He added 28 receptions for 327 yards. In BYU's 10−7 victory over UNLV, Staley rushed for 167 yards and was named MWC Offensive Player of the Week. He also received awards from BYU's coaching staff for games against Air Force, UNLV, and Colorado State. In 2001, under new head coach Gary Crowton, the Cougars started the season with a 12-0 record and led the NCAA in scoring (46.8 points per game) and total offense (542.9 yards per game). In 11 games, Staley rushed for 1,582 yards and 24 touchdowns (both totals broke school records). His rushing average (8.1 yards per carry) led the NCAA, and his 143.8 rushing yards per game ranked third nationally. Staley added 32 receptions for 334 yards and four touchdowns; he led the nation in total touchdowns (28) and scoring (15.5 points per game). In recognition of his accomplishments, Staley received the Doak Walker Award, and the Jim Brown Award, both given annually to college football's top running back. He was also a first-team All-Mountain West Conference selection, and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American, having received first-team honors from the American Football Coaches Association, the Associated Press, CNN/SI, "Football News", the Football Writers Association of America, and the Walter Camp Foundation. Staley decided to forgo his senior season at BYU and entered the 2002 NFL Draft. However, because of his injury-prone past, Staley was not selected until the seventh round (214th overall) by the Detroit Lions. He participated in Lions' training camp as a rookie, but suffered a knee injury that required a season-ending surgery. He attended training camp the following season but was waived on August 25, 2003. Staley lives in Draper, Utah with his wife Heather, and they have 2 sons. As of 2016, he has undergone 23 separate surgeries, as a result of the injuries he suffered playing football. In 2017, Staley's number #6 jersey was retired by BYU.