BYU Adds a Defensive End Commitment to Class of 2011

By: Mitch Harper (Twitter: @Mitch_Harper)

With a little over one week from National Signing Day (February 2nd), many assumed BYU Football was all but wrapped up with their class, and just waiting for the faxes to start rolling in to make it official.  Not so fast my friend!

Aulelio Olomua a 6-5, 235 pound Defensive End/Tight End from Mesa, Arizona has committed to the Cougs and is the 18th commitment in the class of 2011.

If the name sounds familiar, your onto something and your right it does.  Aulelio’s older brother is former BYU Tight End Bristol Olomua.  Bristol of course later transferred to Texas Tech.

Like Bristol, Aulelio originally played his high school career in a small Arizona high school near the four-corners at Red Mesa High School.  Which is one of the main reasons, why Aulelio is a relative unknown in the recruiting world.  Not many schools knew of him or had the opportunity to see him play.

Prior to Olomua’s senior year this past season, him and his family decided to move closer to Phoenix to gain more exposure and possibly land some D-1 scholarship offers.  Olomua landed at Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona.

In Olomua’s Senior year at Mesa, played both Tight End and Defensive End.  At BYU, Olomua is expected to play on the Defensive Line.  Olomua recorded 50 tackles and 6 sacks in his only season for the Jackrabbits.

According to Scout.com, Olomua had offers from BYU and Utah.

Olomua is the nephew to former Offensive Coordinator Robert Anae, who is now at Arizona as a Co-Offensive Coordinator.

Olomua recently visited BYU two weeks ago.  According to Olomua’s Facebook, Aulelio said Mendenhall visited his home tonight and committed right there on the spot to the Cougars.

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Initial thoughts on this commitment have us excited.  The Olomua family is a talented group.  Bristol only lasted at BYU two seasons, but there was no shortage of talent in the guy. Main reason for Bristol leaving was due to clashing with Norm Chow and not getting a fair shake at playing time.  Went to Texas Tech where his uncle, Robert Anae was at the time.  But back to Aulelio…

Aulelio has terrific size to be a athletic pass-rusher off the edge.  The lack of scholarship offers always has to make you wonder, but in this case it genuinely seems like an issue with the lack of exposure this guy had down in the four-corners of Arizona.  And you can’t argue with BYU’s track record in these kind of cases.  Look at Cody Hoffman, complete unknown.  Only had a scholarship offer from Sacramento State and look at the kind of player he is becoming already.

This 2011 class is up to 18 commits.  One thing that instantly pops out at me is the fact that there is no skill players in this class.  No Quarterback is obviously understandable.  Running Back you could make an argument is okay also.  But no Wide Receivers in this class seems odd.  Especially when there was some inconsistent play from that unit last season.

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