Big BYU football signee not expected to join team this fall


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PROVO — When BYU football picked up New Zealand rugby talent Manase Tu'ungafasi late in the season's recruiting cycle, the 322-pound potential lineman was looked at as a natural pairing to big lineman Motekiai Langi.

But Tu'ungafasi's enrollment at BYU will be delayed, at the very least.

The 6-foot-7 Tu'ungafasi will not be with the Cougars this fall, according to multiple reports on Wednesday. He is likely to enroll at Snow College, according to a report from ESPN 960 radio.

The move would keep the native of Auckland, New Zealand, in the Beehive State and around for potential recruitment after playing 1-2 season of junior college football.

ESPN 960 has learned that Manase Tu'ungafasi will not be with the BYU Football team this upcoming season. — ESPN960Sports (@espn960sports) July 29, 2015

At BYU media day in June, head coach Bronco Mendenhall noted the subtraction of defensive lineman Isaiah Nacua as the only notable attrition to the squad.

"I don't think there are any others," Mendenhall said at the time.

Tu'ungafasi raised high expectations among BYU supporters, despite never playing a full season of football. The former Samoa U-20 rugby star played in an American Football exhibition game on the island and was also recruited by Utah and Oregon State before submitting a national letter of intent with BYU in May.

Tu'ungafasi could still join with Langi, the other 6-foot-7 BYU signee from the South Pacific, before the latter officially joins the Cougars. Langi, a 410-pound Tongan who was simply listed as "lineman" in BYU's signing day announcement, is currently serving an LDS Church mission in Arizona — an assignment he began shortly before signing day when he visited with Mendenhall and the coaching staff before entering the Missionary Training Center in Provo.

If Tu'ungafasi plays two years at Snow College, he would be eligible to transfer to BYU and play immediately as soon as Langi returned from missionary service. Langi would be a true freshman, while Tu'ungafasi would be a junior.

SITAKE-TANOAI COMMITS — BYU also picked up a commitment from former Utah signee LeRoy Sitake-Tanoai, an offensive lineman who recently returned from a mission, over the summer.

Sitake-Tanoai is the half-brother of Oregon State defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake, and he held offers from Utah, BYU, Hawaii, Nebraska, UCLA and Washington prior to serving a mission.

The 6-foot-4, 280-pound lineman signed with Utah in February 2012 before serving a mission, and when his half-brother was an assistant coach under Kyle Whittingham.

The family connection played a major role in his commitment to the Utes three years ago.

"It'll be really fun. He's a great coach and an even greater brother," Tanoai told the Deseret News after inking with Utah. "I know going out to Utah that he'll be there to support me."

COUGARS SET RESCHEDULED DATE WITH UNLV — BYU's return date with UNLV following a 42-23 win in Provo last year was rescheduled to make room for the Cougars' to play Missouri in Kansas City on Nov. 11.

The rescheduled date has a time, according to the UNLV media guide.

The Rebels will host BYU on Nov. 11, 2017 in Las Vegas. The game is currently scheduled to be played at Sam Boyd Stadium. The Rebels' home turf is currently undergoing a $1.2 million renovation that includes a new artificial turf field with shock pads installed underneath and seven feet of additional space from sideline to sideline.

The rescheduled date leaves just two dates — Sept. 16 and Sept. 23 — open on BYU's 2017 football schedule. The Cougars also have games scheduled against Louisiana State, Utah and Mississippi State, among others.

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