Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Press ReleasePROVO, Utah (Dec. 17, 2009) — BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall today announced that quarterback Jake Heaps out of Skyline High School in Sammamish, Wash., and wide receiver Ross Apo out of the Oakridge School in Arlington, Texas, have signed scholarship agreements to enroll at BYU in January.
"We are excited that Jake and Ross have decided to come to BYU," Mendenhall said. "They are fantastic football players and outstanding individuals. We look forward to having them join our program in January along with several other quality young men who signed with BYU previously."
Heaps and Apo plan to enroll in January along with prior BYU commitments Kyle Van Noy, Famika Anae, Devin Mahina and Marcus Mathews. Van Noy, a linebacker out of McQueen High School in Reno, Nev., signed a National Letter of Intent in February, while Anae (OL, Timpview High School, Provo, Utah), Mahina (TE/DE Upland High School, Upland, Calif.) and Matthews (WR, Southridge High School, Beaverton, Ore.) have returned from missionary service after signing with BYU in 2007. Additional players could also join the team for January enrollment.
JAKE HEAPS
Ranked the No. 1 quarterback in the nation by Scout.com, Heaps led Skyline High School to three state championships while posting a 40-2 record as a three-year starter. With excellent arm strength and accuracy, Heaps amassing 9,994 yards passing and completed 63 percent of his passes while connecting on 114 touchdowns with only 18 interceptions. Including 30 rushing touchdowns, he totaled 144 scores overall during his three-year career.
A proven winner, Heaps threw for 254 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for another score in leading Skyline to a 45-21 victory in this year's 4-A title contest against Ferris High School. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound signal caller led Skyline to a 12-2 record in 2009 while totaling 45 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He helped Skyline achieve a perfect 28-0 record over his sophomore and junior seasons.
The 2009 Washington Football Player of the Year, Heaps garnered numerous MVP and all-state accolades over his standout career. Named a US Army All-American, he will play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl to be played live on NBC on Jan. 9.
ROSS APO
A product of the Oakridge School in Arlington, Texas, Apo averaged an amazing 19.1 yards per catch over his three year prep career while totaling nearly 2,000 receiving yards. At 6-foot-3, Apo is an excellent red zone target because of his height and leaping ability (37-inch vertical). He made 22 touchdown receptions over his career, including 21 scoring grabs over the past two seasons.
Apo averaged 22.5 yards on 36 receptions as a senior in 2009 while totaling 810 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a junior he hauled in 37 passes for 764 yards for a 20.6 yards-per-catch average with 11 touchdown receptions. He also recorded 27 catches for 331 yards and one touchdown as a sophomore.
An explosive athlete with long arms to go along with his tall frame, Apo is a large target over the middle and covers a lot of ground quickly with his long stride. He joins Heaps among the 90 players nationwide to be named a US Army High School All-American and has accepted an invitation to play in the US Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 9 at the Alamodome.
KYLE VAN NOY
A linebacker out of Reno, Nev., Van Noy was a first-team all-state selection and rated the No. 11 weakside linebacker in the nation by scout.com. He was the No. 4 overall prospect from the state of Nevada by Rivals.com at the conclusion of the 2008 season. Playing linebacker and receiver, he helped lead McQueen High School to a perfect 14-0 record and the 2008 4A state title.
As a senior in 2008, Van Noy caught 35 passes for 731 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed the ball 10 times for 121 yards. Defensively, he had 79 tackles (55 solos), 10 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 14 sacks and one interception for a score.
As a junior in 2007 he had 69 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, seven sacks, seven fumbles caused and two interceptions while totaling 805 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns on offense. Van Noy was an all-conference and all-area selection as a sophomore and was also an all-league performer in track (4x100, 4x200 and 4x400).
FAMIKA ANAE
Anae is the son of BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae and played for former BYU standout offensive lineman Louis Wong at Timpview High School in Provo. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder helped lead Timpview to the 2006 4A State Championship title as a senior.
Anae blocked for an offense at Timpview that produced 26.5 points per game and was part of an offensive line that helped produce a 1,700-yard rusher and a 1,400-yard passer. Anae returned in 2009 from a two-year mission served in McAllen, Texas.
DEVIN MAHINA
Mahina comes to BYU after serving a mission in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The 6-foot-6 tight end was credited with 19 receptions for 373 yards, averaging 19.6 yards per reception as a senior at Upland High School in Upland, Calif. He added four touchdowns during his senior season and had a season-high 151 yards receiving in Upland's 40-23 win over Claremont.
Defensively, Mahina was credited with 36 tackles, including 21 solos and 15 assisted takedowns playing defensive end. He averaged 4.0 tackles per game and recorded six sacks on the season. He was also credited with a blocked field goal and a blocked punt and two safeties while earning all-CIF honors.
MARCUS MATHEWS
Matthews was an all-state second-team selection at Southridge High School and helped lead the Skyhawks to the state title game as a senior. The Beaverton, Ore., native was credited with more than 50 receptions as a senior and scored seven touchdowns had 47 receptions for 690 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior.
The Oregonian named the 6-foot-4 all-metro receiver one of the top 10 players in the state before his departure to serve a two-year mission to Stockholm, Sweden. His younger brother Mitch is a redshirt freshman on BYU's 2009 team.
ROSTER INFORMATION
Ross Apo WR 6-3 190 Arlington, Texas / The Oakridge School Jake Heaps QB 6-2 205 Issaquah, Wash. / Skyline HS Kyle Van Noy LB 6-4 209 Reno, Nev. / McQueen HS Famika Anae OL 6-5 260 Provo, Utah / Timpview HS Devin Mahina TE/DE 6-6 225 Upland, Calif. / Upland HS Marcus Mathews WR 6-4 200 Beaverton, Ore. / Southridge HS
(Courtesy BYU Athletic Department)
