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Provo • More than a dozen seniors will play their final home games at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday when BYU hosts New Mexico. Several can say they were a part of two turnarounds — one for the football program as a whole from 2004 until now and another for what has happened just this season.

Coach Bronco Mendenhall said Tuesday that this season, which has seen the Cougars go from 1-4 to 5-5 and move within a win of bowl eligibility, has been one of the most memorable of his six-year tenure, thanks in no small part to the leadership of the senior class.

"It is as gratifying, if not more, than any season I have coached here, because, again, of where we have come from, and the improvement I see and the change in the players — not only how they are playing, but the way they carry themselves," he said.

Because of injuries, church missions, redshirt seasons and the addition of key junior college transfers such as cornerback Brian Logan, this year's seniors aren't all from the same signing class. And they are far from the most talented group that Mendenhall has had; It is quite possible that none will be picked in next April's NFL Draft.

Yet most of the seniors have been part of three or four-straight 10-win seasons, and have gone to a bowl game every year of their careers.

"Resilient would be the word I would use [for the 2010 seniors]," Mendenhall said. "There have been plenty of reasons along the way this season for them to be weakened or dismayed or discouraged, and yet they have just continued. And there are many in the senior class that aren't the featured players. But they have kind of provided the baseline behind the scenes through all the turmoil, especially early in the year."

Eight of the 13 seniors who will be honored Saturday and receive the traditional BYU blanket are starters: receiver Luke Ashworth, Logan, right guard Jason Speredon, defensive end Vic So'oto, linebacker Shane Hunter, cornerback Brandon Bradley, safety Andrew Rich and kicker Mitch Payne.

Left guard Nick Alletto, safety Landon Jaussi and receiver B.J. Peterson are solid backups or part-time starters, the latter two key contributors on special teams.

Logan said Saturday will be special to the entire group.

"It will mean everything to me — the last time I will play in this stadium," he said. "It is getting me kind of sad [to think about]. It just takes me back to being grateful and being thankful for the opportunity to play here."

After Saturday, the seniors will participate in the annual rivalry game at Utah, then it is on to a bowl game if the Cougars win one of their next two games.

"They've just kept working and they've made it very clear how important the program is to them — not their own performance, but the program specifically," Mendenhall said. "And that has been reassuring to not only myself, but their teammates, and I am appreciative, and I would like to play well in their last home game to give them a lasting memory of their senior season, and their last times at BYU and at LaVell Edwards Stadium."

The biggest star of the group is Rich, a former walk-on from Snow College who turned down scholarship offers from the likes of Boise State and Cal to play for the Cougars. A team captain, Rich was near tears at the beginning of the season when the Cougars were blown out 34-10 by Florida State, but summoned every leadership skill he had to help pull the team out of its slide, which bottomed out in a 31-16 loss at Utah State.

"I would just say that if our coaches were looking for what we are looking for in a BYU football player, I would say Andrew Rich is that player." Mendenhall said. "Very smart, very tough, absolutely committed, a great student, a great person, a hard worker, with enough ability to make a lot of football plays. When you add the ability and all the other characteristics, it makes him special."

drew@sltrib.comTwitter: @drewjay,@sltribbyu —

Seniors on BYU's two-deep chart

Player Position Comment

Luke Ashworth Receiver Doubled his career TD receptions total last week

Nick Alletto Left Guard Part-time starter for much of his career

Jason Speredon Right Guard Lost entire junior year to shoulder injury in 2009

Vic So'oto Defensive End Began career as a highly recruited tight end

Shane Hunter Middle LB Walk-on from Snow College is an overachiever

Brian Logan Cornerback Little Big Man one of best corners in school history

Brandon Bradley Cornerback Committed to BYU before ever visiting campus

Andrew Rich Safety All-conference player should get All-America recognition

Landon Jaussi Safety Former walk-on has contributed in several areas

Mitch Payne Kicker Could become school's all-time scoring leader

B.J. Peterson Receiver Walk-on earned a scholarship with contribution in practice