PROVO, Utah — Six members of the BYU football team have been named to the 2023 Phil Steele All-Big 12 Teams for offense, defense and special teams.
Leading the way for BYU was punter Ryan Rehkow who was named Big 12 Second Team and was also recognized by Phil Steele as All-American Honorable Mention. Four Cougars were named to the Big 12 Third Team, including defensive end Tyler Batty, cornerback Eddie Heckard, offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia and linebacker Max Tooley, while long snapper Austin Riggs was named Fourth Team.
Rehkow was previously named Second Team All-American by ESPN and Honorable Mention All-American by College Football Network. He was also honored in the coaches’ voting as All-Big 12 Second Team and Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year Honorable Mention. A three-time Ray’s 8 weekly awardee from Ray Guy in 2023, Rehkow led the Big 12 in punting average at 48.4 yards per kick and was second nationally. He also led the conference in total kicks (68), yards (3,289), punts over 50 yards (31) and punts downed inside the 20 (25). Rehkow graduated with a bachelor's degree in finance.
Batty was previously named Pro Football Focus Big 12 First Team and was also honored by the coaches as All-Big 12 Second Team, with honorable mention recognitions for Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year. Batty, who was one of just 11 FBS players to be named to the All-State AFCA Good Works Team in 2023, collected 57 tackles (second in the Big 12 among defensive lineman), had 5.5 sacks and forced two fumbles over 12 games. Batty graduates in December with a degree in communications.
Heckard, who finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 with five interceptions, was previously named a College Football Network Honorable Mention All-American and was honored by the coaches as All-Big 12 Honorable Mention and Defensive Newcomer of the Year Honorable Mention. He was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 23, after recovering a fumble for a touchdown and posting an interception in BYU's 27-14 win over Texas Tech. In addition to five interceptions, Heckard forced three fumbles and had 11 passes defended. He graduated with bachelor's degrees in professional sales and mechanical engineering.
Suamataia, who was ranked among the Top-30 Big 12 players entering the 2023 season by College Football News, was previously selected to the All-Big 12 Second Team Offensive Line. In addition to being named to the 2023 Outland Trophy watch list, the sophomore was a preseason All-Big 12 pick by College Football News, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. Suamataia is a junior academically, majoring in global studies.
Tooley, who finished his BYU career with 311 tackles (14th most all-time), was previously named All-Big 12 Linebacker Honorable Mention by the league coaches. In 12 games, the senior led the Cougars with 92 tackles and was seventh in the Big 12. Tooley also led BYU in unassisted tackles (52) and tackles in a single game (16 vs. Cincinnati). He finished the season as the NCAA Active Career Leader in interceptions by a linebacker (7). Prior to the season, Tooley was named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team. Tooley graduated with a bachelor's degree in global studies.
Riggs has been the Cougars long snapper for the past four seasons (2020-23). He recorded his first-career fumble recovery, setting up a BYU touchdown, in BYU’s 35-27 win over Cincinnati on Sept. 29. Riggs graduates in December with a degree in communications.
PHIL STEELE BIG 12 HONORS
Second Team
P Ryan Rehkow
Third Team
DE Tyler Batty
CB Eddie Heckard
OL Kingsley Suamataia
LB Max Tooley
Fourth Team
DS Austin Riggs