Cougs Daily

The Best Moments of the Upperclassman that BYU Will Honor on Senior Day

BYU will honor 37 players on Saturday against Utah Tech

Casey Lundquist

On Senior Day against Utah Tech, BYU will honor 13 seniors along with another 24 players that have spent four or five years in the program. The 24 players that are not seniors will have the option to return for another year in 2023.  Today, we (subjectively) look at the best moments from each of the upperclassman that will be honored on Saturday.

13 Seniors

1. Chris Brooks

BYU vs USF Chris Brooks

Chris Brooks shined in his first game as a BYU Cougar. Brooks ran for 135 yards on 13 carries against USF and his longest carry of the night was a 52-yard touchdown scamper.

2. Matthew Criddle

BYU vs Idaho State Matthew Criddle

Against Idaho State in 2021, Matthew Criddle made a great play on a pass over the middle and had an interception deep in Idaho State territory.

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3. Lorenzo Fauatea

In 2019, Lorenzo Fauatea sacked USC quarterback Kedon Slovis and forced a fumble late in the first half. Fauatea dominated the center on this play.

4. Kaleb Hayes

Against USC in 2021, the Trojans were faced with a 4th & 6 in BYU territory with 38 seconds remaining. Kaleb Hayes tackled Greg Bryant short of the first down marker to seal a victory over the Trojans. That win gave BYU a 10-win season and cemented an undefeated record against the PAC-12.

5. Houston Heimuli

Houston Heimuli has wrecked people all season long on the kickoff return team. His best moment, however, was a moment of leadership that was caught on camera against Boise State.

6. Chris Jackson

In 2021 against Arizona, wide receiver Chris Jackson caught a slant on a critical fourth down that resulted in a first down. BYU would go on to score a touchdown on that drive to take a 6-0 lead.

7. Lopini Katoa

Lopini Katoa has had many great moments in a BYU uniform, many of which could have been mentioned in this article. After all, he has 27 career touchdowns. The play that stands out most is his diving catch against UCF in 2020. Katoa made the catch of the 2020 season when he laid out and caught this Zach Wilson pass.

8. Lane Lunt

In limited action, Lane Lunt was a good run blocker. In 2020, he was the lead blocker for a Tyler Allgeier run that resulted in a 30-yard gain.

9. D'Angelo Mandell

On a day where BYU's defense struggled to get stops, D'Angelo Mandell had a PBU against Arkansas that resulted in a stop. Mandell was targeted two times in that game and did not allow a reception.

10. Pepe Tanuvasa

Pepe Tanuvasa had a game-changing sack against Arizona State in 2021. Tanuvasa sacked Jaden Daniels deep inside Arizona State territory in the fourth quarter.

11. Alden Tofa

Against Utah State earlier this season, Tofa recorded a sack. It was his first career solo sack. He was credited with two half sacks in 2021.

12. Earl Tuioti-Mariner

Against USC in 2019, Tuitoti-Mariner received a PFF grade of 77.1. Over his career, that is his second best individual game grade.

13. Joe Tukuafu

Tukuafu received a career high grade of 80.5 against Georgia Southern in 2021.

24 Others Honored

1. Chaz Ah You

In 2019, BYU and Toledo were tied 21-21 with four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The Rockets were marching down the field and had entered BYU territory. BYU needed a stop. Toledo running back Bryant Koback ran for 12 yards before being met by Chaz Ah You. Ah You ripped the ball out Koback's hands and recovered the fumble, giving the ball back to BYU's offense.

That play was symbolic of Ah You's disruptive impact when healthy.

2. Clark Barrington

Against Navy in 2020, Clark Barrington received a career high grade of 96.7. Barrington's play was so dominant, in fact, that he received several shout-outs during the broadcast from Kirk Herbstreit.

3. Brayden Cosper

With 10 seconds remaining in the first half, BYU trailed Wyoming 10-7. Jaren Hall found Brayden Cosper in the front corner on the endzone just before time expired. Cosper maintained possession while tapping his toe for the score.

