Former Utah recruit Manase Tonga's three-year journey to play football ended this week after he committed to sign at BYU following an official recruiting visit to Provo. He plans on securing a scholarship and suiting up for two-a-days in August as a 21-year old freshman.
Tonga, a 6-1, 215-pound running back out of San Mateo's Aragon High School, signed to play at Utah after his 2002 all-league MVP season. He attended one semester at Utah on Ron McBride's plan to gray-shirt and save four years of eligibility.
An athlete who "gray shirts" pays his own way for a semester, preventing his NCAA clock from starting. Players have five years to play four. Missionaries and servicemen are exempt for two-year commitments.
Tonga accepted an LDS mission call to serve in San Pedro-Sula Honduras. A month ago, he learned Utah did not have a scholarship available for him this fall but may at mid-year.
Tonga returned from his mission April 27 and listened to BYU's official pitch Monday and Tuesday on campus and decided to accept the Cougars' offer for fall.
"They told me I could choose between playing running back or on defense as a linebacker or safety. I want to try running back." Tonga plans on moving to Provo after July 4 to prepare for the Cougar camp.
Tonga waited until Wednesday to make his pledge public, consulting with his parents in San Mateo. Landing Tonga could prove key for BYU in a bid to sign his younger brother, Matangi Tonga, a 6-3, 260-pound defensive end who will be a senior next season at Aragon. Matangi, who has drawn attention from Pac-10 schools, was all-CIF as a junior.
"Meeting with Bronco Mendenhall was incredible. In talking with him for 20 minutes, you could tell he has an impressive vision for the program," Manase Tonga said. I liked his energy, his approach and his style. You can tell by talking to him that he will turn BYU's football program around and I believe in him."
Manase Tonga gained 1,900 yards and scored 24 touchdowns as a running back his senior year, when he earned all-league honors for the third straight season. His younger brother, All-CIF defensive end Matangi Tonga is a highly recruited junior prospect at Aragon who could follow his brother to the MWC after his senior year.
In an early move to secure pledges from juniors, the class of 2006, BYU has four commitments including promises to sign from Alta lineman Braden Hansen, Brighton defensive back Mike Hague, Orem defensive lineman Zeke Wily and Texas receiver McKay Jacobson.
BYU has an additional pledge from Oregon high school quarterback Sam Doman, who is currently serving an LDS mission in the Dominican Republic, according to his uncle, Ed Snow of Provo. Doman returns from his mission in June 2006.
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com