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**11:30 a.m.**

The Sitake Effect, as some in Provo are calling it, continued later in the morning with the announcement from former USC commit Keanu Saleapaga that he will sign with BYU.

Saleapaga's signing had not been confirmed by BYU as of 11:30 a.m. MT.

Saleapaga, a 6-5, 250-pound defensive lineman, narrowed his choices to BYU and Colorado in the past few weeks before picking BYU. He said Sitake's hiring put BYU back on his radar.

Having flipped linebacker Alema Pilimai from Utah earlier in the day, BYU was hoping to also flip Cole Fotheringham, an LDS tight end from San Clemente, Calif., from the Utes. However, Fotheringham announced via Twitter around 11 a.m. MT that he was sticking with his Utah commitment.

Among the last recruits to send his NLI to BYU on Wednesday was Hirkley Latu, a 6-3, 200-pound linebacker from Kahuku High School in Kahuku, Hawaii.

Latu's signing was announced by his uncle, former BYU great Vai Sikahema, who was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame last Saturday.

Latu committed to BYU more than a year ago, then reopened his recruitment last April when Oregon State and Utah State made offers. He narrowed his choices to those three schools a few weeks ago before picking BYU on Wednesday.

Other notable former players who announced signings later Wednesday morning included DB Brandon Bradley, TE Itula Mili, DE Jason Buck, DE Jan Jorgensen, NT Hebron "Loni" Fangupo and DB Daniel Sorensen.

**10:45 a.m.**

By midmorning, BYU coaches got the news they were hoping for, and expected, but could never breathe easy until it was a done deal.

Alema Pilimai, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound linebacker from Tustin, Calif., sent in his NLI.

Pilimai flipped from Utah, after committing to the Utes last summer.

His signing is seen as a significant coup for new BYU coach Kalani Sitake.

Pilimai is so athletic that he played quarterback in high school, along with linebacker.

BYU also announced the signing of OL J.T. Gentry, a 6-5, 260-pound prospect from Littleton, Colorado's Columbine High School. He is the son of former BYU basketball player Todd Gentry.

As of 10:45 a.m. BYU had announced 22 signings, including 16 who were announced at the podium at the SAB by a former player.

**10 a.m.**

By 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, BYU had announced 20 signings and the names of six returning missionaries who will be available to play this fall.

Among those who signed after 9 a.m. were Fontana, Calif., defensive end Freddy Livai, Menifee, Calif., defensive back Aleva Hifo, Spokane, Wash., offensive lineman Clark Barrington and Hawthorne, Calif., defensive end Lisala Tai.

When Hifo's signing was announced, new BYU coach Kalani Sitake shouted that the prospect could also play offense.

Continuing the pattern of having a former BYU player announce the new signings, New York Giants linebacker Uani Unga announced the signing of Timpview linebacker Keenan Pili.

In a nice touch, current BYU linebacker Fred Warner announced the signing of his brother, Troy Warner, a defensive back from Mission Hills, Calif., who is already enrolled.

Another offensive lineman who signed Wednesday, Caden Haws of Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Ark., almost certainly won't be a deep snapper.

Haws' high school coach gained national notoriety the past few years because he almost never punted, even when deep in his own territory, and often called for onside kicks after touchdowns or field goals.

Kearns High running back Sione Finau ended up signing with BYU on Wednesday after having committed to Oregon State last fall. Finau was recruited to OSU by Sitake, and obviously chose to follow Sitake to Provo.

Former BYU RB/LB Michael Alisa announces Finau's signing.

Southern Utah University announced Wednesday that it has signed former BYU QB McCoy Hill, who is transferring to the Cedar City school after an injury plagued time in Provo.

**9:15 a.m.**

As national letters of intent rolled off fax machines and into BYU's football offices on Wednesday, the Cougars used former players to announce the signings in an invitation-only event at the Student Athlete Building.

Among the former players who announced signings were safety Andrew Rich, OL Jason Speredon, TE Chris Smith, DB Derwin Gray (remotely), RB Brian McDonald, OL Mike Empey (the new OL coach), LB Ted Nelson, DE Joe Liljenquist, QB Steve Clements, TE Spencer Reid,

Legendary BYU coach LaVell Edwards also attended the event along with QB Robbie Bosco and P/K Lee Johnson.

The Cougars got Brighton High WR Simi Fehoko on campus last weekend and were hoping the highly touted pass-catcher would back off his commitment to Stanford and sign with them.

However, Fehoko signed with the Cardinal at a ceremony at Brighton High early Wednesday that included Bengals LB Jackson Kaufusi and QB/DB Drew Jensen signing with BYU. Jensen is the cousin of current BYU basketball player Nick Emery.

Also, Pocatello (Idaho) OL/DL Wayne Kirby, who attended the same high school as Taysom Hill, committed to BYU long ago, but withdrew that commitment late last year and on Wednesday signed with Oregon.

Another prospect who committed to BYU long ago, Snow College lineman Garrett Bolles, signed with Utah.

Wayne Taulapapa, a running back from Punahou High in Honolulu, Hawaii, signed with Virginia and former BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall. Taulapapa had an offer from BYU's former coaching staff, but it was among those pulled when new coach Kalani Sitake came aboard.

News of players who will be given preferred walk-on status at BYU also began to leak out Tuesday and Wednesday. The latest is Brevan Ward, an offensive lineman from Highland High in Mesa, Ariz.

The second wave of signees announced Wednesday included Bountiful High linebacker Max Tooley and Timpview linebacker Keenan Pili.

**8:30 a.m.**

There were no early surprises for BYU as Signing Day got underway early Wednesday morning. And that was a good thing.

Most notably, the Cougars received a national letter of intent from tight end Hank Tuipulotu, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior from South Carolina's Nation Ford High School. He is the son of former BYU great Peter Tuipulotu.

Hank Tuipulotu committed to BYU long ago, but in the past month got an offer from South Carolina of the SEC and made a visit to Columbia. Suffice it to say, BYU coaches were relieved when his NLI arrived at the football offices early Wednesday.

By 8:30 a.m., BYU had announced no fewer than 10 signings.

Of those 10, seven are expected to go on LDS Church missions first.

Speaking of missions, BYU announced six RMs who are currently serving, or have arrived home, who will join the team this fall.

They are OL Chandon Herring, OL Austin Chambers, DB Isaiah Kaufusi, DE Uriah Leiataua, LB Trajan Pili and DL Zac Dawe.

Signees BYU had announced the first 90 minutes were West Jordan NT Atunaisa Mahe, Maple Mountain QB Jaren Hall, Wasatch K Skyler Southam, Spanish Fork DE Solofa Funa, Mission Hills, Calif. DB Troy Warner, Brighton DB Drew Jensen, South Carolina's Tuipulotu, Snow College WR Jonah Trinnaman, Snow College DT Handsome Tanielu and Brighton LB Jackson Kaufusi.

Twitter: @drewjay