Cougar All-Decade Team

Scout has an all-decade team here: http://byu.scout.com/2/933530.html



Here's what they had to say:

Quarterback



First-Team: John Beck 6-2, 190



John Beck started for BYU from 2004-2006 and saw some playing time as a freshman in 2003. He was a three-time All-MWC selection while being named as the Conference Offensive Player of the Year his senior season. He led the MWC in total offense his junior and senior seasons and led BYU to a conference championship during his final year.



Second-Team: Max Hall 6-1, 200



Max Hall started for BYU the past three seasons and finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in wins from the quarterback position. He led BYU to a conference championship and earned All-MWC honors in each of his three seasons, including First-Team honors his sophomore year. Hall also led the MWC in total offense during his sophomore and junior seasons.



Running Back



First-Team: Luke Staley 6-1, 218/Harvey Unga 6-0, 221



Luke Staley had by far the best season ever by a BYU running back in receiving the Doak Walker award in 2001. During that year he led the entire nation in scoring and rushing yards per attempt while being named as a First-Team All-American.



Harvey Unga finished his junior year as BYU’s all-time leading rusher in yards. He’s started every game since his freshman year while earning All-MWC honors his sophomore and junior seasons.



Second-Team: Curtis Brown 6-0, 190/Manase Tonga 6-1, 220



Curtis Brown was BYU’s leading rusher from 2004-2006 and finished his career as the school’s all-time leading rusher before Unga surpassed him this past year. He received All-MWC honors during his final three seasons while being named First-Team All-MWC as both a junior and senior.



Manase Tonga was a three-year starter and four-year contributor at fullback, and contributed mightily to the team’s offensive production during that time. While his stats can’t touch those of Staley, Unga or Brown, Tonga’s contribution came with lead blocking, pass protection and everything else involved with being an effective fullback.



Wide Receiver



First-Team: Austin Collie 6-1, 200/Reno Mahe 5-11, 185



Austin Collie is an easy choice for the First-Team, as he’s BYU’s all-time leading receiver after only playing three years before moving on to the NFL. He was an All-MWC selection in all three of his seasons and was named the MWC Freshman of the Year in 2004.



Reno Mahe led BYU in receptions during both his junior and senior seasons, and led the entire conference in receiving his junior year. He received All-MWC honors during both his seasons playing wideout at BYU.



Second-Team: Todd Watkins 6-3, 185/Margin Hooks 6-0, 190



Todd Watkins brought a deep threat to BYU that the school had seldom seen prior to his arrival. He earned First-Team All-MWC honors in 2004 and finished out in 2005 as the second-leading receiver on the team.



Margin Hooks was the team’s leading receiver and earned All-MWC honors - including First-Team honors as a junior - during his final two seasons.



Tight End



First-Team: Dennis Pitta 6-5, 230



Dennis Pitta was a consensus First-Team All-American this past season while being a unanimous First-Team All-MWC selection. He was a First-Team All-MWC performer in each of his three seasons starting at tight end following his mission, and became BYU’s most prolific tight end ever.



Second-Team: Jonny Harline 6-4, 226



Jonny Harline was a First-Team All-MWC performer in each of his two seasons starting for BYU during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Harline will best be remembered for his last-second game-winning touchdown catch against Utah in 2006.



Left Tackle



First-Team: Matt Reynolds 6-6, 321



Matt Reynolds has started at left tackle the past two seasons and is pound-for-pound the best left tackle BYU has fielded during this past decade. He received First-Team All-MWC honors this past season.



Second-Team: Dustin Rykert 6-7, 317



Dustin Rykert was a three-year starter from 2000-2002, receiving All-MWC honors in each of those seasons. He finished out his senior season being named to the All-MWC First-Team.



Left Guard



First-Team: Ray Feinga 6-5, 348



Ray Feinga saw playing time in each of his four seasons and started at guard from 2006-2008. He was named a First-Team All-MWC performer in both his junior and senior seasons.



Second-Team: Dallas Reynolds 6-5, 320



Dallas Reynolds played at guard, tackle and center while at BYU, but makes the All-Decade team as a guard. He was a Freshman All-American and went on to start in each of his four seasons.



