#BYURank: Ranking the Top BYU Football Players in Mendenhall Era: 176-200
By Mitch Harper
Aug 31, 2013; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars kicker Justin Sorensen (37) attempts a field goal against the Virginia Cavaliers during the second half at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports
Bronco Mendenhall is entering his 10th season as head coach at BYU. To celebrate the occasion, Lawless Republic is ranking the Top 225 BYU Football players in the Mendenhall era. This article has players ranked 176-200. Here’s the article for players ranked 201-225.
We want readers to share their thoughts on Twitter using #BYURank in tweets. Post your opinions with the hashtag and the best responses will get published next to the player referenced in your tweets.
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176. Teu Kautai, LB (2011-Present)
Reserve linebacker last year who will probably be in the two-deep this fall. Should be solid contributor the next two years. Fast linebacker with good instincts.
177. Justin Sorensen, Kicker (2008, 2011-2013)
From Unicycle rider to Parade All-American in high school to kicker at BYU, Sorensen didn’t live up to the lofty hype he had coming out of Bingham High, but he was much more consistent in 2013.
I’ll never forget the 2008 season opener against Northern Iowa. Never in my life have I seen a BYU crowd more excited for a kickoff than that one. Everyone was amped up to see this kid who bombed 68-yard field goals in high school, kicking the football for BYU. Sorensen’s first kickoff was a touchback and LaVell Edwards Stadium erupted like a big game was just won.
178. Edward Fusi, OL (2013-Present)
The best center BYU has going into 2014. Did a nice job in his first full year last season.
179. O’Neil Howell, CB (2001-2005)
BYU landed Howell over The U., the University of Miami, back in 2001.
180. Manaaki Vaitai, OL (2007, 2010-2013)
Finished his BYU career last year. Played in 12 games last season and participated in BYU’s Pro Day this past March.
181. Dallin Leavitt, DB (2013-Present)
After the first week of fall camp last year, Leavitt was competing to be a starting cornerback. Hit a freshman wall, but the future is bright for Leavitt where he will play the rest of his career at safety.
182. Zac Stout, LB (2010-2012, Present)
I’m going out on a limb on this one. I’m forecasting a big senior year this fall for Stout as the starter at mike linebacker for the Cougars. We all know about Iggy’s and Rancheritos, but this is a new chapter for Stout to end his BYU career on a high note. The talent is clearly there. Now he appreciates the game more after overcoming adversity.
183. Garrett Reden, OL (2006-2008)
Reden is probably best known for snapping the ball far to the right causing JUCO transfer quarterback, Cade Cooper to role his ankle. That moment ended any chance that Cooper still had to be the quarterback at BYU. Aside from that Reden was a lineman who had good technique in run blocking schemes from the guard position.
184. Michael Morris, WR/DB (2004-2005)
Out of Itawamba Community College in Mississippi, Michael Morris was part of the wave of JUCO talent Gary Crowton signed in a last ditch effort to save his job. After Crowton was canned, Morris stayed around unlike many from that 2004 class.
Morris’ first season at BYU was set back by a knee injury on the first day of fall camp while participating in skeleton drills. Ended up playing at wide receiver and cornerback for the Cougars.
185. Kurt Henderson, WR (2011-Present)
For being a stingy walk-on, Henderson has been a solid wide receiver for BYU. Had a productive spring and enters fall camp with the chance to compete for a starting role in 2014.
186. Chris Warner, DB (2003, 2006-2007)
Bronco is well-known for his walk-on program, and one of the guys that brought walk-ons to focus for BYU Football was Warner. Warner was a preferred walk-on out of Reno who had scholarship offers from the hometown Wolfpack, Fresno State, and Boise State. Opted to come to BYU as a walk-on instead under Crowton. Injuries cut Warner’s promising career short.
187. Logan Taele, DL (2012-Present)
Like Simote Vea, who in the world is Logan Taele and how does he keep showing up on BYU’s two-deep on the defensive line?
188. Simote Vea, DL (2009-2013)
Quiet Simote Vea quietly was always in the two-deep the past few seasons along the defensive line. Few probably know this guy was on the team, but he did a nice job. Gained an extra year of eligibility after receiving his senior blanket in 2012, the NCAA granted him an extra season. Graduated last year.
