PROVO — While BYU signed 21 football recruits on Wednesday, they already were working with new faces in the program, including a defensive lineman from nationally ranked Snow College.

The Cougars also have mid-year scholarship players DL Tevita Hola and DE Coleby Clawson from Snow College and LB Masi Tuitama from Pacifica High in Oxnard, Calif., who gray-shirted as a part-time student this past fall but is now in school and working out in the offseason conditioning program.

They also have Snow College safety Andrew Rich on board and in school as a walk-on. A 6-foot-3, 201-pound freshman from Ogden, Rich has already served an LDS mission and has three years of eligibility remaining. Stetson Tinney, an offensive lineman from Sho Low, Ariz., also walked on and is in school after serving a mission and turning down an offer from the University of Idaho.

"Rich is a tall, big, fast athlete who is doing very well. He's somebody who will eventually get a scholarship. He runs really well, works hard and has made an impression on other players," said BYU recruiting coordinator Paul Tidwell.

Rich, who starred in football and basketball at Bonneville High School, has three years plus a redshirt year available, if needed.

"The first thing that comes to mind (about this class) is coach (Bronco) Mendenhall coming home from a recruiting trip and telling us his experiences in the homes of these young men and what great fits they are," said Tidwell. "It's exciting to have that type of character and young men in our program. It translates into disciplined players who are going to work hard on the field.

"What excites me about this group is, they're obviously Division I players and their athleticism. They're already developing a cohesion between them. They're going to be a great class," Tidwell said.

There are high school players who have announced they will walk on and try and earn scholarships with the Cougars. They include Alta linebacker Jefferson Court and Timpanogos' record-setting quarterback, Christian Stewart.

Other declared walk-ons to BYU from the prep class of 2008 include Alta TE Brady Hunt and Neil Crook of West Albany, Ore., a two-time Oregon 5A defensive player of the year at middle linebacker.

In Waco, Texas, linebacker Cody Monsen, who helped lead Temple High to a District 13-5A championship, said he has committed to sign with BYU's recruiting class of 2010 after serving a two-year mission. His father, Bryce Monsen, who once coached high school ball in Utah County, is the Temple football coach. Cody led Temple's defense with 93 tackles (45 solo), seven for losses, while recovering three fumbles.