Cougars collect another verbal

BYU secured another oral commitment this week when safety Shiloah Te'o, one of the top prep players in Hawaii, pledged to sign with the Cougars next February.

Te'o, who is going into his senior season at Kahuku High, is eager to play at BYU in 2008.

"I was very impressed with the facilities. They're some of the finest in the nation," he said. "I love coach Bronco Mendenhall. I love his personality and the spirit he brings when he talks to me. He has a great staff."

Te'o was named first-team all-state last year and was one of the top players in the All-Poly camp in 2006. He had received scholarship offers from Oregon State, Utah, UNLV and Hawaii.

Originally, the 5-foot-11, 190-pounder was planning to wait until February to decide on his college choice. But the offer from BYU was too good to pass up, he said.

"BYU is on the rise, and I'm LDS, so it fits me," he said. "I feel good about the program. Coach Mendenhall is straight-up with you. That's what I love about him — his honesty."

Something else that drew Te'o to BYU is the fact the Cougars will lose three safeties after the 2007 season. "I'll have a chance to compete (for playing time) next year," he said.

Te'o will have the opportunity as a high school senior to get acclimated to BYU's 3-4 defensive scheme. His coaches at Kahuku visited Provo this spring and will install the same 3-4 alignment for this season.

"We'll be running it this year," Te'o said. "I'll be familiar with it going into my freshman year."

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