'Those aren't there anymore': Kalani Sitake talks recruiting after big visit weekend

CEDAR HILLS — Less than 48 hours after one of the biggest recruiting weekends in program history, BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake was out on the golf course as host of the third-annual scramble with local reporters, athletic department employees and a handful of corporate sponsors.

If that was Sitake's way of taking a victory lap after a strong weekend — one that stands a chance to be historically stronger Tuesday morning — he didn't show it.

The head coach entering his 10th season with his alma mater has been hosting, along with his staff, the now annual opportunity to bring together his players, assistant coaches, media and other employees in the athletic department for a casual way to get to know one another before the hustle of "talking season," conference media days, and the beginnings of preseason training camp.

Several of his assistants were there, including associate head coach and defensive coordinator Jay HIll, as well as Fesi Sitake (wide receivers), TJ Woods (offensive line), Kelly Poppinga (defensive ends) and Justin Ena (linebackers). Players like wide receiver Parker Kingston, wide receiver Chase Roberts, safety Tanner Wall and offensive lineman Andrew Gentry, among others, were also there.

New athletic director Brian Santiago, officially on the job for 10 days more than a month, even made an appearance as he visited each group one-by-one over 18 holes for handshakes and fist bumps before returning to work.

All of that is context for a BYU program coming off a visiting weekend that may be one of the more high-profile in Cougar football history, with five-star quarterback Ryder Lyons making his final stop before announcing his commitment Tuesday to highlight a star-studded gathering that also featured four-star tight end Brock Harris' official visit from his home in St. George.

Coaches can't comment on incoming players before they sign, per NCAA rules, but Sitake said the Cougars' recruiting visits have been different since joining the Big 12 two years ago.

"In the past, it was always about what we didn't have and what we couldn't provide," he said. "Those were things a lot of recruits hung on to not come to BYU. Those aren't there anymore.

"We're letting them know, we're not independent anymore; we're in the Big 12. We have resources, we have commitment from our administration to invest and to buy into our sports teams — all of them, not just football and basketball — and you see the momentum being created and energy behind it."

Not in attendance? Last year's starting quarterback Jake Retzlaff, who was named in a civil lawsuit by a Salt Lake woman alleging sexual assault during an incident in November 2023 when the Corona, California, product was a first-year junior college transfer in Provo.

That isn't a surprise, given the nature of litigation. And while a few players and coaches were asked about Retzlaff during a few casual interviews Monday afternoon, most of the answers were the same — some version of "no comment" and referring back to the university's statement the day the lawsuit was filed last month.

Within the locker room, Kingston said the incident hasn't been a distraction from the team's offseason goals.

"It hasn't affected anything at all," he said. "Honestly, it's brought us closer together, closer and better brothers, to be honest."

Back to recruiting, where the Cougars added a commitment from Ridgeline High star receiver Graham Livingston immediately off the weekend visit, and another visitor — three-star cornerback Jaxson Gates, decommitted from Syracuse on Monday morning after recent visits to Michigan State and Utah as well as BYU.

Lyons, who will sign with the 2026 class before serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is scheduled to reveal his decision Tuesday morning.

The five-star signal caller from Folsom, California, would be one of the highest-rated commits in BYU football history. The one-time USC target and fourth-rated quarterback nationally by 247Sports is considered by most recruiting experts to be deciding between the Cougars and Oregon.

The service flipped its "crystal ball" projection over the weekend, officially cementing BYU as the front-runner to land Lyons, who also had interest from Ole Miss, USC, Alabama, Utah among his 30-plus offer sheet.

Of course, name, image and likeness has played a role in recruiting in recent years, as has the new ability for schools to share up to $20.5 million in revenue with their athletes under terms of the recently approved House v. NCAA settlement.

Sitake said he "feels good" about where BYU and its administration currently sits regarding revenue sharing, though school officials haven't yet confirmed they will opt into funding the full $20.5 million immediately.

Instead, the veteran coach coming off his third double-digit win season in five years leaves most of those discussions to new general manager Dave George while he focuses on other discussions — ones he readily admits are "old school."

"While (George) talks about that," Sitake said, "I want to talk about culture, about being a better person, studying, getting a degree. … Everybody has their roles. I feel really good about where we're at right now, but we can always improve."

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