alt=Jay DrewPROVO — It was a fruitful weekend on the recruiting front for BYU football coaches, who landed a commitment from a three-star offensive lineman from Arizona and saw a linebacker from California accept a preferred walk-on offer.
Jake Griffin, a 6-foot-6, 265-pound senior at Red Mountain High in Mesa, Arizona, and Kyle Vassau, an athletic linebacker at Carlsbad High in the San Diego area, both announced via Twitter on Sunday that they will be joining the program after serving two-year missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“I would like to thank my family, coaches and friends for helping me along this journey. I am extremely proud to say I will be playing college ball at BYU!!!,” Griffin tweeted.
Griffin was lightly recruited until a few months ago, but got offers from Washington State, Oregon State, Arizona, Utah State, Indiana and BYU recently and committed after making his official campus visit to BYU over the weekend.
He is the son of former USU player Douglass Griffin and also plays basketball for his high school.
In December, BYU signed Sacramento offensive lineman Isaiah Tupou, another three-star prospect who will serve a mission before enrolling. Also, OL Mac Aloisio of nearby Timpview High has announced on social media that he, too, will join the program after a church mission.
Vassau, 6-3, 225, also made his official campus visit this weekend.
“After a great official visit and discussion with my family/coaches, I am blessed to announce that I have committed to BYU to continue my football career!,” Vassau tweeted, while also thanking the coaches and mentors who have got him to this point.
The Cougars have seen success recently with preferred walk-ons, as PWOs such as linebacker Payton Wilgar and receiver Dax Milne have shined early in their college careers before earning scholarships through their contributions to the team.
Griffin is one of BYU’s last remaining football recruiting targets from the class of 2020, as the Deseret News reported Friday. The others are American Fork defensive end Bodie Schoonover, Arizona linebacker Tate Romney, Olympus athlete Scotty Edwards, Arizona tight end Alex Lines and Keanu Tanuvasa, a defensive tackle from Mission Viejo, California.