This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Cougars have some big shoes to fill at the safety position with senior Craig Bills graduating, sophomore Dallin Leavitt bolting for Utah State and sophomore Kai Nacua facing disciplinary measures for his role in escalating the brawl that erupted after the Miami Beach Bowl loss to Memphis.

The coaching staff took a step toward filling that vacancy recently, receiving a commitment from Snow College (Ephraim, Utah) safety Eric Takenaka.

Snow coach Britt Maughan confirmed Takenaka's commitment to BYU on Friday night.

The 5-foot-10, 205-pound Takenaka is waiting on the BYU admissions process and would like to start classes in Provo as soon as he can. If for some reason he is not accepted, he will probably walk on at another Division I school.

Takenaka was a multi-sport star at Salt Lake City's West High School.

At Snow, Takenaka was named an honorable mention junior college All-American.

He was second in the nation in interceptions with eight and first in kick return average. He was second on the team in tackles, with 55.

Takenaka was the Badgers' most versatile player last season, shining on defense, offense and special teams. He carried the ball four times for 21 yards and caught six passes for 56 yards, mostly in special offensive formations.

He returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown and returned 13 kickoffs for an average of 44.1 yards and three punts for an average of 9 yards each.

"I don't know if I can say enough about Eric; he is the most complete player I have coached," Maughan said in a school news release. "He pretty much played every skill position for us at some point. He can do anything on the football field. I am a little biased, but I don't think there is a more underrated player in the country than Eric."

Takenaka was named to the All-WSFL Defensive First Team and All-WSFL Special Teams Second Team. He was the NJCAA National Defensive Player of the Week the third week of the season.

Maughn also said Friday that Snow College's freshman center, Christopher Thee, a 6-foot-305-pounder, is transferring to BYU as well.

Two other members of the Snow College team that went 8-2 in 2014 also have offers from BYU, but won't sign until after the 2015 season.

Offensive tackle Garett Bolles, a 6-6, 290-pounder freshman from Lehi's Westlake High, has already committed to the Cougars.

Wide receiver Jonah Trinnaman, a 6-foot, 185-pound speedster from Lone Peak High, has an offer but is still uncommitted.

Meanwhile, it appears that a couple former Cougars who helped Snow have a standout year are headed elsewhere.

Maughan said that tight end Chris Copier, who walked on at BYU in 2010 out of Bingham High, has committed to Utah State. Copier is the cousin of former BYU standout tight end Doug Jolley and is 6-6, 250 pounds. He was a WSFL Offensive First Team honoree in 2014.

Alex Kuresa, the quarterback out of Mountain Crest High who played at BYU in 2011-12 as a receiver, then shined for Snow last season, is still uncommitted, according to Maughan. Kuresa was named the Offensive Player of the Year in the WSFL and threw for 2,734 yards and 25 touchdowns and also led the Badgers in rushing with 592 yards and eight TDs.

Kuresa has an offer from Portland State to play quarterback and will likely visit the Vikings' campus this week.

Several Division I programs are recruiting him as a wide receiver.