BYU football recruiting profile: Washington State transfer Squally Canada preps for his time

Running back Squally Canada announced his decision to transfer from Washington State to BYU on December 13. Canada has since enrolled at BYU and has joined the team.

When part of the 2014 recruiting class, Canada was a three-star recruit with a rating of .8520 on 247Sports' composite rating. That rating would rank fourth in current commits for BYU's 2015 class, so the Cougars are receiving a definite talent. As a senior a Milpitas High in California (near San Jose), Canada rushed for 1,916 yards and 24 touchdowns while posting an 8.8 yards-per-carry average.

Canada held offers from Oregon State, Colorado, Boise State, Houston, and four other MWC programs before choosing Washington State and redshirting for Mike Leach in 2014. As a Division-I scholarship transfer, Canada will by rule sit out the 2015 season and then will have three years to play three.

This may work to both Canada's and BYU's benefit, aiming for a breakout 2016 campaign while Jamaal Williams, Alge Brown, and the incoming Charles West hold it down in 2015. Canada will have two full offseasons with BYU (spring, summer, and fall camps with conditioning throughout) to work with new strength coach Frank Wintrich, learn the playbook, and train before hitting the field in a Cougar uniform -- in addition to his full season of work at Washington State.

I would except a strong, fast, mature, and hungry Canada in 2016 because of this, and the prospect of Canada and West together in the backfield is quite intriguing.

Listed at 5-foot-10 and 192 pounds on his official Washington State bio, the man born Bryant goes by the name Squally from his earliest days. As a baby, Canada's mother would comfort him by watching out the window with him to see and hear the wind -- a squall -- blow through the trees.

As displayed below in his high school senior highlights, Canada possesses a solid combination of speed and toughness that should make him an important addition to Mark Atuaia's group.

(Warning: Music NSFW / NSFLDS, so may want to mute it.)