4. Blake Freeland

Blake Freeland received a grade of 86.8 against Notre Dame earlier this season. That was the second best grade on the team behind only Kody Epps. Freeland has been incredibly consistent throughout his career, especially in pass blocking. However, his stellar performance against a stout Notre Dame front stands out.

5. Jaren Hall

Jaren Hall vs Utah

Speaking of consistency and reliability, Jaren Hall has been just that throughout his BYU career. Hall has had many great moments during his time at BYU. Hall will forever be remembered for leading BYU to a victory over Utah for the first time in 12 years.

Most importantly, Hall was mistake-free in that game. He led the Cougars with 241 yards of total offense, 3 passing touchdowns and no turnovers.

Hall's mobility iced the game in the fourth quarter.

6. Ammon Hannemann

Ammon Hannemann had a career high eight tackles against Baylor earlier this year.

7. Britton Hogan

Long snapper Britton Hogan...well let's be honest, nobody notices the long snapper until things go wrong. Hogan has done a great job of going unnoticed. 

8. Jackson Kaufusi

In 2019, Jackson Kaufusi had an interception in a pivotal upset victory over Boise State. The interception gave BYU a short field and they took advantage, taking a 28-10 lead.

9. Harris LaChance

Against Troy in 2020, Harris LaChance had a career high grade of 82.3.

10. Hayden Livingston

Hayden Livingston had an interception in the 2021 season opener against Arizona that sealed the game. Livingston played center field to intercept the pass in the endzone.

11. Atunaisa Mahe

Atunaisa Mahe has been part of many great moments at BYU. Against Utah State in 2019, Mahe flashed his speed when he sacked Jordan Love.

12. Jackson McChesney

Jackson McChesney, should he leave BYU after this season, would leave with his name in the record books. McChesney set the freshman single game rushing record against UMass in 2019. McChesney racked up 228 yards on just 15 carries that day.

13. Malik Moore

Against Washington State in 2021, Malik Moore picked off Jayden De Laura in a play that changed the momentum of the game. Moore read the quarterback well and had two other opportunities for interceptions in that game. He also added four tackles.

14. Puka Nacua

Two weeks ago against Boise State, Nacua made one of the best catches in BYU history to win the game against Boise State. This Nacua catch will be remembered for years to come.

15. Jake Oldroyd

In his first collegiate kick, Jake Oldroyd hit the game-winning field goal in the first game of the Kalani Sitake era.

16. Keenan Pili

Against Arizona in 2021, Keenan Pili racked up 17 tackles and a sack. Pili was completely dominant in that game.

17. Alema Pilimai

Against Idaho State in 2021, Alema Pilimai had a career high two tackles.

18. Morgan Pyper

Against Virginia in 2021, Morgan Pyper racked up seven total tackles.

19. Gunner Romney

Gunner Romney vs USF

With his brother at quarterback, Gunner Romney racked up 119 receiving yards and a touchdown. On the first drive of the game, Romney laid out on a long catch that set up a touchdown.

20. Gabe Summers

21. Max Tooley

Max Tooley has made many notable plays this season including two pick-sixes. In the fourth quarter against Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish were driving to add to their lead. Tooley picked off a tipped pass and gave BYU's offense a chance to win the game.

22. George Udo

On a two-point conversion attempt against Houston, George Udo stepped in front of the route and picked off the two-point attempt.

23. Masen Wake

On the road against Houston, Make Wake took an underhand pass from Zach Wilson into the endzone. Wake's touchdown gave BYU a 29-26 lead and the Cougars never looked back. BYU improved to 4-0.

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24. Payton Wilgar

Against USC in 2019, Payton Wilgar dove in front of a Kedon Slovis pass and intercepted the pass. Wilgar's interception set up a BYU touchdown on the ensuing drive.

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Casey Lundquist
CASEY LUNDQUIST

Casey Lundquist is the publisher and lead editor of Cougs Daily. He has covered BYU athletics for the last four years. During that time, he has published over 2,000 stories that have reached more than three million people.

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