Three-star TE commits to BYU
See Ethan's HUDL highlights here
Ethan Erickson picked up some recruiting momentum in recent weeks with his first three offers rolling in and, as it turned out, three was all he needed to come to a decision.
After kicking off his recruitment this month with the handful of offers, the three-star tight end from Kahuku (Hawaii) added Brigham Young to the fold thanks to a standout camp performance and wasted little time in committing to the Cougars. Erickson made the call Thursday and then publicly announced his pledge Friday afternoon, just two days after picking up the offer.
Erickson has the ability to play on either side of the ball, but has really come on as a tight end this offseason and that's where the Cougars see him fitting into the program. The recent stop by Provo, where Erickson opened some eyes with his performance as a downfield threat and pass-catching option, was all the 6-foot-5, 225-pound prospect needed to see.
"I loved my time at BYU," Erickson told 247Sports. "I just went for a couple hours to have a workout with the tight ends coach. After we did some drills, inside run and sevens, some of the coaches asked me to go to the side with them. Coach Kalani Sitake came up to me and offered me the full ride.
"After that I went on a tour of the facilities and I saw their weight room and then got some pictures in their gear. The whole trip was unbelievable. I talked mostly with the tight ends coach Steve Clark and he loved me. We bonded easily and he my size. He knows my body could change after my mission and was ready to work with me. Having been a wide receiver the last few years, I know how cornerbacks play and, moving over to tight end playing against slower guys, it's going to be easier for me to stretch the field and go up for jump balls with my height."
Navy and Utah State were the other two offers for Erickson, while the likes of Eastern Washington, Fresno State, UCLA and Weber State having expressed some interest in recent weeks as well.
"I have grown up watching BYU sports and gone to all their games, whether it was basketball, football, volleyball or baseball," Erickson said. "I grew up wearing blue and when I got the offer, in my heart I just knew. I wanted to close the door and choose BYU for my family, the education there and the high standards, which I strongly believe in as well. I just love everything about the school."
Erickson is the nation's No. 86-rated tight end and No. 25 overall prospect in the state of Hawaii for the 2019 class, per the 247Sports rankings. He became the ninth prospect to commit to BYU's class, which currently features another tight end in Arizona-based three-star Carter Wheat. Erickson intends to embark on a two-year church mission following high school next summer.