BYU Football 100 Seasons: Individual Honors

As part of BYU's fall camp coverage, learn more about the great individual achievements in Cougar football history from its 100 seasons of football.

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PROVO, Utah — As part of BYU's fall camp coverage, learn more about the great individual achievements in Cougar football history from its 100 seasons of football. 

BYU embarks on its 100th football season on Saturday, Aug. 31 against Southern Illinois. Single game tickets are now on sale and season tickets are still available for the 2024 season. 

Read about BYU's legendary head coach LaVell Edwards and the remarkable players that shaped its program below. 

BYU head coach LaVell Edwards at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Opens in a new window
BYU head coach LaVell Edwards and his wife Patti prior to a game. Opens in a new window
BYU head coach LaVell Edwards and his quarterback factory. Opens in a new window
BYU head coach LaVell Edwards holds the 1983 Holiday Bowl trophy aloft as players celebrate around him. Opens in a new window
BYU quarterback Ty Detmer and head coach LaVell Edwards prior to the 1990 Heisman Trophy ceremony. Opens in a new window
BYU head coach LaVell Edwards speaks with quarterbacks coach Mike Holmgren and quarterback Steve Young on the sideline during a game in 1983. Opens in a new window
Legendary Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz congratulates BYU's LaVell Edwards following the Cougars' 21-14 win over the Irish in 1994. Opens in a new window
BYU head coach LaVell Edwards takes the field through a tunnel of his players prior to his final home game on November 18, 2000. Opens in a new window
Gordon B. Hinckley, 15th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announces the naming of LaVell Edwards Stadium prior to BYU versus New Mexico on November 18, 2000. Opens in a new window
BYU head coach LaVell Edwards addresses the media on the field at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City following the Cougars' 34-27 win over Utah in Edwards final game as head coach on November 25, 2000. Opens in a new window
LaVell Edwards speaks with Bronco Mendenhall as Mendenhall is announced as BYU head coach in December 2004. Opens in a new window
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake is greeted by legendary former BYU coach LaVell Edwards following the press conference announcing Sitake's hire in December 2015. Opens in a new window

LaVell Edwards

The maestro who orchestrated BYU football’s march to national prominence, LaVell Edwards roamed the Cougar sidelines as head coach from 1972 to 2000. When Edwards assumed command of the Cougars, the program had won just 173 games over 49 seasons with only 14 winning campaigns, one conference title and had never been to a bowl game.

Edwards quickly changed the narrative at BYU with a winning season in 1972, the first of 28 in his 29 seasons. Over the remainder of his tenure in Provo, Edwards amassed a record of 257-101-3, 19 conference championships, 22 bowl berths and guided the Cougars to the 1984 National Championship. Edwards’ BYU career was further highlighted by 10-straight conference titles (1976-1985), 17-straight bowl appearances (1978-1994) and a 25-game winning streak stretching from the 1983 to 1985 seasons.

Edwards’ coached 50 All-Americans and 94 future NFL Draft picks along with winners of a Heisman Trophy, a Maxwell Award, seven Sammy Baugh Trophies, four Davey O’Brien Awards and two Outland Trophies. Six of Edwards’ players now join him in the College Football Hall of Fame. An eight-time NCAA District 8 Coach of the Year, Edwards also won Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year in 1979 and AFCA National Coach of the Year in 1984.

Edwards established a remarkable era of stability at BYU, with 10 head coaches leading the program in the 49 seasons prior to his tenure while only three have followed in the 24 seasons since his retirement.

Following his retirement in 2000, Edwards and his beloved wife Patti served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New York City from 2002 to 2003. In 2004, Edwards became BYU's fifth addition to the College Football Hall of Fame. Edwards passed away at age 86 on December 29, 2016. Just a year prior to his passing, Edwards welcomed Kalani Sitake as the 14th head coach at BYU; the first of his former players to take the helm.

NCAA Division I College Football All-Time Winningest Head Coaches

Rank Head Coach Wins Career
1. Joe Paterno 409 1966-2011
2.  Bobby Bowden 346 1970-2009
3.  Pop Warner 336 1895-1938
4. Bear Bryant 323 1945-1983
5. Alma Alonzo Stagg 304 1892-1946
6. Nick Saban 292 1990-2023
7. Mack Brown 276 1985-present
8. LaVell Edwards 257 1972-2000
9. Tom Osborne 255 1973-1998
10. Lou Holtz 249 1969-2005

Edwards’ 257 career wins still rank eighth all-time in NCAA Division I history. Only Edwards, Florida State's Bobby Bowden, Nebraska's Tom Osborne, Penn State's Joe Paterno, Georgia's Vince Dooley and Bill Snyder of Kansas State have cleared the 200-win mark while coaching at one school. 

Edwards’ legacy is perpetually felt throughout the game as his former players continue to dot the sidelines as coaches in both the collegiate and professional ranks.

