Blue roundup: Independence broadening Cougars' recruiting base

Compiled by Jeff Call, Deseret News

Published: Friday, May 18 2012 11:02 a.m. MDT

Coach Bronco Mendenhall watches during Brigham Young University football practice in Provo, Wednesday, March 28, 2012.

Ravell Call, Deseret News archives

Enlarge photo»

Summary

BYU sports news from the Web.

BYU's recruiting base is growing as a result of going independent, according to a report by Yahoo! Sports.

"The Cougars continue to recruit nationally with an emphasis on their home state and the rest of the West," writes Steve Megargee. "And they're naturally targeting top players who also belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That's the same formula BYU followed as a member of the Mountain West Conference. But the switch certainly has widened BYU's pool of potential targets, particularly among non-LDS recruits. That's becoming more and more noticeable to BYU's coaches as they prepare for their second season as an independent."

Phil Steele previews BYU's upcoming season. Steele has the Cougars ranked No. 35 in the preseason.

BYU faces Washington State in the season-opener on Thursday, Aug. 30. Cougfan.com remembers the last time BYU and WSU met in the season-opener — in Provo in 1989.

Featured Comments

See all 13 comments »

hedgehog

Ann Arbor, MI

Byu might pull a few non mormon kids who can't find a BCS offer or can't get playing time at a BCS school.But at the end of the day bYu will always be a back-up to the real show.

11:12 a.m. May 18, 2012
Top comment

fender

Washington, UT

This article is a joke. The only example of this incredible national "exposure" is one non-LDS kid who is a 5'9" 165 lb RB with no ranking and no offers (unless you count Bryant U, whatever that is). Wow! Duckhunter will now be More..

12:38 p.m. May 18, 2012
Top comment

IndianaCoug

Bloomington, IN

RE: Naval Vet

"Just looking at Scout and Rivals, the cougars had higher rated recruiting classes in the MWC than they have since their departure."

Having left for independence just last year, how can you even make that More..

1:13 p.m. May 18, 2012
Top comment

Comments