BYU Offensive Linemen Named Freshman All-American Finalists

PROVO, Utah – Left tackle Brady Christensen and center James Empey are finalists to be freshman All-Americans.

The future is bright in Provo – the BYU football team has seen significant contributions from its freshmen class with 27 receiving playing time in 2018.

Most of the freshmen contribution coming on the offensive line with three players starting 32 games – anchored by Brady Christensen at left tackle and James Empey at center.

Now, Christensen and Empey are candidates as Freshman All-American at their respective positions.

Empey started all 12 games at center for the Cougars and was rated the number one freshman center according to Pro Football Focus. He was the No. 11 rated player in the state by Rivals.com coming out of American Fork High School.

Freshman All-America Candidate: James Empey

▪️ Pro Football Focus ranked Empey as the No. 1 rated freshman center
▪️ Fewest sacks and pressures allowed – BYU Offensive Line#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/UElqaeqcoa

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) November 28, 2018

Christensen also started 12 games, led the Cougars with 66 knock downs, and was graded as the second best freshman offensive tackle by Pro Football Focus. He comes to BYU from Bountiful High School.

Freshman All-America Candidate: Brady Christensen

▪️ Graded as the second best freshman offensive tackle in college football by Pro Football Focus
▪️ Team leader with 66 knock downs#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/asnKoBTccn

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) November 28, 2018

BYU as an offensive line allowed 26 sacks which ranks 64th in the country – not bad considering the youth movement in the trenches for the Cougars.

The two look to continue a trend of talented freshmen offensive linemen in the BYU program – Tejan Koroma and Thomas Shoaf were both named All-Americans in their freshman season, 2014 and 2016, respectively.