“He’s a legend. And as good a football coach as he was, he’s a better man and he did it the right way. He’s known throughout the country as a legend.”

Lee Corso

ESPN College Gameday Analyst

Heisman Trophy

BYU junior quarterback Ty Detmer put the nation on notice in 1990 as he led the Cougars to a 28-21 upset of No. 1 Miami with 38 completions for 406 yards and three touchdowns. Detmer’s performance against the Hurricanes propelled him on his way to winning the 1990 Heisman Trophy over fellow finalists Raghib Ismail (Notre Dame), Eric Bieniemy (Colorado), Shawn Moore (Virginia) and David Klingler (Houston).

The 6-foot, 175-pound native of San Antonio, Texas, led BYU to a 10-3 season and WAC Championship while completing 64-percent of passes for an NCAA-record 5,188 yards and 41 touchdowns. A total of 47 NCAA records fell to Detmer in 1990.

BYU has had a player finish in the top 10 of the Heisman voting in 13 different seaons. Most recently, Zach Wilson finished eighth in 2020. 

Year Player Place
1962 Eldon Fortie 10th
1974 Gary Sheide 8th
1976 Gifford Nielsen 6th
1979 Marc Wilson 3rd
1980 Jim McMahon 5th
1981 Jim McMahon 3rd
1983 Steve Young 2nd
1984 Robbie Bosco 3rd
1985 Robbie Bosco 3rd
1989 Ty Detmer 9th
1990 Ty Detmer  1st
1991 Ty Detmer 3rd
2020 Zach Wilson 8th
BYU quarterback Ty Detmer holds the 1990 Heisman Trophy.
Ty Detmer takes the cover of Sports Illustrated in December, 1990.
1990 Heisman Announcement in Hawaii BYU team poolside
1990 Miami FTB 9009 588 Detmer in pocket-2

Sammy Baugh Trophy

BYU leads the nation with seven Sammy Baugh Trophy winners. The Sammy Baugh Trophy was awarded annually to the nation’s top passer by the Touchdown Club of Columbus from 1959 to 2018.

Gary Sheide, 1974: Sheide won the Cougars’ first Sammy Baugh with 2,174 yards and 23 touchdowns while completing 60-percent of passes and guiding BYU to its first-ever WAC title, bowl berth and AP Poll appearance.

Marc Wilson, 1979: Wilson passed for 3,720 yards and 29 touchdowns while leading BYU to an 11-1 record, WAC title and No. 13 final ranking. With Wilson under center, the Cougars led the nation in total offense (521.4), passing (368.3) and scoring (40.6).

Jim McMahon, 1981: McMahon won the Sammy Baugh as a senior with 3,555 passing yards and 30 touchdowns while completing 66-percent of passes and leading the Cougars to another WAC title and their third-consecutive season of 11-plus wins.

Steve Young, 1983: Young frustrated opposing defenses through the air and on the ground on his way to the 1983 Sammy Baugh. The slinging southpaw completed 71-percent of passes, including an NCAA-record 72-straight, while passing for 3,902 yards and 33 touchdowns in 1983. On the ground, Young added 444 rushing yards and eight scores while powering BYU to a WAC title, 11-1 record and No. 7 national finish.

Robbie Bosco, 1984: Bosco quarterbacked the Cougars to a 13-0 campaign and the 1984 National Championship with 3,875 passing yards and 33 touchdowns. The junior signal caller led BYU to a 20-14 win at No. 3 Pitt in his first collegiate start. Bosco finished the season as he powered through a knee injury to throw for 343 yards and two touchdowns while earning Holiday Bowl MVP in the Cougars’ 24-17 win over Michigan.

Ty Detmer, 1991: Despite opening the season against three top-25 teams and returning only two other starters on offense, Detmer passed for 4,031 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading the Cougars to an 8-3-2 record and third-straight WAC title. The senior gunslinger concluded his Cougar career with 62 NCAA records to his name.

Steve Sarkisian, 1996: Sarkisian collected BYU’s seventh Sammy Baugh as he led the nation in pass efficiency (173.56) while passing for 4,027 yards and 33 touchdowns. With Sarkisian under center, the Cougars won an NCAA-record 14 games, WAC Championship, Cotton Bowl Classic and finished No. 5 in the final AP Poll.

1974 vs
1978 Marc Wilson vs Utah St
BYU quarterback Jim McMahon.
BYU quarterback Steve Young rolls out to pass.
BYU quarterback Robbie Bosco avoids a defender in the 1984 Holiday Bowl.
BYU quarterback Ty Detmer looks to pass in the Cougars' 45-41 win over Oregon in 1989.
1996 vs Texas A&M Steve Sarkisian-O Line

Davey O'Brien Award

Jim McMahon won the first Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award in 1981. Steve Young earned the honor in 1983 while Ty Detmer won it back-to-back in 1990 and 1991. BYU’s four Davey O’Brien quarterback awards trail behind only Oklahoma’s five.

