Academic All-MWC for 30 Cougars

COLORADO SPRINGS -- BYU football boasted 30 student-athletes named to the Academic All-Mountain West Conference Team as announced by the league on Thursday.

Cougars who coupled All-MWC honors with the conference academic recognition included defensive back Andrew Rich, offensive lineman Matt Reynolds, kicker Mitch Payne, linebacker Shane Hunter and offensive lineman Braden Hansen.

Also among those honored was junior running back Bryan Kariya, a Chinese major who earned second-team Academic All-America honors this past season.

Nineteen of those Cougars recognized are multiple-year honorees, including four three-year honorees and two student-athletes - Nick Alletto and Mitch Payne - who earned the recognition all four years of their eligibility.

After tying Colorado State in 2001, BYU football has led the conference in all-academic selections for nine-straight years. In 2010, BYU's 30 honorees led all conference institutions as Utah had 18 followed by San Diego State with 14, Air Force and New Mexico with 13, TCU with eight and UNLV with four.

To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must have completed at least one academic term at the member institution while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better, and be a starter or significant contributor on their athletic team.

2011 BYU Academic All-MWC
Nick Alletto      Sr.     OL
Braden Brown      So.     OL
Corby Eason       Jr.     DB
JD Falslev        Fr.     PR
Ryan Folsom       Fr.     RB
David Foote       So.     RB
Jameson Frazier   Jr.     LB
Romney Fuga       Jr.     DL
Braden Hansen     Jr.     OL
Connell Hess      So.     LB
Austin Holt       Fr.     TE
Shane Hunter      Sr.     LB
McKay Jacobson    Jr.     WR
Landon Jaussi     Sr.     DB
Bryan Kariya      Jr.     RB
Marcus Mathews    Fr.     TE
Zed Mendenhall    So.     RB
Zeke Mendenhall   Sr.     DB
Mike Muehlmann    Fr.     TE
Riley Nelson      Jr.     QB
Brandon Ogletree  So.     LB
Mitch Payne       Sr.     K
BJ Peterson       Sr.     WR
Houston Reynolds  Fr.     OL
Matt Reynolds     Jr.     OL
Andrew Rich       Sr.     DB
Jordan Richardson So.     DL
Tom Steele        So.     LB
Marco Thorson     Jr.     OL
Dalin Tollestrup  So.     DB