Kyle Van Noy

BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy is one of the best pass-rushing linebackers in the draft. Could he be a match for the Lions, who already feature his old college roommate? (AP File Photo)

(Cathleen Allison)

MOBILE, Ala. -- New defensive coordinator Teryl Austin has said the Detroit Lions could add some 3-4 looks to their 4-3 base scheme. And that could mean Detroit will be in the market for a pass-rushing linebacker.

BYU's Kyle Van Noy hopes he's the guy, and not just because he's a pass-rushing outside linebacker.

He would love to reunite with his former teammate -- and roommate -- Ezekiel Ansah.

"Dude, I'm not even kidding, that would be awesome. I can probably mess with him and say I still know more about football than him," Van Noy said with a laugh at last week's Senior Bowl. "But really, it would be a dream come true to play in the NFL with someone like that.

"And with the Lions, I think I'd fit right in. I feel like they have a great pass rush, and I have the versatility to play behind them and be disruptive."

Ansah played soccer in his native Ghana before discovering football at BYU. Van Noy remembers the day when "some African guy" showed up at practice.

Ansah was so new to the game, he had to have someone show him how to put on shoulder pads.

Three years later, the Lions made him the fifth overall draft pick in the 2013 draft. He finished with eight sacks -- the most among NFL rookies -- and Van Noy tracked his season closely from Provo.

"I love Ziggy, man," Van Noy said. "He's like a brother to me."

Van Noy and Ansah were home and road roommates for the Cougars. What's Ansah like to live with?

"He talks in African on the phone a lot," Van Noy said with a laugh. "He's cool. He sleeps a lot. And he's very smart. People don't realize how smart he is. He did a major most people don't do. He was, like, statistics and biology. I don't know. There were eight people in his class throughout the whole process. He's just really smart and I don't think people even know it."

Ansah, for the record, majored in actuarial science and minored in math at BYU.

Van Noy, meantime, picked up the slack in the Cougars' defense after Ansah graduated. He posted 70 tackles (17.5 for loss), four sacks and two interceptions last season despite drawing constant double teams.

The 6-foot-3, 244-pounder finished his BYU career with 62 tackles for loss and 26 sacks. He also had 11 forced fumbles, seven interceptions and three blocked kicks.

Van Noy, who is at his best as a pass-rusher, is rated by ESPN as the No. 7 outside linebacker and projected as a first- or second-round draft pick.

One NFC scout said he still questions Van Noy's ability in coverage, but affirmed he's one of the better pass-rushing linebackers in the draft.

Van Noy showcased that ability last week at the Senior Bowl, playing both defensive end and linebacker and looking adept at both positions. He had one sack in the South team's 20-10 win against the North on Saturday, and finished with two tackles overall.

"I'm trying to prove that I can play with anybody," Van Noy said. "I think I've done that this week."