Detmer became the first to win the award in back-to-back seasons, with only Danny Wuerffel (Florida, 1995-96), Jason White (Oklahoma, 2003-04) and Deshaun Watson (Clemson, 2015-16) following since.

Jim McMahon, 1981: McMahon won the Davey O'Brien as a senior with 3,555 passing yards and 30 touchdowns while completing 66-percent of passes and leading the Cougars to another WAC title and their third-consecutive season of 11-plus wins.

Steve Young, 1983: Young frustrated opposing defenses through the air and on the ground on his way to the 1983 Davey O'Brien. The slinging southpaw completed 71-percent of passes, including an NCAA-record 72-straight, while passing for 3,902 yards and 33 touchdowns in 1983. On the ground, Young added 444 rushing yards and eight scores while powering BYU to a WAC title, 11-1 record and No. 7 national finish.

Ty Detmer, 1990: Detmer led BYU to a 10-3 season and WAC Championship while completing 64-percent of passes for an NCAA-record 5,188 yards and 41 touchdowns. A total of 47 NCAA records fell to Detmer in 1990.

Ty Detmer, 1991: Despite opening the season against three top-25 teams and returning only two other starters on offense, Detmer passed for 4,031 yards and 35 touchdowns while leading the Cougars to an 8-3-2 record and third-straight WAC title. The senior gunslinger concluded his Cougar career with 62 NCAA records to his name.

 

LaVell Edwards and Ty Detmer with the 1990 Davey O'Brien Award alongside previous BYU winners Steve Young and Jim McMahon.
BYU quarterback Jim McMahon celebrates a touchdown at the goal line in the Cougars 52-17 win over Wyoming in 1980.
BYU quarterback Steve Young runs the ball in the Cougars' 21-17 win over Missouri in the 1983 Holiday Bowl.
BYU quarterback Ty Detmer scrambles between Miami defenders during the Cougars' 28-21 win over the No. 1 Hurricanes in 1990.

Maxwell Award

Detmer’s 1990 postseason awards tour included the Maxwell Award alongside the Heisman Trophy and Davey O’Brien Award. After passing for 406 yards and three touchdowns in BYU’s 28-21 win over No. 1 Miami, Detmer went on to pile up 4,076 passing yards and 34 touchdowns over the next nine weeks. Detmer garnered 1,993 points in the Maxwell Award voting and won in the same order of finish as the 1990 Heisman.

The Maxwell Football Club has honored the nation’s top college football player with the Maxwell Award annually since 1937.

BYU quarterback Ty Detmer rolls out to pass.
Trophies won by BYU quarterback Ty Detmer in 1990.

Outland Trophy

Since 1946, The Football Writer’s Association of American has awarded the Outland Trophy annually to the nation’s best interior lineman. BYU’s Jason Buck and Mohammed “Mo” Elewonibi gave the Cougars’ two Outland winners in a four-year period during the late 1980s. BYU and Notre Dame are the only two programs with an Outland winner and a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback in conseuctive seasons.

Jason Buck, 1986: Buck began his career at Ricks College before transferring to BYU in 1985. As a senior in 1986, Buck racked up 59 tackles (26 solo), 13 tackles-for-loss, 17 quarterback hurries and 12.5 sacks on his way to winning the Outland Trophy.

Mo Elewonibi, 1989: Elewonibi first played football at Snow College before transferring to BYU where he became known as “Mount Mohammed” and won the Outland Trophy. The 6-5, 290-pound Nigerian-Canadian offensive guard anchored a Cougar offensive line that helped Ty Detmer break or tie 13 NCAA records in 1989. Elewonibi posted four games in 1989 with perfect pass protection while helping BYU to a 10-3 record and WAC Championship.

BYU offensive guard Mo Elewonibi with the 1989 Outland Trophy.
BYU defensive lineman Jason Buck tackles a San Diego State ball carrier in the Cougars' 28-0 win over the Aztecs in 1985.
BYU offensive guard Mo Elewonibi blocks for quarterback Ty Detmer in the Cougars' 37-10 win over Utah State in 1989.

Doak Walker Award

While BYU made its mark on college football with prolific passers, Luke Staley stole the national spotlight in 2001 as the nation’s top running back. Staley rewrote the BYU rushing record books in 2001, toting the rock 197 times for 1,582 yards and 24 touchdowns along with 32 receptions for 320 yards and four scores.

The junior from Tualatin, Oregon led the nation in scoring (15.5 points), yards per carry (8.1) and finished third nationally in rushing while averaging 143.8 yards per game. With Staley pounding through opposing defenses, BYU posted its fourth season of 12-plus wins, secured a Mountain West Conference Championship and ranked as high as No. 8 in the AP Poll.

