Phil Steele names 10 Cougars to All-Independent Teams

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A total of 10 BYU football players were named to the 2021 Phil Steele All-Independent Teams for offense, defense and special teams.

Led by Phil Steele Fourth-Team All-America running back Tyle Allgeier, the Cougars placed six football players on the All-Independent Offensive First Team. Joining Allgeier was quarterback Jaren Hall, wide receiver Puka Nacua, tight end Isaac Rex, right guard Clark Barrington and right tackle Blake Freeland.

Rex and Allgeier were named to the Phil Steele All-Independent First Team for the second time, having both been named All-Independent in 2020.

Cornerback Kaleb Hayes was named First Team All-Independent Defense in 2021, while punter Ryan Rehkow was named the All-Independent First Team punter for the second-consecutive season, having also received the honor in 2020.

Two additional Cougars, linebacker Payton Wilgar and free safety Malik Moore, were named to the Phil Steele Second Team All-Independent Defense.

PHIL STEELE — ALL-INDEPENDENT TEAMS

First-Team Offense
QB    Jaren Hall, BYU
QB    Malik Willis, Liberty 
RB    Tyler Allgeier, BYU 
RB    Kyren Williams, Notre Dame
WR   Puka Nacua, BYU 
WR   Kevin Austin, Notre Dame 
TE    Michael Mayer, Notre Dame
TE    Isaac Rex, BYU 
C      Jarrett Patterson, Notre Dame 
OG   Cain Madden, Notre Dame 
OG   Clark Barrington, BYU 
OT    Blake Freeland, BYU 
OT    Sage Doxtater, New Mexico State

Second-Team Offense
QB    Jack Coan, Notre Dame
QB    Christian Anderson, Army West Point
RB    Juwaun Price, New Mexico State
RB    Ellis Merriweather, Massachusetts
WR   Demario Douglas, Liberty
WR   Jared Wyatt, New Mexico State
TE    Johnny Huntley, Liberty
TE    Josiah Johnson, Massachusetts
C      Eli Johnson, New Mexico State
OG   Noah Knapp, Army West Point
OG   Brendan Schlittler, Liberty
OT    Jordyn Law, Army West Point
OT    Ryan Van Demark, Connecticut

First-Team Defense
DE     Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame 
DT     Jayson Ademilola, Notre Dame 
DT     Nolan Cockrill, Army West Point 
DE     Travis Jones, Connecticut 
LB     Andre Carter, Army West Point 
LB     Storey Jackson. Liberty 
LB     JD Bertrand, Notre Dame 
LB     Arik Smith, Army West Point 
CB     DJ McCullough, New Mexico State
CB     Kaleb Hayes, BYU 
S       Kyle Hamilton, Notre Dame 
S       Marquel Broughton, Army West Point 

Second-Team Defense
DE    TreShaun Clark, Liberty
DT    Elijah James, Liberty
DT    Ralfs Rusins, Liberty
DE    Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, Notre Dame
LB    Trevor Brohard, New Mexico State
LB    Jackson Mitchell, Connecticut
LB    Payton Wilgar, BYU
LB    Chris Ojoh, New Mexico State
CB   Jabari Moore, Army West Point
CB   Cam Hart, Notre Dame
S      Malik Moore, BYU
S      Caleb Mills, New Mexico State

First-Team Special Teams
K     Jonathan Doerer, Notre Dame 
P     Ryan Rehkow, BYU 
KR  Brian Brewton, Connecticut 
PR  Tyrell Robinson, Army West Point 
LS   Austin Mock, Liberty 

Second-Team Special Teams
K     Ethan Albertson, New Mexico State
P     Jay Bramblett, Notre Dame
KR   Chris Tyree, Notre Dame
PR   Demario Douglas, Liberty
LS   Evan Deckers, Massachusetts
 

TYLER ALLGEIER
Running Back | 5-11, 220 | Sophomore | Fontana, California

• Doak Walker Award Semifinalist
• No. 1 (tied) in the Nation in rushing TDs: 20
• No. 3 (tied) in total TDs: 20
• No. 6 in rushing YPG: 117.4
• No. 8 in rushing yards: 1,409; total carries: 249
• No. 1 among all Independent Teams in TDs, rushing TDs, rushing yards, rushing YPG, scoring per game (10), total points (120), all-purpose yards (133)
  • No. 2 in rush yards per carry (5.6)
  • No. 4 points responsible (120), points responsible per game (10)
  • No. 8 total offense per game (117.4)
• Week 10 Heisman Hopeful
• Capital One Orange Bowl Player of the Week (Nov. 3)
• Three-time Independent Offensive Player of the Week — College Sports Madness
• Team Assistant Captain (offense)
• Maxwell Award and Paul Hornung Award watchlist

