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Top 5 commitments of BYU’s 2014 recruiting class

With Signing Day approaching Wednesday, here are the five highest-rated committed players of BYU’s 2014 class.

Also See Part 2: Top 5 uncommitted targets of the 2014 class and VIDEO: Greg Wrubell Tells Us What To Expect on Signing Day

BYU football has many impact players involved in its 2014 recruiting class, some committed and some the Cougars hope to add to the fold on Signing Day this Wednesday. Here are the top five highest-rated committed players in BYU’s class according to their 247 Sports composite rating, which averages ratings from the major recruiting services.

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5. SIONE TAKITAKI

LINEBACKER / DEFENSIVE END | 6’2″ 235 lbs | Romoland, CA
3-star – 85.10 rating

takitaki

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Takitaki committed to BYU in June 2013 after ultimately turning down second-choice Wisconsin as well Arizona, Washington State, and San Diego State.

Different recruiting services list Takitaki at different positions because he played linebacker and fullback for his Heritage High Patriots (13-1) in 2013. However, he told Total Blue Sports just before committing that he believes BYU wants him to play defensive end. So Scout lists him as the 50th-best DE in the country. 247 Sports has Sione as the 4th-best fullback, ESPN as the 24th-best linebacker, and Rivals as the 47th-best “athlete” — a top-50 player at any of those positions.

Needless to say, the Cougars are getting a versatile player. Given how Bronco Mendenhall has used similar players recently, like Ziggy Ansah and now Bronson Kaufusi, it’s possible we eventually see Takitaki play a combo of outside linebacker and defensive end.

Takitaki was competitive acquaintances with now-fellow BYU commit Tyler Cook, a linebacker from neighboring Murietta and a player just percentage points from making BYU’s top five commits.

In 2013, Takitaki recorded 81 tackles in 14 games, with 3.5 sacks, one interception, and one blocked punt. He also tallied 823 yards and and 14 touchdowns on 99 carries, an 8.31 yards-per-carry average.

VIDEOS
Hudl | Senior highlights | Junior highlights
ESPN | Highlights

4. MATT BUSHMAN

TIGHT END | 6’5″ 200 lbs | Tucson, AZ
3-star – 85.19 rating
#34 TE

matt bushman

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Bushman has been widely-regarded as one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the country. The two-sport athlete committed to BYU in October 2013 nearly a year after the Cougars offered. He also held offers from Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and Duke. Bushman is also an outfielder with plans to play baseball at BYU for Mike Littlewood. He hit .438 with an on-base percentage of .479 in recorded games as a junior. He plans to serve a mission immediately out of high school.

His high school coach, Jay Campos, said “He’s simply exceptional in his ability to run great routes and simply make plays. He’s going to break every receiving record we have here, and he’s truly one of the finest kids I’ve ever coached with how he conducts himself on and off the football field.”

His combination of height, speed, good footwork, and “soft hands,” as they say, should make Bushman a menace to opposing defenses.

Bushman racked up 1,583 receiving yards in 12 games, hauling in 26 touchdowns on only 63 receptions for his Sabino Sabercats, who were 9-3 his senior season.


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