Staley finished his BYU career with 2,493 rushing yards and 48 total touchdowns, 41 of which came on the ground. Staley’s BYU single-season rushing record stood for two decades until current Atlanta Falcon Tyler Allgeier broke it with 1,601 in 2021.

BYU running back Luke Staley runs for a touchdown in the Cougars' 63-33 win over Air Force in 2001.
ESPN's Chris Fowler interviews BYU running back Luke Staley after Staley wins the 2001 Doak Walker Award.
BYU running back Luke Staley runs the game-winning touchdown in the Cougars' 24-21 win over Utah in 2001.
BYU running back Luke Staley addresses the media following the Cougars' 54-34 win over Utah State in 2001.
BYU running back Luke Staley runs the ball in the Cougars' 35-31 win at UNLV in 2001.
Nielsen-line4 Opens in a new window
1978 Marc Wilson vs Utah St Opens in a new window
BYU quarterback Jim McMahon and tight end Clay Brown during the Cougars' 46-45 win over No. 19 SMU in the 1980 Holiday Bowl. Opens in a new window
1982 FTB Gordon Hudson Opens in a new window
Steve Young Rollout (1) Opens in a new window
BYU quarterback Ty Detmer grins during a game. Opens in a new window

College Football Hall of Fame

In addition to former head coach LaVell Edwards, BYU boasts six former players-turned College Football Hall of Famers.

Gifford Nielsen, Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Gordon Hudson, Ty Detmer and legendary head coach LaVell Edwards comprise BYU’s seven inductees in the College Football Hall of Fame. Founded in 1951 by the National Football Foundation, the Hall of Fame has inducted fewer than 1300 of the estimated 5.1 million to play the game.

BYU and Notre Dame are the only programs with three consecutive starting quarterbacks-turned Hall of Famers. The Cougars rank second to only the Fighting Irish with a future Hall of Famer on nine-consecutive rosters (1975-83).

Gifford Nielsen (QB, 1975-77; inducted 1994): Nielsen led BYU to a 9-3 record, share of the WAC title and a Citrus Bowl berth as a junior in 1976 while passing for 3,192 yards, 29 touchdowns and breaking 13 WAC records.

With Nielsen under center in 1977, the Cougars outscored their first three opponents by a combined score of 158-25 on the way to a 3-0 start and No. 13 spot in the AP Poll.  Nielsen suffered a season-ending injury at Oregon State in BYU’s fourth game of 1977 but still finished his collegiate career with 5,830 passing yards and 55 touchdowns.

Marc Wilson (QB, 1976-79; inducted 1996): Wilson took over at starting quarterback for the Cougars following Gifford Nielsen’s season-ending injury in 1977. The sophomore signal caller began his collegiate career with a bang as he completed 15 of 25 passes for 332 yards and seven touchdowns in BYU’s 63-17 win over Colorado State. Weeks later, Wilson set an NCAA record with 571 passing yards in a 38-8 win versus Utah.

Wilson led BYU to nine wins in 1977 and 1978 followed by the program’s first-ever double-digit win campaign at 11-1 in 1979. The 6-5, 204-pound quarterback set 15 NCAA records while passing for 7,637 yards and 61 touchdowns. A true student-athlete, Wilson also received the NCAA Top Five Award and its post-graduate scholarship.

Jim McMahon (QB, 1977-81; inducted 1998): McMahon took control of BYU’s offense in 1980 and kept the juggernaut rolling as the Cougars outgained opponents by nearly 200 yards per game on their way to a WAC Championship, 12-1 and 12th-ranked finish. No moment proved more illustrative of McMahon’s potent arm and powerful leadership than a 20-point comeback in the final 3:58 of play to beat No. 19 SMU 46-45 in the 1980 Holiday Bowl. McMahon brought BYU back to ultimate victory over the vaunted “Pony Express” with 446 passing yards and four touchdowns, including his game-tying 41-yard Hail Mary to tight end Clay Brown.

The Roy, Utah native totaled 9,536 career passing yards and 84 touchdowns while setting 75 NCAA records at BYU. McMahon also led the nation in pass efficiency and total offense during both his junior and senior seasons.

Steve Young (QB, 1980-83; inducted 2001): Before becoming a two-time NFL MVP, seven-time Pro Bowler and 1995 Super Bowl Champion, Young set 13 NCAA records as a BYU quarterback.

The lefty threw for 3,000 yards in both his junior and senior seasons on the way to totaling 7,733 passing yards and 56 touchdowns for his career with a .651 completion percentage and passer rating of 149.82. Young threatened opposing defenses on the ground as well with 269 career carries for over 1000 yards and 18 touchdowns. As a senior in 1983, Young led the nation in completion percentage (.713), passing yards (3,902), total offense (4,346) and touchdowns (33) while finishing second to Mike Rozier of Nebraska in the Heisman voting.