JAREN HALL
Quarterback | 6-1, 205 | Sophomore | Spanish Fork, Utah

• No. 1 among all Independent teams in total offense (289), passing efficiency (156.1), passing yards per game (258.3), passing yards per completion (13.67) and yard per pass attempt (8.73)
  • No. 2 (tied) in passing TDs (20), points responsible (140), points responsible per game (14.0), completion percentage (.639), completion per game (18.9)
  • No. 4 in passing yards (2,583) despite missing two games
• Started 10 of 12 games (missed USF and Utah State games due to injury)
• Team Captain (offense) in 2021, earning starting role after departure of Zach Wilson to the NFL Draft

PUKA NACUA
Wide Receiver | 6-2, 210 | Sophomore | Provo, Utah

• No. 1 among all Independent teams in receiving yards (798), receiving YPG (72.4), yards per reception (18.95)
  • No. 2 (tied) receiving TDs (6)
  • No. 5 in receptions per game (3.8)
  • No. 6 in all-purpose yards (84)
• Led BYU in receiving yards, receiving YPG, yards per reception, receiving TDs (6)
  • No. 2 in receptions (42) and yards per catch (19.0)
• Played in 11 of 12 games (missed Arizona due to injury)

ISAAC REX
Tight End | 6-6, 247 | Freshman | San Clemente, California

• No. 3 on BYU in TD receptions (3)
  • No. 5 in receptions (18)
  • No. 6 in receiving yards (191), yards per game (15.9)
• Started 11 of 12 games at tight end
• John Mackey Award Watch List

CLARK BARRINGTON
Left Guard | 6-6, 302 | Sophomore | Spokane, Washington

• 2021 Action Network All-America Second Team
• 2021 Pro Football Focus All-America Third Team
• Started every game in 2021 at left guard as highest-graded lineman
• Joe Moore Award Midseason Watch List (BYU O-Line)
• Helped BYU rank No. 17 in the nation in total offense with 457.1 yards per game
• Helped BYU to a 10-2 record and No. 12/14 rankings; No. 13 CFP ranking

BLAKE FREELAND
Left Tackle | 6-8, 305 | Sophomore | Herriman, Utah

• Started every game in 2021 with high grades as left tackle 
• Joe Moore Award Midseason Watch List (BYU O-Line)
• Helped BYU rank No. 17 in the nation in total offense with 457.1 yards per game
• Helped BYU to a 10-2 record and No. 12/14 rankings; No. 13 CFP ranking

KALEB HAYES
Cornerback | 5-11, 190 | Junior | San Bernardino, California

• No. 1 among independents and tied No. 11 in nation in pass breakups (12)
• Season-high 4 pass breakups in win over USC at LA Coliseum
• No. 9 at BYU in solo tackles (18)
• Played in all 12 games, started the final nine in first season with Cougars

PAYTON WILGAR
Linebacker | 6-3, 245 | Sophomore | St. George, Utah

• No. 2 (tied) among Independents in interceptions per game (.2)
  • No. 14 (tied) tackles per game (5.6)
• No. 2 on BYU in assisted tackles (27), tackles of loss (6)
  • No. 3 in total tackles (56), solo tackles (29) and interceptions (2)
• Started 10 of 10 games (missed final two games with season-ending injury)

MALIK MOORE
Free Safety | 6-1, 190 | Junior | San Diego

• No. 1 (tied) among Independents for total interceptions (3)
  • No. 2 (tied) in interceptions per game (.2)
• No. 1 on BYU in interceptions (3)
  • No. 8 in total tackles (32)
• Helped BYU rank No. 9 nationally in turnover margin (+.83)
• Started all 12 games at free safety

RYAN REHKOW
Punter | 6-5, 240 | Freshman | Veradale, Washington

• Ray Guy Award Watchlist
• Ray Guy Award – Ray’s 8 Awardee (Oct. 4)
• Would be No. 4 in the Nation in Punting Average: 48.7 (*three punts shy of being included among NCAA stats leaders)
• No. 14 nationally in Net Punting (42.9)
• No. 1 freshman in Punting Average
• Placed 16 of 39 punts inside the 20 (.410)
• BYU record 83-yard punt in win over then No. 19 ASU (4th longest in FBS in 2021)
• Played in all 12 games as punter and field goal and PAT holder
• Team Assistant Captain (special teams)