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Provo • When 19 BYU seniors are honored after Saturday night's BYU-New Mexico State football game (8:15 p.m., ESPNU) at LaVell Edwards Stadium, the ceremony will illustrate another of those "only-at-BYU" moments.
This year's senior class includes players who originally signed way back in 2004 — offensive lineman Terence Brown and defensive tackle Matt Putnam — a player who signed just last year — USC transfer Hebron Fangupo — and no fewer than seven seniors who began their careers at BYU as walk-ons.
And two of the players who will receive their senior blankets as a gift from the school were recruited and signed by coach Bronco Mendenhall's predecessor, Gary Crowton — remarkable considering that Mendenhall has almost completed his seventh season as the Cougars' head coach.
Of course, Brown and Putnam served two-year missions for the LDS Church, explaining why they are still around after signing in 2004, which turned out to be Crowton's last year. Putnam redshirted prior to his mission to McAllen, Texas, while Brown redshirted upon returning from his mission to Maceio, Brazil.
"Either way, the overwhelming majority are our recruits, and they have helped us win a lot of football games, and to have so many that have made it through the program from beginning to end in this class, that also means a lot to me in terms of retention and hopefully identifying the right kids on the front end," Mendenhall said.
The marquee player in the group is offensive tackle Matt Reynolds, who was part of Mendenhall's first signing class (2005) and the senior most likely to be taken in April's NFL Draft.
"Well, Matt is one of the best football players to probably to play football here at BYU. He has given us a chance to throw the football a lot of times without the quarterback getting hit," Mendenhall said. "And he's added a sense of maturity. … So he's the epitome of a BYU football player and a BYU offensive lineman, and one who we will use as an example of what we are trying to recruit to bring in. He will kind of be the bar-setter."
Other major contributors from this class: running backs Bryan Kariya and JJ Di Luigi; holder/receiver Matt Marshall; safeties Travis Uale and Steven Thomas; cornerback Corby Eason; linebackers Jordan Pendleton, Jameson Frazier and Jadon Wagner; and Fangupo.
Kariya, Marshall, Uale and Frazier began their BYU careers as walk-ons; Pendleton won't play against the 4-6 Aggies after suffering a season-ending knee injury against TCU, while Thomas' career was cut short last year by repeated concussions.
"I feel that we have a strong senior class," said Jacobson. "It is always a little bit different at BYU, because there are some guys that I came in with that are juniors this year. Some of the classes get mixed up with missions and different things. That's a little different here at BYU. But the senior class has done some great things. It is something to be proud of."
Mendenhall described the postgame ceremony as "one of the most memorable things" he does each year, saying he remembers hugging each senior in the stadium more than most games.
"They have made it through as hard of work as we have put them through, and that's quite an accomplishment," he said. "I respect the guys that do it."
New Mexico St. at BYU
P At LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo
Kickoff • Saturday, 8:15 p.m.
TV • ESPNU
Radio • 1160 AM, 102.7 FM
Records • BYU 7-3, NMSU 4-6
Series history • First meeting
About the Cougars • They are 21-3 in the month of November under coach Bronco Mendenhall. … QB Jake Heaps will make his 16th career start, but first since Sept. 30. … They are converting on third down 51 percent of the time. … They are averaging 28.4 ppg and yielding 21.7 ppg.
About the Aggies • They are the last FBS team in the Pacific or Mountain time zones to face BYU. … They are coached by former BYU assistant (1994) DeWayne Walker. … They are coming off a 48-45 win over Fresno State. —
BYU's departing seniors
Offense
Position/Player Year Signed
WR McKay Jacobson 2006
RB JJ Di Luigi 2007
WR Matt Marshall Walk-on
RB Bryan Kariya Walk-on
OL Terence Brown 2004
OL Marco Thorson Walk-on
OL Matt Reynolds 2005
WR Spencer Hafoka 2005
TE Matt Edwards Walk-on
Defense
Position/Player Year Signed
S Travis Uale Walk-on
CB Corby Eason 2009
LB Aveni Leung-Wai 2007
DL Matt Putnam 2004
LB Jordan Pendleton 2007
LB Jameson Frazier Walk-on
LB Jadon Wagner 2008
DL Hebron Fangupo 2010
DL Simote Vea Walk-on
S Steven Thomas 2007