Kalani Sitake and the BYU Cougars added a new name to the Class of 2025 on Monday with the commitment of three-star linebacker Taani Makasini.
Makasini, a 6-foot-2 linebacker from Provo, Utah, chose the hometown Cougars over offers from five different programs, including Utah, Tennessee, Oregon State, Washington State, and California.
Coming out of Timpview High School in the Class of 2025, Makasini is listed as a three-star prospect by the 247Sports index and the nation’s 999th-ranked prospect. He also checks in as the 87th-ranked player at his position and the ninth-ranked player in the state of Utah.
According to a report from 247Sports’ Jeff Hansen, Makasini is expected to serve a mission before the start of his college football career in Provo.
“It is expected that Makasini will serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before he begins his college football career,” Hansen wrote. “Generally speaking, missions aren’t an advantage for BYU athletes. Players stepping away from football for two years doesn’t usually result in better football players upon their return. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t some benefits to a mission. Assuming Makasini goes, he will have an additional couple of years to develop and put on weight before he starts his college football eligibility clock.”
With his commitment, Makasini became the Cougars’ 15th addition to the 2025 recruiting class, joining a group headlined by four-star ATH Lamason Waller, three-star OT Andrew Williams, and three-star LB Tyler Payne.
