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Orem's Kaue Akana (13) celebrates catching a pass during a high school football game against Spanish Fork on Friday, August 25, 2023.

Darnell Dickson/Daily Herald

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Orem's Kaue Akana (13) crosses the goal line for a touchdown in a high school football game against Pleasant Grove on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem's Kaue Akana, right, cradles the ball as he crosses the end zone for a touchdown in a 5A state football playoff game against Wasatch on Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

Darnell Dickson, Daily Herald

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Orem sophomore wide receiver Kaue Akana (13) gets tripped up by a Timpview defender and goes airborne during the Region 7 game at Provo High on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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There’s football players people claim do everything on the field of play, and then there’s Orem’s Kaue Akana.

Since taking the field for the Tigers for the first time as a freshman, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound athlete has been employed quite literally everywhere on both sides of the football, and has done as much with a great deal of success.

Receiver and tight end? Well, he’s accounted for 1,806 yards and 20 touchdowns receiving and it’s two of the positions a lot of scouts believe he’ll play at the collegiate level.

Running back? Yes, and quite often, evidenced by his 352 yards and a touchdown rushing.

Quarterback? You guessed it, with his Coach Lance Reynolds confirming as much.

Defensive back? Kaue has been employed consistently at both the cornerback and safety positions.

Linebacker? It’s the position, along with receiver and tight end, where many evaluators believe he’ll play in college.

Defensive end? Reynolds believes some of his best plays made have come from being employed at the rush end position.

“He’s not only played all those positions for us, but he’s played all of them pretty darn well,” Reynolds said. “I mean, he’s better at some positions than others, but he’s so versatile and athletic that he’s been able to stand out no matter what position we have him at.”

Oh, and Akana also kicks for the Tigers, accounting for seven field goals, 50 extra points and a multitude of touchbacks on kickoffs over the course of the past two seasons.

Indeed it was kicking the football where Akana probably felt most comfortable when taking to the gridiron for the first time as a freshman. Despite possessing all the skills necessary to stand out playing football, he wasn’t all that interested, at least initially.

“I grew up in California and I was a big soccer guy. That was my sport,” Akana said. “I focused on soccer for about 14 years, but then I started losing my love for soccer and decided to give football a try, and I fell in love with it.”

Akana tried out football playing in non-contact 7-on-7 tournaments during his eighth grade year before giving tackle football a try the next year as a freshman at Orem. Somewhat remarkably, he received his first offer to play college football before even strapping on a football pad, much less before incurring or dealing out tackle.

“The first school to offer me was the University of Utah, and they actually offered me in the eighth grade,” Akana said. “They offered me after seeing me play 7-on-7 football and I was seriously shocked. I really couldn’t believe it.”

What Utah coaches observed was elite athleticism that they well knew would translate effectively on the gridiron.

Encouraged by Utah’s offer, Akana joined up with an Orem program that has consistently featured some of the best athletes in the state in recent years. Although completely new to the game, he adjusted to the rigors and course of play rather seamlessly.

“The footwork you work on in soccer really translates well to football, I found,” Akana explained. “I don’t think I was the best right away, but when my mental game caught up, that’s when I feel I was really able to do well and compete against anyone. I’ve always been a bigger guy, so the physical aspect was something I was able to develop, although it took some time.”

It wasn’t until this past year when Akana felt completely comfortable with the physical play of football, and his comfort level was subsequently met with a bevy of offers from top programs. Akana’s list of offers includes top programs such as Alabama, Oregon, Oklahoma and Auburn, among many others.

Ultimately Akana selected BYU as the program he’ll play for at the next level, however.

“BYU offered me at the end of my freshman year and I just love the coaches and everything BYU has to offer so much,” Akana said. “I feel so much love whenever I’m down there and I want to be a part of it. I can see myself thriving there.”

Akana’s character and work ethic has also played big in him reaching the stature he has as a football prospect.

“His work ethic, especially in the weight room, is honestly incredible,” Reynolds said. “I wish every player I had would do the work he has in the weight room and in the offseason. But the best part about him is how he never gets down and he’s always positive in everything he does. He’s just a happy kid and a true joy to be around.”

Akana intends to serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prior to enrolling at BYU and immediately upon conclusion of his final season at Orem. All that is well down the road, however, with his focus entirely on this coming season for the Tigers in pursuit of winning a state championship.

“I feel we have so much talent here at Orem and I love being part of all of it, and yeah, we’re really after that state championship,” he said. “I love my teammates so much, my coaches and everyone that has helped me develop into the player I am. I want to go out strong and do everything I can for Orem this season. That’s the goal.”