Another missionary switches to play for BYU

For the second time this week, a college football player tied to a Division I school and currently serving an LDS mission has accepted a scholarship offer from BYU head football coach Bronco Mendenhall.

Malosi Te'o, a 5-11, 195-pound running back from Kahuku High School in Hawaii, announced on Thursday he will accept an offer from BYU and enroll in January 2009 instead of UNLV where he signed out of high school. He is on a mission in New York City.

On Monday, former USU quarterback Riley Nelson announced he would accept a BYU offer and transfer to play for the Cougars.

"It's a dream come true for my son," said Te'o's father, Ephraim, who has another son, Levi, at Timpview High School being evaluated by BYU. Malosi Te'o is a first cousin to 2008 Cougar recruit Shiloah Te'o, who also played at Kahuku. Both are cousins to national blue-chip linebacker recruit Manti Te'o, out of Punahou High in Honolulu who is on the top of BYU's recruiting board for the class of 2009.

Malosi Te'o sent letters to UNLV and BYU informing them of his intentions. He never enrolled at UNLV after signing a national letter-of-intent his senior year.

"BYU was his first choice and BYU did recruit my son, but we were told there was not a scholarship available at the time. UNLV was on the doorstep and he signed with them primarily because of the recruiting done by (UNLV coach) Keith Uperesa, a friend of the family."

Ephraim said Uperesa called Thursday and expressed his disappointment in the change of plans by Malosi but was supportive and wished him well. "(Uperesa) is a class act, and he understands why," said Ephraim.

According to Ephraim, the timeline of his son's decision started on Mother's Day a year ago when his son had been on his mission only a few months. "In the course of his first call home as a missionary, Malosi called to speak to his mother. In one short segment of the call, the question of football came up. "My son asked her if there was any way BYU would be interested in him. My wife said she had no idea but she would find out."

That led the Te'os to compose an e-mail to BYU's football staff, asking if there was interest. Part of the letter included an Internet link to his highlight video from the state playoff games his senior year at Kahuku.

"My heart took a shot in the dark," said Ephraim. "We had no idea if they'd respond."

It took months.

The NCAA prohibits recruiting contact with LDS missionaries until they have been serving 12 months.