By GREGORY BENNETT
gregory@du2.byu.edu
With a list that includes 26 players from eight different states, the BYU football recruiting class was announced last Wednesday by head coach LaVell Edwards.
The immediate contributions of the incoming class, which includes two junior college transfers along with 24 high school seniors, is hard to determine, assistant coach Norm Chow said.
'We want them to get adjusted to the plays,' Chow said. 'We want them to understand what we want to do offensively and defensively. Very few of the guys will make significant contributions, although there are some we are going to count on right away.'
Among those Chow thinks will make a significant impact right away are the two junior college transfers, defensive back Michael Lafitte from Phoenix Junior College and punter Mike Clark from Ricks College.
Chow also explained that the strength of a recruiting class is hard to determine right away. In fact, it often takes hindsight to see if a class is good.
'We always feel pretty good about the players we get,' he said. 'It's hard to judge what you have. It's important to wait and be patient with these guys. In three or four years from now you see if they've been successful and you know if you've had a good year. Right now it's way too early to call.'
Among the freshmen Chow said the Cougars may expect to make an immediate impact are a pair of running backs and a tight end.
According to Chow, running backs Lucas Staley, from Tualatin, Ore., and Fahu Tahi, from West Valley City, should see playing time. Bristol Olomua, a tight end from Laie, Hawaii, should also see time as part of the Cougars' offense.
Staley, who was selected by USA Today as Oregon's player of the year, averaged over 300 yards rushing in his four playoff games at Tualatin High School. Tahi, named Utah's player of the year by USA Today, had over 5,700 yards rushing during his four years at Granger High School.
The lone quarterback among the group is Matt Berry, from Eastlake High School in Redmond, Wash. The 6-foot-5-inch Berry was named an All-American by Prep Star magazine and was ranked by Prep Star as the fifth best quarterback recruit from the west.
Despite the strong class, Chow knows that the Cougars have to be realistic with their expectations.
'They are very good football players,' he said. 'They're very heavily recruited, but if you depend strictly on your freshmen class, your program is probably not in very good stead. This is a good football team coming back.'
According to Chow, the reasons players come to BYU are as unique as the individual players.
'Everyone is different so there is not any one reason they come here,' Chow said. 'There are lots of reasons they don't want to come here and lots of reasons why they do. We talk to the right guys and find what key to push. Is it the mother, is it the girlfriend, is it the spiritual background? Whatever it is, you find it.'
Among the group are also four players from the Orem-Provo area, including Chow's son, Cameron. Chow said these players will give the team a local flair, but admits that they don't expect them to contribute right away.
The Cougars are scheduled to start spring workouts March 5. The Spring Game is scheduled for March 27 at 12 p.m. Chow said spring workouts are important to the team and help the coaches a great deal.
'Spring time is a time when you make a lot of decisions,' he said. 'We're anxious to get going and back on track.'
The Cougars begin their regular season Sept. 9 when they host the University of Washington.