The Brigham Young Cougars are officially halfway through the 2013
regular season. Time now to pause and look at who has been the best
performers up to this point and what plays have had the most impact.
BLUE COUGAR FOOTBALL hands out 10 mid-season awards ranging from your
standard MVP variety to unique categories you won't find anywhere else.
Each award has three nominees. To keep it interesting, once one player wins one award, he is not eligible for another individual award. The winners were selected by the votes of the three contributors to this site: Neal Rappleye, Tanner Spear, and myself.
Team MVP
Nominees
Taysom Hill: 90 rush, 644 yards, 7 TD; 90-191, 1263 yards, 5 TD, 5 Int
Jamaal Williams: 107 rush, 543 yards, 1 TD; 7 rec. 53 yards
Kyle Van Noy: 40 tackles, 10 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 int, 4 pass breakups, 10 QBH, 1 safety, 1 TD
Winner: Kyle Van Noy
The last two seasons I have asked myself, "How is Van Noy going to do to top last season?" He has made so many big plays and even taken over games that it seems he cannot do more. Each of the last two seasons, he finds another way to have a better season. He is on pace for a career high in tackles (80 vs. 68). He has already equaled his career high in quarterback hurries. Van Noy has scored yet another touchdown, and even forced a safety for the first time in his career. You really have to believe that anything is possible for Van Noy.
Runner up: Taysom Hill
Offensive MVP
Nominees
Hill: 90 rush, 644 yards, 7 TD; 90-191, 1263 yards, 5 TD, 5 Int
Williams: 107 rush, 543 yards, 1 TD; 7 rec. 53 yards
Mitch Mathews: 14 rec., 253 yards, 3 TD
Winner: Taysom Hill
Yes, Hill has had some struggles throwing the ball (still below 50 percent on the season), but he has made up for it with his legs. He is averaging over 100 yards rushing per game and over 1 touchdown on the ground per game. Hill has also completed well over half of his passes the last three games, too. With over 1900 yards of total offense at this point, Hill is on pace to finish in the top six in school history in that category where former BYU quarterbacks have often led the nation and set and reset the NCAA record.
Runner Up: Jamaal Williams
Defensive MVP
Nominees
Uani Unga: 56 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 pass breakup, 1 QBH, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble
Alani Fua: 27 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 int, 7 pass breakups, 2 QBH, 1 TD
Robertson Daniel: 32 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles
Winner: Uani Unga
This was close. Due to teams wanting to keep the ball away from Van Noy, it was imperative that Alani Fua be legit, otherwise, opponents could exploit a weakness and have tons of success even with Van Noy on the field. However, Unga has had a great first half of the season. How good? There has been zero drop off from Brandon Ogletree. Unga has been everything BYU wants and needs in a middle linebacker. He is a tackling machine with double digit tackles in half of the games, including 16 at Utah State, which is tied for second most in a single game since 2000. Unga is doing it all with a fumble recovery, forced fumble, as well as getting in the backfield to stop ball carries for losses or pressure the quarterback.
Runner Up: Alani Fua
Most Improved Player
Nominees
Justin Sorensen: 9-11 FG, 20-20 PAT
Mitch Mathews: 14 rec., 253 yards, 3 TD
Blake Morgan: 26 tackles, 1 pass breakup, 1 fumble recovery
Winner: Justin Sorensen
Sorensen had a terrible season last year. He was just 6 of 12 on field goals, and missed three extra points. It wasn't all his fault. He was playing at less than 100 percent and should have redshirted the year. Clearly, he is feeling much better this year. He is automatic again on extra points, and having the best season of his career kicking field goals.
Runner Up: Mitch Mathews
Newcomer of the year
Nominees
Robertson Daniel: 32 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles
Algernon Brown: 31 rush, 136 yards, 1 TD, 1 rec. 4 yards
Scott Arellano: 39 punts, 41.2 average, 59 long, 5 touchbacks, 12 inside the 20, 6 50+, 3 blocks
Winner: Robertson Daniel
Not much was expected from Daniel 10 months ago. He earned a starting spot after projected starters Jordan Johnson and Trenton Trammel went down with injuries. Even then, not much was expected. There was a lot of trepidation over how the cornerbacks would perform, but Daniel, and the others, have acquitted themselves well. They definitely are not the reason BYU lost to Virginia and Utah. At this rate, Daniel is on pace to continue the trend of a JC cornerback transfers having at least 44 tackles.
