Lee, Denney Named Verizon Academic All-District

PROVO -- Senior safety Jared Lee and junior defensive end Ryan Denney were today named to the Verizon Academic All-District VIII First Team. Lee and Denney will advance to the national Academic All-American ballot, which will be released Dec. 5, 2000.

Lee and Denney were just two members of the 24-man All-District First Team, which included nominees from universities in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Other in-state recipients included Matt Cannon (Southern Utah), Nick Morgan (Utah), Brad Bohn (Utah State), Clint Brown (Southern Utah), Kimbal Christianson (Utah), Blake Eagal (Utah State) and Joel Barrow (Weber State). All totaled, nine of the 24 First-Team members play in the State of Utah, including three of the four First-Team defensive backs.

Lee, a 6-foot-0, 210-pound defensive standout maintains a 3.96 grade-point average as a history major, while also working on pre-med qualifications. The Rexburg, Idaho native plans to enter dental school following graduation. During the 2000 season, Lee has won the prestigious American Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Post-Graduate Scholarship, the NACDA Pigskin Classic Post-Graduate Scholarship and was named the Circuit City National Scholar Athlete of the Week on Sept. 14. After leading BYU with 96 tackles as a junior, Lee currently ranks second on the BYU roster with 71 tackles, including 41 unassisted and 30 assisted takedowns. Lee has recorded three tackles for a loss, five pass breakups and forced two fumbles on the season.

Denney, a 6-foot-7, 270-pound defensive end maintains a 3.59 grade-point average as a management major. The Thornton, Colo., native has produced 39 tackles on the season, including 10 tackles for loss. Denney produced two blocked kicks against Colorado State on Nov. 2. On the season, Denney has 27 unassisted tackles and three sacks.