James Empey
Offensive Line #66
Ht/Wt
6'
4"
|
303 lbs.
Class
Junior
Hometown
American Fork, 
Utah
Last School
American Fork High School
Roster Years
2017-2021


Personal

  • Parents are Stephanie and Mike Empey
  • Mike also played offensive line at BYU (1987, 91-93), was a team captain as a senior and coached TE and OL at BYU
  • Has three sisters
  • Served LDS mission to Lisbon, Portugal

Before BYU

  • Prepped at American Fork High School under Aaron Behm
  • Was a three-year starter and team captain
  • Helped the Cavemen to a region championship
  • Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune 5A all-state offensive guard in 2014
  • On defense, totaled 62 tackles and 3.5 sacks as a senior in 2014
  • He was also rated the No. 11 overall player in the state of Utah by Rivals.com
  • Recruited by Utah, Washington, Washington State and Oregon State

Mission

  • Lisbon , Portugal
BYU Hall of Fame

Freshman Year 2018

  • Named Freshman All-America by 2018 Football Writers Association of America 
  • Named 2018 No. 1 freshman center by Pro Football Focus
  • Played and started all 13 games
  • Named best freshman lineman in the country by Pro Football Focus after the New Mexico State game
  • Between the LYnes web chat in Portuguese at Media Day
Sophmore Year 2019

  • Started all 13 games at center
  • Part of an offensive line unit ranked No. 12 by Pro Football Focus
  • Center for offense that generated 284.7 passing yards per game (No. 26 nationally)
  • Snapped for three different starting quarterbacks
  • 2019 Rimington Trophy watch list nominee
Junior Year 2021

  • Named Preseason All-American by Phil Steele and Athlon Sports
  • Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award Semifinalist
  • Wuerffel Trophy Semifinalist
  • NFF William V. Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
  • Rotary Lombardi Award Semifinalist
  • Started in all 41 games he has played over his BYU career
  • Three-time Rimington Award Watch List (2019, 2020, 2021)
  • Two-time Outland Trophy Watch List (2020, 2021)
     
Senior Year

Graduate Year

Redshirt Year

  • Ran with the second unit all season
  • Redshirted the 2017 season
Medical Redshirt Year

Junior 2020

  • Played and started eight games
  • 2019 All-Indy center and anchor to BYU’s Joe Moore Semifinalist OL unit in 2020
  • Helped BYU offense rank No. 4 in scoring (43.5) and No. 6 in total offense (522.2)
  • Called protections/blocking for Cougars ranked No. 8 in the nation with 322.1 passing yards per game and ground attack that added 190.1 yards rushing
  • Part of the offensive line that created many explosive play opportunities, helping BYU rank No. 1 for the most plays of 30 or more yards and No. 2 for the most plays of 10+ yards 
  • Named CoSIDA Academic All-District
  • James Empey named Lombardi Semifinalist

    James Empey Lombardi Semifinalist graphic

  • James Empey 2020 at Boise State offensive line

    James Empey 2020 at Boise State offensive line

  • James Empey Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist

    James Empey named Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist

  • James Empey 2021 Witten Man of the Year

    James Empey Witten Man of the Year

  • BYU CoSIDA Academic All-District

    BYU football 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District

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    James Empey Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist
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    2021 Y-Awards
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