BYU Signs Three Junior College Recruits

PROVO, Utah (Dec, 20, 2000) -- BYU head football coach Gary Crowton today announced the signing of three junior college players. John Denney (Ricks JC), Ryan Keele (Ricks JC) and Spencer Nead (Ricks JC) have each signed a National Letter of Intent and will transfer to BYU beginning in January.

"We're very excited to have these three players on board," Crowton said. "Each brings added depth and experience to their respective positions and we expect them to have an immediate impact on our program."

Denney, a 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive end will come to BYU after only one season at Ricks. Denney, the younger brother of current BYU defensive end Ryan Denney, has served an LDS Church mission and will enter the program as a sophomore. Denney, a native of Thornton, Colo., helped lead Ricks to a 44-14 win over Snow College in the Real Dairy Bowl with two tackles for loss, two sacks and two pass deflections. Denney ranked fourth on the Viking's roster with 51 tackles on the season, including 21 unassisted takedowns. He produced seven tackles for loss, including five sacks.

Keel, a first-team All-Western States Football League performer is a 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive lineman from Ricks. Keele, the older brother of BYU player Eddie Keele, is from Othello, Wash., and was recruited by Colorado, Arizona and Washington. Keele anchored an offensive line that allowed only 12 sacks on the season and produced an average 532 yards per game, including 429.7 yards passing per contest.

Nead, a first-team J.C. Grid-Wire All-American led Ricks with 57 receptions on the season. The Tetonia, Idaho native earned first-team All-Western State Football League honors with 763 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season, averaging nearly 70 yards per game. The 6-foot-5, 250-poound tight end, is married and a returned missionary.