Runner Up: Algernon Brown
Play of the year
Nominees
Van Noy pick six on first play of the Utah State game for 7-0 lead
Taysom Hill 68-yd TD run vs. Texas for 10-7 lead
Cody Hoffman 45-yard TD catch vs. Georgia Tech for 7-0 lead
Winner: Taysom Hill 68-yard TD run vs. Texas for 10-7 lead
This was the biggest play in the biggest game of the first half of the season. It was a very timely play in that game to retake the lead. It also epitomizes Hill's record setting performance in that game.
Runner Up: Kyle Van Noy pick-six on the first play of the Utah State game for 7-0 lead.
Best offensive series
Nominees
Winner: 8 play, 79 yards to start 3rd Quarter vs. Texas.
Runner up: 4 plays, 71 yards for final score vs. Utah State.
Best Defensive series
Nominees
The way this drive ended was not just game changing, but game deciding. After Fua's pick six the game was over.
Runner Up: 1 play, 0 yards 1st quarter vs. Utah State.
Biggest Surprise
Nominees
The cornerback position has always been the hardest position for BYU to fill. Having just one starter go down with injury can have terrible consequences. For BYU to see both projected starters suffer injury, the pressure for the front seven to perform greatly increased. So far, opponents are averaging less than 200 yards passing per game, and only Texas has had more than 300 yards (313), and that was only because of a 45-yard pass in garbage time.
Runner Up: The BYU ground game.
Biggest Disappointment
Nominees
This game was a heart breaker. It brought on deseration that BYU would not become bowl eligible. It lowered many people's confidence that BYU would beat Utah State.
Runner Up: Taysom Hill's sub 40% completion percentage each of the first 3 games
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
Each award has three nominees. To keep it interesting, once one player wins one award, he is not eligible for another individual award. The winners were selected by the votes of the three contributors to this site: Neal Rappleye, Tanner Spear, and myself.
Team MVP
Nominees
Taysom Hill: 90 rush, 644 yards, 7 TD; 90-191, 1263 yards, 5 TD, 5 Int
Jamaal Williams: 107 rush, 543 yards, 1 TD; 7 rec. 53 yards
Kyle Van Noy: 40 tackles, 10 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 int, 4 pass breakups, 10 QBH, 1 safety, 1 TD
Winner: Kyle Van Noy
The last two seasons I have asked myself, "How is Van Noy going to do to top last season?" He has made so many big plays and even taken over games that it seems he cannot do more. Each of the last two seasons, he finds another way to have a better season. He is on pace for a career high in tackles (80 vs. 68). He has already equaled his career high in quarterback hurries. Van Noy has scored yet another touchdown, and even forced a safety for the first time in his career. You really have to believe that anything is possible for Van Noy.
Runner up: Taysom Hill
Offensive MVP
Nominees
Hill: 90 rush, 644 yards, 7 TD; 90-191, 1263 yards, 5 TD, 5 Int
Williams: 107 rush, 543 yards, 1 TD; 7 rec. 53 yards
Mitch Mathews: 14 rec., 253 yards, 3 TD
Winner: Taysom Hill
Yes, Hill has had some struggles throwing the ball (still below 50 percent on the season), but he has made up for it with his legs. He is averaging over 100 yards rushing per game and over 1 touchdown on the ground per game. Hill has also completed well over half of his passes the last three games, too. With over 1900 yards of total offense at this point, Hill is on pace to finish in the top six in school history in that category where former BYU quarterbacks have often led the nation and set and reset the NCAA record.
Runner Up: Jamaal Williams
Defensive MVP
Nominees
Uani Unga: 56 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 pass breakup, 1 QBH, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble
Alani Fua: 27 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 int, 7 pass breakups, 2 QBH, 1 TD
Robertson Daniel: 32 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles
Winner: Uani Unga
This was close. Due to teams wanting to keep the ball away from Van Noy, it was imperative that Alani Fua be legit, otherwise, opponents could exploit a weakness and have tons of success even with Van Noy on the field. However, Unga has had a great first half of the season. How good? There has been zero drop off from Brandon Ogletree. Unga has been everything BYU wants and needs in a middle linebacker. He is a tackling machine with double digit tackles in half of the games, including 16 at Utah State, which is tied for second most in a single game since 2000. Unga is doing it all with a fumble recovery, forced fumble, as well as getting in the backfield to stop ball carries for losses or pressure the quarterback.
