BYU football recruiting: May 2015 roundup

May signified the beginning of the busy season for BYU football recruiting, as high school gets out of session and summer camps begin. Here is a rundown of activity surrounding BYU in the month of May:

The biggest news (in more ways than one) of the month was BYU's late addition to the 2015 class, New Zealand rugby player Manase Tu'ungafasi. The 6-foot-7, 322 mammoth was apparently committed to Oregon State, but due to changes is now signed with the Cougars. A New Zealand TV station chronicled his decision.

BYU garnered one commitment for the 2016 class, three-star linebacker and defensive end Freddy Livai of Fontana, CA. Livai was not expected to make his decision so soon, but apparently a BYU offer was what he wanted all along as a way to honor his late brother.

The other big news of the month was four-star OL Garett Bolles decommitting from the Cougars. It seemed imminent that Bolles' meteoric rise, with offers from every big program in the country and now rated the #2 junior college prospect of the 2016 class, would lead to a decommitment. But at least Bolles maintains BYU is in the mix.

Three-star QB commit Jaren Hall was named the #12 quarterback of the class by Rivals after the conclusion of the Rivals Camp Series. Hall's stock continues to rise as he shows off a strong arm in camps.

Several BYU offers committed to other schools in the month, but only P Drue Chrisman (Ohio State) was seriously considering BYU. The others were four-star RB Sean McGrew (Washington) and three-star RB Zion Echols (Cal), and four-star DT Boss Tagaloa released a top-12 list and BYU was not on it.

A new name showed up on BYU's targets list for the 2016 class, three-star quarterback and current Oklahoma State commit Nick Starkel. Starkel was named the #8 QB on the Rivals list above that listed Hall at #12, and is apparently interested in a BYU offer.

Pookie Maka, a 2016 three-star defensive end who is now headed to Cottonwood (UT) for his final high school season, was just offered by Missouri. BYU was Maka's first offer, and he now holds offers from Missouri, Utah, Oregon State, Colorado, and Nevada.

Current commits to the 2016 class: 7

S Hirkley Latu (Kahuku, HI) - Composite Rating: 85.00 (3 stars)
CB Aleva Hifo (Menifee, CA) - Composite Rating: 85.00 (3 stars)
QB Jaren Hall (Spanish Fork, UT) - Composite Rating: 84.07 (3 stars)
LB Freddy Livai (Fontana, CA) - Composite Rating: 80.17 (3 stars)
K Skyler Southam (Heber City, UT) - Composite Rating: 80.00 (3 stars)
DL Atunaisa Mahe (West Jordan, UT) - Composite Rating: NR
ATH Solofa Funa (Spanish Fork, UT - Composite Rating: NR

Current commits to the 2017 class: 0

Check out the 2016 big board and interactive map for the full 2016 recruiting picture