Cougars Announce 2001 Recruiting Class

Following is a complete list of BYU's 2001 Football Signees:

Bryant Atkinson

Linebacker * 6-3 * 220

Provo, Utah (Timpview HS)

Played linebacker for the first time as a senior ... also played tight end in high school, recording 49 receptions for 854 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior ... earned all-state honors as a senior ... led Timpview to an 11-1 record and an appearance in the state semifinals ... named Valley Player of the Year by the Provo Daily Herald ... a Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune first-team, All-State selection ... named Region 6 Most Valuable Player ... Timpview HS Most Valuable Player ... earned all-region academic honors ... registered 72 tackles, including 44 unassisted takedowns as a senior ... had two interceptions and forced five fumbles ... listed in several publications as the "top player in Utah" ... runs a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash ... is the grandson of former BYU coach Chick Atkinson ... recruited by Utah, Arizona State and Texas Tech

Joshua Brandon

Defensive Back * 6-0 * 190

Granada Hills, California (College of the Canyons)

A first-team, All-Western States selection at College of the Canyons ... runs a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash ... recruited by Colorado State and Idaho.

Travis Bright

Offensive Line * 6-5 * 310

Queen Creek, Arizona (Highland HS)

An all-state and all-conference selection as a senior ... finished runner-up as the Arizona Lineman of the Year ... recruited by Colorado, Nebraska, Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado State and Utah.

Quinn Christensen

Offensive Line * 6-6 * 295

Orem, Utah (Dixie JC)

A first-team Junior College Gridwire All-American ... earned first-team, All-Mountain States Conference honors ... earned first-team, National Junior College Athletic Association All-America honors ... helped lead Dixie to an 8-3 record as a sophomore ... was twice named the MSAC Player of the Week after leading Dixie to wins over both Ricks JC and Arizona Western ... attended Bonneville HS in Pocatello, Idaho ... earned all-league, all-region and all-state honors as a senior at Bonneville HS ... recruited by Utah, North Carolina State, Georgia Tech, Arizona, Texas Tech, Wisconsin and Oregon.

Victor Filipe

Defensive Line * 6-5 * 275

Salt Lake City, Utah (Highland HS)

Helped lead Highland to the finals of the 4-A state championship ... anchored a Highland defense that allowed less than seven points per game ... recorded 24 sacks as a senior, include six in a single game ... listed as one of the state's top players ... maintains a 3.9 GPA at Highland HS ... recruited by Florida State, Michigan, Texas, Stanford, UCLA and Utah.

Aaron Francisco

Defensive Back * 6-2 * 195

Laie, Hawaii (Kahuku HS)

An all-state and all-league selection as a senior ... helped lead Kahuku HS to a state championship as a senior ... earned a trip to the Hawaii All-Star game ... recruited by Hawai'i, Utah and Arizona.

Dustin Gabriel

Running Back * 6-1 * 190

Allen, Texas (Allen HS)

A three-year starter at safety and fullback at Allen HS ... helped lead team to a 9-3 record as a senior, including a 21-20 upset win over state champion Garland ... blocked a point-after attempt to preserve the victory ... produced three interceptions on the season, including one return for 70 yards ... throughout HS career, played fullback, safety, outside linebacker and quarterback ... recruited by Tulane, Air Force, Rice, Army, West Virginia, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and UTEP.

Saia Hafoka

Wide Receiver * 5-9 * 165

Kahuku, Hawaii (Kahuku HS)

An all-state and all-league selection as a senior ... helped lead Kahuku HS to a state championship victory over St. Louis HS ... earned a trip to the Hawaii All-Star game.

O'Neil Howell

Defensive Back * 5-10 * 180

West Palm Beach, Florida (Lakes HS)

Produced 35 tackles and one interception as a senior and 39 tackles as a junior ... an all-region selection ... runs a 4.48 40-yard dash ... recruited by Boston College, Illinois, Iowa, New Mexico and New Hampshire.

