Phil Steele Awards Cougars

PROVO -- Nine members of the BYU football team were named to one of three of Phil Steele’s College Football All-Mountain West Conference teams.

BYU junior offensive lineman Matt Reynolds and senior safety Andrew Rich, the Cougars’ two team captains this season, were both named to the first team, replicating their earlier placement on the All-Mountain West Conference team as chosen by coaches and media members.

Reynolds, a three-year starter, has given up just one sack this season while helping BYU go to a bowl each year he has played. Rich is currently leading the team in tackles for the second-straight year and is also tops on the team in fumbles forced, interceptions and pass breakups this year.

Junior running back JJ Di Luigi, senior offensive lineman Jason Speredon and sophomore offensive lineman Braden Hansen were tabbed as second team offensive selections while senior defensive lineman Vic So’oto was the lone Cougar named to the defensive second team.

Di Luigi leads BYU in both rushing and receiving yards in addition to scoring a team-high eight touchdowns this year with holes opened up by the Freshman All-American Hansen and Speredon, the lone senior on the Cougar offensive line.

So’oto, playing in this third position at BYU after stints at tight end and linebacker, leads the team with 10.5 tackles-for-loss, four sacks and eight quarterback hurries.

Rounding out BYU’s honorees were senior linebacker Shane Hunter, senior defensive back Brian Logan and senior kicker Mitch Payne, all named to the third team. Hunter is second on the team with 81 tackles and Logan is third for BYU with 49 tackles. Each player also has two interceptions apiece.

Payne, the MWC all-time leader in kicking points scored, also set BYU records for most PATs attempted and most PATs converted this year. The senior leads the team with 78 points, converting 16-of-20 field goals and 30-of-32 PATs.