BYU recruiting: loading up on 2009 linemen
BYU loading up on linemen
The class of 2009 recruiting class is quickly filling up with offensive linemen now that Texas guard Fono Vakalahi (6-4, 320) declared for the Cougars Thursday night.
So far the Cougars have 13 commitments for the class of 2009 and once had a ceiling of 15 scholarships slotted for that class signing in February. Bronco Mendenhall told reporters in Las Vegas in July he is flexible with his numbers due to medical situations, attrition, players going on missions or simply deciding not to play. He believes he can wiggle 18 to 19 recruits out of that class.
Vakalahi makes four offensive lineman who have committed for that class. This leaves room for possibly one more and the top prospect is from down the street, Timpview”s Xavier Su’afilo, who has offers from all over the country.
Xavier will take informal trips and official trips to places like LSU and USC and might hold out until signing day. Mendenhall’s staff is continuing to recruit him hard, but Mendenhall’s style is not to beg, if a prospect wants to be at BYU, he’s better off to make it known and why rather than expect promises and pitches over and over again.
“I find players who are successful at BYU are those who really want to be there,” Mendenhall said.
OL guys who have committed so far include Vakalahi, 6-4, 320 from Bryan, Texas; Ryan Mulitalo, 6-3, 285 from Hunter High; Tui Crichton, 6-4, 280 from Timpview High, and Terry Alletto, a 6-3, 260 pound center from Colorado.
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In leftovers from Thursday?s first day of pads, J.J. Diluigi got the memo on “we” rather than “me.”
In a brief interview following 11-on-11 drills in which he looked very good, he continually steered clear of talking about himself, his skills, his aspirations and goals for the coming season.
“Whatever I can do to make this team better, that?s what I want.”
DiLuigi said it was frustrating for him to be injured and sit out last year, especially when football had been such a major part of his life for so long. “I’m excited to get out here and play and it was fun to be able to hit today.”
The MVP of the California Bowl for Canyon High in Canyon Country, Calif., is backing up Harvey Unga in drills and has made significant progress. A guy who can squad more than 500 pounds, he isn’t big but has great lower body power. He is not, as some have mentioned, comparable to Reno Mahe. He doesn’t have Mahe’s shakes. He’s a smaller version of Unga, a straight-ahead power runner whose strength is his leg drive, balance and ability to break tackles at the point of attack. He is also short enough that he can hide behind blockers and give a short burst to pick up an extra yard or two when would-be tacklers catch on to which side of a lineman he attacks from. He has also showed good hands on pass routes, hauling down Hall passes in the flats.
“I just want to work hard and give my best effort,” DiLuigi said.
The Cougars will go two times today, this morning will be in pads with a lot of work and the afternoon session will be a lighter affair heading into Saturday?s first major scrimmage.