Coach finds Mohetau is a man of his word

PROVO — A relieved Gary Crowton is satisfied there are youth out there who look you in the eye, give their word and then back it up.

That's what Crowton got in signing the nation's top offensive lineman, 6-foot-3, 320-pound Texan Ofa Mohetau.

"He is a man of his word and that meant a lot to me today," Crowton said.

Mohetau and Crowton made a pact three weeks ago when the Euless, Texas, lineman visited BYU's campus. They would keep a secret. Mohetau, a CNNSI All-American, committed to Crowton that weekend but didn't want it public.

He was sick of recruiters bugging him and didn't want the hassle of explaining his decision around football-crazed Texas. Crowton agreed to keep it secret even from his staff.

Since that Jan. 18 weekend, Mohetau visited the University of Miami and Crowton feared Hurricane coach Larry Coker would pull off a sales job on the big Tongan because "he's a master recruiter."

Nervously, Crowton awoke early Wednesday and took his kids to school so he could arrive at the office just after 7 a.m. on signing day to witness the arrival of Mohetau's faxed letter of intent. "I was a little worried," he admitted. He didn't need to be for long. Moheatu fax was had arrived before Crowton.

It was official. BYU had beat out Miami, Texas and ASU for a national-caliber recruit.

The Mohetau signing by BYU gives the Cougars one of the nation's best offensive line classes nationally, according to Greg Biggins of Pacwestfootball.com.

"It was our evaluation and that of other experts that Ofa was the best run blocker in the nation this year," Crowton said. Mohetau joins Timpview's Dallas Reynolds (6-5, 310), Granger's Jason Speardon (6-5, 275) and Hawaii's R.J. Willing (6-4, 290) as blockers of the future although some may leave for missions after one year at BYU.

Crowton also praised signing Timpview defensive lineman Brian Soi, calling it "a building block" of the 13 player class signed in this small but "targeted" effort by his staff.

"This may be the best group of offensive linemen we've brought in at one time," line coach Lance Reynolds said. "I don't know if we've ever had this."

"This is huge for us," recruiting coordinator Mike Empey said. "These are all impact players. The number of guys we got aren't a lot, but the quality is there."

Crowton signed Miami corner Walt Williams for the second time in a year.