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PROVO, Utah (December 12, 2006) -- After receiving SI.com, as well as CBSSportsline.com All-America honors last week, BYU senior tight end Jonny Harline continues to earn national recognition for his stellar performance this season. Add The Sporting News First Team All-America honors to Harline's growing list of national accolades. Senior quarterback John Beck was also recognized by the national publication, earning Second Team All-America honors. Senior offensive lineman Jake Kuresa was also recently recognized by SI.com, earning honorable mention All-America honors.
Harline, a native of Orem, Utah, is a two-time All-Mountain West Conference tight end and leads the BYU roster with 754 yards on the season. The 6-foot-4, 238-pound senior has also been credited with 11 touchdown receptions to lead all tight ends in the nation. Harline had a career day against Utah, grabbing three touchdown receptions in the Cougars' 33-31 victory over Utah. Harline was twice featured on ESPN SportsCenter's Play of the Day, receiving national recognition for his one-handed touchdown grab against No. 15 TCU and his game-winning touchdown reception against Utah. Harline has been credited with at least 50 yards receiving in eight games during the 2006 season, including six games over 70 yards. Harline had over 100 yards receiving in two of the Cougars' final three games. Harline finished the 2006 season as one of the top tight ends in the country. Harline's 11 touchdowns and 15.4 yards-per-reception ranked tops among the eight semifinalists for the Mackey Award.
Beck, the unanimous Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Year, leads the league in nearly every passing category. The native of Mesa, Ariz., leads the league in passing yards per game (319.1), total offense per game (316.0), passing efficiency (173.3), completion percentage (70.4) and touchdown completions (30). During the season he had four games with over 300 yards passing, including 10 games with over 250 yards passing. He has completed at least 65 percent of his attempts in 10 of the 11 games he played during the season, and had three or more touchdown completions in seven games, including five games with four TD's. En route to becoming BYU's all-time second leading passer, Beck was named the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week a record seven times during the season.
Kuresa, a native of Millville, Utah, earned All-Mountain West Conference honors after anchoring an offensive line that helped produce an average 458.6 yards of total offense per game. The offensive line captain has been credited with 96 knock-downs on the season, and gave up just 1.5 sacks during the season. Kuresa did not allow a single sack against league opponents. Kuresa, who played tackle, guard and center for the Cougars during the season, helped provide protection for the nation's fourth most productive passing offense which is averaging over 319 yards per game. The BYU offense also ranks second in the country with a 171.1 passing efficiency.
First-team Offense Quarterback -- Troy Smith, 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, senior, Ohio State. Running backs -- Darren McFadden, 6-2, 212, sophomore, Arkansas; Steve Slaton, 5-10, 195, sophomore, West Virginia. Wide receivers -- Calvin Johnson, 6-5, 235, junior, Georgia, Tech; Dwayne Jarrett, 6-5, 210, junior, Southern California. Tight end -- Matt Spaeth, 6-7, 265, senior, Minnesota. Tackles -- Jake Long, 6-7, 313, senior, Michigan; Joe Thomas, 6-8, 313, senior, Wisconsin. Guards -- Josh Beekman, 6-2, 318, senior, Boston College; Justin Blalock, 6-4, 335, senior, Texas. Center -- Dan Mozes, 6-4, 290, senior, West Virginia. Kicker -- Justin Medlock, 6-0, 197, senior, UCLA. All-purpose player -- DeSean Jackson, 6-0, 178, sophomore, California. Defense Ends -- LaMarr Woodley, 6-2, 269, senior, Michigan; Gaines Adams, 6-5, 265, senior, Clemson. Tackles -- Glenn Dorsey, 6-2, 299, junior, LSU; Quinn Pitcock, 6-3, 295, senior, Ohio State. Linebackers -- Paul Posluszny, 6-2, 238, senior, Penn State; Patrick Willis, 6-2, 240, senior, Mississippi; James Laurinaitis, 6-3, 244, sophomore, Ohio State. Cornerbacks -- Leon Hall, 5-11, 193, senior, Michigan; Daymeion Hughes, 6-0, 188, senior, California. Safeties -- LaRon Landry, 6-2, 202, senior, LSU; Reggie Nelson, 6-1, 175, junior, Florida. Punter -- Daniel Sepulveda, 6-3, 230, senior, Baylor.
Second-team Offense Quarterback -- Brady Quinn, senior, Notre Dame. Running backs -- Ray Rice, sophomore, Rutgers; Mike Hart, junior, Michigan. Wide receivers -- Jarrett Dillard, sophomore, Rice; Jeff Samardzija, senior, Notre Dame. Tight end -- Zach Miller, junior, Arizona State. Tackles -- Sam Baker, junior, Southern California; Arron Sears, senior, Tennessee. Guards -- Ben Grubbs, senior, Auburn; T.J. Downing, senior, Ohio State. Center -- Ryan Kalil, senior, Southern California. Kicker -- Arthur Carmody, junior, Louisville. All-purpose player -- Ted Ginn. Jr., junior, Ohio State. Defense Ends -- Justin Hickman, senior, UCLA; Mkristo Bruce, senior, Washington State. Tackles -- Alan Branch, junior, Michigan; Amobi Okoye, senior, Louisville. Linebackers -- Dan Connor, junior, Penn State; Ameer Ismail, senior, Western Michigan; David Harris, senior, Michigan. Cornerbacks -- Aaron Ross, senior, Texas; Ryan Smith, senior, Florida. Safeties -- Eric Weddle, senior, Utah; Michael Griffin, senior, Texas. Punter -- Durant Brooks, junior, Georgia Tech.
Third-team Offense Quarterback -- Colt Brennan, junior, Hawaii. Running backs -- Ian Johnson, sophomore, Boise State; Garrett Wolfe, senior, Northern Illinois. Wide receivers -- Robert Meachem, junior, Tennessee; Johnnie Lee Higgins, senior, UTEP. Tight end -- Jonny Harline, senior, BYU. Tackles -- Levi Brown, senior, Penn State; Tony Ugoh, senior, Arkansas. Guards -- Kurt Quarterman, senior, Louisville; Nathan Bennett, senior, Clemson. Center -- Jonathan Luigs, sophomore, Arkansas. Kicker -- Mason Crosby, senior, Colorado. All-purpose player -- Sammie Stroughter, junior, Oregon State. Defense Ends -- Quentin Moses, senior, Georgia; Anthony Spencer, senior, Purdue. Tackles -- Jay Alford, senior, Penn State; Eric Foster, junior, Rutgers. Linebackers -- H.B. Blades, senior, Pittsburgh; Rufus Alexander, senior, Oklahoma; Brandon Siler, junior, Florida. Cornerbacks -- Dwight Lowery, junior, San Jose State; Brandon Flowers, sophomore, Virginia Tech. Safeties -- Tra Battle, senior, Georgia; Tom Zbikowski, senior, Notre Dame. Punter -- Jeremy Kapinos, senior, Penn State.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-12-12-06 1149MST
