Recruiting: A look at BYU's signing class of 2023, the first of Big 12 era

PROVO — The final season of BYU football's FBS independence is around the corner.

The first recruiting class of the Big 12 era, however, is coming into focus now.

KSL.com partners with 247Sports to identify recruiting rankings. All rankings listed are according to the 247Sports Composite Ranking, unless otherwise indicated.

Here's a look at the recruiting class of 2023, including the group's top-rated tight end Jackson Bowers from Arizona.

Jackson Bowers, TE, Mountain View HS (Mesa, Ariz.)

• 4-star recruit by 247Sports
• No. 4-rated recruiting in Arizona, No. 19 tight end, No. 222 overall recruit
• Caught 73 passes for 1,206 yards (16.5 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns in two years at Mountain View (63.5 yards per game)
• Committed to BYU over offers from Arizona, Alabama, Washington, Ole Miss, Utah and others

Siale Esera, EDGE, Timpview HS (Provo)

• 3-star prospect by 247Sports (4-star composite ranking)
• No. 4-rated recruit in Utah in the Class of 2023, No. 37 edge rusher nationally
• Polynesian Bowl All-American invitee
• Made 23 tackles with eight sacks as a junior in 2021, and nearly topped that tackles number in the first five games of his senior season in 2022
• Chose BYU over interest from Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, and others
• Committed to BYU on Sept. 10, 2022

Ethan Thomason, OT, Rocky Mountain HS (Fort Collins, Colo.)

• 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• No. 5-rated recruit in Colorado, No. 61 offensive tackle nationally in Class of 2023
• Chose BYU over interest from Stanford, Utah, Oklahoma State, Nebraska and Colorado, among 19 total Division I offers
• Committed to BYU on Sept. 14, 2022
• Plans to serve a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints immediately following high schools

Pokaiaua Haunga, ATH, Timpview HS (Provo)

• 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• No. 12-rated recruit in Utah, No. 113 athlete nationally
• Caught 87 passes for 1,556 yards and 17 touchdowns in two seasons for Thunderbirds; added 335 yards and two touchdowns on 36 carries
• Chose BYU over offers from Dartmouth, Nevada, Utah State and Washington State, among others
• Committed Jan. 23, 2021

Josiah "Jojo" Phillips, WR, Sierra Canyon HS (Chatsworth, Calif.)

• 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• No. 72-rated recruit in California, No. 123 receiver nationally
• Did not play football as a junior to focus on basketball, where he teamed up with Bronny James and the Trailblazers' powerhouse hoops program
• Committed to BYU on Aug. 21, 2022, over offers rom LSU, Oregon, Oregon State, Cal, Colorado, San Diego State, Utah State and others
• "Jojo runs great and the great thing about him is he bought into football. He's working hard. He's being a great teammate and I think when we played this summer he was the best player on the field most games. I think he'll be a dynamic playmaker for us this year and really give us that vertical threat that we've been looking for," said Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse

Ryder Burton, QB, Springville HS (Springville, Utah)

• 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• No. 13-rated recruit in Utah, No. 67 quarterback nationally
• Threw for 2,301 yards and 24 touchdowns with 12 interceptions as a junior in leading Red Devils to Utah 5A state championship game
• Also plays basketball
• Chose BYU over interest from Nevada, San Jose State, Southern Utah and UCLA
• Committed May 6, 2022

Saimone Davis, TE, Nolan Catholic (Fort Worth, Texas)

• 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• Top 205 recruit in Texas, rated No. 60 nationally at tight end
• Caught 21 passes for 174 yards (8.3 yards per catch) and four touchdowns in two seasons with Nolan Catholic
• Chose BYU over interest from Arkansas State, Connecticut, Indiana, Kansas State, Utah State and Virginia, among others
• Committed July 23, 2022

Pierson Watson, LB, Coconino HS (Flagstaff, Ariz.)

• 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• No. 23-rated player in Arizona, No. 124 nationally among linebackers
• Totaled 81 tackles, seven sacks and a fumble as a junior at Coconino, where he also played eight games at wide receiver
• Chose BYU over interest from Air Force, Nevada, Northern Arizona and South Dakota, among others
• Committed June 28, 2022

Miles Hall, ATH, Skyline HS (Salt Lake City)

• 2-star recruit by Rivals
• No. 13-rated recruit in Utah by 247Sports, and No. 108 nationally among athletes
• Played wide receiver and strong safety at Skyline, where he caught 36 passes for 426 yards and three touchdowns as a junior
• Also had an offer from Utah State
• Committed July 1, 2022

Matthew Fredrick, TE, East HS (Salt Lake City)

• 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• No. 14-rated recruit in Utah by 247Sports
• Two-way player who also racked up 22 tackles at defensive end for the Leopards in 2021
• Chose BYU over interest from Army, Idaho, Navy, Nevada and New Mexico State, among others
• Committed Aug. 1, 2022

Owen Borg, LB, Corner Canyon HS (Draper, Utah)

• 3-star recruit by 247Sports
• Wracked up 133 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions and a touchdown in two seasons with the Chargers
• Chose BYU over interest from Air Force, Colorado, Columbia, Nevada and Utah State, among others
• Committed on Aug. 8, 2022

Andrew Heinig, DL, Glenpool HS (Glenpool, Okla.)

• 3-star prospect by 247Sports
• Played both offensive and defensive line at Glenpool High in Glenpool, Oklahoma
• Oklahoma state shot put champion as a junior
• Committed Aug. 5, 2022

David Tangilanu, EDGE, Menlo-Atherton HS (Menlo Park, Calif.)

• 6-foot-4, 255-pound edge rusher
• 2-star prospect by 247Sports
• Averaged 5.7 tackles per game as a senior for the 5-5 Bears, with 7.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks while also playing offensive tackle
• Committed to BYU on Oct. 21, 2022 over interest from Army, Air Force and San Jose State

Talitui Pututau, DL, West HS (Salt Lake City)

• 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive lineman
• 3-star prospect by 247Sports
• Made 44 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three interceptions at defensive tackle for the Panthers, while also playing offensive tackle
• Committed to BYU after official visit Dec. 11 overs offers from Arizona State, Colorado, Utah State and Weber State, among others

Jayden Dunlap, CB, Cerritos College (Carson, Calif.)

• 6-foot-2, 180-pound sophomore from Cerritos College in Norwalk, California
• Played in 11 games as a sophomore for the 8-3 Falcons, totaling 38 tackles and a team-high 10 pass breakups
• Committed to BYU after an official visit Dec. 11 over offers from Colorado State, Idaho State, Incarnate Word, Morgan State and Stephen F. Austin, among others

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