189. Matthew Edwards, TE (2008-2011)
LaVell’s grandson. Don’t get it twisted this guy got his foot in the door at BYU because of that name, and more power to him. But Edwards was actually a decent tight end. He just played in an era where names like Dennis Pitta and Andrew George were in front of him. Now helps on the coaching staff where he is usually the guy wearing crazy colored outfits on the sideline to signal in plays.
190. Steven Thomas, DB (2007-2010)
Concussions are a brutal thing. Thomas was turning the corner in his BYU career and was likely going to be a starter in his senior season in 2011, but his career was cut short in 2010 due to head injuries.
Random fun fact about Steven Thomas: Bean Mace and I went to In ‘N Out in 2009 the day prior to the BYU-Utah game, and a kid handing us a couple of animal style burgs and fries told us he was related to a BYU Football player. He said, you probably don’t know who he is. I responded, who is he? The In ‘N Out employee said, Steven Thomas. Me, oh Steven Thomas? The pride of Chino Hills, Steven Thomas? Yeah, that dude is a hero.
The In ‘N Out employee was stoked and gave us free shakes because I knew that.
191. Cameron Comer, DB (2008, 2011-2012)
There was a time when Comer was getting recruiting attention from Michigan. No, not a directional Michigan school, but the Maize N’ Blue. How’s that for crazy story of the day? Now Comer is helping out as a student assistant on the current football staff.
Another random fun fact: Comer’s wedding invitation hangs in the Cougar Center Studio to this day.
192. Saia Hafoka, WR (2004-2007)
I’m always reminded of Saia Hafoka in my everyday life. Whenever I drive on the freeway it feels like I always see a Saia company truck cruising along. Maybe I’m just a sad soul who seeks opportunities to be reminded of the decorated career of Saia Hafoka, I don’t know. Maybe I have problems. Now that I think about it, yes, I have issues.
Crazy to think that Saia ended up having the better career than younger brother, Spencer, who came to BYU with a lot more fanfare out of the islands of Hawaii.
193. Justin Williams, LB (2002-2005)
Like Bronco Mendenhall, I always respect a special teams ace when I see one. Williams was that in 2005 for BYU. Always one of the first players down the field to make a tackle on kick coverage.
194. Michael Doman, DL (2012-2013; Mission)
Today’s edition of #BYURank continues to be a tribute to mysterious defensive lineman that appear on two deeps. Doman is currently serving a mission but will be another name in the long list of Domans to produce at the Y.
195. Jeff Rhea, OL (2001-2002, 2005-2007)
Rhea was a heralded recruit out of Bingham High School. Was one of the players that started to open the Bingham High pipeline to BYU.
Rhea played a lot as a center along the offensive line in relief of Sete Aulai. In 2006, Rhea started in replace of Aulai against Utah State.
196. Scott Arellano, Punter (2012-Present)
Arellano is an athletic punter, by punter standards. Returns this upcoming season as the lone returning kicker on the team. Has a slow release but when he’s on, he does a solid job punting the ball.
197. Ray Hudson, RB (2004-2006)
Ray Ray never saw much time on the field at BYU. A summer signee during the Crowton regime in 2004, Hudson a product from the state of Texas makes the list because he had straight gold teeth. According to our database Hudson is the only BYU Football player to have gold teeth.
198. Tyler Kozlowski, WR (2006-2008)
Being the son of BYU legend, Glen Kozlowski, Tyler always wanted to be a BYU Cougar. Tyler, told LaVell Edwards as a 10 year old at a BYU Football camp that he was going to beat all of his fathers records. Now he didn’t quite do that in his time at BYU, but he was a solid possession receiver for the Cougars.
199. Dan Van Sweden, LB (2003, 2006-2009)
He cracks this list for his special teams efforts and his celebration during the 2006 BYU-Utah finale.
200. Jordan Atkinson, LB (2009-2010)
Talented linebacker out of JUCO ranks that had a handful of offers from other D-1 schools, had his career derailed by injuries in 2010. Would have been a starting outside linebacker for the Cougars in 2010 had it not been for the injuries.
Players ranked 151-175 will be featured tomorrow. Make sure to follow us on Twitter, @LawlessRepublic.