#BYURank: Ranking the Top BYU Football Players in Mendenhall Era: 126-150
By Mitch Harper
Aug 31, 2013; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars tight end Kaneakua Friel (82) after a game against the Virginia Cavaliers 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.
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.
More information on #BYURank here.
Previous Installments
126. Marques Johnson, DT (2012-Present)
In Bronco Mendenhall’s words when Johnson committed to BYU from the JUCO ranks, Marques is a man of great faith. His faith isn’t the reason he fills the #126 spot on this #BYURank. Johnson is here because he’s a perfect gap filler along BYU’s 3-4 defense. Barring injuries or health scare (blood clots; this past spring ball) Johnson will do great things for this Cougar defense in 2014.
127. Manoa Pikula, LB (2011-Present)
One of the few players to receive a scholarship offer from Mendenhall and staff as a sophomore in high school, Pikula is going to be a bowling ball linebacker in the middle for the next two seasons.
128. Tyler Beck, LB (2007, 2010-2013)
Plagued by two severe ACL injuries, had it not been for those devastating setbacks Beck would have been a starter for multiple seasons. Had 45 tackles in his final season.
129. Joe Semanoff, RB/FB (2004-2007)
Considered by teammates as pound-for-pound the toughest man on the BYU Football team for the 2006 & 2007 seasons. Semanoff was a bull out of the backfield.
130. Matt Berry, QB (1999, 2002-2005)
Berry never did anything during the Mendenhall era, but he was part of the Bronco regime for a season. One of the few BYU players that can say he played under Lavell, Crowton, and Bronco.
Berry was the future of the quarterback position at BYU. Berry was a four-star recruit from the state of Washington, and had offers from basically every school out west. A hand injury against New Mexico in 2003 derailed Berry’s career at BYU, and it was all John Beck from there.
Had Berry remained healthy, BYU would have been a good team. But Berry was nowhere near the talent of a John Beck.
131. Nick Alletto, OL (2004, 2007-2010)
Alletto started on BYU’s offensive line in 22 games. That’s pretty impressive. Just felt that Alletto could have been better than he was.
132. Jordan Richardson, DL (2006, 2009-2011)
Career was cut short because of an injury. Going into his senior year in 2012, Richardson was going to be a starter on that front three. Serviceable lineman that had he been given the starting role his senior season, would have been a solid player.
133. Brett Thompson, WR/TE (2009, 2012-Present)
Hails from the same city as BYU legend, Austin Collie in El Dorado Hills, California. Thompson has shown glimpses as BYU’s best Y-Receiver target the past few seasons. Injuries and inconsistent quarterback play haven’t helped Thompson’s cause.
134. Ross Apo, WR (2010-Present)
Part of the Iggy’s trio, Apo de-committed from Texas and signed with BYU. Apo was hyped as “Randy Ross” when he came to Provo. Needless to say it hasn’t played out that way. When Apo had Jake Heaps at quarterback, Apo was great in 2011. When Riley Nelson took over, Apo hasn’t been a factor since. Apo has one more shot to end his BYU career on a high note. The potential is always going to be there.
135. Algernon “Algie” Brown, RB (2010, 2013-Present)
Reminds me of Harvey Unga. Very surprising how good Algie was last season. Heading into 2014, Brown will be the primary backup behind Jamaal Williams. With Jswagdaddy, these two could be quite the two-headed monster in the backfield for the Cougars over the next two seasons. Keep in mind Algie is only going to be a sophomore this season. We’re going to be a seeing a lot of this kid.
136. Kaneakua Friel, TE (2007-2008, 2011-2013)
If careers were based on one game, Kaneakua Friel would be the next great in a line of legendary BYU tight ends. But we don’t define legends by one game. That’s why “Kane” is not a legend, but he was a nice player. Friel had that lights out performance in the 2012 opener against Washington State, but after that it’s all a blur.
137. Bryce Mahuika, WR/KR (2004-2008)
He brought the Haka to BYU as a tribute to his father. Kind of an overrated return specialist, but had his moments in the receiving game.
138. Jason Beck, QB (2004-2006)
Probably could have started at many D-1 programs. Chose BYU in 2004 as a JUCO transfer, the first JC QB transfer BYU had since Steve Sarkisian in 1995. Beck started in one game against Utah State and led the Cougars to a 38-0 win. Now he has a bright future as the quarterbacks coach for the Cougars.
140. Chris Hale, WR/DB (1999, 2002-2005)
In the Mendenhall era, Hale was a cornerback. But all of us will always remember Hale’s game-winning catch as a true freshman against Washington in 1999, one of the greatest moments at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
141. Shane Hunter, LB (2009-2010)
As a walk-on linebacker from Snow College, Hunter had 100 tackles. A solid linebacker who is now a grad assistant on the BYU Football staff.
142. Skyler Ridley, WR (2007, 2010-2013)
Ridley wasn’t the pro prospect Bronco thought he was, but Ridley had his moments at BYU from the wide receiver spot. From walk-on to captain, that’s quite a story right there.
143. Michael Yeck, OT (2010-Present)
Yeck started every game last season. He’s been a player that has received a lot of criticism, much of which has come from our Cougar Center Podcast. If Yeck wasn’t a short-armed offensive tackle who had quick jabs, he’d be higher on this list.
144. Brock Stringham, OL (2008, 2011-Present)
Stringham like Yeck has had his ups and downs at BYU. Yet despite the inconsistency, still find himself in the starting lineups of the offensive line. Stringham has played basically every position along the line for the Cougars in his career.
145. Jason Speredon, OL (2006-2010)
I look back on Speredon’s career and ask, what could have been? Late in the recruiting process, Speredon was gaining some buzz as one of the top offensive line recruits out west. Injury after injury kept sideling Speredon. Despite the lack of playing time at BYU he still had a brief stint in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent.
146. Robbie Buckner, CB (2006-2012)
Out of Ashdown, Arkansas, Buckner came to BYU in 2006 and instantly started making a name for himself in fall camp. During fall camp of that season Buckner was being talked about as possible starter. Instead, Mendenhall redshirted Buckner that season. After that there was never much buzz about the Arkansas native.
Heading into Buckner’s senior season, he left the team due to reasons no one knew about. It later came out that Buckner was battling testicular cancer which caught everyone off guard. It was one of the better moments seeing Buckner finish his BYU career on senior day against Idaho out on the field.
147. Zed Mendenhall, FB (2009-2012)
I will always picture Zed Mendenhall with a beaten up face, and a taped up nose. Gritty fullback out of the backfield that would get the occasional reception every now and then.
148. Walter Kahaiali’I, OL (2006-2007, 2010-2011)
Kahaiali’I was a good player, but he could have been better. His career ended early though due to chronic knee issues. Started in 13 games.
149. Solomone Kafu, OL (2008, 2011-Present)
Been part of some mediocre offensive lines over the past few years. Heading into his senior season, Kafu could be a starter at guard.
149. Sean Sullivan, DL (2005-2007)
Kind of an underrated talent that went unnoticed in 2007. Sullivan was an athletic player off the edge who looked like a player that had a high ceiling of potential, but his career ended early after quitting the team in ’08
150. Ryan Freeman, OL (2006, 2009-2012)
Was looked to be the future at center when he came back from a mission in 2009. He had the perfect frame as a center, but it never came to fruition. His first two seasons were very promising.