Breyon Jones

Wide Receiver * 5-11 * 180

Round Rock, Texas (Round Rock HS)

Helped lead Round Rock HS to an area championship in District 14 at the 5A level with an 8-5 record ... caught 38 passes for 478 yards and three TDs as a senior ... named team MPV at wide receiver ... runs a 4.4 40-yard dash ... district champion in the 100-meters as a senior ... elected the Black Student Vice-President at Round Rock HS ... recruited by Kansas, Baylor, Texas A&M, Northwestern, TCU, Houston, Tulsa, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Vanderbilt and Texas Tech.

Sateki "Junior" Mahe

Wide Receiver * 5-11 * 190

Salt Lake City, Utah (Dixie JC)

A second-team, Junior College Gridwire All-America selection at Dixie ... named first-team All-WSFL ... led the nation in receiving, recording 57 receptions for 1,387 yards and 19 touchdowns ... averaged 24.3 yards per reception ... led the Western States Football League in receiving and scoring, recording 122 points on the season ... played at BYU as a true freshman, recording 481 yards rushing on 98 carries, averaging 4.9 yards per carry ... scored six rushing TDs as a freshman and one touchdown reception ... had 16 receptions for 181 yards, averaging 11.3 yards per reception during the 1998 season ... recruited by Washington State, North Carolina State, USC, Arizona and UNLV.

Bryce Mahuika

Wide Receiver * 5-10 * 185

Vancouver, Washington (Evergreen HS)

Runs a 4.4 40-yard dash ... produced a 39-inch vertical leap at the Nike Camp in Oregon ... recruited by Oregon, Oregon State, Washington and Washington State.

Michael Nay

Offensive Line * 6-7 * 300

West Valley City, Utah (Cypress HS)

Jeff Rhea

Offensive Line * 6-4 * 275

South Jordan, Utah (Bingham HS)

A first-team all-region selection ... earned first-team all-state honors as a senior ... a three-year letterwinner ... helped lead Bingham HS to a 10-2 record and a regional championship ... holds the Bingham High School Power lifting Record ... an honor-roll student at Bingham HS ... recruited by Wyoming, Boise State, Idaho State, Utah State, Oregon and Arizona State.

David Tafuna

Wide Receiver * 6-1 * 195

Mesa, Arizona (Mesa HS)

Helped lead Mesa HS to a 12-3 record and a trip to the 5-A state quarterfinals ... a first-team, offensive and defensive all-state selection as a senior ... recorded 34 receptions for 500 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior ... defensively, produced five interceptions ... his father played nose guard at the University of Hawai'I ... cousin of former BYU player Vai Sikahema and nephew of former Cougar Peter Tafuna ... runs a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash ... recruited by Utah and Colorado State.

EARLY JUNIOR COLLEGE SIGNEES

John Denney

Defensive Line * 6-6 * 250

Thornton, Colo. (Ricks JC)

Played only one season at Ricks ... will enter BYU program as a sophomore ... brother of current BYU player Ryan Denney ... helped led 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.

Ryan Keele

Offensive Line * 6-5 * 300

Othello, Wash. (Ricks JC)

A first-team All-Western States Football League performer at Ricks JC ... older brother of BYU player Eddie Keele ... recruited by Colorado, Arizona and Washington.

Spencer Nead

Tight End * 6-5 * 250

Tetonia, Idaho (Ricks JC)

A first-team All-Western State Football League selection and Junior College All-American as a sophomore ... a four-year letterwinner at Teton High School ... led team to a 16-4 record in final two season ... earned all-state honors at wide receiver and linebacker as a junior and senior ... led Teton HS to state championship in basketball as an all-state performer ... recruited by Kansas State, Arizona State, Arizona, Miami (Fla.), Oregon State, Colorado and Temple ... married to the former Summer Theobald ... younger brother Kelly plays tight end at Temple University ... served an LDS Church mission to Omaha, Nebraska.