Continuing with evaluating recruiting classes since 1996, here is the second installment with the '97 class.
Aissac Aiono TE Compton, CA
Saw limited action in three seasons. Before 2004 season, quit the team.
Jason Anderson QB Sandy
Redshirted in 97. In '98 switched to Safety didn't see much playing time then transferred to Utah and did nothing there as well.
Jon Burbidge WR Olympia, WA
Came back from mission in 2001 and was switched to Safety. Came from no-where to be a solid contributor to the team and was a starter during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Earned All-MWC HM in 2004.
David Castleton WR Irvine, CA
Never played. Decided to play on the BYU baseball team instead and never played with them either.
David Christensen WR Clovis, CA
A reserve receiver during his three seasons, also was a specialist. Totaled over 700+ all-purpose yards in his career.
Toby Christensen WR Alpine, UT
Son of Cougar legend Todd Christensen (FB). Was the starter at receiver during the 2002 and 2003 seasons, also Punt returner. Had a solid career recording over 1,000 yards receiving. Now does some sideline reporting on the very popular "mtn." channel.
Andrew Clark OL Belmont, MA
Never enrolled
Jaron Dabney CB Sealy, TX
Dabney was the reserve RB behind Brian McKenzie in '97, but his impact was made in the return game where it seemed as if BYU wouldn't lose a beat after departed Senior James Dye graduated. Dabney recorded BYU's last TD in the return game prior to McKay Jacobson's one this season against Wyoming during the `97 season against Hawaii. Dabney was the WAC Freshman of the Year that season. In '98 Dabney broke the Honor Code forcing him to redshirt. In '99 Dabney was a 2nd Team All-MWC performer and was a solid contributor once again to the return game. In 2000 Dabney broke the HC again forcing him to be kicked out of school. Dabney was a great talent, it would've been nice to see him for four years in Provo.
James Eastman OT Renton, WA
Went on a mission immediately and then never showed up.
J.R. Ewing DL Phoenix, AZ
Never Enrolled
Jeremy Gibbs DB Memphis, TN
Was there for Spring Practices in '97 but after that was never seen again.
Matt Griffith OT Renton, WA
Never Enrolled.
Ryan Gunderson DL Gresham, OR
A solid performer from the DT position for three seasons. After the 2001 season, Gunderson and teammate Teague Whiting were in a bar fight with some random guy and knocked him out giving them both suspensions for the '02 season. Gunderson in that same season suffered back injuries towards the end of the year that ended his Cougar career.
Jared Harper FB Orem
Lettered one season in 2002
Scott Jackson DL Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Saw limited time from 2000-2001. Took over the starting Center spot in 2002 and 2003 and was an All-MWC performer in those seasons. A very good Center.
Brett Keisel TE Greybull, WY
Switched to DE in 1998. Redshirted in 1999. In 2000 and 2001 Keisel was the starter and a very good pass rushing DE for the Cougars. Keisel was drafted by the Steelers in the 7th Round of the 2002 Draft and has been a major contributor for the Steelers, being one of their top players in the franchise. Recently inducted into the state of Wyoming Athletic Hall of Fame.
Isaac Kelley QB American Fork
Kelley was switched to Linebacker and he was a starter for the Cougars. Kelley had 186 tackles in his career with the Cougars.
Jason Kukahiko WR Orem
Kukahiko was a possession receiver at best. Improved his receiving stats every season with the Cougars. Ended his career with 508 receiving yards.
Zach Magalei LB Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Never Enrolled
Drew Miller QB Lakewood, WA
Highly recruited. Miller was given the starting QB nod for the UTEP game (L, 3-14 in the Sun Bowl) and did very well. But the rest of the season for Miller he did not see much time. In 1998 was the reserve behind Feterik and didn't see time, so he transferred mainly due to his dad being so involved. He ended up at Montana and led the Grizzlies to the D-1AA National Championship in 1999. Could have been a good QB at BYU but his dad got in the way of things and he grew an attitude.
Stanley Moleni LB Laie, HI
Only played one season in '98, and saw limited time.
Todd Mortensen QB Tempe, AZ
Did basically nothing in his 3 seasons with the Cougars. Had an opportunity to shine in the Boise State game in 2003 and did nothing. After that 2003 season transferred to the D-1AA San Diego Toreros and tore it up under Head Coach (and now Stanford coach) Jim Harbaugh. With his great performance in San Diego for one season it earned him a Free Agent contract with the Detroit Lions, didn't make the squad but it was quite an accomplishment for him, considering he couldn't even throw a pass in 2003 against Boise State.
