Kingsley Suamataia, former five-star recruit, commits to BYU transfer
PROVO, Utah (BVM) — Less than a year after leaving the state as a five-star recruit, Kingsley Suamataia is coming home.
Last week, the former Orem High School offensive tackle committed to transfer to BYU. He spent the beginning of the season at Oregon before entering the transfer portal last month. Suamataia battled a foot injury coming into the season and appeared in just one game for the Ducks this season.
Suamataia originally committed to Oregon in September 2020 over 33 other offers, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU and more, according to 247Sports, which rated the lineman as the 32nd-best prospect in the country and the sixth-best offensive tackle.
BYU was among the teams to recruit Suamataia when he was one of the country’s best high school recruits. He took an unofficial visit to BYU back in 2019, according to 247Sports.
Last week, he was back in Provo for another visit. This time, he committed to the Cougars a day later.
Blessed as the Lord is mindful of my struggles and strengths. I am truly thankful to everyone in my life, most of all my family. We are stronger together than apart. #DKT76 Time to Do King Things #AigaFaaVavau 🤟🏾LETS GO! pic.twitter.com/T9BsEMRTre
— Kingsley K M A SUAMATAIA (@baby76kings) November 5, 2021
BYU is ranked nationally and coming off some big wins to go along with its future Big 12 inclusion, but his transfer decision was not made for football reasons, Suamataia said.
“It had nothing to do with football,” he told Cougar Sports Insider. “I talked to all of the coaches, but it was nothing about football. It was just about everything else – happiness and life.”
On the football field, Suamataia does have a lot going for him.
Mountain Region Recruiting Analyst Blair Angulo said in January that Suamataia was a “potential multi-year starter at [the] elite Power Five level and future NFL Draft high-round selection.”
Suamataia was named the Deseret News 5A MVP for the 2020 season. The Deseret News reported that he recorded 70 pancake blocks as a senior without allowing a sack.
“Long limbs and well-proportioned frame without bad weight. Broad shoulders and plenty of room to build mass. Strong and sturdy at under 300 lbs.,” Angulo wrote in his analysis of the Orem lineman. “Athletic, nimble blocker who sets a wide base. Shows great burst out of his stance. Very good feet to stay in front of defenders. Flexible and quick to seal blocks, showing the agility to halt speedier edge rushers. In [the] run game, displays the mobility to consistently reach the second level. Can pull to [the] opposite side with ease.”
BYU fans and staff alike will be excited to see what he brings to the Cougars over the next several seasons.
“Kingsley is a very talented football player from a great family,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said Saturday in a press release. “We are excited to welcome him back as a member of our BYU football family.”
Suamataia will be a redshirt freshman in 2022 with four years of eligibility remaining.
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