What may be one of the top recruiting classes in the Mountain West Conference, BYU head football coach LaVell Edwards to
PROVO -- What may be one of the top recruiting classes in the Mountain West Conference, BYU head football coach LaVell Edwards today announced the names of those prospective student-athletes who have signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at BYU, beginning in the fall of 2000.
"In line with our goals of filling existing needs and signing the very best athletes available, we feel we have been able to accomplish a great deal in order to meet those goals," Edwards said. "We feel very good about those players who have committed to play at BYU. We have several recruits who will be able to come in here next fall and make an immediate impact."
Following is a list of the Cougars' entire 2000 recruiting class:
C.J. Ah You
6-3 - 225 - Defensive Line
Lone Peak HS - Cedar Hills, Utah
Defensive line Most Valuable Player at Lone Peak HS ... First-team all-region ... Daily Herald First-Team All-Utah Valley ... Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune First-Team All-State ... Recorded 20 hurries and 12 sacks ... Ranked second on the team in total tackles ... Recruited by UNLV, Utah, Utah State, Hawai'i and Arizona State.
Matt Allen
6-0 - 170 - Receiver
Cactus HS - Phoenix, Ariz.
Earned Arizona Coaches Association All-State honors as a wide receiver ... Tallied 126 receptions for 2,266 yards, averaging 18 yards per catch ... Produced 22 touchdown receptions ... Recorded 315 yards on 42 carries and chalked up five touchdowns ... Named regional Male Track Athlete of the Year ... Won state high jump title, recording a winning leap of 6-6 ... Recruited by Arizona State, San Diego State and UCLA.
Judd Anderton
6-6 - 270 - Defensive Line
Curtis HS - Tacoma, Wash.
A Prep Star magazine All-Western Region selection ... Recruited by Washington, Oregon and Air Force ... Recorded 96 tackles, including 21 tackles for a loss, 11 hurries, 10 sacks and four fumble recoveries as a senior ... Led high school team to a No. 1 ranking in rushing defense ... Enjoys extreme skiing.
K.C. Bills
6-1 - 220 - Linbacker
Arapahoe HS - Littleton, Colo.
Named Super Prep and Prep Star magazine All-American ... Listed as one of the top linebackers in the nation ... Runs a 4.5 40 ... Recorded over 100 tackles as a senior ... Named all-state as a senior ... Led team to a 9-3 finish and a state quarterfinal appearance ... Also saw action at running back in high school, compiling over 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns on 215 carries ... Recruited by Arizona, Northwestern and Colorado.
Cameron Casper
6-5 - 285 - Offensive Line
Mt. Carmel HS - San Diego, Calif.
A three-year letterman at Mt. Carmel HS ... Was named team captain as a senior ... Recorded 23 pancakes in a single game ... earned All-Palomar honors as a junior and senior ... A Rivals, Cal-Hi and Student Sports Top-100 selection ... Recruited by Colorado State, UCLA, Utah, San Diego State, New Mexico State, UNLV, Oregon, Oregon State, New Mexico and Wake Forest ... All-CIF in wrestling.
Lawrence Cowan
6-3 - 220 - Linebacker
Brighton HS - Salt Lake City, Utah
Prep Star magazine All-Midlands Region selection ... A National Recruiting Center First-Team All-American ... Started at both linebacker and tight end at Brighton HS ... Had 39 solo tackles and 61 assisted takedowns as a senior ... Produced two sacks and nine tackles for a loss ... Had 16 receptions for 216 yards and two touchdowns as a tight end ... A three time all-region selection ... Twice earned all-state honors ... USA Today all-state honorable mention ... Recruited by Stanford and Utah.
Quinn Gooch
6-0 - 185 - Defensive Back
Sabino HS o Tucson, Ariz.
Earned All-American honorable mention honors ... Was selected first-team all-state and all-city ... Tallied over 1,000 yards and had 15 touchdowns as a senior, despite missing six games due to a knee injury ... Recorded 24 receptions for 260 yards ... Totaled over 600 yards as a junior, had 21 receptions and 18 touchdowns ... On defense, recorded 12 interceptions and have 14 blocked punts ... Recruited by Arizona, Stanford, Northwestern, UCLA and Utah.
