BYU Football Continues To Make Preferred Walk-On Prospects A Top Priority

PROVO, Utah – To find competitive depth in its program, BYU football has found diamonds in the rough in the preferred walk-on market. Guys like Dax Milne, Tyler Allgeier, Payton Wilgar, Masen Wake, have become significant contributors in recent years.

What caused this sudden surge of quality players in the walk-on ranks?

The Early Signing Day.

Tyler Allgeier now has over 1,000 rushing yards this season. Great year for the former Preferred Walk-On.#BYU #BYUFootball @kslsports

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 23, 2020

In 2017, the NCAA created the first-ever Early Signing Day, taking place six weeks before the traditional Signing Period in February. Creating an early signing period has allowed the BYU football program to make prospects who primarily receive scholarship offers from FCS programs a top priority to be walk-ons at BYU with a shot at soon getting a scholarship.

Every year, the build-up to the February Signing Day loses more of its luster with each passing year. With a few exceptions, BYU is signing most of its scholarship athletes in the December early period. So instead of investing resources into those guys with Zoom calls and non-stop texts and Twitter DMs, the staff can lock in on prospects who maybe have been overlooked during a given recruiting cycle.

PLAYMAKER 🔥@WilgarPayton x #BYUFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/KCSvpLIBbY

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) November 8, 2020

Kalani Sitake and his staff pride themselves on identifying talent, and they’ve done that with many preferred walk-on prospects over the years, and they have landed some intriguing prospects in this cycle as well.

The latest preferred walk-on commit is Orem High QB Micah Fe’a, who has had a lifelong dream of playing at BYU.

Fe’a joins seven other prospects who have committed to BYU as PWO’s in this 2021 recruiting cycle.

Being a walk-on is not the easiest route. Sitake and the BYU program have built up the culture to where everyone in the program, scholarship or walk-on, will get equal opportunities to compete. Also doesn’t hurt that tuition cost at BYU is more affordable than other FBS schools, and it’s one of the top colleges in terms of providing value.

BYU continues to make preferred walk-ons a big piece of how they run their program, and it is likely to continue in the years to come. Here’s a list of BYU’s preferred walk-on commits for the class of 2021.

BYU Football 2021 Preferred Walk-On Commits

Maguire Anderson, J.W. Mitchell High School (FL) – WR

Thankful for my family, friends and coaches that got me to where I am today. I’m truly blessed to say that I’m committed to BYU after receiving a pwo offer. @BYUfootball @kalanifsitake @CoachRoderick @Jasen_AhYou @AlphaRecruits15 @MitchellHSFB pic.twitter.com/eIiLIWx5YU

— Maguire Anderson (@MaguireAnderso1) January 26, 2021

Austin Bell, Corner Canyon High School – RB

After talking with the coaches at BYU and talking to my family and coaches I have decided that I’m going to COMMIT to BYU!!! I’m so honored to have received the PWO. I’m looking forward to getting down there and earning my spot, I’m so grateful for everything and everyone.#BYU pic.twitter.com/TBytnlb7ag

— Austin Bell (@Austinbcharge) November 25, 2020

Micah Fe’a, Orem High School – QB/Athlete

BLESSED🤙🏾 #GOCOUGZ #COMMITTED@CoachRoderick @BYUfootball pic.twitter.com/EUWr6S7zCG

— Micah Fe'a (@micahfea12) January 28, 2021

Ryker Keele, Morgan High School – DL/OL

After a great call with @coachgrimey I am so grateful for the opportunity to join an awesome institution and football legacy. Thanks so much for my 2nd D1 PWO offer to continue pursuing my education and athletic career! @kalanifsitake @MooseB90 @patrickcarr_ @isaiah44p #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/foS932rVjj

— Ryker Keele (@ryker_keele) November 25, 2020

Cael Richardson, Timpview High School – LB

100% committed to BYU! Super grateful to the coaches for this opportunity and I’m excited and hungry to compete!! #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/ClRSqHtM1m

— Cael Richardson (@caelr36) December 14, 2020

Joshua Singh, Orem High School – DL

GO COUGZ🤙🏽🔵⚪️ #COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/Z45Qab8lMH

— 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐡 (@Josh_Singh_95) December 17, 2020

Payton VanSteenkiste, Rigby High School (ID) – DB/WR

Blessed to chase my dreams! 100% committed!!! 🔵⚪️ #TopGuns21 #GoCougs @BYUfootball @BYUFBRecruiting @fsitake @CoachPHadley @JackDamuni @RHSTrojanFB pic.twitter.com/j92zuI0JmK

— Payton VanSteenkiste (@__pmv__) December 17, 2020

Will Zundel, American Fork High School – WR/TE

Thank you to American Fork High School, Coach Behm, and my teammates! Most importantly thank you to my family and my Heavenly Father for helping me live my dream of playing BYU Football! I am super excited to be commited to Brigham Young University! #GoCougs!🤙🔵⚪ @BYUfootball pic.twitter.com/rba7AN05zd

— Will Zundel (@WillZundel) January 14, 2021

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m., KSL Newsradio). Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper and the KSL Sports app.