Breaking news: BYU cougars head coach has commit a 5-star player from Miami hurricanes due to….

 

 

 

contingent of BYU coaches, led by head football coach Kalani Sitake, used a private jet to visit four-star tight end Brock Harris in St. George last week. Then, they headed to northern California to visit five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons. Both are in the Class of 2026 recruiting class and are at the top of staff priority lists.

Harris and Lyons had great visits with Sitake, Jay Hill, Fesi Sitake, Aaron Roderick and Kevin Gilbride, according to sources.Recruiting service 247Sports ranks Harris the No. 26 recruit in the country and the No. 1 prospect in Utah. Lyons is the No. 1 prospect in California, the No. 2 rated quarterback by 247Sports, and the No. 6 prospect nationally by that service.

 

Another prospect, Corner Canyon offensive lineman Esun Tafa, recently released his top five: BYU, Utah, Miami, Oregon and Washington.

All of these prospects are getting into hefty NIL discussions. This month is a good time to see what BYU has put together with its football NIL game, and now the program has a general manager, Dave George.

 

Look for these blue-chip players to not only be the focus in coming months, but a key element in BYU’s recruiting priorities. According to athletic department officials, the three silos of BYU’s recruiting emphasis include getting the top Latter-day Saint talent in the country, signing legacy recruits whose family ties and experience make a natural fit for a foundation, and signing top non-Latter-day Saint prospects who fit into the culture and program.Getting a commitment from four-star linebacker and running back McKay Madsen is a huge get for Kalani Sitake and his staff, even if the 220-pound phenom plans to serve a mission before enrolling.

Madsen’s choice signals that he believes Sitake’s program has staying power, and will be just as strong in 2027 when he returns from his mission as it is now.

 

BYU’s football recruiting has generally been on the uptick the past few years, and this is just another example of that trend. The Cougars still aren’t reeling in top-40 type classes, but recruiting is improving and the future appears bright in that regard.

 

Of the 20 or so prospects who signed in December, few are program-changers. Truth be told, most of them had committed before the 2024 season happened.