Jordan Hill
6-2 - 230 - Linebacker
Highland HS - Pocatello, Idaho
USA Today Idaho Player of the Year ... Led Highland HS to a 10-3 mark as a senior, finishing second in the state ... Finished senior season with 129 tackles and five interceptions ... Totaled 301 solo tackles, nine interceptions and six sacks throughout his career ... Led team to a state championship as a sophomore and junior ... Named the Idaho Statesman and USA Today Idaho Defensive Player of the Year ... Earned 1A Most Valuable Player honors ... Earned first team all-state honors as both a linebacker and punter ... Recruited by Boise State, Utah, Idaho, Idaho State, Nevada, Nebraska and Washington State.
Kai Jones
6-7 - 275 - Offensive Line
Richland HS - Richland, Wash.
A four-year Honor Roll member ... Led Richland HS to a 13-1 record as a senior, winning the district, Tri-City and state championships ... A two-time letterwinner in football ... A Student Sports Top-100 selection ... Listed as one of the top 25 linebackers in the state of Washington ... Eagle Scout ... Recruited by Arizona, Oregon State and Boise State.
Isiah Joiner
6-0 - 180 - Running Back
Sealy HS - Sealy, Texas
A Prep Star magazine All-Midlands Region selection ... Listed as one of the top 50 players in the state of Texas ... Named 3A second-team all-state ... Listed among the Houston-Metro Plex top-25 ... Runs a 4.48 40 ... Led Sealy High School to two state championships at Sealy HS ... Produced over 2,000 rushing yards as a senior ... Recruited by Nebraska, Tennessee and LSU.
Junior Kato
6-3 - 290 - Offensive Lineman
Capuchino HS - Daly City, Calif.
An two-time all-league performer at Capuchino High School ... Earned all-state honors as senior ... A Prep Star magazine All-American ... One of the top-10 offensive lineman in the west ... Recruited by Oregon, Washington, USC, Cal and UCLA.
Eddie Keele
6-6 - 270 - Defensive Line
Othello HS - Othello, Wash.
Named all-league as a senior at both offensive and defensive line ... Earned league defensive most valuable player honors ... Tallied 75 tackles as a senior, including 13 tackles for a loss, eight sacks, four fumble recoveries and forced two fumbles ... Earned Prep Star magazine All-Western Region honors ... Recruited by Washington and Washington State.
Brian MCdonald
6-0 - 200 - Running Back
Cerritos JC - Buena Park, Calif.
(Note proper use of capitalization in last name.)
Earned All-CIF honors as a corner and running back ... Named All-California JC ... All-region ... Named Most Valuable Player at the Strawberry Bowl ... Also played defensive back in high school ... Rushed for over 2,000 yards at Cerritos JC ... Recorded 1,032 yard and had nine touchdowns last season ... Recruited by Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, Missouri and San Diego State.
Michael Marquardt
6-4 - 260 - Defensive Line
Rancho Buena Vista HS - San Marcos, Calif.
Named Prep Star magazine All-American ... Named All-CIF and all-league as a senior ... Earned Palomar League Most Valuable Player honors ... Ranked as one of the top-2 lineman in the state of California ... Listed as "one of the top defensive line prospects in the country," according to Prep Star magazine ... Produced over 40 tackles last season, including a team-leading 18 sacks ... Caused four fumbles and returned one for a touchdown ... Committed last summer to BYU.
Adam Nelson
6-1 - 170 - Defensive Back
Orem HS - Orem, Utah
Earned first-team all-region honors ... A Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News Second-Team All-State selection ... Daily Herald First-Team All-Utah Valley ... Recorded 69 tackles on defense, forced two fumbles, four pass deflections and had four interceptions ... Brother of former BYU safety, Tyler Nelson.
Danny Phillips
6-1 - 190 - Defensive Back
Cerritos JC -- San Pedro, Calif.
