BYU Football Lands Utah DT Keanu Tanuvasa
Dec 30, 2024, 10:49 AM | Updated: Jan 2, 2025, 2:23 pm
PROVO, Utah – Keanu Tanuvasa is crossing rivalry lines.
The former Utah defensive tackle, who shocked many by entering the Transfer Portal last week, has committed to BYU.
Welcome to the Family @keanu_tanuvasa 🤙 pic.twitter.com/9un5jUcAIU
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) December 30, 2024
Tanuvasa started 19 games over the past two seasons for the Utes.
The 6-foot-4, 301-pound Tanuvasa has two years of eligibility in his college career.
KSL Sports Utah Insider Steve Bartle wrote on Tanuvasa’s entry into the portal last week, “The third-year player had 24 games played and finished with 50 tackles, 12 for loss, and 4 sacks.
“Tanuvasa was an important piece to the [Utah] defensive line the past two seasons and was being counted on to lead the team into 2025.”
BYU got a first-hand glimpse of the impact Tanuvasa can make along the interior of the defensive line. In the rivalry game on November 9, Tanuvasa had a season-high four tackles.
After BYU won the game 22-21, Tanuvasa had an exclusive interview with KSL Sports and shared his thoughts on the rivalry.
"I wouldn't say anger or hatred, it's a rivalry game … It's not like they're the worst people on the earth."@keanu_tanuvasa talked with @BartleKSLsports on The Utah Blockcast. #UtahFootball #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/jDxbrCk2et
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 13, 2024
“I wouldn’t say anger or hatred; it’s a rivalry game, but it’s not like they’re the worst people on earth,” Tanuvasa said to KSL Sports on the BYU-Utah rivalry in November. “It’s not like they’ve actually done things to deserve my hate. They deserved everything to deserve my best competition.”
BYU had a pressing need for a defensive tackle during this transfer portal cycle. The move of Tanuvasa to BYU will give the Cougars an immediate starter for the defensive front in 2025.
BYU begins winter conditioning for the 2025 season next week.
Tanuvasa is the second player from Utah to transfer to BYU during the 2025 portal cycle. He joins tight end Carsen Ryan.
Tanuvasa was initially recruited by BYU during the class of 2019 coming out of high school. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Tanuvasa served a two-year mission before enrolling at Utah.
Tanuvasa was a three-star prospect coming out of high school.
BYU football concluded the 2024 season with an Alamo Bowl victory over No. 23 Colorado. They finished the season with an 11-2 record.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
