Image
Ht/Wt
6'
4"
|
303 lbs.
Class
Junior
Hometown
American Fork,
Utah
Last School
American Fork High School
Roster Years
2017-2021
Personal
- Parents are Stephanie and Mike Empey
- Mike also played offensive line at BYU (1987, 91-93), was a team captain as a senior and coached TE and OL at BYU
- Has three sisters
- Served LDS mission to Lisbon, Portugal
Before BYU
- Prepped at American Fork High School under Aaron Behm
- Was a three-year starter and team captain
- Helped the Cavemen to a region championship
- Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune 5A all-state offensive guard in 2014
- On defense, totaled 62 tackles and 3.5 sacks as a senior in 2014
- He was also rated the No. 11 overall player in the state of Utah by Rivals.com
- Recruited by Utah, Washington, Washington State and Oregon State
Mission
- Lisbon , Portugal
BYU Hall of Fame
Freshman Year
2018
- Named Freshman All-America by 2018 Football Writers Association of America
- Named 2018 No. 1 freshman center by Pro Football Focus
- Played and started all 13 games
- Named best freshman lineman in the country by Pro Football Focus after the New Mexico State game
- Between the LYnes web chat in Portuguese at Media Day
Sophmore Year
2019
- Started all 13 games at center
- Part of an offensive line unit ranked No. 12 by Pro Football Focus
- Center for offense that generated 284.7 passing yards per game (No. 26 nationally)
- Snapped for three different starting quarterbacks
- 2019 Rimington Trophy watch list nominee
Junior Year
2021
- Named Preseason All-American by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports
- Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Semifinalist
- Wuerffel Trophy Semifinalist
- NFF William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
- Rotary Lombardi Award Semifinalist
- Started in all 41 games he has played over his BYU career
- Three-time Rimington Award Watch List (2019, 2020, 2021)
- Two-time Outland Trophy Watch List (2020, 2021)
Senior Year
Graduate Year
Redshirt Year
- Ran with the second unit all season
- Redshirted the 2017 season
Medical Redshirt Year
Junior
2020
- Played and started eight games
- 2019 All-Indy center and anchor to BYU’s Joe Moore Semifinalist OL unit in 2020
- Helped BYU offense rank No. 4 in scoring (43.5) and No. 6 in total offense (522.2)
- Called protections/blocking for Cougars ranked No. 8 in the nation with 322.1 passing yards per game and ground attack that added 190.1 yards rushing
- Part of the offensive line that created many explosive play opportunities, helping BYU rank No. 1 for the most plays of 30 or more yards and No. 2 for the most plays of 10+ yards
- Named CoSIDA Academic All-District
-
James Empey Lombardi Semifinalist graphic
-
James Empey 2020 at Boise State offensive line
-
James Empey named Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist
-
James Empey Witten Man of the Year
-
BYU football 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District
-
Football | Nov, 03
Empey named Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist
-
Image
Football | Aug, 05Empey, Barrington named to Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
-
Image
Athletics | Jul, 30Y-Awards Close out Successful BYU Seasons
-
Image
Football | Jul, 29Empey garners fourth watch list with Wuerffel Trophy recognition
-
Image
Football | Jul, 27Empey named to 2021 Outland Trophy Watch List
-
Image
Football | Jul, 23Empey selected to Rimington Trophy watch list
-
Image
Football | Oct, 14James Empey named to Rimington Trophy Watch List
-
Image
Athletics | Jan, 23This Week in BYU Athletics - January 23
-
Image
Football | Jan, 07James Empey named to 2018 FWAA Freshman All-America Team