The BYU Cougars kick off the 2025 season in 57 days against Portland State. As we continue counting down the days until kickoff, today we will profile the player who wears No. 57 - redshirt junior defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa - by providing three interesting, fun facts:
### Fun fact No. 1 - He left Utah for greener pastures in Provo
Over the past couple of seasons, a healthy Keanu Tanuvasa was likely the most impactful player on the University of Utah's defense. In three seasons with the Utes he appeared in 24 games with 19 starts for the Utes, registering 49 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and four sacks. But his impact transcends traditional stats. Tanuvasa forced regular double teams, collapsed offensive lines, and freed up defensive ends and linebackers to make big plays. He's an absolute force in the middle.
In 2023 he received CFN Freshman All-America honorable mention honors. Last year at Utah he was an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention despite missing several games due to injury. Despite the outstanding career he had established at Utah, he ultimately saw BYU as the best place for him to finish his outstanding college football career.
Brigham Young v Utah | Chris Gardner/GettyImages
### Fun fact No. 2 - He has received NFL first round pick buzz
Earlier this year, The Athletic's Dane Brugler did a way-too-early [**2026 NFL mock draft**](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6318415/2025/04/29/nfl-mock-draft-2026-arch-manning-qbs/). Brugler had Keanu Tanuvasa going in the first round to the Kansas City Chiefs as the No. 29 overall pick. He noted that Tanuvasa should be one of the Big 12's best defensive prospects this year.
### Fun fact No. 3 - He's a returned missionary
According to Tanuvasa's [**player profile**](https://byucougars.com/sports/football/roster/player/keanu-tanuvasa) page at BYU's team website, he served a full-time mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After attending high school in California, he was called to serve in the Utah Provo mission so in a way he's returning home by transferring to BYU.
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