Past Player Profile: Brady Poppinga

Position: Linebacker
Years Played: 2001-04

Fan support lands BYU's Van Noy on the cover of football preview magazine

If you are a BYU football fan, you have probably heard by now that Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Kyle Van Noy will grace one of the 11 covers of Phil Steele's 2013 College Football Preview magazine. What you probably have not heard is why Mr. Steele and his team decided to put Van Noy on the cover.

Brett Thompson -- BYU's next great tight end?

Going back over 30 years, outstanding tight end play has gone almost hand-in-hand with outstanding quarterback play for the Brigham Young Cougars. Dennis Pitta caught a touchdown in the most recent Super Bowl, and Gordon Hudson was inducted into the college football hall of fame less than five years ago. However, as BYU fans have waited the last three years for the next great quarterback to emerge, they have also been waiting for the next great tight end to manifest himself.

MYTH BUSTER: Kyle Van Noy is too small to be a 1st round NFL draft pick

The Brigham Young Cougars could have back-to-back years of first round NFL draft picks. Ezekiel Ansah was selected by the Detroit Lions with the fifth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. Linebacker Kyle Van Noy has a shot at being a first round pick in 2014.

Fred Warner: BYU’s Defense to Gain Lightning Linebacker

The Brigham Young Cougars defense was ranked no. 3 in the nation for the 2012 campaign. A defense led by Ezekiel Ansah and Kyle Van Noy not only shut down opposing teams’ run game with ferocity but also was a driving factor in BYU’s offense in many instances. A new linebacking recruit hopes to add his name to the growing legacy of Cougar defenders.

Past Player Profile: Scott Collie

Position: Wide Receiver
Years Played: 1978-82

Past Player Profile: Tim McTyer

Position: Cornerback
Years Played: 1995-96

BYU Football News and Notes

Some pretty interesting developments came out of the BYU camp yesterday. They involve a scheduling announcement, new coaching hire, and the return of a defensive player to practice. Additionally, I am interested to learn what everybody thinks about where Eathyn Manumaleuna should play this season--nose tackle or defensive end.

BYU QB Steve Young is in, Jim McMahon snubbed, in The Herd's QB Bracket

With college basketball's March Madness right around the corner, ESPN sports radio host Colin Cowherd has put together a bracket of his own--the QB Bracket. The goal is to determine the greatest NFL quarterback of all-time using a similar 64-player format to that used by the NCAA to determine the men's college basketball champion.

Former Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Steve Young made the field. Super Bowl champion Jim McMahon did not.

BYU should extend Bronco Mendenhall's contract for life, fans say

Brigham Young Cougars head coach Bronco Mendenhall confirmed last Monday that rumors of preliminary talks about extending his contract with BYU were true. Mendenhall has one year left on a three-year deal he signed before the 2011 season.

Business as usual for BYU defense with Howell as defensive coordinator

Just before the Brigham Young Cougars opened spring practices, head coach Bronco Mendenhall announced some new staff assignments. The most surprising assignment was Mendenhall relinquishing the defensive coordinator title to Nick Howell. That news immediately brought two thoughts to mind: 1) Great opportunity for Howell, and 2) Will the BYU defense take a step back?

Ziggy Watch: March 1-8; Detroit, Cleveland, and New York possible destinations

The attention that Brigham Young Cougars defensive end Ezekiel Ansah is receiving has grown rapidly since the NFL Draft Combine ended. No BYU football player has received this kind of attention as the NFL Draft approached in well over a decade. During the season, head coach Bronco Mendenhall said that more NFL team scouts and executives were on campus inquiring about Ansah than he had seen for all other players combined during his tenure.

BLUE COUGAR FOOTBALL will endeavor to chronicle the coverage of Ansah leading up to the NFL Draft on April 25 when Ansah could be one of the first players to hear his name called. Each Friday, Ziggy Watch will wrap up what is new about Ansah during the last week--where is he in the latest mock drafts, what teams are showing the most interest, who is tweeting about him, and anything else interesting that pops up.