Center



First-Team: Jason Scukanec 6-2, 282



Jason Scukanec started at center during the 2000 and 2001 seasons. He was named to the All-MWC Second-Team as a junior and First-Team as a senior.



Second-Team: Scott Jackson 6-5, 300



Scott Jackson started at center for BYU during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. He was an All-MWC performer during each of those years.



Right Guard



First-Team: Jake Kuresa 6-4, 330



Jake Kuresa was a four-year starter for BYU from 2003-2006. He earned All-MWC honors during his final two seasons, including First-Team honors as a senior. Kuresa also saw some time at tackle before finishing up his career as a senior playing every offensive line position, including center.



Second-Team: Travis Bright 6-5, 313



Travis Bright started at guard for the Cougars from 2006-2008. He was an All-MWC performer as a senior.



Right Tackle



First-Team: Ben Archibald 6-5, 315



Ben Archibald started at right tackle from 2000-2001 before sustaining a career-ending leg injury just prior to the 2002 season. He earned All-MWC honors as a sophomore and junior and entered his senior year as a preseason All-MWC First-Team selection.



Second-Team: Eddie Keele 6-6, 314



Eddie Keele, like Archibald, started as both a sophomore and junior before having his senior year cut short due to injury. Keele also played some as a freshman in 2002.



Kicker



First-Team: Owen Pochman 6-0, 160



Owen Pochman was a First-Team All-MWC performer in 2000 and was named to the Second-Team the prior season.



Second-Team: Matt Payne 6-4, 234



Matt Payne kicked for the Cougars from 2001-2004 while earning numerous All-MWC honors. He was perhaps best known for his linebacker-like hits on kick coverage.

What would you change? Anything?

What, no defense?

Sammich wrote:
What, no defense?

I was wondering the same thing.... I guess they'll do that later. Any predictions on who will be on the all decade defensive team?

jan jorgenson, cam jensen, bryan kehl, ryan denney, brady poppinga, colby bockwoldt, ben criddle, and aaron francisco to name a few. All of those guys should either be starters or back-ups.

I think Max should have been first team. BYU's all-time leader in wins. Second all-time in completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. Fifth all-time in passing efficiency. Three years of excellence.



Granted, Max never had a passing rating like Beck did as a senior (169+), but Max all three of Hall's seasons were better than Beck's previous three seasons.



I like Max's high level of consistency over one spectacularly great season.

I think that people remember Bockwoldt as being a lot better than he actually was.

Schmoe wrote:
I think that people remember Bockwoldt as being a lot better than he actually was.

He was good enough to go to the NFL and be a starter for a while, although it was with the saints when they were down.

Short_Change wrote:
jan jorgenson, cam jensen, bryan kehl, ryan denney, brady poppinga, colby bockwoldt, ben criddle, and aaron francisco to name a few. All of those guys should either be starters or back-ups.

Also Chris Hoke and Brett Keisel...

kitic77 wrote:
I think Max should have been first team. BYU's all-time leader in wins. Second all-time in completions, passing yards, and passing touchdowns. Fifth all-time in passing efficiency. Three years of excellence.



Granted, Max never had a passing rating like Beck did as a senior (169+), but Max all three of Hall's seasons were better than Beck's previous three seasons.



I like Max's high level of consistency over one spectacularly great season.

I was thinking the exact same thing. While it's unfortunate for Beck that he played for teams in transition, I think what Hall has done in three years is impressive--three 10+ win seasons, 2 bowl wins, and a MWC championship, 21-3 conference record in a tougher MWC, plus wins over OU, Oregon State, UCLA, Arizona, and Washington.

The defense team is up on TBS now.

I'd give it to Beck. Turned things around at QB. Established the winning attitude.

As good as Hall is in becoming the all-time winningest QB in Cougar history, I think had Beck followed Beck in 2007 and played 3 seasons, he too would be the winningest QB AND he would have beat :utard: and Arizona in 2008. Beck was the best QB of the decade.



The rest of the list is fine as is.