West High Athlete Liutai Kiniki Commits To BYU Football

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – West High athlete Liutai Kiniki is the latest commitment to the BYU football program for the class of 2022.

Kinikini, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced his commitment to BYU on Friday.

100% COMMITTED
GO COUGS⚪🔵@PantherWest @coachtuiaki @CoachSitake @RossApoWR_EZ @AllPolySports @coachsolovi @DB_UElite pic.twitter.com/cKOYfb0IRQ

— Liutai Kinikini (@tai_kinikini) April 16, 2021

“I want to thank my Heavenly Father, my parents, all my coaches, my teachers, my family and friends, for your continuing support. Thank you Coach Sitake & Tuiaki for the opportunity to further my education and play ball. I would also like to thank them for honoring my choice to serve a full-time LDS mission. I have dreamed of playing at the next level since I picked up a football. With that being said, I would like to announce my commitment to Brigham Young University.”

Kinikini is now the fifth commit in the class of 2022. He was first offered by BYU defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki last summer when he offered a trio of West High prospects.

Kalani Sitake mentioned this past February at National Signing Day that he and his staff look for prospects with good “frames.” What does he mean by frame? The measurables. Height, weight, etc. Kinikini is intriguing as he has a 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame that could play a variety of positions when he arrives at BYU after serving a two-year mission for the Church. Those positions include, safety, outside linebacker, or even defensive line.

Appreciate the Love! 🔵⚪ @kalanifsitake #RoyalCrew22 @PantherWest pic.twitter.com/TqzVgN7D8m

— Liutai Kinikini (@tai_kinikini) February 17, 2021

Kinikini held one other offer from Weber State. The Wildcats offered Kinikini one month after BYU did last summer.

Kinikini will be only the fifth player from West High since 1960 to play for BYU. AJ Lolohea was the last one, prior to that was Garrett Nicholson in 2008.

2022 BYU Football Commits 

BYU is now up to five commitments in the class of 2022. Four of the five commits have come in the past month. All five commits are from the state of Utah.

• Noah Moeaki, LB, American Fork High School
• Maika Kaufusi, ATH, Alta High School
• Jarinn Kalama, ATH, Wasatch High School
• Cannon DeVries, ATH, Weber High School
• Liutai Kiniki, ATH, West High School

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 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.