BYU football: Dennis Pitta named to All-America team

PROVO — BYU senior tight end Dennis Pitta has been named to the 2009 consensus All-America team and is the first Cougar to earn that honor since running back Luke Staley in 2001.

"I'm not sure you could describe how difficult it is to be a consensus All-American and the respect that that takes," said coach Bronco Mendenhall. "He's certainly deserving and I'm really excited for him. Considering he came as a walk-on and as a returned missionary to accomplish those things, I think it's phenomenal."

Pitta joins an elite group in BYU history who have been consensus All-Americas, along with quarterback Marc Wilson (1979), offensive lineman Nick Eyre (1980), quarterback Jim McMahon (1981), tight end Gordon Hudson (1982, 1983), quarterback Steve Young (1983), defensive lineman Jason Buck (1986), offensive lineman Mo Elewonibi (1989), tight end Chris Smith (1990), and quarterback Ty Detmer (1990, 1991).

Pitta received first-team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association and the Walter Camp Foundation, while earning second-team honors from the Associated Press. The Sporting News named Pitta to its All-America Third Team.

The players listed as consensus All-Americas had the highest number of points competing against players at that position only. A points system was used for the selections of the All-America team (three points for first team, two points for second team and one point for third team).

Twelve players were unanimous choices by the five organizations used in the consensus chart — AFCA (First Team), AP (First, Second and Third Teams), Football Writers Association of America (First Team), The Sporting News (First, Second and Third Teams) and Walter Camp Foundation (First and Second Teams).

Pitta leads all tight ends this season in total receiving yards (784) and receiving yards per game (65.33). He was a finalist for the Mackey Award, emblematic of the nation's top tight end. He is the NCAA career leader in tight end receiving yards.