BYU added a major piece to its recruiting haul on Saturday morning when local standout Jag Ioane chose the Cougars over Michigan, Utah, and Washington.
Ioane, who took official visits to all four of his finalists before making his call, announced his decision with a simple message: “Found my Y💙🤙🏽 #Commited #GoCougs!”
The Orem High School edge rusher had plenty of other options on the table as well, with offers from Boise State, Oregon State, San Diego State, and Washington State among the schools involved.
Ioane fits the local-recruiting profile BYU loves to land. He plays just down the road from campus at Orem, and at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, he already brings the kind of length and burst that jump out on film. His calling card right now is his first-step explosion, the trait that lets him get into the backfield before a play has time to breathe.
That showed up in his junior season production. Ioane finished with 31 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, and 10 quarterback hurries.
He also forced two fumbles. Heading into his senior year, he’s expected to be one of the top players on an Orem defense that should be one of the best in the state.
The next step in his development is obvious: adding weight. Ioane has the frame to carry more than his current 200 pounds, and that will be a major focus once he gets to Provo. Power Four defensive ends usually sit at 230 pounds or more, so the long-term upside here depends on him keeping that acceleration while building out his body.
Even so, BYU is betting on a high-ceiling defender, and Ioane is a strong finishing touch to what has become the best defensive line class of the Kalani Sitake era. He joins four-star edge Uhila Wolfgramm, four-star defensive lineman Jeremiah Williams, and a coveted defensive tackle prospect.
His commitment is also another sign of how well BYU’s new defensive staff has recruited in its first offseason. The Cougars have landed at least one player at every position with multiple Power Four offers. Along with the defensive line group, BYU has added cornerbacks Ryan Wooten, Kamoni Adams, and Demichael Burks, plus safeties Peyton Higginson, Lakepa Satuala, and Jaxson Rex.
At linebacker, BYU got things started with Tytan DeJong, and the Cougars are still in the mix for Owen Leishman, who took an official visit to BYU in June.
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For BYU, the timing matters because the Cougars have been trying to shore up the frontcourt for months. They have been in contact with Kohler, an American Fork native and LDS player who could fit both the roster and the moment, and they have also been waiting on NCAA clearance for Australian big man David Okwera. With the legal picture still shifting, BYUs center search suddenly feels more fluid than settled, and the next move could come from a courtroom as much as a recruiting trail. [Read more 🡒]
Where BYU's Transfer Class Could Shake Up The Depth Chart
BYUs transfer haul is already starting to reshape the conversation around the depth chart, and not just at one spot. The Cougars brought in nine newcomers with different backgrounds and different paths to playing time, giving the staff options at tight end, along the offensive line and in other areas where competition should be real once camp decisions get sharper.
The most interesting part is how many of those roles still have a range attached to them. Some arrivals look positioned to push for immediate snaps, while others may be fighting for a clean path into the rotation depending on how BYU settles its lineup structure, and that uncertainty is exactly what makes this class worth watching as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]