PROVO, Utah - As if having the 2001 Doak Walker winner, the first consensus All-American at BYU since 1991, a league-leading eight All-MWC first-team performers, the Offensive Player of the Year, as well as the Coach of the Year isn't enough, add academic All-American to the list.
Senior defensive end Ryan Denney, who sports an impressive 3.7 grade-point average in finance, was named to the 2001 Verizon Academic All-America team. Denney, who was recently engaged to be married, is the second straight defensive player to earn Academic All-America honors, after Jared Lee earned the honor in 2000. The Thornton, Colo., native is the ninth Academic All-American at BYU since the 1984 season. Denney has produced 68 tackles on the season, including 45 solo takedowns. Denney has produced a team-leading 19 tackles for a combined loss of 75 yards, including seven sacks for 50 yards. He has tallied eight pass deflections, one interception and scored his first career touchdown after picking up a blocked field goal attempt for an 82-yard touchdown at San Diego State.
After being named the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year, head coach Gary Crowton finished third in the Associated Press balloting for National Coach-of-the-Year honors. Crowton finished behind Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen and Miami head coach Larry Coker. After leading the Cougars to an outstanding 12-1 season, including an unblemished 7-0 league record in only his first year at BYU, Crowton was named the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year by his peers, as well as the MWC sports writers.
GARY CROWTON - Head Coach
Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year
Mountain West Conference Media Coach of the Year
Walter Camp Coach-of-the-Year Finalist
Associated Press Honorable Mention Coach of the Year
LUKE STALEY - Running Back
Doak Walker Award Winner
Heisman Trophy Candidate
Consensus First-Team All-American
Walter Camp First-Team All-American
Associated Press First-Team All-American
NN.SI First-Team All-American
CFCA First-Team All-American
FWAA First-Team All-American
The Sporting News First-Team All-American
Football News First-Team All-American
Football News First-Team All-MWC
Football News MWC Player of the Year
The Sporting News First-Team All-MWC
MWC Offensive Player of the Year
MWC Media Offensive Player of the Year
MWC Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 8, 2001)
MWC Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 5, 2001)
MWC Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 12, 2001)
Unanimous First-Team All-Mountain West Conference
First-Team Media All-Mountain West Conference
National Scoring Champion (17.0 points per game)
BYU Single-Season Touchdown Scoring Record Holder
BYU Career Touchdown Scoring Record Holder
BYU Single-Season Rushing Record Holder
BYU Single-Season Scoring Record Holder
CNNSI National Player of the Week
The Sporting News/Nissan Frontier National Player of the Week
BRANDON DOMAN - Quarterback
Heisman Trophy Candidate
Unanimous First-Team All-Mountain West Conference
First-Team Media All-Mountain West Conference
Football News First-Team All-MWC
The Sporting News First-Team All-MWC
MWC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 10, 2001)
Most Valuable Player, BCA Classic
RYAN DENNEY - Defensive End
Verizon Academic First-Team All-American
Verizon Academic All-District VIII
The Sporting News Fourth-Team All-American
2002 Senior Bowl
First-Team All-Mountain West Conference
First-Team Media All-Mountain West Conference
Football News First-Team All-MWC
The Sporting News First-Team All-MWC
MWC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 10, 2001)
RENO MAHE - Receiver
First-Team All-Mountain West Conference
First-Team Media All-Mountain West Conference
DOUG JOLLEY - Tight End
First-Team All-Mountain West Conference
First-Team Media All-Mountain West Conference
The Sporting News First-Team All-MWC
MWC Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 22, 2001)
SPENCER NEAD - Tight End
Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference
Honorable Mention Media All-Mountain West Conference
BEN ARCHIBALD - Offensive Line
Second-Team All-Mountain West Conference
Honorable Mention Media All-Mountain West Conference
AARON MCCUBBINS - Offensive Line
Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference
Honorable Mention Media All-Mountain West Conference
TEAG WHITING - Offensive Line
Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference
Honorable Mention Media All-Mountain West Conference
JASON SCUKANEC - Offensive Line
First-Team All-Mountain West Conference
First-Team Media All-Mountain West Conference
The Sporting News First-Team All-MWC
Football News First-Team All-MWC
DUSTIN RYKERT - Offensive Line
Second-Team Media All-Mountain West Conference
Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference
Football News First-Team All-MWC
BRETT KEISEL - Defensive End
Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference
Honorable Mention Media All-Mountain West Conference
JUSTIN ENA - Linebacker
First-Team All-Mountain West Conference
First-Team Media All-Mountain West Conference
JERNARO GILFORD - Cornerback
First-Team All-Mountain West Conference
Second-Team Media All-Mountain West Conference
Football News First-Team All-MWC
LEVI MADARIETA - Safety
Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference
Honorable Mention Media All-Mountain West Conference
ISAAC KELLEY - Linebacker
Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference
Honorable Mention Media All-Mountain West Conference
PAUL WALKENHORST - Linebacker
Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference
Honorable Mention Media All-Mountain West Conference
DUSTIN STALEY - Safety
Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference
MATT PAYNE - Kicker
Honorable Mention Media All-Mountain West Conference
MWC Special Teams Player of the Week (Dec. 3, 2001)
AARON EDMONDS - Punter
Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference
Honorable Mention Media All-Mountain West Conference
MIKE RIGELL - Receiver/K/P Return Specialist
Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference
Honorable Mention Media All-Mountain West Conference
