The 2011 FBS All-Independent Team and individual Players of the Year have been named by the nationwide media panel responsible for FBS Independent Player of the Week awards.
Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd (Offensive Player of the Year), Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o (Defensive Player of the Year), Notre Dame kick returner George Atkinson III (Special Teams Player of the Year) and BYU wide receiver Ross Apo (Freshman of the Year) received individual honors.
Apo caught 34 passes for 453 yards and a team-leading nine touchdowns. A redshirt freshman, Apo caught one touchdown in each of the first three games and caught two in each of the final two contests.
BYU had seven players named to the All-Independent Team, second to Notre Dame's 12 selections. Navy had three players named and Army had two. In addition to the Cougars' seven selections, BYU also had eight players receive honorable mention.
Riley Nelson was selected as the All-Independent quarterback. Nelson led BYU to a 5-1 record as a starter and threw for 1,467 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 376 rushing yards. One of just four sophomores to make the team, wide receiver Cody Hoffman has 53 receptions for 821 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Offensive linemen Matt Reynolds and Braden Hansen also were named to the offensive team.
On defense, linebacker Kyle Van Noy, also one of just four sophomores to earn selection, was recognized along with senior defensive backs Travis Uale and Corby Eason. Van Noy is second on BYU's team with 58 tackles and also leads the Cougars with 10.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. The sophomore from Reno, Nev., also has three interceptions, nine quarterback hurries, three pass breakups, two forces fumbles, blocked one punt and recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
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The FBS All-Independent Team and Players of the Year were selected by members of a nationwide media panel, which includes equal representation from each of the independent institutions’ coverage markets.