In State Recruiting

[2008 National Champ]

Taggart just committed to Oregon. That leaves Barton and Tabarracci as the only uncommitted in the state top 10 and none currently going to Utah. In a year where the top 8 are borderline blue chip or higher, it feels like recruiting malpractice to potentially get nothing locally.

With the extended tenure of the coaching staff and success over the last 5 years there shouldn’t be any excuse to not keep some of that talent home on a regular basis. I have a hard time applying the “sometimes kids want to go elsewhere” excuse when a whole class does it seemingly year after year. Is there something going on between the staff and the local coaching fraternity that an outsider like me isn’t aware of?

[chinngiskhaan]

Relax

we are an extremely young team

[Utebeam]

Not this again…

[Ute Dub]

You amateur recruiting dweebs need to learn that the top 10 in almost every state, go out of state, and the same tired argument you are having has already been had the past 10 years in all states in the union. The bulk of Utah’s team is not from the state of Utah. Utah is not taking many kids this year anyway, so why fret? Taggart isn’t a huge need and there are higher rated recruits already in the 2 deep, plus we mostly play 2 lb’ers. Moa was not a need except maybe at DT in 2-3 years. Let’s chill and stop worrying about missing on recruits that want to go out of state no matter how good Utah and the coaching staff are.

[Trailgoat]

Utes have a lot of solid young players, however, Utes need a top level LB recuit. Lloyd has very big shoes to fill next year. Sewell is not going to carry the load Lloyd has done for this team. DL single handedly tormented ASU on Saturday. Reid is a decent player. Reid has a good head for the ball, but lacks speed. Reminds me of Cody Barton in his younger years. Maybe Calvert or Reynolds? 

[Ute Dub]

Ethan Calvert is a way higher rated recruit (96 to Taggart’s 88) than Taggart and he’s already in the program. Barton would be a huge get and could do a lot of things at Utah, like what Lloyd does at Utah. That would be fun to watch Barton patrolling sideline to sideline.

[AZUTE]

I’ll never understand why people get so worked up over instate recruiting. Barton is the only one that matters because he’ll be special other then that there is nobody Utah can’t live without.

I’ll take a 4 star from Cali Texas or Florida over any 4 star from Utah besides Barton he’s a unicorn

[pedro]

Several things bother me about posts like this.

First, enjoy the day.  We had our biggest victory in several years last night and it was huge.  

Second, you act as if the coaches aren’t trying to land these kids.  They are.  The kid and his family still has the freedom to choose where they want to go.  

Third, K Whit and his staff recruits the right way.  I’m pretty sure that if the truth were know about several of those schools these kids are committing to, you would find all kinds of infractions.  Don’t think that plays into it, it does!  Kids can be bought with the Sex, drugs and RR environments.  Coaches know that.  I’m not saying all these kids were sold on that, but some were.  

Fourth, what do you propose they do.  It’s easy to sit on our asses at home and bitch about a percieved problem.  What solutions are there.  What does the staff do that they are not alreayd doing?  I would love to hear what info you have.  

Thanks

[Charlie]

The Utah staff has done and continues to do an awesome job of recruiting. The Bartons have zero complaints about the process. Athletes get to choose to sick around home or go for a new environment. Other schools also have much to offer. Last, in the last decade or so the talent in Utah high schools is much too great to think that the local schools can simply vacuum them up. Expect the blue blood schools to pick mostly first before other P5 schools similar to Utah manage to land recruits. Be happy for the exceptions to that rule.

[Tony (admin)]

We have these discussions every year. I’m ok with getting Florida and Texas talent. 🙂

[Utah5410]

Barton is the only one I’d be upset about. I’d be upset for an hour or so and then move on. The kid will do what’s best for him. I think he stays home. But we will see.

[MDUte]

Totally agree, the only one I’m hoping we get is Barton. But I’m not feeling confident it’s going to happen…not because he doesn’t love the Utes. We all know he’s part of a great family of Utes. However, with all of these blue blood programs coming after him, it’s gotta be really exciting/enticing for a young kid. And maybe there’s more pressure to live up to the legacy of his older brothers if he stays home whereas if he goes off to a Michigan or a Texas he gives himself the opportunity to blaze his own trail? I hope we can keep Lander home and continue the Barton legacy as a Ute…but I bet it’s going to be a battle. Go Utes!!

[Charlie]

Lot’s of reasons for Lander to stay in SLC. His mother Mikki is a Utah fan in a way much unlike any instate recruit’s family related to other recent recruiting adventures. The family’s base is Utah beyond even all they love about the university. He may venture off to Texas but the U is as likely a landing spot as any other.

[ironman1315]

this isn’t a video game where you can say the right thing and you’ll always win. This is real life and people are free to choose. If people don’t pick utah it’s not always because utah screwed up. 

[Author]

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