as long as he's healthy, he's going
to make a big impact. This is a guy that
when when he's whether it's dropping in the coverage or
getting off the quarterback, he's a playmaker. He's a next
level guy NFL talent, And he said to himself seeing
Isaiah Glasker, seeing Jack Kelly make plays, and he talked
about BO. He develops people's not just you know, I
wanted to go where they win, where they can develop me,
you know, where the culture is good. And that's what
I said. They got all three of BO because they do.
They're winning at a high level, performing at a high level,
guys are developing for the next level, and the culture
is great. And when you got all of that, it's
really hard to say no to BYU. And you know,
Kelly Papinga reached out to him quickly, got it done.
And and look, this guy is gonna true really be
a standout for BA. You can hear his name called
a lot this year, like he could be on the
preseason All Defensive team. Rightfully, so because every you know,
every year that he's played football, he's been he's been
able to make plays. So they got a good one.
Ben appreciate him giving his time to me because he
obviously doesn't have to do that. And uh, look, I know, Kugarnation,
you've been asking for it, so you finally got it
that well here from obviously walking lines we've been in
in you know, in a little bit, but you know,
these are the high profile guys the bou struck out
on or didn't get ben back in the day, and
now they're getting them. So you got to enjoy it
while at lasts, whether it's a year, whether it's all four,
the tides have turned and you know all these guys
that b A you didn't you know necessarily succeed on there,
they're succeeding now and they're gonna make impact and leave
it and you're gonna set yourself up for life. So
shout out to Kate Luave and you'll be seeing them
a lot in provo because he's only thirty minutes.
Speaker 3: Away in hereman, So bring him home, bringing them home,
ladies and gentlemen, and it's good to be home there
at Brigham. We're gonna go to break that schegment brought
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what do you what do you make of cruing? The
Cougar's coming up next, and then we'll welcome in Jonathan
Debinary with a little keeping up with the Cougar's talking
to BAU basketball, all that and more here on your
Utah ESPN Radio Network one oh three nine nine to
eight point three