Gordon Hudson (TE, 1980-83; inducted 2009): The hallmark of BYU’s tight end tradition, Hudson earned back-to-back consensus All-American honors in 1982 and 1983. Hudson rolled up 2,484 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns during his BYU career and still holds NCAA FBS tight end records for most passes caught per game in a career (5.4), most career yards per game (75.3) and most single-game yards (259). BYU compiled a 42-8 record during Hudson’s Cougar career.

Ty Detmer (QB, 1988-91; inducted 2012): After winning a Heisman Trophy, Sammy Baugh Trophy, two Davey O’Brien Awards, the Maxwell Award and two consensus All-America citations, Detmer became BYU’s seventh College Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2012. Detmer amassed 15,031 career passing yards, with three seasons surpassing the 4,000 mark to go along with 121 touchdowns and 63 NCAA records to his name.

BYU quarterback Robbie Bosco drops back to pass during a game in 1984. Opens in a new window
BYU running back Luke Staley runs the ball during the Cougars' 59-21 win at San Diego State in 2001. Opens in a new window
BYU quarterback Marc Wilson looks to throw. Opens in a new window
BYU quarterback Jim McMahon drops back to pass. Opens in a new window
BYU quarterback Gifford Nielsen drops back to pass. Opens in a new window
BYU quarterback Ty Detmer looks to throw. Opens in a new window
BYU quarterback Steve Young warms up. Opens in a new window
BYU defensive end Marion Probert in uniform during the 1950s. Opens in a new window
BYU running back Eldon Fortie carries the ball in 1961. Opens in a new window

Retired Jersey Numbers

Nine BYU football players have had their jersey numbers retired.

6

Robbie Bosco, Luke Staley and Marc Wilson had their No. 6 jerseys retired on September 16, 2017. 

Robbie Bosco, QB, 1982-1985

Bosco quarterbacked BYU to the 1984 National Championship with a perfect 13-0 record. He was 24-3 as a starter at BYU and broke nine BYU record. In just two seasons as the Cougars’ starter, Bosco tallied 8,148 passing yards and 66 touchdowns. Bosco was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 1986 NFL Draft and went on to coach quarterbacks at BYU from 1990 to 2003.

Luke Staley, RB, 1999-2001

Staley won the Doak Walker Award in 2001 with 197 carries for 1,582 yards and 24 touchdowns along with 32 receptions for 320 yards and four scores. The junior ball carrier led the nation in scoring (15.5 points), yards per carry (8.1) and finished third nationally in rushing while averaging 143.8 yards per game. With Staley in the backfield, BYU posted its fourth season of 12-plus wins, secured a Mountain West Conference Championship and ranked as high as No. 8 in the AP Poll. Staley’s single-season BYU rushing record stood until 2021.

Marc Wilson, QB, 1975-1979

Wilson threw for 332 yards and seven touchdowns in his first collegiate start as a sophomore in 1977. Weeks later, Wilson set an NCAA record with 571 passing yards in a 38-8 win versus Utah. Wilson led BYU to nine wins in 1977 and 1978 followed by the program’s first-ever double-digit win campaign at 11-1 in 1979. The 6-5, 204-pound quarterback set 15 NCAA records while passing for 7,637 yards and 61 touchdowns.

9

Jim McMahon's No. 9 was retired on October 3, 2014.

Jim McMahon, QB, 1977-1981

With McMahon at the controls of the Cougar passing attack, BYU outgained opponents by nearly 200 yards per game on their way to a WAC Championship, 12-1 and 12th-ranked finish. McMahon permanently etched his name in college football lore with his 41-yard, comeback-completing Hail Mary in BYU’s 46-45 win over No. 19 SMU in the 1980 Holiday Bowl. The Roy, Utah native totaled 9,536 career passing yards and 84 touchdowns while setting 75 NCAA records at BYU. McMahon also led the nation in pass efficiency and total offense during both his junior and senior seasons.

14

Gifford Nielsen and Ty Detmer's No. 14 jerseys were retired on September 1, 2007.

Gifford Nielsen, QB, 1974-1977

Nielsen led BYU to a 9-3 record, share of the WAC title and a Citrus Bowl berth as a junior in 1976 while passing for 3,192 yards, 29 touchdowns and breaking 13 WAC records. With Nielsen under center in 1977, the Cougars outscored their first three opponents by a combined score of 158-25 on the way to a 3-0 start and No. 13 spot in the AP Poll.  Nielsen suffered a season-ending injury at Oregon State in BYU’s fourth game of 1977 but still finished his collegiate career with 5,830 passing yards and 55 touchdowns.

