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BYU's LJ Martin carries the ball against Stanford at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU's Suli Davis serves against Colorado in a Big 12 women's volleyball match at the Smith Fieldhouse on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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CINCINNATI — BYU running back LJ Martin, center Bruce Mitchell and safety Tanner Wall were today named to the 2025 Pro Football Focus All-Big 12 Football Team.

A total of 27 individuals from 10 of the league’s 16 teams were selected to the All-Big 12 Team for offense, defense and special teams. BYU, along with Texas Tech, Cincinnati and Baylor led the league with at least three student-athletes receiving postseason recognition by PFF.

Martin, who was previously named second-team All-American by Pro Football Network, was also voted by the Big 12 coaches as First-Team All-Conference and Conference Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, he was named First-Team All-Big 12 by Sports Info Solutions.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound junior from El Paso, Texas, led the Big 12 Conference in yards rushing (1,305), yards per game (100.4) and all-purpose yards (1,560). He was also second in the Big 12 in rushing touchdowns (12). Nationally he is sixth in rushing yards and 14th in rushing yards per game.

Mitchell was previously honored by the Big 12 coaches as first-team All-Big 12 and honorable-mention Offensive Lineman of the Year. He was on the midseason watch list for the Rimington Trophy and was the sixth-highest graded center in the country during the regular season by PFF. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound junior center from Kamas, Utah, was twice named to the PFF National Team of the Week at center.

Wall tied with teammate Evan Johnson for the BYU lead with four interceptions, good for second in the Big 12. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior safety was also second on the team in tackles (66) and forced fumbles (1). He was selected by the Big 12 coaches as first-team All-Conference and was later named to the All-Big 12 Team by Sports Info Solutions.

In addition, Wall is a member of the 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and is a finalist for both the Allstate Wuerffel Trophy and the Pop Warner College Football Award, as well as a semifinalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award.

Pro Football Focus is a sports analytics company that provides in-depth analysis of NCAA and NFL football, focusing on player performance evaluation through detailed statistics and grades. PFF analyzes every player, every play and every game, offering analytics that are used by teams, coaches and the media.

Additonal information about the 2025 Pro Football Focus All-Big 12 Football Team can be found at pff.com.

BYU’s Davis enters transfer portal

On the heels of two-year starter setter Alex Bower entering the transfer portal, BYU women’s volleyball has lost another key player.

Suli Davis, who was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Year and owns the record for kills by a first-year player at BYU, has also put her name into the transfer portal.

Davis wrote on social media, “A great experience never really ends, it becomes of part of who you are. The best ones leave you grateful, humbled and excited for whatever comes next. My time at BYU has done exactly that. This program has given me so much growth, confidence, family and teammates who have become some of the most meaningful people in my life. This chapter challenged and strengthened me in ways I never expected and I’m so thankful for God being there every high and low of my first year.

“After a lot of thought and prayer, I’ve decided to enter the transfer portal. Thank you to all those that have come to cheer and traveled near and far. Thank you, BYU, and thank you to my amazing team for the love, memories and home you created for me. I will always be grateful for it all.”

Davis, a 6-foot-2 outside hitter from Euless, Texas, had 541 kills in 2025 (4.55 per set) and hit .267 for the Cougars, who lost for the second straight season in the first round of the NCAA Tournament as a No. 5 seed.

UVU men’s basketball returns home vs. Idaho State

OREM–Utah Valley returns home for the first time in more than three weeks as it hosts Idaho State on Wednesday night at the UCCU Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+ and the Wolverine Sports Network/ESPN The Fan.

Utah Valley enters the matchup at 6-3 overall following an impressive 82-71 road win at Bowling Green on Saturday. Four Wolverines scored in double figures, led by 19 points from Jackson Holcombe, 18 from Isaac Davis, and an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double from Tyler Hendricks. The Wolverines forced Bowling Green into a season-high 20 turnovers and controlled the game for nearly all 40 minutes, pushing their lead to as many as 26 in the second half. The win capped a six-game road stretch and marked Utah Valley’s fourth victory in its last five outings.

Holcombe was named the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week after averaging 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists over road games at San Diego State and Bowling Green. The redshirt sophomore forward has scored in double figures in every game this season while leading UVU in scoring, rebounding, and steals.

Utah Valley continues to rank among the nation’s statistical leaders entering the week. The Wolverines stand inside the top 30 nationally in assists per game, field goal percentage, blocks, effective field goal percentage, steals, and scoring margin. UVU is No. 62 in the NCAA NET rankings, the highest among all WAC programs and third among Division I teams in the state of Utah. The Wolverines’ résumé includes wins over Bowling Green, UC Irvine, South Dakota State, and Samford, along with a competitive road showing at San Diego State.

Idaho State travels to Orem with a 6-4 record and riding a three-game winning streak following victories over Kansas City and Denver. The Bengals rank No. 120 in the NET and feature a physical, balanced roster that emphasizes rebounding, interior play, and defensive size. Four Bengals average double figures, led by Caleb Van De Griend at 14.0 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Idaho State shoots 46.3 percent from the field, pulls down 34.8 rebounds per game, and ranks among the Big Sky leaders in block percentage and rebounding margin.

Utah Valley leads the all-time series 8-4 and has won seven straight matchups, a streak that began on Nov. 26, 2014. The Wolverines earned a 70-56 road win in Pocatello last season.

Following Wednesday’s game, Utah Valley will head north to Salt Lake City for a Saturday afternoon matchup against UC Santa Barbara at the Delta Center.

UVU men’s soccer players on All-Far West Region squad

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Utah Valley’s Keegan Oyler and Isaac Emojong were named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Far West Region second team, the organization announced in a press release on Wednesday.

This marks the first time UVU has had multiple All-Region athletes since 2019, and is the fifth time in the program’s 12-season history. Earlier this year, both Oyler and Emojong were named second team All-WAC.

Oyler, a defender from Meridian, Idaho, was a key contributor on both ends of the pitch for the Wolverines this season. Oyler registered a WAC-leading eight assists, the fourth-most in a season in program history, and also started all 15 games. Oyler locked down the left wing defensively, helping the team to a WAC-record six straight shutouts to open the season.

Emojong, a midfielder from Davis, Calif., showed no signs of a sophomore slump in 2025. Emojong led the team in goals with six and also added two assists. Emojong is just the third underclassmen to score at least six goals in a season for Utah Valley, and is the first to reach 10 career goals before his junior season.

Oyler and Emojong have their sights set on more accolades and recognition in the coming weeks. Oyler is up for College Sports Communicators Academic All-America, which will be announced on Dec. 16. Emojong is in Arizona this week participating in the MLS Collegiate Showcase, the league’s scouting combine ahead of the draft, which will be held on Dec. 18.