BYU fans on social media, message boards and everywhere else have heard the recruiting news and rumors over the last couple of weeks. Four-star defensive back Dayan Lake decommitted from the Cougars (he is still visiting this weekend, however). Two highly touted recruits and sons of former BYU players, Britain Covey and James Empey, committed to the Utes. And Utah County native and five-star recruit, Porter Gustin, is entertaining the likes of Urban Meyer and Steve Sarkisian instead of playing at BYU. No doubt, it’s a tough pill to swallow.
But there are still a lot of reasons to be excited for National Signing Day coming up on Wednesday. This class is a good class and is just a couple of pieces away from being a great class. With six days left to pick up a few solid commitments and a lot of currently committed players that will make an impact, this is going to be a class worth celebrating.
1. Charles West
It seems like an eternity, but it was just 10 days ago that Coppell High School running back Charles West announced his commitment to BYU. West is a running back that BYU rarely sees come through Provo. He’s elusive, he fast and he can run with power. In an interview with the Deseret News’ Dick Harmon, West reported that he ran an electric 4.38 40-yard dash. He turned down the likes of Bret Bielema at Arkansas and Kliff Kingsbury at Texas Tech. And he is coming to BYU. I don’t think that can be said enough. Charles West is coming to BYU.
Not only is West himself a player. But in 2016 when West is a sophomore and current BYU running back Jamaal Williams has moved on from BYU, West will team up with Washington State transfer and former four-star running back Squally Canada. Think about that for a minute, BYU fans. Canada, West and former Elite 11 MVP quarterback Tanner Mangum for three straight years? As BYU moves forward and continues the fight for national relevance, those three players are going to play a huge role.
2. Jeremiah Ieremia and Will Sedgwick
Nobody is talking about Laguna Hills, CA linebacker Will Sedgwick and not enough people and not enough people are talking about Hurricane, UT linebacker Jeremiah Ieremia. Bronco Mendenhall’s defense must have middle
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linebackers that can defend the run and tackle anyone and anything in their path. Sedgwick and Ieremia will be able to fill those positions as well as anyone. They both hit hard and they both make plays and they are both going to play great at BYU. Nobody is talking about them now but by the time they are done with their BYU careers people will know exactly who they are.
3. Texas
BYU has already locked up commitments from Charles West, Akile Davis and Micah Simon. All three are non-LDS athletes from the Lone Star state that BYU wouldn’t have got in the past. Jacob Jimenez, Trevor Brent and JJ Nwigwe are three more non-LDS athletes from Texas that will be visiting Provo this weekend and, in my opinion, will sign with BYU. Assuming the latter three sign, that’s six athletes with minimal-to-zero ties to BYU prior to their recruitment that would be in Provo in 2015.
“@8_GoldenHands: Home visit with coach Mendenhall and some of the offensive coaches earlier today #BYU pic.twitter.com/3SOCCRCuvJ” yuh family😍💰
— Lex✨ (@_OhThatsLexii) January 17, 2015
Kansas State, Arkansas, Texas Tech, Cal, Kansas, Indiana, San Diego State, Boise State, Air Force and Oregon State. Those are some of the schools that offered these six athletes. Are they world beaters? No. But they are all good college football programs that are respected across the nation. Typically these type of non-LDS players from out of state would choose to go to one of those schools over BYU, but this year, they come to Provo. That is absolutely phenomenal news for the future of BYU recruiting. Beating down the Longhorns twice in two years pays off, eh?
4. Signing Day
A lot of people have forgotten what it felt like this time last year. A year ago BYU social media and message boards were filled with worried fans as Signing Day 2014 was approaching. Uriah Leiataua was committed to Stanford. Fred Warner was giving USC an extremely hard look. Sione Takitaki was still being courted by Wisconsin. Isaiah Nacua had supposedly decommitted and BYU had supposedly moved on. Devon Blackmon was torn between BYU and Boise State. There was so much uncertainty heading into Signing Day but most BYU fans have forgotten about that because Signing Day was so successful.
Sep 20, 2014; Provo, UT, USA; Brigham Young Cougars players take the field before facing the Virginia Cavaliers at Lavell Edwards Stadium. The Cougars won the game 41-33. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
One year later it’s 2015 and rumors are swirling around about Mika Tafua, Dayan Lake, Mufi Hunt, Gabe Reid and a number of other players. BYU still has the biggest official visit weekend of the year between now and signing day and they still have a lot of things going for them. These recruits are friends with each other and they have known about BYU for a long time. They have relationships with the coaching staff and relationships with each other. All of those factors will come together this weekend for the biggest two days of the year for BYU’s class. BYU knocked it out of the park last year and I don’t see any reason they can’t knock it out of the park this year.
There have absolutely been some bumps in the road leading up to National Signing Day. It hurts to see hometown talent leave the state. It’s painful to see the sons of former BYU greats wear red and suit up for the Utes. There is no denying that there have been a couple of pieces of news that have been hard to swallow. But don’t let a couple pieces of news drown out how successful this class really is. There are still a lot of reasons that BYU fans should be excited for February 5 and optimistic for the future of BYU football.