BYU beefed up its depleted defensive secondary, linebacker and kicking units by signing four junior college players this week.
Enrolled for winter semester are outside linebackers Nathan Hall 6-foot-4, 235, from Dallas, Texas (Richardson High), and Brian Hughes, 6-3, 228, from Salt Lake City (Skyline High), and kicker David Lauder, from Centerville (Viewmont High). All three played at Ricks College.The fourth player is Casey Mazzotta, a 6-0, 195-pound safety from Cerritos Junior College in California.
Mazzotta was coached by his father, Frank. He was a two-time JC Gridwire Scholar-Athlete and two-time All-Mission Conference pick. He was also JC Gridwire honorable mention All-America, All-Region Four and helped the Falcons to an 8-3 record and the Mission Conference Northern Division title. He is a graduate of Tustin High. Two years ago he had five interceptions, including three in one game. This past season he had three interceptions.
Hall was second team All-America by the NJCAA and was first team All-Western States Football League. He had 27 unassisted tackles, 58 assisted tackles, 4.5 sacks, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and scored a touchdown.
Hughes was first team All-Western States Football League and had 12 unassisted tackles, 69 assisted tackles, five sacks, four pass deflections, two fumbles caused and three fumble recoveries. Lauder was an NJCAA and Gridwire All-American in 1988 and was twice named to the All-Western States Football League team. He broke seven records at Ricks. He made seven of 18 field goals and was 34-37 in point-after attempts this past season. In 1988 he was 13-17 in field goals and 38-41 in PATs.
Ricks had a 9-2 record, finished eighth in the nation and defeated Garden City Community College (Kansas) in the Real Dairy Bowl this past season.
The national letter of intent signing date for prep players is Feb. 5.