Both Will Ferrin and Parker Kingston made extraordinary contributions to the BYU football team during the 2024 season, and were subsequently rewarded with preseason accolades by the Phil Steele preseason publication.

Phil Steele has published his extensively-researched college football preseason magazine since 1995 and is widely regarded as the most notable of all such publications. As part of his writings, Steele lists preseason All-American Teams, of which both Ferrin and Kingston were listed with the second and third teams, respectively.

For Ferrin, Cougar fans won’t soon forget his heroics at the end of BYU’s intense 22-21 win over Utah last season. Trailing the game throughout, BYU managed to line up Ferrin with a 44-yard field goal attempt with just seconds remaining and a 21-19 deficit to overcome. The Kaysville High School product calmly kicked the ball through the uprights with distance to spare which effectively gave BYU the hard-fought win.

BYU has struggled finding consistent kickers recently, but found a gem in Ferrin. The 6-foot-3, 175 pound senior-to-be kicked through 24 field goals last season, a team record while converting on all 41 of his extra point attempts.

For Kingston, returning even one punt for a touchdown is a tremendous accomplishment over the course of the season, but returning two puts him in elite company. Kingston scored on a 90-yard punt return in BYU’s 38-9 win over Kansas State and then broke off a 64-yarder against Colorado in the Alamo Bowl for his second returned touchdown.

Kingston also shined at receiver, hauling in 13 passes last season for 196 yards and also accounted for a passing touchdown, connecting with running back LJ Martin for a 33-yard score during BYU’s 41-19 win over Arizona on a trick play.

Both Ferrin and Kingston were also named as first-team performers to Phil Steele’s All-Big 12 Conference preseason team, along with teammates Chase Roberts (WR), Isaiah Glasker (LB) and Garrison Grimes (DS.) BYU linebacker Jack Kelly was named to Phil Steele’s second All-Big 12 second team with cornerback Mory Bamba, offensive lineman Weylin Lapuaho and defensive lineman Keanu Tanuvasa receiving third-team selections.

Here’s BYU’s official press release on the selections:

FERRIN was named the 2024 Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Year and was also the College Football Network Big 12 Kicker of the Year. In addition, he was named first-team All-Big 12 by the Coaches, AP, College Football Network and Phil Steele. In 2024, Ferrin set new BYU records for field goals in a season (24) and tied the school record for consecutive field goals made (16). A Lou Groza Award Semifinalist, Ferrin led the Big 12 in field goals and was eighth nationally. He also converted all 41 of his extra-point attempts to lead all conference kickers in scoring with 113 points (8.7 per game). The 6-3, 175-pound senior from Kaysville, Utah, also excels in the classroom with a 3.52 GPA in business management and was selected Academic All-Big 12 and named Academic All-District by College Sports Communicators.

A 6-5, 235-pound junior from South Jordan, Utah, GLASKER was named Chuck Bednarik National Player of the Week on Oct. 15 by the Maxwell Football Club for his performance in BYU’s 41-19 win over Arizona. Against the Wildcats, he totaled five solo tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, an interception for a 21-yard touchdown, a sack, a pass break up and a forced fumble that led to a BYU field goal. During the 2024 regular season, Glasker led the Big 12 in tackles for loss with 13.5. For the Cougars, he was second on the team with 62 tackles, 3.5 sacks, eight quarterback hurries and two interceptions. Glasker was named Midseason All-America by The Athletic and Midseason All-Big 12 by CFN.

GRIMES, the son of former BYU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, was a three-year starter at long snapper for Baylor before transferring to BYU following the 2024 season. He appeared in 31 games for the Bears where he was the primary long snapper for three seasons after redshirting in 2021. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior was First-Team Academic All-Big 12 in football and named to Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in 2022. 

Following the 2024 season, KINGSTON was named to the Associated Press All-Bowl team as a punt returner, having returned four punts for 105 yards against Colorado, including a 64-yarder for a touchdown that gave BYU a 17-0 lead. In 2024, Kingston returned 16 punts for 236 yards and two touchdowns. As a receiver, he also racked up 196 yards on 13 catches with one touchdown and threw for another score on a trick play. Kingston was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week following a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown in BYU’s 38-9 win over No. 13 Kansas State on Sept. 21. The 5-11, 185-pound punt junior from Layton, Utah, is just the third player in Big 12 history to have multiple career games with a passing and receiving touchdown. 

ROBERTS was named All-Big 12 Third Team by Phil Steele and the College Football Network following the 2024 season. The Cougar Captain led BYU in receiving yards (854) and receptions (52) in 2024. He also tied for the most receiving touchdowns on season with four. The 6-4, 210-pound senior from Highland, Utah, was named to the Midseason All-Big 12 Second Team by College Football Network and was on the Athlon Sports Preseason All-Big 12 Fourth Team. 

In his first season at BYU in 2024, KELLY led the Cougars with 12 quarterback hurries, five sacks, two forced fumbles and was second in tackles for loss with 10. He was top 10 in the Big 12 in forced fumbles and tackles for loss and was named the Midseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year by CFN. Kelly was also on the preseason watch lists for the Butkus Award and East-West Shrine Bowl.

Over the past three season, BAMBA has appeared in 22 games for the Cougars including five starts in 2024. The 6-3, 190-pound senior cornerback has a career 17 tackles, four pass breakups and five passes defended. 

A 6-4, 310-pound senior from South Jordan, Utah, LAPUAHO started all 13 games for BYU at guard or tackle and was named to the watch list for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award in 2024. He helped the BYU offense average 392 yards per game with a balanced attack of 161 yards rushing and 231 yards passing. Lapuaho was Phil Steele Preseason All-Big 12 selection in 2024, after being named Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2023.

TANUVASA was a two-year starter on the defensive line at Utah before transferring to BYU following the 2024 season. The 6-4, 300-pound junior from Mission Viejo, California, appeared in 24 games for the Utes with 19 starts. He was named All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention following the 2024 season. Tanuvasa totaled 49 tackles and four sacks in 24 games at Utah.