Getting to know new BYU commit, DT Sitalingi Havea (Class of 2020)

Sitalingi Havea is the most recent commitment to the BYU football program (Class of 2020), announcing his commitment last night via Twitter:

Blessed 🙏🏾 @AlemaFitisemanu @BYUfootball @_Lineman_U pic.twitter.com/92lLwEeOa8

— Sitalingi Havea (@SitalingiHavea) August 25, 2019

Havea preps at Chandler High School (Chandler, AZ).  He started his prep career at Mesa High where he played on both the offensive and defensive lines.  As a sophomore he had nine tackles (three solo), and a fumble recovery in four games. In five games as a junior he had five pancake blocks, 17 tackles (seven solo), two tackles for loss, two sacks and a forced fumble.  Havea also competes in discus and shot put for the track and field team.

Havea has not been rated yet by 247Sports. His recruiting has mostly flown under the radar, but he does have a scholarship offer from Idaho and has received recruiting attention from a number of smaller schools.  Havea is the 16th member of BYU’s 2020 recruiting class. He plans to join the Cougars in 2022 after serving a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I caught up with Havea to ask him about his recruiting.

BYU Insider: Why did you choose BYU?

Havea:  It is a perfect fit for me

BYU Insider: What other schools were showing you love in the recruiting process?

Havea:  I have an offer from Idaho

BYU Insider: What are some of your favorites?

Havea:  My favorite music is oldies from the 90’s.

Note from the editor: I didn’t like that Havea called music from the 1990s “oldies” since those were my high school years and I don’t consider myself that old… so I looked it up.  Good ole Wikipedia tells us that “’Golden Oldies’ usually refers to music from the 1950s and early 1960s…  ‘Oldies’ are typically rock and pop songs from the latter half of the 20^th century, specifically from around the mid-1950s to the 1970s or 1980s.”  So you’re welcome to all for clarifying–I am relieved to now know that 1990s music isn’t actually “Oldies.”  Kids these days…

BYU Insider: What is one of your greatest accomplishment in sports?

Havea:  Going to the Under Armor All-American game in 8th grade. 

BYU Insider: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Havea:  to keep the Lord in everything I do.

BYU Insider: Who is a current player that you seek to emulate on the field?

Havea:  I want to have the same motor as Aaron Donald (Defensive Tackle for the LA Rams)

If you have any additional information or insight about this recruit, please include it in the comment section below.