Pro Football Network names 17 Cougars to All-Independent Teams

BRISTOL, Conn. — Coming off an 10-2 regular season and a No. 13 ranking in the recent College Football Playoff Poll, a total of 17 Cougars were today named to the Pro Football Network All-Independent Teams for offense, defense and special teams. 

In addition, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake was named Independent Coach of the Year, while running back Tyler Allgeier captured Independent Player of the Year honors and wide receiver Puka Nacua was named Newcomer of the Year. 

Six players from BYU's offense were named to the first team, including Jaren Hall as Quarterback of the Year, Allgeier as Running Back of the Year, and Nacua as Wide Receiver of the Year. 

Other Cougars named to the Pro Football Network All-Independent Offensive First Team included wide receiver Gunner Romney as well as left tackle Blake Freeland and left guard Clark Barrington. Freeland and Barrington started all 12 games for the Cougars, anchoring the left side of an offensive line that was also recognized as the Independent Offensive Line of the Year. 

Two additional Cougars, wide receiver Neil Pau’u and right tackle Campbell Barrington, were named All-Independent Second Team Offense. 

Five players from BYU's defense were named to the first team, including Linebacker of the Year Payton Wilgar, Defensive Back of the Year Kaleb Hayes and Defensive Rookie of the Year linebacker Ben Bywater. 

Other Cougars named to the Pro Football Network All-Independent Defensive First Team included safety/nickelback Jakob Robinson and safety Malik Moore, who anchored a defensive backfield that was named Independent Secondary of the Year. Edge lineman Tyler Batty was also recognized as second-ream All-Independent on defense. 

Three Cougars were named to the Pro Football Network Independent Special Teams led by Independent Punter of the Year Ryan Rehkow, who was also named All-Independent First Team. Two additional Cougars were named All-Independent Second Team Specialists, including punt returner Hobbs Nyberg and special teamer Jacob Boren. 

PRO FOOTBALL NETWORK

All-Independent Football Team Honors

Independent Coach of the Year: Kalani Sitake, BYU
Independent Player of the Year: Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU
Independent Newcomer of the Year: Puka Nacua, WR, BYU
Independent Game of the Year: Notre Dame vs. Florida State, Week 1

All-Independent Offense

Independent Offensive Player of the Year: Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU
Independent Quarterback of the Year: Jaren Hall, BYU
Independent Running Back of the Year: Tyler Allgeier, RB, BYU
Independent Wide Receiver of the Year: Puka Nacua, BYU
Independent Offensive Lineman of the Year: Cain Madden, Notre Dame
Independent Offensive Line of the Year: BYU Cougars
Independent Offensive Rookie of the Year: Juwaun Price, RB, New Mexico State

First-Team All-Independent Offense

QB: Jaren Hall, BYU
RB: Tyler Allgeier, BYU
RB: Kyren Williams, Notre Dame
WR: Puka Nacua, BYU
WR: Kevin Austin Jr., Notre Dame
WR: CJ Daniels, Liberty
TE: Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
FLEX: Gunner Romney, BYU
LT: Blake Freeland, BYU
LG: Clark Barrington, BYU
C: Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame
RG: Cain Madden, Notre Dame
RT: Josh Lugg, Notre Dame

Second-Team All-Independent Offense

QB: Maik Willis, Liberty
RB: Ellis Merriweather, UMass
RB: Juwaun Price, New Mexico State
WR: Jared Wyatt, New Mexico State
WR: Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda, New Mexico State
WR: Demario Douglas, Liberty
TE: Thomaz Whitford, New Mexico State
FLEX: Neil Pau’u, BYU
LT: Joe Alt, Notre Dame
LG: Noah Knapp, Army
C: Thomas Sargeant, Liberty
RG: Brendan Schlittler, Liberty
RT: Campbell Barrington, BYU

All-Independent Defense

Independent Defensive Player of the Year: Andre Carter II, Army
Independent Defensive Lineman of the Year: Andre Carter II, Army
Independent Linebacker of the Year: Payton Wilgar, BYU
Independent Defensive Back of the Year: Kaleb Hayes, BYU
Independent Defensive Rookie of the Year: Ben Bywater, LB, BYU
Independent Defensive Line of the Year: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Independent Secondary of the Year: BYU Cougars

First-Team All-Independent Defense

EDGE: Andre Carter II, Army
EDGE: Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame
DI: Jayson Ademilola, Notre Dame
DI: Travis Jones, UConn
LB: Jackson Mitchell, UConn
LB: Ben Bywater, BYU
LB: Payton Wilgar, BYU
CB: Jakob Robinson, BYU
CB: Cam Hart, Notre Dame
CB: D.J. McCullough, New Mexico State
S: DJ Brown, Notre Dame
S: Malik Moore, BYU
FLEX: Kaleb Hayes, BYU

Second-Team All-Independent Defense

EDGE: Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, Notre Dame
EDGE: Tyler Batty, BYU
DI: Rylie Mills, Notre Dame
DI: Elijah Hames, Liberty
LB: Storey Jackson, Liberty
LB: JD Bertrand, Notre Dame
LB: Drew White, Notre Dame
CB: Duron Lowe, Liberty
CB: Tre Wortham, UConn
CB: Jabari Moore, Army
S: Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame
S: Caleb Mills, New Mexico State
FLEX: Marquel Broughton, Army | Cedrick Cunningham Jr., Army

All-Independent Special Teams

Independent Kicker of the Year: Jonathan Doerer, Notre Dame
Independent Punter of the Year: Ryan Rehkow, BYU
Independent Specialist of the Year: Brian Brewton, UConn

First-Team All-Independent Special Teams

Kicker: Jonathan Doerer, Notre Dame
Kickoff Specialist: Jonathan Doerer, Notre Dame
Punter: Ryan Rehkow, BYU
Kick Returner: Brian Brewton, UConn
Punt Returner: Demario Douglas, Liberty
Special Teamer: Fabrice Voyne, Army

Second-Team All-Independent Special Teams

Kicker: Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State
Kickoff Specialist: Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State
Punter: George Georgopoulos, UMass
Kick Returner: Chris Tyree, Notre Dame
Punt Returner: Hobbs Nyberg, BYU
Special Teamer: Jacob Boren, BYU