Kevon Morton DB Baytown, TX
Only played two seasons and recorded 4 tackles, then left the program after 1998.
Wes Patterson RB Bountiful
Did nothing. Only there for one season in '98 and didn't see any playing time
Matt Payne K North Ogden
Payne was a great kicking specialist for four seasons. Did both Kicking and Punting from 2002-2004. Was a great hitter for being a kicker, just ask Chris Carr from Boise State. Payne's efficiency went down towards the end of the 2004 season, but overall in his career he was 150 of 157 on PAT's and 54-73 on FG's. It was surprising that Payne never landed a gig with an NFL team, but he had a stellar career with BYU. Surprisingly, Payne was never given an opportunity by an NFL franchise.
*Don't watch after the first two highlights on this clip. That game still irks the Cougar nation. But the hits were awesome.
Ifo Pili DL Orem
Pili started seeing time as a True Freshman in '98 recording 17 tackles. Went on a mission, then came back in 2001 and seemed to be out of shape from his mission arriving mid-way through Fall camp that season. Had a very productive Junior season recording 12 sacks and 48 tackles and earning Honorable mention. Pili's production went down his Senior year, but still had a positive impact.
Had a short stint with the New England Patriots but felt football had became a job once he arrived in the Pros, and now and wants to get into politics.
Mike Rigell WR Tacoma, WA
Redshirted the '97 season. As a redshirt Freshman in '98 was the main kick returner, including a Kickoff returned for a Touchdown against Hawaii. Rigell broke the Honor Code after that season and was gone for the '99 campaign. Came back in 2000, and in 2001 had over 1,000 yards in the return game on the season earning him MWC Honorable Mention. Rigell had a stint with Utah's NIFL team called the Utah Warriors who played at the E Center, that team only lasted two seasons, still plays in the NIFL for the Rapid City Flying Aces.
Steroids at BYU??? Forget congress I'd be more worried about BYU Police coming after ya.
Jason Scukanec OL Vancouver, WA
Didn't see hardly any time unil the 2000 season where he earned 2nd Team All-MWC honors from the Center position. Then during BYU's high octane offensive season in 2001, Scukanec was the anchor of the O-line earning 1st Team All-MWC honor.
Had a stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL for a season or two. Scukanec works on a Oregon sports radio station and in 2005 claimed he knew , during their time in Provo.
Brandon Stephens TE Logan
Went on a mission to start his career, and was switched to Offensive Line when he came back in 2000. Redshirted in '00 and saw limited time the rest of his career. Stephens helped Okland Construction on building the Indoor Practice Facility during the summer of 2002.
Doug Shaw FB Marietta, GA
Never enrolled.
Ryan Slater WR American Fork
Came in to Provo with some press clippings but never lived up to anything. Had only 67 yards receiving in his entire career. One of the main reasons BYU fans aren't too keen on having WRs from Utah County.
Mike Tanner LB Orem
Tanner didn't see time in his Cougar career until 2002 when Paul Walkenhorst went down with injury. Tanner was the ideal size for a Middle Linebacker (6'1 235). In his two seasons seeing significant time he recorded 137 tackles, 7 TFL, and 2 INT. Tanner also earned Honorable Mentions for both years. A solid player.
Rod Wilkerson S Orem
A.K.A. "50/50" Wilkerson was switched to WR in 2001 went he came back from a mission. Wilkerson was extremely and had the makings to be a good receiver, but he had no hands giving him the infamous nickname of "50/50." He did end up with over 1,000 receiving yards in his career.
Bill Wright LB Portland, OR
Wright saw limited time in his four years in Provo (2000-2003). Was switched from OLB to DE going into the 2003 season and he was switched back before seasons end.
Ranking the Class
1. Brett Keisel
2. Matt Payne
3. Ifo Pili
4. Jason Scukanec
T-5. Scott Jackson
T-5. Mike Rigell
This class is a prime example of what Bronco Mendenhall has went away from, and that is players who never enroll, hurting the depth of the program. This class 7 to 8 players who never played a down in Cougar blue. Now the program looks for talent who wants to come to BYU and they sell their selves to the program instead of waiting til Signing Day for athletes who truly aren't "Fully Invested" in coming to BYU.
Was really excited for Jaron Dabney it looked like he would was going to have as good if not better career than James Dye in the return game. This class only had one player (Keisel) who made a big splash in the pro ranks. This was a average class as a whole, mainly due to the mentioned lack of players getting enrolled.
Archive:
1996
--Mitch
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