Ty Detmer, QB, 1988-1991

BYU junior quarterback Ty Detmer put the nation on notice in 1990 as he led the Cougars to a 28-21 upset of No. 1 Miami with 38 completions for 406 yards and three touchdowns. Detmer’s performance against the Hurricanes propelled him on his way to winning the 1990 Heisman Trophy. Detmer went on to add a Sammy Baugh Trophy, two Davey O’Brien Awards, the Maxwell Award and two consensus All-America citations. Detmer amassed 15,031 career passing yards, with three seasons surpassing the 4,000 mark to go along with 121 touchdowns and 63 NCAA records to his name.

8

Steve Young had his No. 8 jersey retired on August 28, 2003.

Steve Young, QB, 1980-1983

Young threw for 3,000 yards in both his junior and senior seasons on the way to totaling 7,733 passing yards and 56 touchdowns for his career with a .651 completion percentage and passer rating of 149.82. Young threatened opposing defenses on the ground as well with 269 career carries for over 1000 yards and 18 touchdowns. As a senior in 1983, Young led the nation in completion percentage (.713), passing yards (3,902), total offense (4,346) and touchdowns (33) while leading BYU to 11-straight wins and a No. 7 national finish.

81

Marion Probert had his No. 81 jersey retired in 1977.

Marion Probert, DE, 1952-1954

Probert played defensive end at BYU from 1952 to 1954 and became the Cougars’ first four-year letterman. The three-time All-Skyline Conference performer led BYU in receptions in 1953 and received All-America honorable mention in 1954. Probert excelled in the classroom as well and earned Scholastic All-American in 1954 and 1955. Probert was killed in an airplane crash en route to BYU’s football game at New Mexico on November 27, 1965.

40

Eldon Fortie had his No. 40 jersey retired in 1963.

Eldon Fortie QB/RB, 1960-1962

Eldon “The Phantom” Fortie became BYU’s first-ever First Team All-American in 1962. A three-time WAC Outstanding Back of the Week, Fortie was also named Sports Illustrated Back of the Week in November of 1962. Following that season, Fortie was invited to four post-season all-star games and received the 1963 Dale Rex Memorial Award for his contribution to amateur athletics in Utah. The BYU student body formally retired Fortie’s No. 40 in 1963.

