Denney Named Academic All-America

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.

2001 BYU FOOTBALL HONORS/AWARDS

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