Brigham Young University's football program has apparently lost a heated recruiting battle for Simoni Lawrence, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound safety who made an official campus visit to Provo when the Cougars played host to Arizona.

Lawrence, from Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania, committed to Minnesota after visiting the campus last weekend for the Gophers' game against Purdue.

The Web site goldensports.net reported that Lawrence committed to Minnesota coaches on Sunday morning.

"They just need a couple of top-notch defensive players," he said. "I feel that I can help out right away."

Lawrence made 107 tackles and 10 interceptions as a freshman at the junior college last year and was named the defensive player of the year for his league.

Along with BYU and Minnesota, Pitt, Temple, Utah and West Virginia have offered scholarships to the athletic star who also plays running back for his junior college team.

Lawrence told scout.com that he loved his visit to BYU and had put the Cougars in his top three after the Sept. 1 game.

"My top three are probably Minnesota, Miami and I'd probably put BYU right up there after my visit," he said. "BYU's the school I'm real high on right now since I really enjoyed my visit. I'll just have to visit the other schools and compare them with BYU."