Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo
BYU junior returner Keelan Marion returns a kickoff for a touchdown during the non-conference game against Wyoming in Laramie on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
PROVO, Utah — College Football Network announced its annual football individual award winners for the 2024 season, including 14 BYU student-athletes on offense, defense and special teams.
BYU was led by return specialist Keelan Marion, who was named a second-team CFN All-American, first-team All-Big 12 and conference Kick Returner of the Year.
Linebacker Jack Kelly was named CFN Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and Defensive Transfer of the Year, while kicker Will Ferrin was recognized as the Big 12 Kicker of the Year.
Four Cougars earned CFN Big 12 First Team honors including Ferrin, Kelly, Marion and linebacker Isaiah Glasker. In addition, senior defensive lineman Tyler Batty received CFN Big 12 Second Team recognition.
Five other members of the BYU football team were named to the CFN All-Big 12 Third Team including wide receiver Chase Roberts, offensive lineman Weylin Lapuaho, cornerback Jakob Robinson, safety Tanner Wall and defensive lineman Blake Mangelson.
Quarterback Jake Retzlaff, center Connor Pay, wide receiver Darius Lassiter and running back LJ Martin all received CFN Big 12 honorable mention.
Garnett’s pole vault highlights final day of indoor track at BYU December Invitational
Maren Garnett advanced to No. 5 all-time at BYU in the pole vault and Sami Oblad to No. 8 in the 60-meters to conclude the third and final day of the BYU December Invitational at the Smith Fieldhouse in Provo.
Garnett cleared 4.28m/14-0.5 for a new career best and No. 5 all-time mark in the pole vault. The senior from Spearman, Texas won the event on attempts as teammate Rebekah Erikson also made it over the 4.28m/14-0.5 bar for second place.
“Today was full of fun energy,” said Garnett. “It was really just so fun to be back on the runway and perform how I’ve been practicing. We have such a supportive team and we do a great job pushing each other to do our best.”
Oblad ran 7.55 across the finish in her first meet ever running the 60m. Her time ties the program’s No. 8 all-time mark and she finished fourth overall in the event. The senior from Stansbury Park, Utah also won the 300m in a personal-best time of 37.88.
“What a great start to the season for Sami,” said coach Kyle Grossarth. “She showed off her speed today in the 60m which will really help her once we get into her main event (400m). I’m really excited for her and the other women heading into Christmas break.”
Other top performances from day three included Lindsey Middleton’s personal best and second-place finish in the 60m hurdles (8.73), Emily Ellis-Dalley’s personal best and fourth-place finish in the 300m (40.19) and Paje Rasmussen’s fifth-place finish in the 60m (7.59).
On the men’s side, Riley Hunt won the 60-meter hurdles event with a 7.92 finishing time and moved up to tie for the No. 8 spot on the Cougar’s all-time record board.
“I feel good,” said Hunt. “It’s December and I’m running alright. I tied my personal best. I just have got to work a couple of things out. We’ll see some good times in the future. Our guys took the top-four spots in the prelims, so having my guys next to me through that race was truly motivating. We all hugged each other before and after. It was super cool to have all four of us in the blue racing right next to each other.”
Hunt ties Lloyd Jones who holds the No. 8 all-time spot in BYU indoor track and field records and ran 7.92 in 1978 (distance converted from 55m). As a transfer from Cal, Hunt ran the same time in his final season for the Bears at the 2023 Don Kirby Elite Invitational. In first outdoor season as a Cougar, Hunt broke the school record in the 110m hurdles in 13.70.
“Riley’s looked really good leading up to this meet and at practice so I was anticipating he’d do pretty well,” said sprints coach Kyle Grossarth. “He still has some things that he can improve upon, but I’m super happy with how he started out the season and am looking forward to the rest of the year.”
The presence from the sprints group continued with Eli Hazlett who laid down a 6.96 in the 60m prelims that earned him a new personal best. BYU also presented three squads in the 4x400m relay. Group A, composed of Jonah Heimuli, Brayden Dahl, Josh Taylor and Hazlett secured the best time of the day in 3:12.76.
The men’s pole vault group was highlighted by a 5.22m/17-1.5 performance from Austin Cox. Teammate Ethan Amata cleared 5.07m/16-7.5 in his BYU indoor debut.
The Cougars will return to action after the New Year as they host the BYU Indoor Invitational Jan. 9-11 in the Smith Fieldhouse.
