Following the recent commitments of offensive lineman Jax Tanner and linebacker Adam Bywater, the Cougar 2026 roster of commitments is currently ranked No. 20 nationally by the 247 Sports Network, a rank never before achieved in any year since recruiting rankings began back in the late 1990s.

Tanner is a 6-foot-4, 275 prospect who claimed offers from the likes of Michigan, Oregon, Boise State and Tennessee, among several others and was rated as a high 3-star prospect. Bywater, meanwhile, is a 6-foot-3, 210 pounder from Olympus who is the younger brother of former Cougar linebacker Ben Bywater who claimed offers from Utah, Boise State and Arizona State, among others.

BYU’s two most recent commitments gives it 21 prospects pledged to sign during the December signing period, with typical signing classes consisting of around 25 signees. So the Cougars should just about be finished gathering commitments for the 2026 class with the job now to retain their impressive pledges from now until the early December signing period, extending to the later and traditional February period.

Sure, the Cougar’s ranking could fluctuate as recruiting services continue their evaluations, along with the possibility of at least some of the 21 commitments electing to decommit and sign elsewhere. It happens, although it’s doubtful that this 2026 signing class won’t wind up as simply the best and most complete class I’ve covered since I became publisher of the BYU 247 Network site back in 2003.

So how has BYU done it? How has the program that had trouble breaking into the top 50 nationally now putting together a truly competitive class at the national level?

Resources

The obvious boon to the BYU program has been a huge influx of resources congruent with Big 12 Conference affiliation. The Cougars now employ a competitive recruiting system, with regards to beefing up their recruiting staff among other factors to legitimately go head-to-head with the top programs around the country.

I can’t tell you how many local high school coaches I’ve covered over the years that complained to me about how BYU’s recruiting efforts lagged way behind those of Utah, primarily. I don’t hear those complaints anymore, with BYU not only employing more competitive resources, but also fielding a coaching staff that is more highly engaged and effective in the process.

Resources also includes direct financial benefits offered recruits via Name-Image-and-Likeness (NIL) opportunities with BYU’s donors and collectives responding well to this new and crazy era of collegiate athletics. It’s now often the occasion when BYU can simply offer as much, and even more financial benefits than many of its competitors, and there’s no doubt that this has played big in the recruiting game.

On-the-field Credibility

Resources are fine and good, sure, but unless those off-the-field benefits translate into in-season successes, then it really doesn’t mean a whole lot.

I’ve maintained since BYU’s 36-14 demolition of Colorado in the Alamo Bowl this past December that it was a big moment with regards to how recruits view the football program. The Buffaloes were a big deal entering the game, armed with Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter and the allure of Coach Prime (Deion Sanders) and his son Shedeur Sanders, all of which very much had the Cougars as decided underdogs and perhaps even an afterthought.

What unfolded, however, was one of the most impressive bowl wins in BYU football history, if not the most impressive. The Cougars dominated play throughout, and put together an advantage over Colorado that was in no doubt wider than even the 22-point final margin would indicate.

That’s establishing credibility, and recruits notice. Any top recruit seeks to play for a program that can compete among the best, and BYU can now legitimately offer as much, more so than at any time within the football program’s history.

And the bowl win over the Buffaloes was hardly a one-off. It was the cumulative effort of a team that indeed came within just a few plays of advancing to the Big 12 Championship Game with ample opportunity to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Again, recruits noticed.

Kalani Sitake

I can tell you from my own personal experience that Kalani Sitake is a great guy to be around. He’s almost shockingly sincere in his interactions with even the lowest of creation (the media) and consistently has a habit of making anyone and everyone who associates with him feel that they’re worth his time.

There’s no doubt that he’s at least as engaging with recruits. With BYU’s added resources, Sitake has been able to present himself more during the official visits recruits make to the football program and it absolutely plays big, considering just how magnetic he proves to be with his genuine, likable, and relatable personality.

Of course there’s other factors involved, and every recruit is his own with regards to how they select their best option. But again, take it from someone who has covered recruiting more than anyone else in the local media; These three listed factors have and will continue to play big so long as each are maintained and even enhanced moving forward.

2026 BYU commitments

Kaue Akana, 6-3, 200 athlete, Orem High School

Sefanaia Alatini, 6-2, 185 athlete, Mountain View, Calif.

Justice Brathwaite,  6-0, 160 defensive back, Gilbert, Ariz.

Adam Bywater, 6-3, 210 linebacker, Olympus High School

Jaxson Gates, 6-1, 170 defensive back, La Verne, Calif.

Legend Glasker, 6-1, 165 athlete, Lehi High School

Ty Goettsche, 6-7, 225 tight end, Englewood, Colo.

Brock Harris, 6-6, 238 tight end, Pine View High School

Antonio Johnson, 6-4, 180 defensive back, Forth Worth, Tex.

Nehemiah Kolone 6-4, 255 defensive lineman, Stillwater, Okla.

Braxton Lindsey, 6-2, 230 linebacker, Rogers, Ark.

Graham Livingston, 5-11, 185 wide receiver, Ridgeline High School

Ryder Lyons, 6-3, 215 quarterback, Folsom, Calif.

Matthew Mason, 6-3, 190 defensive back, Las Vegas, Nev.

Lopeti Moala, 6-4, 250 defensive lineman, Orem High School

Bott Mulitalo, 6-5, 290 offensive line, Lone Peak High School

Parker Ord, 6-4, 210 tight end, Frisco, Tex.

Terrance Saryon, 5-10, 160 receiver, Vancouver, Wash.

Kenael Sweetwyne, 6-3, 195 quarterback, Skyridge High School

PJ Takitaki, 6-4, 230 defensive end, Lehi High School

Jax Tanner, 6-4, 275 offensive lineman, Meridien, Ida.