BYU football recruiting: Tyler Cook signs with the Cougars

Tyler Cook, the standout linebacker from California, made it official today and signed his letter of intent to play football for BYU. Tyler is rated as a three-star athlete and the 65^th ranked outside linebacker in the country by 247sport composite. Tyler was highly recruited out of Vista Murietta High School, which is located about 80 miles out of Los Angeles.

His recruiting by BYU started when Mark Weber, the position coach at the time, contacted him and started the process. Things cooled off a bit after coach Weber left BYU, but Kelly Poppinga picked up the phone and used social media to initiate and reconnect. When asked about coach Poppinga, Tyler couldn't say enough about the coach and called him one of the best position coaches he has ever met. Sometime before the Cougars Junior day, Tyler paid the campus a visit and knew right away that he wanted to be a Cougars. After getting the feel of the campus, meeting with coaches and players and getting a feel for the area and fan, Tyler committed to BYU in August even with offered scholarships from Arizona, Boise State, Cal, Colorado, Colorado State, Duke, Fresno State, Hawaii, Kansas State, Miami, Nevada, San Jose State, Utah State, Vanderbilt, Washington State, and Yale.

Coming in at 6'3 and 220 pounds, Tyler adds quickness and speed to his sturdy frame and could cause a number of issues for offenses with his athleticism. Tyler has been clocked at a 4.51 and uses his speed to track down players from all over the field while playing linebacker and some weak-side defensive end. With his ability to put fear into an opponent by relentlessly pursuing them, he will fit well into the Cougars defensive scheme.

Tyler will graduate in 2014 and is planning on being on campus for the 2014 season and plans on playing until he joins the military after graduation. Currently the Cougars have 22 linebackers on the roster, with 10 being true or redshirt freshman. This could give Tyler the chance to learn the system without having to shoulder the responsibilities of a starter, but given his skill set, he could make a run for immediate playing time if he can pick up the system quickly. When asked how he can ensure he gets on the field, he references his hard work, the study of the playbook, and the learning of the system as key factors.

With Tyler joining the defense, the Cougars could be one step closer to adding to their strong group of linebackers. Tyler will be a tremendous asset to the school as a person and as a player. As his recruiting trail ended today with his signing, he is grateful for the ride and credits the fans for making a tremendous impact with their passion and support throughout the process. Sometimes it is hard to imagine how important a fan base is but he couldn't express how grateful he is for each of the fans and without them, football players would be nothing. With a great attitude and skill set to back it up, don't be surprised if we see Tyler sooner than later. Take a look at his highlights and see for yourself.