Runs a 4.4 40 ... All-Mission Conference (Northern Division) ... Finished his sophomore season with 33 tackles, including 19 solo takedowns ... Recovered one fumble and and had one interception ... Talled eight pass breakups... As a reshman, finished the season with 37 tackle ... Named Long Beach Wilson HS Offensive Back of the Year, rushing for 1,113 yards ... Named second-team All-CIF and led his high school team with 101 tackles as a senior ... Recruited by Oklahoma and San Diego State.
Brent Pollock
6-2 - 280 - Defensive Line
Peninsula HS - Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.
Benches over 400 pounds ... One of the top defensive lime recruits in the state of California ... Earned Prep Star magazine All-Western Region honors ... Recruited by UCLA ... Washington and Kansas.
Danny Southwick
6-2 - 210 - Quarterback
Timpview HS - Provo, Utah
Threw for over 2,900 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior, completing 175-of-325 attempts ... Led Teimpview to a 7-3 mark on the season ... USA Today all-state honorable mention ... Nephew of BYU quarterback Bret Engemann ... Recruited by USC, Oregon State, Penn State.
Brock Stratton
6-0 - 220 - Linebacker
Roosevelt HS - San Antonio, Texas
A two-time 5A first-team all-state selection ... Despite missing two games as a senior, tallied 137 tackles, recorded eight sacks and had two interceptions ... Team captain as a junior and senior ... Only player in Roosevelt HS history to earn first-team all-state honors as a junior and senior ... San Antonio Defensive Player of the Year as a senior ... Inducted in to Northeast School District Athletic Hall of Fame as junior ... Went undefeated and won the state wrestling title (189-pounds) as a junior ... Remains undefeated as a senior and has not allowed a single point to be scored against him all season ... Received academic All-American honors ... President of the National Honor Society and Federation of Christian Athletes at Roosevelt HS ... Eagle Scout ... Recruited by Texas, Texas A&M, Stanford, Rice and Baylor.
Joel Theler
6-2 - 180 - Defensive Back
Brighton HS - Sandy, Utah
A two-year letterman at Brighton HS ... Named Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune First-Team All-State ... Brighton HS Most Valuable Player ... USA Today all-state honorable mention ... Ran a 4.5 40 and was one of the top prospects to attend BYU's summer camp ... Played quarterback, running back, safety and receiver as a senior ... Recruited by Utah, Utah State, Oregon, Oregon State, Colorado, Navy and Arizona.
Paul Walkenhorst
6-5 - 230 - Defensive Line
Lone Peak HS - Highland, Utah
Earned all-state honors at linebacker ... Averaged 6.1 yards per carry as a fullback with six touchdowns ... Name Region 6 Most Valuable Player ... Named All-State by the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News ... A Daily Herald First-Team All-Utah Valley performer ... Recorded 109 tackles and 18 hurries ... Produced nine sacks and had three interceptions ... Recruited by Utah, Oregon State and Northwestern.
Marcus Whalen
6-0 - 200 - Running Back
Thomas Stone HS - Waldorf, Md.
Runs a 4.4 40 ... Led high school team to a 12-0 record before losing in the state finals ... Finished senior season with 1,900 yards and 19 touchdowns ... Tallied 3,854 yards and scored 41 touchdowns throughout his high school career ... Averaged 9.5 yards per carry ... Named Washington Post 3A All-State and twice named to the all-metro team ... As a senior, scored a touchdown on a kickoff return, punt return and an interception return ... A member of his high school track team, ran a 10.69 in the 100-meters ... USA Today all-state honorable mention ... Named Prep Star magazine All-Mid-Atlantic Region ... Recruited by Wake Forest, North Carolina, Virginia, Michigan State, Boston College, Buffalo, Auburn, Syracuse and Iowa
Derrus Wilson
5-9 - 180 - Defensive Back
Blinn JC - Forest Hill, Texas
A first-team all-district selection at corner and running back ... Named the offensive Most Valuable Player ... An all-state and all-conference honorable mention selection ... Recorded 27 tackles and had 11 breakups ... Produced two touchdowns off fumble recoveries ... Runs a 4.4 40 Recruited by Hawai'i, New Mexico State and Arkansas State.
