BYU football recruiting: Earl Mariner signs with the Cougars

Earl Mariner signed his letter of intent to play football at BYU today. The 6-4, 300 pound defensive tackle committed to the Cougars in July before other offers were put on the table. Mariner comes out of Topeka, Kansas and is rated as a two-star recruit by 247 sports composite. The same site rates him as the 134th ranked defensive tackle in the country and the 16th ranked defensive tackle to come out of the state of Kansas.

Mariner plans to serve an LDS mission before joining the team in 2016. His size and strength tend to be some of his strengths and so if he can keep this on his mission, he could make an impact in the years to come. Currently there are 13 players that could be on the roster when he gets back from his mission, allowing him an opportunity to suit up and contribute within the first couple of years. If he uses a redshirt year to acclimate himself to the college game, he could come in with a year or two of learning the system. With the players ahead of him it is not likely to see a lot of playing time away but he could contribute to a great defensive line.

Take a look at some of his highlights on hudl.