LOGAN, Utah – Justin Ena has plenty of connections to the Beehive State. The former linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans, as well as BYU, called up some friends about coaching after his eight-year career in the NFL, including current BYU head coach Kalani Sitake and passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Aaron Roderick.

Those two helped Ena get into the business and he hasn't looked back since.

Ena was officially announced as the Aggies' defensive coordinator on Dec. 14. What he brought with him to Logan was 10 years of collegiate coaching experience, including five seasons as a defensive coordinator.

Following one of the team's practices earlier this week, we caught up with Ena for a Q&A.

Q: What have your first few months on the job been like?

Ena: "It's been great. I love the kids and the players care about Utah State. They know how Utah State is represented and it's all about winning, making sure they take care of each other and the care factor for football is very high. They bust their butt in the weight room, they do a great job academically and with the football aspect, they're learning a lot. I'm excited for these kids because they're very athletic, tough and have been coached well by the previous staff. We just have to make sure we continue to do it."

Q: What have you seen thus far from the Aggie defense during spring practices?

Ena: "There is a lot of talent and a lot of good players. Our defensive backs are strong, fast and smart kids. They like to get in the mix versus the run, which is a little different from where I've come from, where they just play man coverage. These kids like to be physical, fly around and do some really good things. Linebacker-wise, David Woodward is a heck of a player. He's very smart, does good reads and I want him to be a little more vocal and of a team leader. He's going to get to that point, but I love what he's doing. Kevin Meitzenheimer and Baron Gajkowski have done a really good job, too. I'm looking for a couple more guys, linebacker-wise, but they're good football players and they know what they're doing and they continue to get smarter.

"Defensive line-wise, that is our strength, whether we call them outside backers, defensive tackles or defensive ends. I know Tipa Galeai is a push-rushing phenom and the kid is special. You also have Dalton Baker, who is big, fast and strong. Justus Te'i has had a great spring. I'm excited about his future. Braden Harris anchors it all and coming off his injury, we'll see how he does. Watching the previous years, he's done a really good job. We also have Devon Anderson and it's a very heavy senior defensive line spot. That's a great blessing right now, but next year might be a different story. I'm excited about those guys because you have great leadership by your defensive tackles and great leadership by your defensive ends and outside backers. That's really our core strength right now, is our defensive line and outside backers, and I also love our back end, too."

Q: Utah State returns seven starters from last year's defense that led the nation in turnovers forced. How good can the 2019 version of this Aggie defense be?

Ena: "A lot of the takeaways is doing your job by playing with great effort because when it's all said and done, it's running with the ball and ball disruption. These guys did a great job intercepting the ball. Our defensive backs and linebackers did a great job. I love the ball disruption and those guys are always looking to punch the ball out and they're always flying around. Coach (Stacy) Collins has a little saying, 'Luck always hangs around with effort.' If you're always busting your butt and flying to the ball, luck will pop your way because you've given great effort and you're hustling to the ball. We're going to keep on those takeaways and that's one thing that the previous coaches have done. We'll continue to keep preaching that and if you're on the plus side of the takeaways, you're going to win most of your games, if not all of them."

Q: What do you see in All-American linebacker David Woodward and how does he compare to other players you have coached that have gone on to play in the NFL?

Ena: "He's fast, physical, a very smart player and he's learning the scheme even more. He reminds me of Gionni Paul and Jared Norris, former University of Utah linebackers. The last two years, I had Cody Martin and Chase Hansen. He's just as good as those guys. I can't wait for the next couple of months when he really understand and locks in. I know he's not the most verbal guy and I keep on pressing that. You can lead by example, but if you can lead by example and then be a vocal leader, too, the sky is the limit for him."

Q: What will the calling card of this year's defense be under your watch?

Ena: "Toughness and effort. I want to make sure I get our guys always pursuing the ball and playing really relentless. The great effort of playing assignment on football and busting your butt to the ball and finishing to the ball. The standard is always the standard and you have to hold them accountable. These kids understand what we're looking for. We had conditioning earlier in the week and I know the guys didn't like it too much, but at the same time, it doesn't really matter. You have to bust your butt to the ball and guys that play assignments on football and are flying around, you're going to win the game."

Q: What things are you looking for the defense to improve upon during the final three weeks of spring camp?

Ena: "The number one thing is trying to simplify and the previous years were great on the odd-front and playing assignments on football. Defensively, you're a reactor. You have to react the correct way versus every kind of formation, blocks and route schemes. If we can recognize and become smarter football players and do our job, we can make our talents here."

Q: How did you get into coaching?

Ena: "I got done playing with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2006 and I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I tried to get on in 2007, and I was done because I couldn't get back in the NFL. I did commercial real estate for about three or four months and figured that wasn't what I wanted to do. I called a couple of buddies of mine, one of them was BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, and I talked to Aaron Roderick, who is the quarterbacks coach at BYU. They were both at Utah at the time and I said, 'Hey, just trying to figure this thing out.' And they said, 'We'll put your name out there.' Just my luck, coach Ed Lamb barely got the head coaching job at Southern Utah and he needed a special teams coordinator, and I played primarily special teams in the NFL. I took the job in 2008 and I've learned a ton from Ed Lamb, who is now the assistant head coach and safeties coach at BYU. I'm linked with BYU quite a bit and I've learned a lot from Ccoach (Kyle) Whittingham, too, and the way he does it, along with Jay Hill at Weber State. I've been all over the place here in the state of Utah. I got into coaching because it's the next best thing to playing. To have the comradery and brotherhood, there is nothing like it."

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you are not coaching football?

Ena: "Hanging out with my family. That's an easy one. My son is 17 and my daughter is 12, and they've grown up really fast. I'm always hanging out with the family, whether we're shooting baskets out in the back yard or trying to work on techniques with my son in football."

Q: Do you have any hobbies or hidden talents?

Ena: "I love the outdoors. I love camping and hiking, but sometimes, the old bummed-up ankle doesn't let me get out hiking too much. I love being outside and enjoying the fresh air."

-USU-