Runner Up: Alani Fua
Most Improved Player
Nominees
Justin Sorensen: 9-11 FG, 20-20 PAT
Mitch Mathews: 14 rec., 253 yards, 3 TD
Blake Morgan: 26 tackles, 1 pass breakup, 1 fumble recovery
Winner: Justin Sorensen
Sorensen had a terrible season last year. He was just 6 of 12 on field goals, and missed three extra points. It wasn't all his fault. He was playing at less than 100 percent and should have redshirted the year. Clearly, he is feeling much better this year. He is automatic again on extra points, and having the best season of his career kicking field goals.
Runner Up: Mitch Mathews
Newcomer of the year
Nominees
Robertson Daniel: 32 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles
Algernon Brown: 31 rush, 136 yards, 1 TD, 1 rec. 4 yards
Scott Arellano: 39 punts, 41.2 average, 59 long, 5 touchbacks, 12 inside the 20, 6 50+, 3 blocks
Winner: Robertson Daniel
Not much was expected from Daniel 10 months ago. He earned a starting spot after projected starters Jordan Johnson and Trenton Trammel went down with injuries. Even then, not much was expected. There was a lot of trepidation over how the cornerbacks would perform, but Daniel, and the others, have acquitted themselves well. They definitely are not the reason BYU lost to Virginia and Utah. At this rate, Daniel is on pace to continue the trend of a JC cornerback transfers having at least 44 tackles.
Runner Up: Algernon Brown
Play of the year
Nominees
Van Noy pick six on first play of the Utah State game for 7-0 lead
Taysom Hill 68-yd TD run vs. Texas for 10-7 lead
Cody Hoffman 45-yard TD catch vs. Georgia Tech for 7-0 lead
Winner: Taysom Hill 68-yard TD run vs. Texas for 10-7 lead
This was the biggest play in the biggest game of the first half of the season. It was a very timely play in that game to retake the lead. It also epitomizes Hill's record setting performance in that game.
Runner Up: Kyle Van Noy pick-six on the first play of the Utah State game for 7-0 lead.
Best offensive series
Nominees
- 8 play, 79 yards to start 3rd Quarter vs. Texas. Ended with Hill 26 yd run, gave BYU 34-14 lead and set tone for second half that a comeback was not going to happen.
- 4 plays, 71 yards for final score vs. Utah State. Ended with Mitch Mathews 43 yard TD, gave BYU 31-7 lead and officially ended 3 years of unusually stiff competition with the Aggies.
- 3 plays, 62 yards for first score vs. Georgia Tech. Ended with Cody Hoffman's beautiful 45-yard grab, getting the monkey off his back, and a 7-0 lead for BYU. 33 second drive.
Winner: 8 play, 79 yards to start 3rd Quarter vs. Texas.
Runner up: 4 plays, 71 yards for final score vs. Utah State.
Best Defensive series
Nominees
- 4 plays, 12 yards 4th quarter vs. Georgia Tech. Ended with Fua returning int 51 yards for TD, giving BYU 31-13 lead and putting the game out of reach.
- 1 play, -2 yards 2nd quarter vs. Middle Tennessee. Ended in safety from KVN making stop in backfield. Cut MTSU lead to 10-9
- 1 play, 0 yards 1st quarter vs. Utah State. Started and ended with KVN intercepting Chuckie Keeton (only his 2nd INT all year) and returning it 17 yards for a touchdown.
The way this drive ended was not just game changing, but game deciding. After Fua's pick six the game was over.
Runner Up: 1 play, 0 yards 1st quarter vs. Utah State.
Biggest Surprise
Nominees
- Adam Hine is kick return gold nearly always making a big return.
- After starters suffer season ending injuries in the preseason, BYU defensive backs are stout.
- The BYU ground game. 2 players on pace for over 1,000 yards. Breaking Luke Staley's single season rushing record isn't out of the realm of possibility for Taysom Hill.
The cornerback position has always been the hardest position for BYU to fill. Having just one starter go down with injury can have terrible consequences. For BYU to see both projected starters suffer injury, the pressure for the front seven to perform greatly increased. So far, opponents are averaging less than 200 yards passing per game, and only Texas has had more than 300 yards (313), and that was only because of a 45-yard pass in garbage time.
Runner Up: The BYU ground game.
Biggest Disappointment
Nominees
- Taysom Hill's sub 40% completion percentage each of the first 3 games
- Suspensions for Spencer Hadley and Cody Hoffman
- Losing to Utah for the 4th year in a row.
This game was a heart breaker. It brought on deseration that BYU would not become bowl eligible. It lowered many people's confidence that BYU would beat Utah State.
Runner Up: Taysom Hill's sub 40% completion percentage each of the first 3 games
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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