Year Name Position
1979 Marc Wilson QB
1980 Nick Eyre OL
1981 Jim McMahon QB
1982 Gordon Hudson TE
1983 Gordon Hudson TE
1983 Steve Young QB
1986 Jason Buck DL
1989 Mo Elewonibi OL
1990 Chris Smith TE
1990 Ty Detmer QB
1991 Ty Detmer QB
2001 Luke Staley RB
2009 Dennis Pitta TE
2020 Brady Christensen OL
Year Name Position Level/Organization
1934 Jesse Wilson HB All-America
1939 Lloyd Vaughn OL Third AP
1959 Lonnie Dennis OL Third Williamson
1961 Eldon Fortie QB First NEA
1962 Eldon Fortie QB Second UPI, AP, Williamson, Football News, Third AFCA
1967 Phil Odle WR First Dell Sports
1971 Gordon Gravelle OL Second AP, UPI, Universal Sports
1972 Pete Van Valkenburg RB Second Universal Sports, Third AP
1973 Jay Miller WR First Universal Sports
1974 Wayne Baker DL Second NEA
1975 Orrin Olsen OL All-America Bowl
1975 Brad Oates OL Second AP
1976 Gifford Nielsen QB First FWAA, Second UPI, AP
1978 Marc Wilson QB Churchmen's
1978 Jason Coloma DB Third AP
1978 Rod Wood LB Churchmen's
1979 Marc Wilson QB Consensus (First AFCA, FWAA, UPI, AP, Walter Camp, Churchmen's), Second NEA
1979 Tom Bell OL Churchmen's
1980 Jim McMahon QB First Kodak, College & Pro Football Weekly, Second AP, UPI
1980 Nick Eyre OL Consensus (First AFCA, AFWAA, Second UPI, Third AP)
1980 Clay Brown TE Second UPI, Third AP
1981 Jim McMahon QB Consensus (First AFCA, FWAA, UPI, AP, Football News, GNS)
1982 Bart Oates OL Second
1982 Gordon Hudson TE Consensus (First AFCA, FWAA, UPI, AP, Sporting News, Walter Camp)
1983 Gordon Hudson TE Consensus (First AFCA, FWAA, UPI, AP, Walter Camp, NEA, GNS)
1983 Steve Young QB Consensus (First AFCA, FWAA, UPI, AP, Walter Camp, NEA, GNS)
1984 David Mills TE First Athlon
1984 Kyle Morrell DB First AP, Second Sporting News
1984 Leon White LB Second Sporting News
1984 Robbie Bosco QB Second UPI, Third FB News, Sporting News, AP
1984 Trevor Matich OL Third AP
1985 Robbie Bosco QB Second Football News
1985 Trevor Molini TE Third Football News
1985 Mark Bellini WR Second UPI, Third AP
1985 Jason Buck DE Third AP
1986 Jason Buck DL Consensus (First AFCA, FWAA, Sporting News, NEA, Scripps-Howard, Second Football News)
1986 Shawn Knight DL Third AP
1988 Pat Thompson P First Kodak, FWAA, Scripps-Howard, Second AP, UPI
1989 Chris Smith TE First Sporting News, Third AP
1989 Bob Davis LB Third Football News, AP
1989 Mo Elewonibi OL Consensus (First UPI, FWAA, NEA, GNS)
1990 Chris Smith TE Consensus First Team
1990 Ty Detmer QB Consensus (First FWAA, UPI, AP, Walter Camp, Sporting News, Scripps-Howard, NEA, GNS, Football News)
1991 Ty Detmer QB Consensus (First FWAA, UPI, AP, AFCA, NEA)
1991 Randy Brock DE First Freshman Football News
1992 Randy Brock DE First Sophomore Football News
1992 Eric Drage WR Almost Football News
1992 Derwin Gray DB Almost Football News
1992 Shad Hansen LB Third Football News
1992 Evan Pilgrim OL Second Sophomore Football News
1992 Byron Rex TE Second UPI, First Almost Football News
1993 Randy Brock DE First Almost Football News
1993 Eric Drage WR Almost Football News
1993 John Walsh QB First Sophomore Football News, Almost Football News
1993 Todd Herget LB Almost Football News
1993 Alan Boardman P Freshman Football News, Almost Football News
1993 Mike Empey OL Almost Football News
1993 Jamal Willis RB Almost Football News
1994 Evan Pilgrim OL Second AP
1995 John Raass DL First Successful Farming Magazine
1995 Stan Raass LB First Successful Farming Magazine
1996 Itula Mili TE First AFCA
1996 Steve Sarkisian QB Second Football News
1996 John Tait OL Freshman Sporting News
1997 Jaron Dabney RB Second Freshman Sporting News
1997 Dustin Johnson FB Successful Farming Magazine
1998 Rob Morris LB First FB News, Second Sporting News, AFCA, AP
1999 Rob Morris LB Third FB News
1999 Luke Staley RB Third Freshman Sporting News
2001 Luke Staley RB Consensus (First AFCA, AP, CNN/Sports Illustrated, Football News, FWAA, Walter Camp, Sporting News, Pro Football Weekly)
2001 Ryan Denney DE Fourth Sporting News
2003 Daniel Coats TE Freshman Sporting News
2004 Austin Collie WR Second Freshman Sporting News
2004 Matt Payne K/P First NCAA, AFCA, Sporting News, Second AP
2005 Dallas Reynolds OL Second Rivals.com Freshman, Third Sporting News Freshman
2006 John Beck QB Pro Football Weekly, College Football News, Second Sporting News
2006 Jake Kuresa OL Second College Football News
2006 Jan Jorgensen DE Third Freshman Sporting News
2007 Harvey Unga RB First Freshman FWAA, Second Freshman Rivals.com, Scout.com, Second Freshman Sporting News
2007 Ray Feinga OL Second SI.com
