This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Happy Monday, everyone.

Back in the saddle this week after several weeks off for a little rest and relaxation.

Played a little golf, took in some San Francisco Giants and Salt Lake Bees games, did some fishing throughout the state of Utah and played tourist in Idaho, Nevada and California the past month after signing off in late May.

BYU's sixth annual Football Media Day, which is Thursday at the BYU Broadcast Building, has got me back, mostly. Look for my preview of the event online on Tuesday and in Wednesday's newspaper.

That said, I've got some catching up to do on BYU-related sports news, mostly football recruiting stuff.

In that regard, there's been a lot of news.

New BYU coach Kalani Sitake has secured commitments from at least five players from the class of 2017 recently, bringing the total number of commits from that class to eight.

Recent commits include Elgin, Texas, cornerback Tariq Buchanan, Olympus (SLC) linebacker Ben Bywater, Queen Creek, Ariz., tight end Donovan Hanna and two players from Lone Peak High — safety Ammon Hannemann and defensive end Preston Lewis.

Earlier this spring, BYU coaches got commitments from Tanner Baker, a defensive end from Allatoona High in Georgia, and Isaac Rex, a tight end from San Clemente High in California. Last fall, Lone Peak running back Jackson McChesney became Sitake's first commit from the class of 2017 (guys who will be high school seniors this fall).

The commitments were coming so quickly for awhile there that Adam Gorney, national recruiting analyst for Rivals.com and Yahoo! sports, joked that BYU "could finish off its 2017, 2018 and 2019 recruiting classes soon if Kalani Sitake keeps up this pace."

Yes, BYU already has six commitments from class of 2018 members, and three from the class of 2019 — guys who will be sophomores this fall.

Below is my list of the Cougars' 2017, 2018 and 2019 classes. Perhaps the biggest get from the 2017 class is Bywater, who plays running back and linebacker at Olympus. A lacerated kidney suffered by Bywater during his junior season may have cut down on his recruitment a tad this summer, but the Cougars got his pledge after he received interest from Fresno State, Air Force and Utah State.

Here are the lists:

2017 Commits

Jackson McChesney, 6-0, 170 RB from Highland, Utah (Lone Peak High School)

Isaac Rex, 6-4, 225 TE from San Clemente, Calif. (San Clemente High School)

Tanner Baker, 6-5, 225 DE from Acworth, Georgia (Allatoona High School)

Preston Lewis, 6-2, 225 DE from Highland, Utah (Lone Peak High School)

Ammon Hannemann, 6-2, 190 safety from Highland, Utah (Lone Peak High School)

Donovan Hanna, 6-5, 230 TE from Queen Creek, Ariz. (American Leadership Academy)

Ben Bywater, 6-3, 205 OLB from Salt Lake City, Utah (Olympus High School)

Tariq Buchanan, 6-2, 175 DB from Elgin, Texas (Elgin High School)

2018 Commits

Sekope Latu, 6-3, 230 Punter from Kahuku, Hawaii (Kahuku High School)

Campbell Barrington, 6-6, 280 DE from Spokane, Washington (University High School)

Cameron Latu, 6-5, 230 DE from Salt Lake City, Utah (Olympus High School)

Connor Pay, 6-5, 270 OL from Highland, Utah (Lone Peak High School)

Tyler Manoa, 6-3, 280 DT from Hayward, California (St. Francis High School)

Nathan Latu, 6-5, 212 OLB from Salt Lake City, Utah (Olympus High School)

Brandon Ale Kaho, 6-3, 215 LB from Reno, Nevada (Reno High School)

2019 Commits

Apu "Siaki" Ika, 6-3, 295 OL from Salt Lake City, Utah (East High School)

Chuck "CJ" Alatini, 6-3, 250 DE from Orem, Utah (Orem High School)

Tausili Fiatoa, 6-2, 195 OLB from Orem, Utah (Orem High School)