YU senior defensive end Tyler Batty was today named to the Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List for the 2024 season. The prestigious trophy is awarded annually to the nation’s top defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America.

The 2024 watch list includes 75 defensive standouts from 56 schools in nine FBS conferences plus Independents. By position, the list includes 22 linebackers, 16 defensive ends, 16 safeties, 12 defensive tackles and nine cornerbacks.

In early July, Batty was one of 30 players to be selected to the 2024 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team by media representatives who cover the league. Previously, the senior from Payson, Utah, had been named All-Big 12 preseason first team by both Athlon Sports and Phil Steele. He was also named to the 2024 watch list for the annual East-West Shrine Bowl.

In 2023 as a junior, Batty earned All-Big 12 Second Team accolades, while being named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year Honorable Mention and Defensive Lineman of the Year Honorable Mention. He led the Cougars for a third-straight year in sacks, picking up 5.5 with nine total tackles for loss. He finished the 2023 season with 57 total tackles to lead the defensive line and had eight quarterback hurries, while also forcing two fumbles and recovering another.

Off the field, Batty earned a spot on the prestigious 2023 AFCA Allstate Good Works Team, which is awarded annually to 11 FBS players that excel on the field and are exemplary in their service to the community.

The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Nov. 20. The winner will be unveiled Dec. 9 at the Bronko Nagurski Awards Banquet in Charlotte, N.C.

The FWAA has awarded a national defensive player of the year since 1993. In 1995, the award was named in honor of the legendary two-way player Bronko Nagurski who dominated college football before becoming a star for the Chicago Bears in the 1930s.

Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team.

Cougar women’s volleyball signs SUU transfer

BYU women’s volleyball announced the addition of transfer setter Macy Short on Tuesday.

A 6-foot setter, Short joins the Cougars with two years of eligibility remaining. She spent two seasons at Snow College and played the 2022 season at Southern Utah.

Short started 22 of the Thunderbirds’ 24 matches in 2022, leading the team with 778 assists and 27 aces on the season. The Middleton, Idaho native also recorded 242 digs and 90 kills.

She will come to Provo after recently returning from an 18-month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.

Completing BYU’s eight-member 2024 recruiting class, Short will join Blaykli Bobik, Alex Bower, Abby Hoybjerg, Kaieva Johnson, Elina Mortensen, Kjersti Strong and Lulu Uluave as new additions to the Cougars’ roster this fall.

Valencia to continue as Director of Baseball Performance for UVU

Utah Valley head baseball coach Nate Rasmussen announced that J.J. Valencia will return to the Wolverines as the Director of Baseball Performance. Valencia will be in his third season in Orem.

“The build at Utah Valley to this point would not have happened without the tireless work of Coach Valencia. As the Director of Baseball Performance, he has a direct hand in everything we do. The gains these guys have made have been nothing short of exceptional. We are thrilled to have him back in the Valley!” said Rasmussen.

Valencia has been essential in helping the Wolverines increase flexibility and muscle. His hard work paid dividends in 2024 when Utah Valley broke a program record with over 100 home runs while having Daniel Dickinson and Burke Camper tie UVU’s regular season record with 18 home runs while earning All-WAC honors.

“I am extremely blessed to be here with this coaching staff, the new class of players, and to be a part of this amazing program. Getting on the hot turf, seeing the beautiful backdrop, watching the bodies change, and getting after it with the players day after day. Utah Valley Baseball program is in great hands. To say that I’m excited is an understatement,” said Valencia.

Prior to coming to Utah Valley in 2022, he played at the University of Dubuque before transitioning into an assistant strength and conditioning coach. His other stops include the University of Colorado and Push Performance in Arizona, where he helped train numerous professional players.

“Additionally, being involved in the recruiting process over my first two seasons as the Director of Baseball Performance, I have been eager to work with this highly touted class of players stepping foot in our facility to represent a first-class Division 1 Baseball Program,” said Valencia. “There is a lot of excitement within the program right now with the announcement of Coach Rasmussen. His knowledge and elite coaching will help create a positive impact on these players.”

Outside of strength and conditioning, he continues to support UVU baseball by helping manage sleep, stress, nutrition, and time management.

BYU men’s tennis earns academic award

BYU men’s tennis was named a 2024 ITA All-Academic Team as five players earned ITA Scholar-Athletes honors, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association announced Monday.

To qualify for All-Academic honors, teams must hold a GPA of 3.2 or higher. BYU’s men’s tennis team earned this honor as one of the 2024 Division I Men’s ITA All-Academic Teams.

The 2023-24 team included five individual 2024 ITA Scholar-Athletes: Brian Chen, Redd Owen, David Duong, Tyler Wells, and Tygen Goldammer who were honored for their achievements on the court and in the classroom.

To be awarded as an ITA Scholar-Athlete, athletes must hold a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for the current academic year and be listed on the institutional eligibility form.

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