BYU Lands Four-Star Two-Way Talent in Stacked Recruiting Class

The four-star athlete made his commitment official on Tuesday morning via a post on social media. Akana has ties to the incoming Cougars class, making this move a natural fit. 

At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, he's noted as the 10th-ranked prospect in Utah, according to 247Sports. Akana is also the 48th overall athlete in the 2026 recruiting class. 

BYU got a real one in many regards. Akana is a versatile player who has been productive at safety, wide receiver, and tight end during his career at Orem. While he's unlikely to play both ways in Provo, his football IQ is multi-dimensional. Akana had 58 tackles, six tackles for loss, two interceptions, and one sack on the defensive side last season. On offense, he added 76 receptions for 1,227 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns.

Akana chose BYU over several Power Four offers, including Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Oklahoma, Oregon, SMU, Utah, Tennessee, and others. He's coming into a situation with a pre-existing relationship with BYU five-star QB commit Ryder Lyons. The two were teammates on the Colde Hearts team, which is part of the OT7 football league. 

With Akana coming to BYU, the Cougars break into the Top 25 of 247Sports' 2026 recruiting rankings. The first time in the Kalani Sitake era the program has excelled into the elite category. 

BYU has overtaken Utah as the "King of the Hill" in the Beehive State. Akana is the third player within the top 10 recruits from the state of Utah to commit to BYU. Half of BYU’s 16 commits are in-state talents, according to KSL Sports.