Cougars to Honor 19 Players on Senior Day

Below are a few bullet points highlighting each member of the 2011 BYU football senior class. This year there are 19 seniors, including 18 current players and former player Steven Thomas, now a student assistant with the program. There are 10 defensive players, 9 offensive players, 7 players from Utah, 4 players from California, 4 players from Hawaii and 4 players named Matt.

Come out to see the seniors and the rest of the Cougars play in their final home game of the season against New Mexico State at 8:15 p.m. MT. Tickets are still available or follow live on ESPNU, espn3.com or on KSL Radio at ksl.com.


Offensive lineman Terence Brown
Summerville, S.C. / Summerville High
2011 Rimington Trophy candidate
Three year starter has started in every game since sophomore year
Played in 47 of 48 career games
2010 All-MWC honorable mention
2009 College Football News All-Sophomore Team honorable mention
 
Running back JJ Di Luigi
Canyon Country, Calif. / Canyon High
No. 11 BYU Career Rushing Yards (1,670 yds)
No. 18 BYU Career All-Purpose Yards (2,907 yds)
Currently 89 receiving yards away from becoming 10th player in BYU history with 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in a career
2010 All-MWC Second Team
Leads team in rushing yards, attempts, and yards per game in 2011
Led team in all rushing categories, touchdowns, all-purpose yards and receptions in 2010
Career-high 134 yards rushing vs. San Diego State in 2010
Two-year starter
 
Defensive back Corby Eason
Columbus, Ga. / Erie CC
No. 5 in the nation in pass breakups in 2011
No. 19 in the nation in passes defended in 2011
No. 2 BYU season pass breakups (12)
No. 3 (tied) BYU career pass breakups (15)
Started every game in 2011
Two-time Academic All-MWC (2009, 10)
Played in 35 of 36 games during his three-year career
Career-high 7 tackles, including 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sack and a forced fumble at Colorado State in 2010
 
Tight end Matthew Edwards
Salt Lake City, Utah / Woods Cross High
Two-year letterman
Played in three games (OSU, ISU, Idaho) in 2011
Saw time vs. UNLV and Utah in 2010
 
Defensive lineman Hebron Fangupo
Santa Ana, Calif. / USC
Played in all 10 games and started in seven in 2011
Has 21 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 QBH and 2 PBU in 2011
Career-best 6 tackles vs. UCF
Strongest player on the team
 
Linebacker Jameson Frazier
Draper, Utah / Alta High
2011 Lott Trophy Watch List
Has 25 tackles, 5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 5 QBH and a fumble recovery in 2011
Career-high 7 tackles and an interception at Utah 2010
Two-year starter has started 13 games in his career
Two-time Academic All-MWC
Former walk-on
 
Wide receiver Spencer Hafoka
Kahuku, Hawaii / Kahuku High
Four-year lettterwinner
Career-high three catches and 31 yards vs. TCU in 2009
Made diving catch to convert third down vs. Utah in 2009
 
Wide receiver McKay Jacobson
Southlake, Tex. / Southlake Carroll High
Currently No. 25 on the BYU career receiving yards (1,751 yds) and BYU career receptions (108) lists
Four-year starter with 33 career starts
Has 20 catches for 238 yards and one touchdown this season
Averaged 24.2 yards per catch, ranking No. 4 in the nation among receivers who averaged at least one catch per game in 2009
Caught game-winning touchdown vs. No. 3 Oklahoma
Returned first-ever punt return 77 yards for a touchdown as a freshman vs. Wyoming in 2006
Totaled three 100-yard receiving games, including 111 yards vs. Florida State, including an 80-yard touchdown, in 2009
 
Running back Bryan Kariya
Kaysville, Utah / Davis High
Has 220 rushing yards and a team-high 4 rushing touchdowns in 2011. Also has 81 yards receiving and 1 touchdowns reception
Two-year starter with 14 career starts
Voted team captain in 2011
Two-time Academic All-District (2010 & 2011)
2010 ESPN Academic All-American (only Div. I running back) -- 2011 All-Americans still to be announced
Three-time Academic All-MWC
Two-time Academic MWC Scholar-Athlete
Had 537 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns in 2010
 
