Ilaisa Tuiaki On The Way To BYU

Oregon State linebackers coach Ilaisa Tuiaki is on his way to BYU, where he will join former Beavers Defensive Coordinator Kalani Sitake's staff. Sitake has replaced the departed Bronco Mendenhall as the coach of the Cougars.

Official announcements will come after the fact, but Tuiaki was saying his goodbyes Monday and clearing out. What his role will be Sitake didn't discuss in his introductory press conference yesterday, but that will come out as Sitake determines who all he can coax to Provo.

As far as what Oregon State head coach Gary Andersen will do to replace now 2 of his top defensive assistants, obvious names beyond Wisconsin Defensive Coordinator Dave Aranda (who opted not to accompany Andersen to Corvallis when he made the move last year, possibly opting for an eventual head coaching gig somewhere sometime soon), and Oregon native Justin Wilcox, include Utah State Defensive Coordinator Kevin Klune and former Utah State DC Todd Orlando, now at Houston.

Boise State DC Marcel Yates might be interested in moving to an FBS school, and might bring some further insights into what the Beavers will run into when the Broncos comes to town next season as well.

Andersen will also have to reevaluate his other moves already made, as Tuiaki had been assigned to also work with WR coach Brett Brennan with the special teams as a part of the shakeups Andersen announced last week.

The recruiting situation has been a mixed bag, as JC All-American LB Wesley Payne reaffirmed his commitment to come to Corvallis (though he didn't and hasn't signed any paperwork yet, now that the early signing period is open), but another JC that had had Oregon State on his short list of a dozen FBS schools with offers out to him, 3-star DB Markell Simmons has decided to go to TCU, and said Sitake's departure definitely affected his decision.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com