BYU National Signing Day Preview

A lot of action is expected during the upcoming early signing window

Wednesday is national signing day in the world of college football. BYU will sign the lion's share of its 2024 recruiting class on Wednesday. Today, we'll preview BYU's upcoming signing day.

1. A new era of BYU recruiting

We're only two years removed from the 2022 signing class. On that signing day two years ago, defensive line prospect Zoom Esplin was the lone surprise of signing day. Esplin, who had received an offer from BYU many months before signing day, flew under the radar until he was announced on signing day. With all due respect to Esplin, his signing hardly made the headlines. He was a low three-star recruit with no competing offers.

This signing day will be very different from the one just two years ago.

Two years later, we're in a completely new era of BYU recruiting. The Cougars are taking a an entirely different approach to the 2024 recruiting class. Historically, BYU would go into December with relatively few unknowns. The overwhelming majority of the classes were 80%-90% finished by the end of the regular season. That's not the case this year. BYU is still competing for multiple recruits - even a few that are committed to other schools. Frankly, that's what recruiting as a Power Five program looks like. BYU is swinging for the fences and competing for top prospects. Could they swing and miss? Of course, but they could also connect and hit some home runs.

With less than a week before signing day, there is more movement happening in the 2024 class than any recruiting class in recent memory. This signing day will be more fun than the last five signing days combined.

2. Multiple targets will announce their college decisions

Multiple BYU targets are set to commit to their schools of choice over the next two days.

Ephraim Asiata - DL/LB

Ephraim Asiata, son of Utah legend Matt Asiata, took official visits to BYU, Utah, and USC. The Cougars have made Asiata a top priority and are looking to pull off the upset over rival Utah.

Asiata will announce his decision on Tuesday evening before signing day. There's a lot of optimism that BYU can win the in-state battle.

Kinilau Fonohema - DL

Another BYU-Utah battle for an in-state defensive lineman. Kinilau Fonohema will announce his decision on signing day. His three finalists are BYU, Utah, and Oregon State. Fonohema has taken official visits to BYU and Utah over the last two weeks.

Fonohema's high school teammate, defensive tackle Dallin Johnson, is committed to BYU and will sign on Wednesday. The Cougars are hoping to bring the Springville duo to Provo next season. There's a lot of reasons to believe that BYU can win this one, but Utah made a strong pitch as well. This one could go either way.

Sani Tuala - DL

JUCO transfer and Australia native Sani Tuala has seen his recruitment take off over the last several weeks. Tuala put on pads for the first time five months ago. Now he is a coveted recruit with offers from BYU, Washington, Utah, Cal, Houston, and San Diego State among others. He grew up playing rugby in Australia, but his 6'4 frame and athleticism made him an ideal edge rusher on the football field.

Tuala took an official visit to BYU a few weeks ago and he planned to take a visit to Washington last weekend. Since Tuala is an international student, however, a transcript issue forced him to cancel the visit to Seattle. Tuala tells Cougs Daily that he will sign with his school of choice on Wednesday. BYU was his only official visit, putting BYU in a good position in his recruitment.

BYU Target Sani Tuala Recaps Official Visit

Tei Nacua - WR

Tei Nacua hasn't officially announced his intentions to sign his NLI on Wednesday. However, it is very possible that the youngest Nacua will make his college decision. Nacua, who is listed at 6'2 and 170 pounds, possesses a lot of the same physical traits of his older brothers. BYU is one of the top schools in his recruitment - the Cougars hosted him on an official visit a few weeks ago. He holds competing offers from Utah, Utah State, Washington State, San Diego State, and Hawaii.

Naki Tuakoi - DL

Remember when we said this signing day would be more fun than the last five signing days combined? Players like Naki Tuakoi are the reason why. BYU is in the running for the four-star edge rusher and they recently hosted him on an official visit. Tuakoi, who backed off his Stanford commitment back in October, would be one of the better recruiting wins of the Sitake era should he pick BYU. Tuakoi picked up offers from Notre Dame, Michigan State, Arizona, Arizona State, USC, Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Oregon, and many others during his recruitment.

Kekai Burnett - DL

When Jonathan Smith left Oregon State to coach at Michigan State, BYU tried to swoop in and flip some of Oregon State's commits. Among the flip targets was defensive lineman Kekai Burnett. Burnett came to BYU for an official visit two weeks ago before he took an official visit to Michigan State last weekend. This one looks like a battle between BYU and Michigan State. The Spartans have the advantage hear given their existing relationship with Burnett and his family from their Oregon State days.

3. Flip watch

Remember when we talked about a new era of BYU recruiting? This is exactly what we're talking about. On Monday, BYU flipped Texas Tech commit Danny Saili. Saili picked up offers from the likes of Miami, Oklahoma, and NC State during his recruitment before he committed to Texas Tech in November. That didn't stop BYU's defensive staff from forming a relationship with him and getting him on a visit. On the visit, Saili flipped his commitment to BYU.

BYU Flips Texas Tech Commit Danny Saili

BYU is hoping to pull off another flip or two on signing day. The Cougars have targeted Oklahoma State and West High School standout Nuku Mafi. Mafi was on campus last weekend for an official visit.

The staff has been recruiting a few other recruits that are committed to other P4 schools.

4. Transfer watch

BYU has picked up three transfer commitments this season: 

1. Sam Vander Haar - Punter
2. Jack Kelly - Linebacker
3. Marque Collins - Cornerback

Those transfers can begin signing their national letters of intent on Wednesday. The Cougars have recruited a handful of other transfers that could make their college decisions soon. Some transfers are more private about their recruitments than most high school recruits. It wouldn't be surprising to see a few more transfers sign with BYU during the early signing window.

5. Existing commits

As of this writing, BYU has 18 commits in the 2024 class. Most, if not all, of those players are expected to sign during the early signing period. Here are the 18 players that are committed to BYU:

1. Ryner Swanson - TE
2. Danny Saili - DL
3. Therrian Alexander III - DB
4. Devoux Tuataga - DL
5. Adney Reid - DL
6. Ikinasio Tupou - OL
7. Noah Lugo - QB
8. Matthias Leach - DB
9. Enoch Watson - QB
10. Blake Lowe - S/LB
11. Siosefa Brown - DL
12. Carson Suesue - ATH
13. Jonathan Kabeya - DB
14. Thomas Prassas - DB
15. Jett Nelson - TE
16. Dallin Johnson - DL
17. Luke Toomalatia - DL
18. Brody Laga

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