In a college recruiting game where talk is cheap and actions get commitments, Kalani Sitake and the Cougars are striking the right chords in the eyes of former BYU star Bronson Kaufusi.
“It’s a really unique mixture that is going on. When you can win and compete at the highest level and have fun doing it, and you can also be in a program that helps you get to the NFL, all of that together makes it a unique recipe,” Kaufusi told the “Y’s Guys” livestream show this week. “I think a lot of players are seeing, ‘Oh my gosh, I can do all of that, I can be a great player, I can be great off the field, and I love what the coaches are sharing with us around, hey, this is family.’ Saying and doing it are two different things.”
Sitake’s Cougars are a combined 23-4 over the last two seasons and are expected to contend for the Big 12 championship again this fall. In recent recruiting gains, Sitake has beaten a handful of traditional powers for athletes that historically have looked elsewhere.
On the heels of BYU’s best-rated class in program history, Sitake is building his 2027 group that already includes Jaxon Rex (athlete), who picked BYU over UCLA. Kamoni Adams (DB) chose the Cougars over Tennessee, Ole Miss and Auburn. Ryan Wooten (DB) sided with BYU over Florida State and Florida. Jeremiah Williams (DL) tabbed the Cougars over Georgia. Moa Havili (DL) had offers from Alabama and Michigan — and chose BYU.
“I think players are seeing, ‘Oh, Kalani is not just saying it. He’s doing it. This is a family and I do want to play for my brothers, my coaches, and that is such a unique culture, and what’s cool is, the players that are there are the ones who are sharing that with these recruits and that’s almost stronger than anything the coaches say,” Kaufusi said.
“When the current players are able to say, ‘This is what it is,’ and those conversations happen when they are on their recruiting visits, but they are just walking down the hallway and around BYU and they start talking to the kids and the parents. It’s those little conversations that really change it for kids.”
Familiar fire
Kaufusi finished his BYU career with 26.5 sacks and 44 tackles-for-loss before a short-lived career in the NFL with the Ravens, Jets and Packers. The former Timpview High star spent his Cougar career on the defensive line except for his junior season when he shifted to linebacker and Kelly Poppinga was his position coach.
“It’s fun playing for him and when it’s fun to play for a coach, there is a lot of buy-in,” Kaufusi said. “I’m excited to see all the buy-in and the excitement on the sideline when there is a third-down stop or a turnover. There is going to be a lot of fun on the sideline. I expect to see that because that’s who Kelly Poppinga is.”
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Poppinga will make his debut as BYU’s defensive coordinator on Sept. 5 against Utah Tech.
Charity of champions
For the second year, Kaufusi is rolling out the “Charity of Champions” flag football tournament Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at Corner Canyon High.
“This is the biggest gathering of NFL players in Utah,” Kaufusi said. “To have over 40 current or former NFL guys out there, and they are playing something, it’s pretty unique. It’s fun because they are all over the field.”
The likes of league youngsters Tyler Allgeier, Chase Roberts and Tanner Wall mixed with veterans Max Hall, Daniel Sorensen and Bryan Kehl will join others playing multiple games simultaneously on 35-yard field configurations. The event helped raise $50,000 last year for charity.
“We are trying to build something really big and share it with everyone else,” said Kaufusi, who has additional information available at charityofchampionsutah.com. “The goal is to help over 20 charities through one big event.”
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com
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