Provo • After highly recruited quarterback Tanner McKee of Corona, Calif., accepted an in-home visit from new BYU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes last week, BYU fans held on to some hope that the four-star prospect would sign with the Cougars although he never made an official campus visit.

Those hopes were dashed Wednesday morning when McKee signed with Stanford. McKee will go on a two-year LDS Church mission before enrolling at the Pac-12 school. He also was considering Texas, Texas A&M, Alabama and Washington.

BYU signed in December two high school quarterbacks who will not be going on church missions: Zach Wilson of Draper’s Corner Canyon High and Stacy Conner of Wylie High School in Wylie, Texas.

As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, BYU had announced six new signings, the most recent being Viliami Tausinga, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker from Salt Lake City’s East High.

BYU started the traditional college football Signing Day off with a surprise.

The Cougars have recruited a rugby-style punter from Australia.

One of their first signings on Wednesday was Danny Jones, a 6-4, 223-pound punter from Essendon, Australia. Jones has attended La Trobe University and has played Aussie rules football for the Birchip-Watchem Bulls and the Bendigo Pioneers. He will replace Jonny Linehan, a former BYU rugby player from New Zealand who switched to football and became a serviceable punter for the Cougars.

In addition to Jones and Tausinga, the Cougars signed Lehi tight end Dallin Holker, Las Vegas (Arbor View High) defensive back Isaiah Herron, California (Los Alamitos) linebacker Alexander Miskela and Arizona (Chandler) receiver Gunner Romney.

Holker, Herron and Romney committed before December’s early signing period but chose not to sign that week. Miskela, Tausinga and Jones are relatively recent additions.

Holker is a three-star recruit according to Rivals.com, ESPN.com and 247Sports, and led Lehi to a state championship in Utah as a senior. He made The Salt Lake Tribune’s All-State First Team.

Holker caught 97 passés for 1,766 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior, the second-most yards in state history, although he missed two games due to injury.

Herron, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect, played both receiver and cornerback at Arbor View. He recorded 21 pass breakups and two interceptions and helped his school to a 30-4 record in three years as a varsity player.

Miskela is a 6-1, 220-pound linebacker who played his senior season at Los Alamitos High after transferring from St. John Bosco. He helped St. John Bosco win the 2016 state championship with 21 total tackles while playing defensive tackle.

He was ranked No. 70 in the Orange County Register’s Hot 150 Impact Players list.

The Cougars signed 14 players in December.

Romney, a 6-3, 200-pound recruit was upgraded to a four-star recruit by 247Sports on Monday. He is rated as the No. 4 prospect in Arizona and caught 80 passes for 1,554 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2017.

Tausinga is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports and ESPN and is the second cousin of former BYU defensive tackle Kesni Tausinga. He posted 150 tackles and eight sacks as a senior at East.

BYU coach Kalani Sitake, offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes and defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki will conduct a news conference at noon Wednesday at the BYU Broadcasting Building.

COUGARS RECRUITING CLASS

Signed Dec. 20 to 22

Harris LaChance, OL, 6-8, 275, Herriman, Herriman HS

Tysen Lewis, OL, 6-5, 270, North Ogden, Weber HS

Stacy Conner, QB, 6-5, 185, Wylie, Texas, Wylie HS

Ben Tuipulotu, TE, 6-4, 200, Fort Mill, S.C., Nation Ford HS

Jacob Smith, OL, 6-6, 305, Farmington, Minn., Rosemount HS

Isaac Matua, LB, 6-3, 205, Kearns, Kearns HS

Campbell Barrington, OL, 6-6, 280, Spokane, Wash., University HS

Oliver Nasilai, LB, 6-2, 245, Jessieville, Ark., Jessieville HS

Chinonso Opara, DE, 6-8, 270, Draper, Juan Diego HS

Connor Pay, OL, 6-6, 295, Highland, Lone Peak HS

Brach Davis, DB, 6-1, 170, Salt Lake City, Olympus HS

Talan Alfrey, DB, 6-3, 185 DB, Auburn, Wash., Auburn Mountainview HS

Brayden Cosper, WR, 6-3, 195, South Jordan, Bingham HS

Zach Wilson, QB, 6-3, 195, Draper, Corner Canyon HS

Signed Feb. 7

Alexander Miskela, LB, 6-1, 220, Los Alamitos, Calif., Los Alamitos HS

Gunner Romney, WR, 6-3, 200, Chandler, Ariz., Chandler HS

Danny Jones, P, 6-4, 223, Essendon, Australia, La Trobe University

Dallin Holker, TE, 6-5, 222, Lehi, Lehi HS

Isaiah Herron, DB, 6-1, 175, Las Vegas, Arbor View HS

Viliami Tausinga, LB, 6-2, 220, Salt Lake City, East HS

Amone Finau, RB, 6-2, 205, Kearns, Kearns HS

Malik Moore, DB, 6-1, 180, San Diego, Point Loma HS

This story will be updated.

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