Matt Ah You, a key engine behind much of Lone Peak's success this past fall, announced he will sign with BYU next week.
Ah You, the younger brother of Cougar defensive end C.J. Ah You, accepted a scholarship offer over the weekend and will cancel a trip to Arizona State and Colorado State. He previously tripped to Hawaii.
A first-team all-state and region MVP as linebacker and running back, Matt Ah You said he was "grateful" to get a scholarship because he knew BYU had run out.
"It's a wonderful feeling to get it done," Ah You said. He follows his father Charlie, brother C.J. and cousins Kingsley and Harlan Ah You to play for the Cougars.
This weekend got a little crazy when two BYU recruits, who'd previously given oral commitments to sign with the Cougars, took official recruiting trips to Hawaii. Both previously told the Deseret News they'd end all trips.
The pair included Timpview defensive lineman Brian Soi and Kahuku (Hawaii) safety Viliami Nauahi.
Soi's island visit shocked his coach, Chad Van Orden, who has been steering recruiters from Oregon and ASU away from Soi during school hours because they kept taking him out of classes.
"The idea to commit early to BYU (in December) was to allow him to focus on his grades," Van Orden said. "I think the trip to Hawaii was disruptive to him at a critical time." Soi's latest grades will be posted today and he plans on re-taking the ACT test in February.
"Brian's academic status is far from being a big issue, but it's a concern," said the coach.
"He's all BYU, though," Van Orden said of Soi and his Hawaiian adventure.
Last week, Kentucky assistant Ron McBride, decked out in blue and white, visited Timpview and Soi.
Nauahi returned to Kahuku High a week ago after committing to BYU coach Gary Crowton and immediately met objections from his coach and girl friend.
Both Crowton and assistant Steve Kaufusi were in Kahuku Monday making follow-up visits.
Last weekend's BYU recruiting visit list included 11 football players, four of whom committed to sign next week. Those include defensive backs Walt Williams (Miami), and Aaron Attig (Moapa Valley, Nev.), Weber High kicker Mitch Payne and Lone Peak's Ah You.
Williams, the fall and winter absentee enrollee who signed last February, is expected to complete his degree from Dade County Community College this spring and enroll at BYU. Williams' problems stem from enrollment at three different junior colleges the past year. After attending Eastern Arizona for 1 1/2 years, he then failed to meet residency requirements at two schools in South Florida. His case got complicated when one Miami junior college did not count a core class.
Seven high school recruits who visited were asked to join a list of "preferred" walk-ons this fall. That group included Timpview High return specialist Scott Johnson and Springville's Zac Erekson. Both agreed to enroll next fall and be available for two-a-day practices. Erekson was injured most of last season after a solid junior year at Springville.
Others who made official visits were Layton defensive lineman Brody Flint, son of former Cougar lineman Brandon Flint, and two athletes from College Station, Texas. That duo is running back Chase Loveridge and receiver Chase Williams. Loveridge is Crowton's nephew and will likely walk on without financial aid. Williams is a baseball and track athlete who is learning football and may end up at a junior college before receiving a Division I offer. Ah You's teammate, tight end Howie Harmer, also tripped but was not offered a scholarship.
Johnson, who was named Timpview's defensive player of the year the past two seasons, had offers from Ivy League schools and contact from USC, Utah, Stanford and Oregon. He scored three touchdowns on special teams this past year. "He will play his freshman season and then go on a mission next winter," according to his mother Tammy Johnson.
Another BYU "brother connection" story almost broke this week when Meridian High (Idaho) junior quarterback Jacob Bower was rumored to be Crowton's first commitment to sign in 2004.
His older brothers, current BYU basketball guard Ricky Bower and former shooting guard Danny Bower fueled speculation their little brother received a BYU offer and committed.
"I wish I could do that," Jacob said. "But I think it's too early and it may be against the rules to commit right now. It's a strong option when the right time comes," Jacob said Monday night.
Jacob, 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, threw for 1700 yards and 18 touchdowns and ran for five other scores this past season for his 8-3 team that finished third in Idaho's 5A. This past week in basketball, the younger Bower brother made 7 of 10 treys and 8 of 11 from the line in a 39-point performance against No. 1 Timberline High.
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com