BYU coach Kalani Sitake walks away from huddle with his team during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wyoming on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
BYU had many great players over the years of the independence era. These players helped with many winning seasons and some have made leaderboards. They also have gone on to play at the next level and win many games there as starters in their respective positions. The rankings were done by NFL drafted, Not drafted but played in the NFL, and then done by games they played in while at BYU.
25. Scott Arellano P
Scott Arellano played from 2013-2014 for the Cougars and played in 26 games. He led the Independent schools in Punts (2013,2014), Punt Yds (2013,2014), and Punt Yds (2014) per Punt in both seasons. At BYU he punted 149 times for 6,385 yards.
24. Corbin Kaufusi DL
Corbin Kaufusi played from 2016-2018 and appeared in 37 games. He started in 28 of those 37 games and had 154 tackles, 92 solo, and 62 assisted.
23. Butch Pau’u LB
Butch Pau’u was a Cougar from 2015-2018 and played in 40 games. Pau’u started in 21 games of the 40 he played in. In 2016 he led the Independent schools forced fumbles. While at BYU he had 188 tackles, 105 solo, and 83 assisted. He also had one sack, one interception, two fumbles, two quarterback hits, and two pass break ups.
22. Mitch Matthews WR
Mitch Matthews played from 2012-2015 for the Cougars and stared in 41 games with 27 starts. While playing for the Cougars he had some amazing plays including the Hail Mary catch against Nebraska in 2015. Matthews had 152 receptions for 2,083 yards, 24 touchdowns, and one fumble.
21. Brandon Ogletree LB
Brandon Ogletree was a Cougar from 2009-2012 playing in 46 games with 33 starts. He had 246 tackles, 116 solo, and 130 assisted. Ogletree also had one sack, three interceptions, five fumbles, three quarterback hits, and seven pass break ups.
20. Matt Hadley LB
Matt Hadley was a Cougar from 2012-2018 due to redshirts, and medical redshirt years. In his time at BYU he played in 47 games and started in 13 of those. He also had 76 tackles, 48 solo, and 28 assisted with 3 pass deflections.
19. Rhett Almond K
Rhett Almond played for BYU from 2015-2018 and played in 47 games. He had the most points (2016), FG attempts (2016,2017), FG made (2016), FG percentage (2016), and Punts (2015) for BYU amongst the Independent Schools. Almond had 30 made field goals and 57 punts for 2,304 yards.
18. Dayan Ghanwoloku S
Dayan Ghanwoloku played for the Cougars from 2015-2019 and played in 48 games. He led the Independent Schools in Interception Yards, Pick Sixes, and Fumbles in 2016. Ghanwoloku also had 207 tackles, 149 solo, and 58 assisted. He also put up two sacks, seven interceptions, 10 fumbles, one quarterback hit, and 15 pass breakups for the Cougars
17. Cody Hoffman WR
Cody Hoffman was a Cougar from 2010-2013 and stared in 50 games with 47 starts. He led the Independent schools in receptions (2012), yards (2012), touchdowns (2011,2012), and kick returns (2011). Hoffman also had 260 receptions for 3,612 yards, 33 touchdowns, and three fumbles.
16. Aleva Hifo WR
Aleva Hifo was a BYU Cougar from 2016-2019 and played in 51 games for the Cougars and starting in 21. He led the Independent schools in 2019 for Punt Return yards. Hifo had 118 receptions for 1,336 yards, seven touchdowns and two fumbles.
15. Tejan Koroma C
Tejan Koroma played center for BYU from 2015-2018 played and started in 51 games for the Cougars. He helped the Cougars to many wins over the years blocking for a variety of quarterbacks and helping the run game.
14. Taysom Hill QB
Taysom Hill was a Cougar from 2012-2016. He played in 37 games and started in 32 with only two fully healthy seasons. Hill has played for the Saints since 2017 where he has been seen at multiple positions. He led the Independent Schools in Pass Completions (2013,2016), Passing Attempts (2013), Passing Interceptions (2013), Touchdowns (2013,2016), and Total Yards (2013). As a Cougar he had 1,047 pass attempts, 6,929 yards, 31 interceptions, and 43 touchdowns.
13. Matt Bushman TE
Matt Bushman played from 2017-2020 and played in 39 games with 27 starts. He has played for hte Chiefs and the Raiders in the NFL since 2021. Bushman led the Independent schools in Reception Yards per Reception in 2018. He had 125 receptions, 1,719 yards, nine touchdowns, and two fumbles.
12. Kai Nacua S
Kai Nacua was a Cougar from 2013-2016 he played in 46 games and had 24 starts. He played in NFL from 2017-2021 with multiple teams. He led in the Independent teams in Interceptions (2015,2016), Interception Yards (2015), Pick Sixes (2015). While at BYU he had 165 tackles, 117 solo, and 48 assisted with 14 interceptions and two fumbles.
