BYU football announces midyear newcomers and returning missionaries

PROVO, Utah – High school standouts Troy Warner and Keaton Torre along with returning missionary newcomers Tanner Jacobson and Austin McChesney have signed offers of admission to attend BYU starting in January, head coach Bronco Mendenhall announced Friday.

“Troy is one of the most dynamic and explosive athletes in the country at the high school level, and we love the way Keaton throws the ball,” Mendenhall said. “Troy comes from a fantastic family and is extremely versatile—he could play cornerback, safety or wide receiver. Keaton can make every throw and we are excited about the potential he brings to our program. In addition to Troy and Keaton, we are looking forward to welcoming Tanner and Austin and seven other returning missionaries in January.”

Rated a four-star prospect by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports, Warner is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound defensive back who was also recruited by Oregon, Arizona, USC, Stanford, California, UCLA, Utah, Notre Dame and Boston College. Ranked as the No. 18 safety by Scout and No. 22 cornerback by 247Sports in the country, Warner has helped Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, California, to an 8-0 record thus far this season. As a junior, he was the only underclassman on the 2014 All-CIF San Diego Section First Team and, as a sophomore, helped Mission Hills win the 2013 CIF San Diego Section championship with a 12-2 record. Warner, the younger brother of BYU sophomore linebacker Fred Warner, was invited to participate in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in January 2016.

Torre, a three-star quarterback recruit by 247Sports, Rivals and ESPN, comes to BYU by way of Edmond Santa Fe High School and Bingham High School. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder from South Jordan, Utah, is part of a Bingham team entering the 2015 state tournament with a 9-1 record and perfect 6-0 mark in regular-season region play. Prior to moving to South Jordan and being rated the No. 4 prospect from Utah by ESPN, Torre played his sophomore and junior seasons in Edmond, Oklahoma, where he accumulated 2,822 yards passing with 19 touchdowns and three rushing scores through 15 games. He was also recruited by Louisville, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas and Tulsa.

Jacobson comes to BYU as a sophomore defensive back transfer from Texas Tech. After playing his freshman season with the Red Raiders, Jacobson served a mission in Cochabamba, Bolivia. In 2013, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound safety was named to the ESPN Big 12 All-Bowl Team, recording seven solo tackles in Texas Tech’s 37-23 upset over No. 14 Arizona State in the Holiday Bowl. He totaled 47 tackles, including 36 solo, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup and one tackle for loss in 13 games his freshman year, which included four starts. Jacobson is from Southlake, Texas, and is the brother of former BYU wide receiver McKay Jacobson.

McChesney returns from a mission in San Diego, California, and will join the BYU receiving corps for his freshman season after playing his high school ball at Lone Peak in Highland, Utah. During his senior year the 6-foot-1, 175-pound wideout helped the Knights to the state semifinals of the 5A championship bracket with a 4-1 region mark and 10-3 overall record. He caught 22 passes for 384 yards while recording five touchdowns, including two rushing scores.

In addition to the newcomers, BYU adds seven returned missionaries in January who previously signed with or attended BYU, including linebacker Rylee Gautavai (Bountiful Utah, Bountiful HS) receiver Inoke Lotulelei (Midvale, Utah, Cottonwood HS), defensive lineman Merrill Taliauli (Salt Lake City, East HS), defensive back Johnny Tapusoa (Laie, Hawai’i, Kahuku HS) and offensive linemen Keegan Hicks (South Jordan, Utah, Bingham HS), Addison Pulsipher (Temecula, California, Temecula Valley HS) and Thomas Shoaf (Columbus, Indiana, Columbus North HS).