PROVO, Utah -- BYU lacrosse head coach Matt Schneck welcomed 15 freshmen to the program this fall. The class includes players from six different states and is highlighted by US Lacrosse All-Americans, as well as numerous all-state and all-conference award winners. The group includes seven true freshmen and eight players who have recently returned from missionary service for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

“This is one of the deepest recruiting classes we have ever had at BYU,” Schneck said. “Coach Wescott has done an outstanding job helping coordinate our recruiting efforts. We expect many of them to contribute and have an immediate impact.”

The following players joined the BYU Lacrosse freshman class this fall:

Joey Anderson, Defense, Salt Lake City, Utah - Anderson played for Ryan Cantwell at East High School. Anderson earned all-state recognition his junior and senior years. He accumulated 54 ground balls and caused 48 turnovers his senior season. He played club lacrosse with Stripling Warriors lacrosse club. He has two brothers currently playing lacrosse at Southern Virginia University.

Dallin Bentley, Attack, South Jordan, Utah - Bentley played for Meade MacKay at Bingham High School. He was named first team all-state and attack MVP in 2015. He was the Blake Strebel Memorial award winner, an eagle scout, Foot Locker scholar athlete and the Bingham High School Pick and Shovel service award winner. Bentley averaged 3.43 ppg his senior year and played club lacrosse for the Utah Nationals and Utah Blackhawks.

Bryant Cannell, Midfield, North Logan, Utah - Cannell recently returned from serving in the Texas McAllen Mission. He played for Troy Oldham at Skyview High School. He had 104 goals, 89 assists and over 230 ground balls in his career. He was named all-state and position MVP his senior year. He was the MVP of his team. He played club lacrosse for the Utah Blackhawks.

Josh Degn, Midfield, South Jordan, Utah - Degn played for Meade MacKay at Bingham High School. He totaled 29 goals and 20 assists his senior year. He was named all-conference and academic all-state. Degn looks to contribute as a defensive middie for BYU. Degn is also an avid golfer.

Weston Haas, Midfield/Attack, Fairview, Texas - Haas played for Richard Schwarts at Lovejoy High School. His career stats include 117 goals and 84 assists. He was named Team MVP his junior and senior years. He was THSLL Honorable Mention. He was an Inside Lacrosse regional invitee and named to the camp all-star team. He is an eagle scout and enjoys rock climbing.

Ty Horrocks, Midfield, Boise, Idaho - Horrocks played for his father Andrew Horrocks at Centennial High School in Boise. He was named a US Lacrosse All-American his senior year. He received all-state honors at attack his sophomore year and all-state honors at midfield his junior and senior year. Horrocks was named varsity captain for his junior and senior seasons. He played club lacrosse for Boise United.

Jake Hougaard, Midfield, Orem, Utah - Hougaard recently returned from the Ecuador Guayaquil South Mission. He played at Timpanogos High School for Bill Peperone. Hougaard was named all-conference midfield his junior and senior years. He also received all-conference attack honors his sophomore year. Jake totaled 93 goals and 63 assists during his high school career. Jake also played football at BYU.

Alek Kirschner, Attack, Fort Myers, Fla. - Kirschner played for Dave Manzi at the Canterbury School. He averaged 6.1 ppg his senior season and had 209 points in his career. He was named team MVP for his senior season. He also earned all-area honors his sophomore, junior and senior years. He played club ball with Florida Generals Elite, Madlax Florida and Stripling Warriors. Kirschner follows his father and brother, who have both played lacrosse at BYU.

Jared Kotter, Defense, Spanish Fork, Utah - Kotter recently returned from a mission in Guadalajara, Mexico. He played for Phil Dunn and Wes Goar at Spanish Fork High School. Jared was all-state as a junior and senior. He was three-year team captain. Kotter played with HeadStrong, Jolly Rogers and Wasatch Lacrosse clubs. He is an eagle scout and played on his varsity hockey team.

Mason Moon, Goalie, Allen, Texas - Moon played at Allen HS for Todd Faiella and was a four-year varsity starter. He led his team to the state final four his junior year. He was a team captain and US Lacrosse Academic All-American his senior year. He played club lacrosse with Dallas Select, Texas United, Iron Horse, and Stripling Warriors. Moon was a Maverik Showtime and Adrenaline High Rollers invitee. He was the defensive MVP at the 2016 Texas All-Star Roundup. Texas Lacrosse Magazine ranked him as a top recruit from the state for the past three years and he was recruited by two NCAA D-I programs, Bellarmine and Saint Joseph's. He is an eagle scout and plans to major in business at BYU.

Nick Nesser, Defense, Irvine, Calif. - Nick served in the Alabama Birmingham Mission. He played for Scott Sodorff at Woodbridge High School. Nick was a Woodbridge scholar-athlete and a two-year starter at defense. Nick enjoys a good breakfast burrito.

Mathias Perez, Defense, Cottonwood Heights, Utah - Perez served in Bolivia Santa Cruz North Mission. He played for Brandon Horoba at Brighton High School. He has played lacrosse since the fifth grade and recently won the team race up “Y” mountain.

Michael Perry, Midfield, Pleasant Grove, Utah - Perry served in the Honduras San Pedro Sula West Mission. He played for Brae Burbidge at Pleasant Grove High School. He was team MVP and averaged 5.73 ppg his junior year, but suffered a season ending injury his senior year. Michael also played with the Utah Starz club team.

Spencer Smith, Goalie, West Jordan, Utah - Smith recently returned from the South Africa Johannesburg Mission. He played for Matt Evans at Copper Hills High School. He was named all-conference in 2013. He was a participant in the Rocky Mountain Elite 150 and is an eagle scout. He is studying Neuroscience with plans to attend medical school after graduation.

Jack Varvel, Midfield, Greenwich, Conn. - Varvel recently returned from the Taiwan, Taizhong Mission. He played for Paul Scheufele at Brunswick High School. Jack noted he was a star on his middle school club team.

Teagan Willes, Attack, Carlsbad, Calif. - Willes recently returned from the Cape Verde, Praia Mission. He played for Dave Demuth at Carlsbad High School. He was a three-year varsity starter and had 32 goals and 12 assists his senior year. Teagan is an avid surfer.

The Cougars kick-off their fall schedule with a game against NCAA Division II Colorado Mesa University on Friday, Oct. 7, in Grand Junction, Colo. They also play in-state rivals Utah Valley University and Utah in October.