BYU adds 14 during 2019 early signing period, including 4-star Arizona QB Jacob Conover

BOISE — Over the past few years, some of BYU football’s recruiting class of 2019 received an early scholarship offer and committed immediately, while a few others looked into the options almost up to the beginning of Wednesday’s early signing period.

But all of them found one thing in common: They stuck to their commitment.

The Cougars signed 14 players during the first day of the early signing period Wednesday, adding to the 19 players BYU will welcome back to the team following two-year missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the upcoming offseason.

That loyalty to the program had a special ring for head coach Kalani Sitake, who will conclude his third season at the helm of the program Friday in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Western Michigan (2 p.m., ESPN).

"From what we’ve seen from this group, I really feel good about them and how strong they’ve been to us," BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. "Many of them have been with us for a couple of years now."

The Cougars signed nine players on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage, including four-star quarterback Jacob Conover from Chandler, Arizona. A three-time Arizona 6A state champion at Chandler High, Conover threw for more than 10,000 yards and set program and state records for passing yards, passing touchdowns and touchdowns by a quarterback.

The 6-foot-1, 205-pound Conover will graduate early and serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Paraguay before enrolling at BYU.

"Coach Kalani is one of the most amazing head coaches I’ve ever met, and the whole atmosphere of the school with its standards and everything about it — I love it," Conover told KSL back in August.

Read about all of the early recruits in this year’s signing class on the Cougars' Recruiting Central page.

An Elite 11 quarterback and ESPN Top 300 recruit, Conover chose the Cougars over offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Arizona and others.

"He's a great leader," Sitake said of Conover. "He won multiple state championships, so he can sling it. He’s a team guy, and I’m just really happy to have him. The off-the-field stuff is what I’m really excited about; his leadership, his confidence, and the moxy that he brings to this team."

Sitake said he trusted heavily in Conover’s high school coach, former Sandy resident Shaun Aguano, in the recruitment of his star signal caller. That helped Conover make his own decision, and the teenager then became one of the Cougars’ most active recruiters in luring and solidifying other top-tier Latter-day Saint talent to come to BYU.

"BYU is getting a gem," said Aguano, who Sitake credited for instilling a spirit of 'Ohana' at Chandler that is similar to what he wants to build at BYU. "They won him over from a lot of big schools, but he was very faithful to his faith and he wanted to go on a mission.

"The story is that he’s always held a BYU football in BYU pajamas."

Conover will join former Chandler teammates Baylor and Gunner Romney, while former Chandler kick/punter Cash Peterman has also committed to play at BYU.

"He's a really, really accurate quarterback who can put the ball on the money whenever he wants to," Gunner Romney said of Conover. "But I think his mental edge of the game is where he is the strongest at; he makes really good reads."

The top local product to sign Wednesday with BYU is American Fork wide receiver Chase Roberts. A three-star recruit by 247Sports' composite rating, Roberts was the No. 3 overall recruit in Utah and comes to BYU after catching 3,709 yards and 40 touchdowns for the Cavemen.

Roberts, who helped lead the Cavemen to the 6A state title game last month, committed to BYU early — but took a recruiting trip to Utah less than two weeks ago on Dec. 10.

Roberts, who is a member of the church that sponsors BYU, is undecided if he will immediately leave on a mission or play first, according to Sitake. But the coach is happy to have the 6-foot-4 receiver from American Fork, either way.

"Chase is one of the more exceptional athletes I have ever seen," wide receivers coach Fesi Sitake added. "I think he's one of the best receivers that I have had the privilege of recruiting. In the end, he could go down as one of the all-time great receivers at BYU.

"I know that's a big statement, but he’s got the commitment and the work ethic to accomplish that."

Size seems to have been a priority for BYU’s offense with the new signings, as well.

Herriman athlete Blake Freeland, who played tight end, quarterback and defensive line in high school, clocks in at 6-foot-8 and 260 pounds. The Cougars also signed two towering tight ends in 6-foot-4 Arizona product Carter Wheat, who prepped at Red Mountain in Mesa, and 6-foot-5 pass catcher Ethan Erickson from Kahuku, Hawaii.

The Cougars will try to convert Freeland into an offensive tackle.

"I've always wanted to get bigger, since we first got here," Sitake said. "If they are 6-3 and can run just as fast as the guy who is 6-foot, then we’ll take the guys who have the best ball skills and fit the school."

BYU's defensive recruiting class is led by junior college transfer Eric Ellison, a 5-foot-11 defensive back from Mt. San Jacinto College who played running back, wide receiver, cornerback and kick returner in one season at the JUCO level. Ellison will enroll at BYU as a sophomore, with a redshirt still available to him.

Other defensive standouts include Pine View defensive end Brooks Maile, Sky View cornerback Caleb Christensen, and Lone Peak standout pass rusher Michael Daley, whose father Neal and uncle David Nixon both played linebacker for the Cougars.

Four of the Cougars' 19 returned missionaries are expected to enroll in January, including former Spanish Fork running back/linebacker Solofa Funa, Arkansas offensive lineman Caden Haws, California defensive end Freddy Livai and Timpview linebacker Keenan Pili.

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