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BYU coaches and staff celebrate a commitment on early signing day in the football offices in Provo on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023.

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BYU coaches (from left) Aaron Roderick, Kalani Sitake and Jay Hill speak on a media teleconference on early signing day in the football offices in Provo on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023.

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BYU coaches (from left) Jay Hill, Kelly Poppinga and Jernaro Gilford check out an update on early signing day in the football offices in Provo on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023.

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BYU coaches and staff talk things over on early signing day in the football offices in Provo on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2023.

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It was the first thing BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick and the last thing Cougar defensive coordinator Jay Hill brought up during their comments to start Wednesday’s early signing day press conference.

“The first thing I want to mention is the most important recruiting thing that we did was retain our players,” Roderick said. “In this day and age, you have to really work at retaining our players and I think we’ve done a good job of that. Everybody pretty much is coming back. We had one guy (running back Aiden Robbins) decide to turn pro but most of our key players are returning. We’re really excited about all those guys and appreciative of the fact that they like being a part of this program. It is a good sign about how our team culture is really strong.”

Hill said: “The first thing you’ve got to do is retain your current players. I was happy with the progress of the guys who played for us last year when he retained those guys. Cougar Nation will be excited to know that our best players are still here at BYU. I think our coaching staff did a phenomenal job with this signing class, with keeping our players here and buying into what we know this is going to look like in the next couple of years. We’re super excited about the future of these recruits and where our defense is headed.”

While the 27 newcomers who signed on Wednesday will certainly get plenty of attention, the Cougars made it clear that they are supplementing the foundation already in place that will determine whether BYU can bounce back from its tough first year in the Big 12.

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake explained how in his program, loyalty plays a big part in how they approach recruiting internally and externally.

“We have to give them reasons to stay,” Sitake said. “They have to consider it all just like the recruits do. If we show them that there’s just more to us, more in depth with what we are as a program compared to everyone else, then I think we get them and that is why it has worked out so well for us, especially this year.”

He said loyalty isn’t something that should be used to try and guilt players into staying. It’s about finding the right balance, which is why he recognizes that each situation can be unique.

“It’s about relationships and about what is best for each young man,” Sitake said. “I think sometimes we forget that they have needs and desires. Most of our guys who decided to transfer, their No. 1 concern is that they want more playing time. We want them to be happy. We want our players to have a great experience but sometimes we are loaded and they have to find a different place to go. That’s the game these days.”

As factors like conference affiliation, the transfer portal and name, image and likeness deals have shaken the college football landscape in recent years, Sitake said BYU — like all football programs — have had to adapt its recruiting approach.

“We have to be innovative and adjust to the times,” Sitake said. “If you are using the same formula you were a couple of years ago, you are already out of date. You have to stay on top of it.”

He highlighted the fact that BYU can’t and won’t do things like a lot of places do, but that can be a competitive advantage.

“We have to make sure it falls in line with what we’re trying to do as a university and as a football program,” Sitake said. “What we’re going to do is always going to be unique and different than everyone else, but we also want to be able to adjust and find creative ways to enhance and see the recruiting benefits.”

Sitake said that players who decide to be Cougars should expect more when they come to Provo.

“Everyone is going to the one thing that they can try to sell the most and that’s the money,” Sitake said. “We have way more than that. There’s way more layers than that here. That’s not the focus. We’re never going to be a program focused on money as the attraction. Everything here is about people and that is our currency. The value of mentoring and of leadership and camaraderie, or fellowship, to build yourself spiritually, physically and mentally, we have all of those things.”

2024 BYU football signing class

NAME POS. HT. WT. PREV. SCHOOL

Alexander III, Therrian “Tre” CB 6’2″ 165 Southwest DeKalb HS

Asiata, Ephraim DE 6’3″ 210 Herriman HS

Brown, Joe OL 6’4” 285 Lone Peak HS

Brown, Siosefa DE 6’4″ 210 Highland HS

Fonohema, Kini DE 6’5” 210 Springville HS

Johnson, Dallin DT 6’3″ 290 Springville HS

Kabeya, Jonathan CB 5’10” 170 Byron Nelson HS

Kelly, Jack LB 6’2″ 235 Weber State

Laga, Brody K 5’11” 160 Mountain Ridge HS

Leach, Matthias S 6’3″ 175 Chisolm Trail HS

Lowe, Blake LB 6’3″ 205 Chaparral HS

Lugo, Noah QB 6’2″ 185 Eaton HS

Nacua, Tei WR 6’2″ 180 Timpview HS

Nelson, Jett WR 6’5″ 210 American Fork HS

Po’uha, Viliami DE 6’3″ 260 Bingham HS

Prassas, Tommy S 6’2″ 190 Basha HS

Reid, Adney DE 6’5″ 225 The King’s School (AUS)

Saili, Danny DT 6’3″ 355 Hutchinson Community College

Skidmore, Cannon LS 6’2″ 200 Red Mountain HS

Su’esu’e, Carson Athlete 6’5″ 215 Granger HS

Swanson, Ryner TE 6’4″ 235 Laguna Beach HS

To’omalatai, Luke DT 6’3″ 305 Long Beach City College

Tuala, Sani DE 6’5″ 260 Citrus College

Tuataga, Devoux DE 6’6″ 245 Cedar Valley HS

Tupou, Ikinasio OL 6’6″ 290 Palo Alto HS

Vander Haar, Sam P 6’0″ 218 Pittsburgh Univ.

Watson, Enoch QB 6’3″ 202 American Leadership Academy

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