Paki Finau didn’t need long in Provo to know where he wanted to play.
The BYU offensive lineman arrived after two seasons at Washington, where he played in 16 games over his first two years in Seattle. But once BYU got serious in his transfer process, the Cougars quickly moved to the front because of one familiar face: offensive line coach TJ Woods.
“I established a really strong connection with TJ Woods when he was recruiting me to UNLV back when I was coming out of high school,” Finau related. “So when he showed interest after I decided to transfer immediately made BYU the first team on my list. I knew BYU was the first school I wanted to visit and was really the top school, although I hadn’t yet made up my mind.”
That uncertainty didn’t last long. Finau, a 6-foot-5, 310-pound lineman from Hesperia, Calif., spent two days in Provo, got around the coaches and players, and came away convinced enough to cancel the rest of his planned visits, including an Arizona State trip the following week.
“There was really no reason to visit anywhere else,” Finau said. “I wanted to be straight up with all the other schools recruiting me, and didn’t want to lead anyone on or waste their time because I knew BYU was where I was going during my visit there. There was no doubt.”
That sense of belonging showed up fast once he joined the program. During spring practices, as coaches started talking up his early work, the media started asking questions - and his new teammates made sure the moment didn’t stay too serious for long.
On his first interview, roughly half the offensive linemen on the roster hovered just off camera, making faces and other jokes until Finau finally cracked.
“Oh man, they all knew I was getting interviewed and they knew I was nervous,” Finau recalled. “So I knew it was coming, and man, I couldn’t keep from laughing.
They got me. But that’s how it is.
Those are my brothers and that’s the kind of things brothers do, you know?”
That welcome extended beyond the joking around. Finau pointed to an early team activity in which players were split into teams and competed for dinner.
His group won, but he initially hesitated to go because he felt new to the program. LJ Martin didn’t let that happen.
“I had just gotten here, so I didn’t really feel I should go to the dinner and all that, but I remember LJ Martin came right up to me and insisted that I go with them. And it was great. It made me feel part of all of it right away, and that’s how just about everyone is here.”
Now Finau is trying to turn that early comfort into a starting role. He has taken almost all of the first-team reps at left tackle this spring, putting him in the mix to replace Isaiah Jatta, who graduated last season. But the job is not locked up yet.
“I’m still battling and trying to earn my spot,” Finau said. “It’s definitely still a competition and I have to make sure I’m improving every day I’m out there.”
Trevin Ostler is his main competition, though freshmen Bott Mulitalo and Siosiua Latu-Finau could work their way into the conversation too. However the line settles, Finau likes what he sees around him.
“Having guys like Sonny (Makisini) right by me, and then Bruce (Mitchell) right next to him. And then you have Kyle (Sfarcioc) and Andrew (Gentry) - we’ve got some great players who all help me with their play and their knowledge,” Finau said. “They’ve all been a big help to me and they’re all my brothers.”
In Other News...
BYU Fall Camp Roster Changes Already Shaped A Few Key Battles
BYUs first day of fall camp brought more than the usual reset on the depth chart. The Cougars released an updated roster that included a handful of roster changes, from position switches and jersey number updates to weight adjustments that hint at how some battles will be framed once the pads come on. A few younger players also showed up heavier than they did in spring camp, which is often one of the quieter signs that offseason work has started to show up in August.
The roster shuffle also came with some departures and status changes, the kind that can alter how a camp opens even before the first real practice rep is logged. Several players were removed or retired, while others will be accounted for later after stepping away from the program for outside obligations. For a staff trying to sort out roles quickly, those changes matter, because every update to the roster is really an update to the competition. [Read more 🡒]
BYUs First Fall Practice Brought A Different Feeling This Time
The first day of fall practice carried a different tone around BYU football this time, with Kalani Sitake sounding encouraged by where his team stood as camp opened. The head coach pointed to better speed across the roster and more continuity on the coaching staff, two ingredients that should help the Cougars settle in faster than they did a year ago.
LJ Martin also saw a group that seems to know exactly what it is chasing, even as the offense adjusts to life without some key receivers. The running back said there is motivation inside the room and room for the attack to take another step, giving BYU a positive base to build on as it moves deeper into camp and starts sorting out how all the pieces fit. [Read more 🡒]