FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
**PROVO, Utah** — In a stunning recruiting coup that will reverberate through the foundations of college football, the BYU Cougars have executed a commitment flip of historic, faith-affirming significance. **Quarterback Levi “The Chosen” Schoks**, the consensus No. 1 overall prospect in the nation, announced he has flipped his commitment to BYU on Sunday, choosing head coach Kalani Sitake and the Cougars over the University of Southern California, to whom he had been publicly pledged for six months.
The decision, revealed at a ceremony at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, is a program-altering, paradigm-shifting triumph for Coach Sitake and the entire BYU program. It delivers a generational talent to Provo by choosing a unique mission-based culture over the glitz of Los Angeles and the Lincoln Riley quarterback factory, sending a thunderous message about the power of program identity in the modern era.
**“My Faith Led Me Home.”**
In a deeply personal announcement, Schoks addressed his monumental reversal. “This decision is about more than football; it’s about finding the place where my faith, my family, and my future align,” Schoks stated, his voice steady with conviction. “I have great respect for Coach Riley and USC. But through prayer and reflection, it became clear that my path was meant for BYU. The culture here, the standard of excellence on and off the field, and the chance to lead a program with this unique mission… that is my calling. I’m coming to Provo.”
Schoks, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound prodigy, is a transcendent talent. His blend of a powerful arm, surgical accuracy, and underrated mobility has drawn comparisons to a young **Steve Young**. His flip instantly transforms BYU’s ceiling as they enter the Big 12, providing them with a franchise-altering talent at the sport’s most important position.
**The Flip: How BYU Won the Ultimate Mission**
Sources indicate the flip was the culmination of a persistent, family-centric campaign by Sitake, offensive coordinator **Aaron Roderick**, and a unified BYU community that emphasized holistic development.
1. **The “BYU Difference” Pitch:** While USC sold Hollywood development and NFL stardom, Sitake and his staff sold a holistic life plan. The pitch centered on the unique integration of faith, academics, and football within a tight-knit, supportive community—an environment designed to develop the complete man, not just the player. For Schoks, a young man of deep personal faith, this alignment proved decisive.
2. **The “Lead a Legacy” Proposition:** At BYU, Schoks was presented as the quarterback who could lead the Cougars to unprecedented heights in the Power Four era—to be the face of the program’s ascension into consistent Big 12 title contention. At USC, he would have been another in a line of highly-touted recruits. The opportunity for singular, legacy-defining leadership in Provo held immense appeal.
3. **The NFL Pathway Reimagined:** The staff powerfully highlighted BYU’s unique and proven track record of developing quarterbacks (Young, McMahon, Detmer, Wilson) into NFL talents within its system, proving that the path to professional success does not require a traditional powerhouse backdrop. This, combined with BYU’s national independent schedule and now Big 12 platform, offered a clear and compelling roadmap.
**Reaction: Jubilation in Provo, Stunned Disbelief in Los Angeles**
The flip triggered immediate, euphoric celebration across the Cougar faithful and stunned the college football world.
* **BYU Head Coach Kalani Sitake:** “We are humbled and excited to welcome Levi and his incredible family to BYU. He is a special young man whose character and talent align perfectly with everything this program stands for. We’re grateful for his trust.”
* **USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley:** “We wish Levi the best at BYU.” (Statement via USC spokesperson).
* **247Sports National Analyst Blair Angulo:** “This is the most culturally significant flip in modern recruiting history. For BYU to pull the No. 1 player in America away from Lincoln Riley’s quarterback room at USC is unthinkable. It’s a testament to Kalani Sitake’s culture and proves that in today’s landscape, a powerful mission and identity can win any battle.”
**The “Schoks Effect”: A New Era Forged**
Levi Schoks’s flip does more than give BYU its highest-rated recruit ever; it is a validation of the program’s entire identity in the modern, transactional era of college football. It delivers a transformational talent, instantly makes BYU a dark-horse threat in the Big 12, and proves that for players seeking purpose beyond the field, BYU’s appeal is uniquely powerful.
The decision signals that the Cougars are not just participants in the new college football landscape, but potential disruptors. For BYU, the message is now unequivocal: the best player in America has chosen faith, family, and football in Provo, and his commitment has flipped the script on what is possible for a mission-driven program.