11. Daniel Sorensen LB
Daniel Sorensen played for the Cougars from 2008, 2011-2013. He played in 51 games and started in 39 of them. Sorensen has played in NFL since 2014 mainly with the Chiefs. He led the Independent teams in Pick Sixes (2011) and Pass Deflections (2013). While at BYU he had 211 tackles, 122 solo, and 89 assisted. He also had one sack, eight interceptions, four fumbles, and 23 pass break ups.
10. Puka Nacua WR
Puka Nacua just finished his time with the Cougars playing from 2021-2022. He played in 21 games and started in 14 of those. He has now been drafted by the Rams and will have his NFL debut this August. While at BYU he led the Independent schools in Reception Yards per Reception in 2021. He had 91 receptions for 1,430 yards and 11 touchdowns.
9. Zach Wilson QB
Zach Wilson was a Cougar from 2018-2020 and played in 30 games with 28 starts. Wilson was then drafted 2nd overall by the Jets in 2021 where he has been since. While at BYU he led the Independent Schools in Pass completions (2020), Pass Attempts (2020), Pass completion Percentage (2020), Passing Yards (2020), Passing Yards Per Attempt (2020, Career), Touchdowns (2020), Total Points (2020), Total Yards (2020). When he was a Cougar he threw for 837 attempts, 7,652 yards, 15 interceptions, and 56 touchdowns.
8. Ezekiel Ansah DL
Ezekiel Ansah was a Cougar from 2010-2012 and had never put on a football uniform before 2010. He was then drafted by the Lions in 2013 and finished his career in 2020. When a Cougar he played in 31 games with nine starts. He led the Independent Schools in Interceptions in 2012. While at BYU he had 72 tackles, 39 solo, and 33 assisted with four sacks, one interception, one fumble, seven quarterback hits, and 10 pass break ups.
7. Tyler Allgeier RB
Tyler Allgeier played his Cougar career from 2018-2021 and played in 41 games with 21 starts. He was then drafted to the Falcons in 2022 where he has played since. While at BYU he led the Independent teams in Rushing Attempts (2020,2021), Rushing Yards (2020,2021), Rushing Yards Per Attempt (2020,2021), Touchdowns (2021), Plays (2020), Touchdowns from Scrimmage (2021) and Points (2021). He rushed for 452 attempts, 2,899 yards, 36 touchdowns, and three touchdowns as a Cougar.
6. Jamaal Williams RB
Jamaal Williams was a Cougar from 2012-2016 and played in 42 games with 34 starts. He led the Independent Schools in Rushing Attempts (2016), Rushing Yards (2016), Touchdowns (2016), Plays (2016), Yards (2013,2016), and Touchdowns (2016). Williams rushed for 726 attempts, 3,901 yards, 35 touchdowns, and two fumbles at BYU.
5. Sione Takitaki LB
Sione Takitaki was a Cougar linebacker from 2014-2018 and played in 43 games with 27 starts. He was then drafted to the Browns in 2019 where he played since. In 2018 he led the Independent Schools in solo tackles. Takitaki had 237 tackles, 143 solo, and 94 assisted. He also had 13 sacks, four fumbles, 13 quarterback hits, and five pass break ups.
4. Blake Freeland OL
Blake Freeland was a Cougar from 2020-2022 and played in 44 games with 41 starts. He was then just drafted into the NFL to the Colts and will make his debut in August.
3. Fred Warner LB
Fred Warner was a BYU Cougar from 2014-2017 and played in 49 games with 42 starts. He led the independent schools in 2014 and 2016 in Pick Sixes. While a Cougar he had 264 tackles, 158 solo, and 106 assisted. He also had six sacks, seven interceptions, eight fumbles, 1 quarterback hit, and 13 pass break ups.
2. Bronson Kaufusi DL
Bronson Kaufusi was a Cougar from 2012-2015 and played in 50 games with 36 starts. He was then drafted by the Ravens in 2016 where he played until he retired in 2019. Kaufusi led the Independent Schools in Pass Receptions (2015), TFLs (2015), Sacks (2014,2015), Interceptions (2015), Pick Sixes (2013), and Forced Fumbles (2014,2015). He then had 152 tackles, 109 solo, 58 assisted. Kaufusi also had 24 sacks, two interceptions, eight fumbles, 17 quarterback hits, and 15 pass break ups.
1. Kyle Van Noy LB
Kyle Van Noy was a Cougar from 2010-2013 where he played in 52 games and 36 starts. He was then drafted by the Lions in 2014 and is still playing his NFL career just with another team to be named later this season. Van Noy led the Independent Schools in Pass Receptions (2011,2012), TFLs (2011,2012,2013), Sacks (2011,2012), Interceptions (2011), Pick Sixes (2012,2013). He then had 226 tackles, 153 solo, and 73 assisted. Van Noy also had 24 sacks, 16 fumbles, 32 quarterback hits, and 17 pass break ups.
