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The Sporting NewsCougars predicted to finish third in the MWC, 57th nationally ... Predicts BYU, Colorado State and Utah “should make it to the postseason” ... Lists BYU as having the top recruiting class in the MWC ... Named Reno Mahe (WR), Spencer Nead (TE), Dustin Rykert (OL), and Jernaro Gilford (CB) as preseason first-team All-MWC selections ... Named Reno Mahe as the Preseason Offensive Player of the Year ... Dustin Rykert (OL) ranked as the 13th top offensive tackle in the country ... Spencer Nead (TE) ranked as the sixth top tight end in the country ... Reno Mahe (WR) ranked as the 25th top receiver in the country.
Street & Smith’s
Cougars predicted to win the MWC ... Lists receiver Reno Mahe, offensive tackle Ben Archibald and corner Jernaro Gilford as preseason honorable mention All-American selections ... Lists Bret Engemann as the top passer in the MWC ... Ranks Reno Mahe as having the “best instincts” in the league ... Ranks Ben Olsen as being the league’s top NFL prospect ... Ranks head coach Gary Crowton as the “best recruiter” in the MWC ... Ranks BYU as having the top recruiting class in the MWC ... Lists BYU vs. Utah as a key game to watch ... Bret Engemann (QB), Reno Mahe (WR), Ben Archibald (OL) and Jernaro Gilford (CB) as first-team All-MWC selections ... Freshman quarterback Ben Olsen listed among top-100 college freshman to watch.
Athlon Sports
BYU ranked No. 31 nationally ... Cougars predicted to finish second in the MWC ... Reno Mahe (WR), Spencer Nead (TE), Ben Archibald (OL) and Jernaro Gilford named preseason All-MWC ... Lists BYU vs. Hawaii (Sept. 6) and BYU at Colorado State (Oct. 24) as key games to watch ... Lists BYU as having the top recruiting class in the MWC, 39th nationally ... Ranks Ben Olsen as the top high-school recruit in the MWC, eighth nationally ... Ranks eight different BYU players among the league’s top-20 recruits ... Predicts BYU vs. UCLA in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Phil Steele’s College Football Preview
Cougars predicted to finish third in the MWC ... Ranked 38th nationally ... Reno Mahe (WR), Spencer Nead (TE), Dustin Rykert (OL), Paul Walkenhorst (LB), Jernaro Gilford (CB) named first-team All-MWC ... Bret Engemann (QB), Ifo Pili (DT), Brandon Stephens (DL), Matt Payne (K) named second-team All-MWC ... Marcus Whalen (RB), Andrew Ord (WR), Scott Jackson (OL), Ben Archibald (OL), Ryan Gunderson (DT), Brandon Heaney (CB) named third-team All-MWC ... Lists BYU as having the top recruiting class in the MWC, 43rd nationally ... Lists freshman quarterback Ben Olsen as the top quarterback recruit in the nation ... Predicts BYU vs. Syracuse ... Lists Bret Engemann as the 29th ranked QB in the nation ... Ranks Spencer Nead as the 22nd top tight end in the country ... Lists Reno Mahe as the 29th top receiver in the nation ... Ranks Dustin Rykert as the 14th top offensive tackle in the nation ... Lists Jernaro Gilford as the 15th ranked cornerback in the country ... Ranks Paul Walkenhorst as the 21st ranked inside linebacker in the country.
Jim Feist’s College Football Preview
Cougars predicted to finish third in the MWC ... Reno Mahe (WR), Ben Archibald (OL), Jernaro Gilford (CB) named preseason All-MWC.
2002 MWC PRESEASON POLLS
Athlon Sports
1. Utah
2. Brigham Young
3. Colorado State
4. New Mexico
5. UNLV
6. Air Force
7. San Diego State
8. Wyoming
The Sporting News
1. Colorado State
2. Utah
3. Brigham Young
4. UNLV
5. New Mexico
6. Air Force
7. Wyoming
8. San Diego State
Street & Smith’s
1. Brigham Young
2. Colorado State
3. New Mexico
4. Utah
5. UNLV
6. Air Force
7. San Diego State
8. Wyoming
Lindy’s
1. Brigham Young
2. Colorado State
3. Utah
4. UNLV
5. New Mexico
6. Air Force
7. San Diego State
8. Wyoming
Phil Steele’s College Football Preview
1. Utah
2. Colorado State
3. Brigham Young
4. UNLV
5. New Mexico
6. Air Force
7. Wyoming
8. San Diego State
Jim Feist’s College Football Preview
1. Colorado State
2. UNLV
3. Brigham Young
4. Utah
5. Air Force
6. New Mexico
7. Wyoming
8. San Diego State
written by BYU Athletic Media Relations
