After the Twitter pre-cursor three hours ago from BYU assistant coach Joe Dupaix, Deseret News recruiting guru Brandon Gurney reported via Twitter that junior college cornerback Davion Orphey has committed to the Cougars. Orphey is a 6-1, 185-pound defensive back from Santa Ana College who was highly-recruited out of high school.
The three-star recruit (according to Rivals) was a highly touted running back and corner in his 2011 high school class, being recruited by the likes of USC, UCLA, and Washington.
According to an ESPN Preps article from 2010 out of L.A., which gives hints at why Orphey may have never ended up at those schools, Davion "is an electrifying running back and among the best cornerbacks in the county."
On this go-round out of junior college, Orphey was being recruited by Utah, Mississippi State, Baylor, Boise State, Utah State, and New Mexico.
Orphey could be in contention to start in 2013, as BYU will say goodbye to seniors Preston Hadley, Robbie Buckner, and DeQuan Everett.
Back in July, Orphey gave these quotes to the BYU Rivals site:
"The way people explain it, they explain that it is a school that I don't belong because I'm not Mormon. I know they play good football and that's what matters most to me. And not only that, but if I leave BYU I would have a good degree. So had I to go see it for myself."
"Going into Provo I didn't know what to expect. I was kind of nervous, I was going in thinking I would not fit in, because I'm not Mormon. That everyone around me would be like who is this kid, he does not belong here. But when I got off the plane I just felt welcomed, you know. I was not even in BYU territory, so when I got there the first thing I did was go to the stadium and put my foot on the grass at the stadium, I got the chills, I was ready to be there right away."
I also enlisted the help of Scott Enyeart, Pac-12 and Seattle writer for SB Nation:
@vanquishthefoe he went to Edison HS down here. Was a stud. Then went to a JUCO. Was originally supposed to go to USC out of HS I think
— Scott Enyeart (@ScottEnyeart) September 14, 2012
@vanquishthefoe re: Orphey RT @gregbiggins: @scottenyeartGood athlete, had no grades, he can play though, nice pickup for Cougs
— Scott Enyeart (@ScottEnyeart) September 14, 2012
Plenty of highlight videos of Orphey can be found on his Hudl highlight page.
For more on BYU football recruiting, bookmark our football recruiting page.