PROVO — New BYU football coach Kalani Sitake brought in 25 recruits with his first class Wednesday afternoon, maintaining the previous coaching regime's standouts and adding a few of his own.

The challenge of recruiting as a head coach and at his alma mater — with the common restrictions that are often attached to the job of the LDS Church's flagship institution — didn't seem to faze Sitake as he addressed members of the media in the BYU Broadcasting Building.

"I didn't find much challenge in recruiting to BYU. It felt right," the former BYU fullback said. "I believed in it, and I did it. Being in the home and talking about it, I think it was natural for me. Like talking to a friend or a family member, it was easy."

Sitake held together the majority of the former commitments under ex-BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, keeping together a list even as the former Cougar coach took most of the previous staff to Virginia.

Doing so reflects more on the players and their commitments to BYU than a particular coach or staff, though, Sitake admitted.

"I think the commitment to the school speaks a lot about their character and who they are. A lot of these guys committed way before we came along," he said while surrounded by top assistants Ed Lamb, Ilaisa Tuiaki and Ty Detmer. "Being able to rely on our players and our team to have those relationships with them, and the coaches we had at the time did a great job getting those guys recommitted."

Detmer acknowledged several surprises — many of them pleasant — in his first recruiting experience as a first-time offensive coordinator. The former BYU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner said he was surprised by how welcoming many families were to BYU's coaches.

"I really enjoyed that part of it," Detmer said. "The travel is one thing … It was different, but I really enjoyed the process of it."

In addition to holding on to commitments like four-star defensive back Troy Warner from Mission Hills High (San Marcos, California) and Bountiful safety Max Tooley, Sitake also reeled in a few high-profile commitments from other schools, such as ex-Utah commit Hirkley Latu from Kahuku High in Hawaii.

The 6-foot-3, three-star linebacker held offers from Utah, Vanderbilt and Hawaii, among other schools, before opting to join the Cougars' 2016 class.

"I don't think it's anything special. That's just part of the recruiting," Sitake said. "It's more the relationships that we try to highlight here. I am surrounded by great men on this coaching staff, and they're the best part of the recruiting process. It's unbelievable to see them mingle with the recruits."

Sitake's inaugural class included two junior college transfers and two of the top talents BYU has received from nearby Snow College in recent years. Wide receiver Jonah Trinnaman and defensive tackle Handsome Tanielu are rated four-star prospects by most major recruiting services with Trinnaman being the No. 5 junior college wide receiver in the nation.

The first team NJCAA All-American on special teams posted 803 yards and eight touchdowns on 47 receptions with the Badgers and also averaged 33.9 yards per kick return with a 99-yard kick return for a touchdown. The 6-0, 190-pound alum of American Fork High (Utah) was also recruited by Oregon State, Utah, Colorado, Nevada and Oregon.

Tanielu, a 6-2, 285-pound tackle, has traditionally played on the interior of the defensive line in stops at Snow and his native Waianae High School in Waianae, Hawaii. Rated the No. 18 overall junior college prospect this past year, Tanielu was the No. 3 junior college defensive tackle and enrolled early at BYU at the start of winter semester. He recorded 36 tackles, 22 solo stops and three sacks for the Badgers in 2015.

Those two, along with six returned missionaries that will join the program in 2016, could play significant roles in next season. But Sitake also emphasized many of Wednesday's recruits will slowly work into the rotation — if at all. Many will serve two-year missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before stepping foot on campus, such as Maple Mountain (Utah) quarterback Jaren Hall.

National Signing Day 2016

BYU Recruit Central

Comprehensive coverage of the 2016 BYU football recruits.

The son of former BYU running back Kalin Hall was rated the No. 20 dual-threat QB by Rivals.com in 2015, throwing for 1,336 passing yards and 13 touchdowns before missing the final weeks of the season with an injury.

Detmer has significant plans for Hall when the youngster returns from his mission.

"We're excited with Jaren," Detmer said. "I've worked with him in camps and know him well. He has character, leadership ability and his athleticism will go a long way. He's going to join us and go on a mission, so we'll have to wait. We're excited for that process to start right now."

Returning to help fill the void are six returned missionaries in 2016, including defensive linemen Trajan Pili, Uriah Leiataua (a former Stanford commit) and Zac Dawe; offensive linemen Austin Chambers and Chandon Herring; and defensive back Isaiah Kaufusi.

"It's a difficult process," Sitake said of balancing scholarship numbers with returning missionaries. "But the more teammates you can bring along, it's more than just one guy. We have good, talented men on this team already. Their value as a teammate will be more important than anything else."

BYU's other four-star recruit is Wasatch (Utah) kicker Skyler Southam, a U.S. Army All-American and the lone special teams players in the class of 2016. Southam, who will serve a mission before enrolling at BYU, converted 114 of 116 PATs for the Wasps and 36 of 53 field goals, including a career-long 53-yarder. He owns the Utah high school football record for most field goals in a single season with 20 as a senior in 2015.

See the complete list of 2016 signees and returning missionaries below.

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