2008 Harvey Unga RB Second College Football News Sophomore
2008 Austin Collie WR Second SI.com, AP, Sporting News, CBSSports.com, Rivals, Third College Football News
2008 Dennis Pitta TE Third Rivals.com
2008 Matt Reynolds OL FWAA Freshman, Rivals.com, College Football News, Sporting News
2009 Matt Reynolds OL First College Football News Sophomore
2009 Braden Hansen OL First FWAA Freshman, Phil Steele Freshman, Third College Football News
2009 Dennis Pitta TE Consensus (First Walter Camp, AFCA, Pro Football Weekly, SI, Second AP, CBSSports.com, Rivals.com, Sporting News, Third Phil Steele
2012 Riley Stephenson P Second AP, SI.com, CBSSports.com, Third Phil Steele, College Sports Madness
2012 Kyle Van Noy LB Second CBSSports.com, Third AP, Third College Sports Madness, Phil Steele
2013 Kyle Van Noy LB Second Walter Camp, Senior CLASS, Third CBSSports.com, Athlon Sports, Lindy's, Phil Steele
2014 Tejan Koroma OL Freshman FWAA, Phil Steele, 247Sports, ESPN, Sporting News
2016 Thomas Shoaf OL FWAA Freshman
2017 Tejan Koroma OL PFF Second
2017 Matt Bushman TE Freshman FWAA, USA Today Sports, 247Sports, Chat Sports
2018 James Empey OL FWAA Freshman
2019 Payton Wilgar LB PFF Freshman
2020 Brady Christensen OL Consensus (First AP, Walter Camp, USA Today, ESPN, CBS Sports, PFF, Bleacher Report), Second Sporting News, The Athletic
2020 Jake Oldroyd K Second Walter Camp, The Athletic, Third AP, Phil Steele
2020 Zach Wilson QB Second PFF
2020 Dax Milne WR Second PFF, Third Phil Steele
2020 Isaac Rex TE Second Freshman The Athletic
2021 Tyler Allgeier RB Second Sporting News, Fourth Phil Steele
2021 Clark Barrington OL Second Action Network, Third PFF, Third Pro Football Network
2021 Campbell Barrington OL Freshman Maxwell Football Club, FWAA, Second Freshman The Athletic
2021 Jakob Robinson CB Freshman The Athletic
2022 Kingsley Suamataia OL Second Freshman The Athletic
2022 Blake Freeland OL Third PFF, AP
2023 Ryan Rehkow P Second ESPN
Year Name Position
1933 George Bertotti  
1959 Dave Barrus G
1959 Lonnie Dennis G
1959 Nyle McFarland DL
1972 Dan Hansen DB
1972 Paul Howard DE
1973 Jay Miller WR
1975 Jeff Blanc RB
1975 Brad Oates OL
1976 Brian Billick TE
1976 Jeff Blanc RB
1976 Dave Hubbard OL
1976 Mekeli Ieremia DL
1976 Blake Murdock LB
1976 Bill Rice DL
1976 Dana Wilgar DB
1976 Rod Wood LB
1977 Mekeli Ieremia DL
1977 Mark Bernsten  
1977 Todd Christensen FB
1977 Mike Chronister WR
1977 Jason Coloma DB
1977 Lance Reynolds OL
1977 Keith Uperesa OL
1977 Marc Wilson QB
1978 Tom Bell OL
1978 Jim McMahon QB
1978 Mat Mendenhall DE
1978 Larry Miller LB
1978 Ross Varner DE
1979 Clay Brown TE
1979 Homer Jones RB
1979 Lloyd Jones WR
1979 John Neal DB
1979 Scott Neilson OL
1979 Glen Redd LB
1979 Bill Schoepflin DB
1979 Glen Titensor DE
1980 Glen Redd LB
1980 Bill Schoepflin DB
1980 Brad Anae DE
1980 Mark Brady DB
1980 Calvin Close OL
1980 Lloyd Jones WR
1980 Glen Titensor DE
1982 Steve Young QB
1983 Rex Burningham OL
1983 Brandon Flint DL
1983 Todd Shell LB
1983 Casey Tiumalu LB
1983 Jon Young DB
1984 Marv Allen LB
1984 Craig Garrick OL
1984 Jim Herrmann DE
1984 Lee Johnson K/P
1984 Glen Kozlowski WR
1984 Trevor Matich OL
1984 David Mills TE
1984 Kyle Morrell DB
1984 Leon White LB
1985 Robbie Bosco QB
1985 Kurt Gouveia LB
1985 Lakei Heimuli RB
1985 Trevor Molini TE
1985 Ken Smith DL
1985 Jeff Sprowls DB
1985 Leon White LB
1985 Dave Wright OL
1986 Mark Bellini WR
1986 Lakei Heimuli TE
1986 Shawn Knight LB
1986 Trevor Molini TE
1986 Rodney Thomas DB
1987 John Borgia OL
1987 Leonard Chitty K
1987 David Futrell DL
1987 Troy Long DB
1987 Thor Salanoa LB
1988 Matt Bellini RB
1988 Tim Clark DL
1988 Chuck Cutler WR
1988 Bob Davis LB
1988 Tim Knight DL
1988 Troy Long DB
1988 Rodney Rice DB
1988 Chad Robinson LB
1988 Brian White OL
1989 Matt Bellini RB
1989 Bob Davis LB
1989 Ty Detmer QB
1989 Chad Robinson LB
1992 Eric Drage WR
1992 Derwin Gray DB
1992 Ryan Hancock QB
1995 Chad Lewis TE
1995 Matt Meservey OL
1995 John Raass DL
1995 Steve Sarkisian QB
1996 Dustin Johnson FB
1997 Omarr Morgan CB
1997 John Tait OL
1998 Daren Yancey DL
2002 Matt Payne K/P
2004 Todd Watkins WR
2006 John Beck QB
2006 Jake Kuresa OL
2007 Jan Jorgensen DE
2007 Dennis Pitta TE
2008 Dennis Pitta TE
2008 Ray Feinga OL
2008 Max Hall QB
2008 Dallas Reynolds OL
2009 Dennis Pitta TE
2009 Terence Brown OL
2009 Max Hall QB
2009 Brian Logan CB
2010 Braden Hansen OL
2010 Jake Heaps QB
2013 Taysom Hill QB
2013 Uani Unga LB
2013 Kyle Van Noy LB
2013 Jamaal Williams RB
2022 Kody Epps WR
2022 Micah Harper Safety
2023 Ryan Rehkow P
2023 Eddie Heckard CB