Linebacker Aveni Leung-Wai
Alea, Hawaii / Grossmont JC
Played in three games in 2011 with 3 tackles on the year
Started twice and played in nine games in 2010 after transferring from Grossmont JC
Totaled nine tackles in 2010, including four vs. Florida State
 
Wide receiver/holder Matt Marshall
Salt Lake City, Utah / Skyline High
A utility man for BYU, has primarily been the holder on field goals but also played quarterback in wildcat formations, been used as a receiver and played on special teams.
In 2010 completed 2 of 2 passes for 21 yards including a 16-yard completion for a first down on a fake field goal attempt vs. San Diego State
Has 15 total tackles on special teams over last 3 seasons
Has run the scout team in weeks playing Air Force and other “option offense” teams
 
Linebacker Jordan Pendleton
South Jordan, Utah / Bingham High
Three-year starter with 22 career starts
Started seven games of 2011 before suffering season-ending knee injury vs. TCU
Has 32 tackles, team-leading 8.5 TFL, tied for team-high 4 sacks, 2 quarterback hurries and 1 pass breakup in 2011
Started first five games of 2010 but had surgery after sixth game that ended season. Had 38 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 quarterback hurry and 1 pass breakup
Started 10 games in 2009 and played in all 13. Had 52 tackles, 6.0 TFL, 3 sacks, 5 quarterback hurries, 3 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception.
Part of a total defense in 2011 ranked No. 19, in 2010 ranked No. 24, in 2009 ranked No. 28
 
Defensive lineman Matt Putnam
Brigham City, Utah / Box Elder High
Has 6 tackles, 2.0 TFL, 3 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery in 5 games played of 2011
Had  31 tackles, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, 7 pass breakups, 2 quarterback hurries and 1 forced fumble in 2010 and started 9 of 13 games played
Played in 25 games freshman and sophomore seasons combined, totaling 33 tackles, 4 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 2 quarterback hurries, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble over two years
Has 9 career starts
 
Offensive lineman Matt Reynolds
Provo, Utah / Timpview High
Four-year starter has started every game of college career (49 starts)
All-America candidate has 119 pancake blocks in 2011
On Outland Trophy Watch List, Lombardi Award Watch List, Lowe’s Senior Class Nominee
2011 Preseason All-American by ESPN.com, USA Today, CBSCollegeSports.com, Athlon, Lindy's, Sporting News and Phil Steele, among others.
2011 Phil Steele Midseason All-Independent First Team
Two-year team captain
 
Defensive back Steven Thomas
Chino Hills, Calif. / Chino Hills High
Had to end football career to due to career-ending concussion after three games in 2010
Started first three games of 2010 and had 10 tackles, 0.5 TFL and 1 pass breakup
Played in 10 games of 2009 season and returned 3 kicks for 53 yards
 
Offensive lineman Marco Thorson
Ramona, Calif. / Ramona High
Played in 27 career games, including one start this season
Has helped a keep BYU as one of the best teams on third-down conversions (No. 7 at 51%)
Protected quarterbacks and ball carriers to be able to affectively move the football forward as BYU is No. 2 in tackles for loss allowed per game.
Two-time Academic All-MWC
 
Safety Travis Uale
Hawaii Kai, Hawaii / Kamehameha High
Fifth on the team with 40 tackles, tied for team-leading 3 interceptions. Also has 3 pass breakups
Voted team captain in 2011 and has started every game
Two-year starter with 18 career starts
Started nine games in 2010 and played in 12. Had 42 tackles, 1 pass breakup and 1 fumble recovery
Left University of Utah to walk-on at BYU after his mission
 
Defensive lineman Simote Vea
Hau'ula, Hawaii / BYU-Hawaii
Earned time on defensive line and special teams in 2011
Has 3 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 QBH in 2011
Career-best two tackles vs. Idaho
Earned letterman honors as a junior, playing in five games with one tackle in 2010
Played 3 seasons after transferring from BYU-Hawaii
 
Linebacker Jadon Wagner
Lethbridge, Alberta / LCI
Was the 44th overall pick in the 2011 CFL draft but opted to return for senior season
Has 31 tackles and 2 TFL in 2011
Played in all 12 games as a junior in 2010 and started nine
Had 37 tackles, 6.5 TFL and 1 sack in 2010
Two-year starter with 12 career starts