BYU football’s pursuit of superior offensive line production received a significant boost on Tuesday with the surprise signing announcement of Alai Kalaniuvalu.

Kalaniuvalu is a consensus 4-star rated prospect who prepped for the elite Bishop Gorman football program in Las Vegas. The 6-foot-4, 300 pound interior lineman claimed offers from many top tier programs, including Alabama, Oregon, Michigan Penn State, USC, Tennessee, Utah and BYU, among many others.

A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Kalaniuvalu had previously committed to Oregon before flipping his verbal commitment to the Cougars just prior to the past December signing period. He then opted to reup with the Ducks, signing a national letter of intent with the program on December 5, which came as an unfortunate surprise to the Cougar coaching staff.

But Kalaniuvalu, who originally played for Timpview High School, wasn’t quite finished with his unexpected recruiting turns.

As mentioned, BYU football announced on Tuesday that the highly-regarded prospect has now signed with BYU, about four months following his departure for mission service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Colorado. Presumably Kalaniuvalu will return from his mission service in time for the 2027 season.

Kalaniuvalu’s addition now gives the Cougars a trio of 4-star prospects signed as part of the 2025 class, joining with running back/linebacker McKay Madsen (6-1, 230) and defensive end Nusi Taumoepeau (6-3, 225.) BYU has also made several former 4-star additions through the transfer portal this offseason, including Utah transfers Hunter Clegg (6-4, 235 DE) and Carsen Ryan (6-4, 250 TE), along with Andrew Gentry (6-8, 315 OL), who transferred from Michigan, Tausili Akana (6-2, 235 DE), who transferred from Texas, and brothers Tiger Bachmeier (6-1, 190 WR) and Bear Bachmeier (6-2, 225) who played for and signed with Stanford, respectively.

Kalaniuvalu grew up in Orem and played as a sophomore for Timpview before opting to transfer to Bishop Gorman in hopes of raising his recruiting profile. It worked, with Kalaniuvalu playing primarily at center and offensive guard for the prestigious program where he started along with other top recruits such as receiver Derek Meadows, who signed with Alabama, and offensive linemen Douglas Utu and Seuseu Alofaituli, who signed with Oregon and Miami, respectively.

The Cougars have managed to attract several top offensive linemen to the program lately, which includes the aforementioned transfer of Gentry, along with Lone Peak’s Austin Pay (6-7, 295), who signed as part of the 2025 and Lone Peak’s Bott Mulitalo (6-5, 290), who is committed to sign as part of the 2026 class.