Ty Detmer, John Beck Highlight BYU Football Alumni Game Rosters
Mar 30, 2023, 11:39 PM
PROVO, Utah – Along with a spring game/scrimmage/practice (whatever term you want to use), BYU football will also host an Alumni Game.
Kickoff for the 2023 edition of the BYU Alumni Game is at 5 p.m. at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Friday, March 31. Attendance is free to the public and will be televised on BYUtv.
Legends are back at LES tomorrow night!! pic.twitter.com/2UcKDApUPW
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) March 31, 2023
Last year’s alumni game had a thrilling finish, with Max Hall connecting with Bryan Kehl on a hail mary for a game-winner. Who knows if Friday night’s Alumni Game will have the same type of finish? But we do know that a good number of legends dot the “Team Royal” and “Team Navy” rosters.
Ty Detmer is back in Provo
Leading the royal squad is Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer. Detmer needs no introduction around these parts, as he remains a legend to the BYU faithful. A former four-year starter at BYU, Detmer was also the offensive coordinator for BYU in 2016 and 2017.
Kalani Sitake let him go after the 2017 season, but that hasn’t impacted his feelings toward BYU. It will be a special moment to see Detmer throwing the rock in Provo again. The QBs behind Detmer on Team Royal include Max Hall (2006-2009) and Matt Berry (1999, 2002-05).
Kalani Sitake and Ty Detmer with a pregame handshake. 🤝 #BYU #KSLsports pic.twitter.com/NqIi6CZE90
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 21, 2019
John Beck will lead Team Navy
Signal-caller John Beck will lead Team Navy. Beck led BYU from 2003 to 2006. Unlike Detmer, Beck experienced hard times at BYU with losing seasons, and head coach changes. But Beck was the catalyst behind one of the great BYU teams in the 21st century, 2006. Beck led BYU to an 11-2 record that season, proving that he does have “it” as a QB.
Since Beck’s QB career concluded in the NFL, he’s gone on to be one of the top quarterback trainers in the nation at 3DQB. Beck has worked with Zach Wilson, Jaren Hall, and current BYU quarterbacks Kedon Slovis and Ryder Burton.
And look what I just came across. I remember how excited I was to get the updated one with the @TyDetmer14 years. “It took a fair haired kid from Texas with a slingshot arm”. I used to play this on the locker room TV’s when we were working to get the program back on track. pic.twitter.com/m5zudcJig1
— John Beck (@jbecktwelve) November 25, 2019
Along with Beck, the navy team also has Brandon Doman (1998-2001) at quarterback.
Alumni Game Format
The game format will consist of one-hand touch with four 12-minute quarters and a five-minute halftime. Quarterbacks cannot rush and have four seconds to get a pass off. The four seconds will begin at the snap of the ball. If a sack is called, it will result in a loss of down and a 5-yard penalty.
There will be no kickoffs or field goals. Every punt will be either fair caught or ruled a touchback if the ball ends up in the end zone.
2023 BYU Football Alumni Game Rosters
Here’s an updated look at the Alumni Game rosters heading into Friday night’s game at LES.
Team Royal
#1 Matt Berry | QB | 1999, 2002-05
#1 Brian McDonald | RB | 2000-01
#1 Fui Vakapuna | RB | 2002-03, 06-08
#2 Neil Pau’u | WR | 2017-21
#2 Keenan Ellis | DB | 2017-21
#3 K.O. Kealaluhi | WR | 1995-96
#3 Colby Pearson | WR | 2013-16
#4 Tyler Anderson | WR | 1988, 91-93
#4 Trey Dye | WR | 2014-17
#4 Jernaro Gilford | DB | 1999-2003
#5 Derwin Gray | DB | 1989-92
#5 Alani Fua | LB | 2010-14
#6 James Dye | WR | 1995-96
#7 Micah Hannemann | DB | 2012, 15-17
#14 Ty Detmer | QB | 1987-92
#14 Margin Hooks | WR | 1996-2000
#15 Max Hall | QB | 2006-09
#15 Aleva Hifo | WR | 2016-19
#20 Daniel Coats | TE | 2002-06
#20 Reno Mahe | WR/RB | 1998-99, 2001-02
#23 Garrett Juergens | WR/DB | 2013-16
#23 Travis Uale | DB | 2008-11
#33 Aaron Francisco | DB | 2001-04
#34 Kavika Fonua | LB/RB | 2014, 16-20
#41 Uani Unga | LB | 2011-13
#53 Isaiah Kaufusi | LB | 2016-20
#80 Kaipo McGuire | WR | 1992-96
#85 Justin Anderson | WR | 2000-02
#87 Mitchell Juergens | WR | 2010, 13-16
#90 Bronson Kaufusi | DL | 2012-15
#91 Tevita Ofahengaue | TE | 1997-2000
#94 Chris Smith | TE | 1987-90
#95 Byron Rex | TE | 1986, 89-92
#96 Carlos Nuno | TE | 1997-99
Team Navy
#2 Matt Hadley | RB/LB | 2012, 15-18
#2 Cody Hoffman | WR | 2009-13
#3 Fahu Tahi | RB | 1999, 2002-05
#4 Uona Kaveinga | LB | 2010-12
#5 Brandon Bradley | DB | 2006-10
#6 Curtis Brown | RB | 2002-06
#7 Brian Logan | DB | 2009-10
#9 Austin Collie | WR | 2004, 07-08
#10 JJ DiLuigi | RB | 2007-11
#11 Brandon Doman | QB | 1998-01
#11 Manase Tonga | RB | 2005-09
#12 John Beck | QB | 2003-06
#13 Jonny Harline | TE | 2004-06
#16 Jray Galea’i | DB | 2009-11
#16 Gavin Fowler | DB | 2011, 14-18
#20 Craig Bills | DB | 2009, 12-14
#21 Ben Criddle | DB | 2005-07
#22 Andrew Rich | DB | 2008-10
#24 Algie Brown | RB | 2010, 13-16
#25 Corby Eason | DB | 2009-11
#28 Adam Hine | RB | 2011-15
#32 Dennis Pitta | TE | 2004, 07-09
#35 Cameron Jensen | LB | 2003-06
#36 Markell Staffieri | LB | 2001, 04-07
#38 Matt Payne | P/K | 2000-04
#41 Bryan Kehl | LB | 2002, 05-07
#41 Coleby Clawson | LB | 2008-09
#43 David Nixon | LB | 2003, 06-08
#44 Brandon Ogletree | LB | 2008-12
#45 Harvey Unga | RB | 2006-09
#46 Kelly Poppinga | LB | 2005-07
#49 Brady Poppinga | LB | 2001-04
#84 Devin Mahina | TE | 2010-14
#85 Zac Collie | WR | 2000, 03-06
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU moving to the Big 12 Conference on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
