PROVO – Wednesday was the culmination of hours of hard work and sacrifice for the BYU Football coaching staff as they welcomed the future stars of the football program to their new home.
Recruiting is the lifeblood of college football and is critical for the long-term success of a program. Once the regular season wraps up, coaches will hit the road to develop relationships with prep athletes and pitch their program.
For Kalani Sitake and his staff, the sacrifice was worth it as they signed talented in-state players at multiple positions of need – stockpiling the cupboards of the offensive and defensive trenches.
The Cougars added 24 new players to the roster, including a few signing day surprises – 3* DE Lorenzo Fauatea, 3* DE Alden Tofa, and 4* DB Chaz Ah You. Ah You made waves when he announced his commitment – with the help of Bleacher Report – by landing a helicopter at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Signing day saw the addition of seven defensive linemen for the Cougars – highlighted by 4* DE Langi Tuifia – four defensive backs, three offensive linemen, three tight ends, two wide receivers, two linebackers, one running back, one quarterback, and one kicker.
Twelve of the Cougars commits were from the state of Utah, effectively winning the state against other in-state programs as the Cougars signed five of the top ten recruits.
BYU also announced the addition of returned missionaries and incoming transfers for another 16 players. Key additions include Wayne Tei-Kirby – a former 4* commit who played his freshman year at Oregon – John Vaka – a Junior College offensive lineman – and Austin Lee – a 3* safety who originally signed with Utah.
Here is the complete list of BYU’s 2017 signing class:
High School Signees:
Langi Tuifua, 4* DE
Chaz Ah You, 4* DB
Jackson McChesney, 3* RB
Isaac Rex, 3* TE
Ben Bywater, 3* LB
Bentley Hanshaw, 3* TE
John Vaka, 3* OL
D’Angelo Gunter, 3* DB
Lorenzo Fauatea, 3* DE
Alden Tofa, 3* DE
Tanner Baker, 2* TE
Preston Lewis, 2* DE
Donovan Hanna, 2* LB
Ammon Hannemann, 2* DB
Tariq Buchanan, 2* DB
Seth Willis, 2* DB
Ryan Rehkow, 2* K
Tongi Langi, 2* DB
Keenan Ellis, 2* WR
Mango Finau, 2* OL
Tyler Batty, 2* DE
Seleti Fevaleaki, 2* DE
Mason Fakahua, 2* QB
Khyiris Tonga, NR DT
Mid-Year Transfers
Wayne Tei-Kirby, 4* DL
Ula Tolutau, 3* RB
Austin Lee, 3* DB
AJ Lolohea, 2* DE
Joe Tukuafu, 3* TE
Returned Missionaries
Matt Bushman, TE
Garrett England, DB
Tico Fuga, DL
Earl Mariner, DL
Expected Fall Returned Missionaries
Brady Christensen, OL
Motekiai Langi, DL
David Lui, DL
Will Sedgwick, LB
Mika Tafua, LB
Kody Wilstead, QB
