Non-Disturbing Reality in Utah in-state recruiting

[Ute Dub]

Utah only recruited 2 of Utah’s top 10 in 2022, 2021, and 2019. 2021 was actually 1.

https://247sports.com/season/2022-football/CompositeRecruitRankings/?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=UT

https://247sports.com/season/2021-football/CompositeRecruitRankings/?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=UT

https://247sports.com/season/2019-football/CompositeRecruitRankings/?InstitutionGroup=HighSchool&State=UT

[RedUte14]

i thought this same thing when the other guy posted.
i just don’t think it’s worth to give the negative posts much attention.

[Ute Dub]

Yup. That guys projecting 2026 during 2024 and not comparing any of the recent years’s trends.

Utah has openly admitted delaying its recruiting commitments in favor of havingnoep spots for the portal and late announcing high star recruits.

[Kek U]

Utah is going great in recruiting

Just looked at espn rankings. Utah is ahead of both UCLA and Stanford

That’s freaking awesome !!!

[Ute Dub]

I think Utah has made it clear that they value the portal and late announcing high star recruits. Therefore, looking at the early recruiting rankings isn’t going to tell the full story.

[Rick]

The way I look at it, how many local Utah recruits have been significant impact players historically? You really have to dig deep. I think they have historically been offensive and defensive linemen for the most part and this Dunn kid coming in certainly continues that tradition but when was the last true stud WR, RB, or DB come from in state? Even QB is sketchy but I hope Isaac continues his progression and will become one of the great ones but you have to go back to Scott Mitchell, unless I am missing someone. I just think the portal and out of state recruiting has become way more impactful overall and will continue to do so int the foreseeable future.

[Ute Dub]

Julian Blackmon was a 3 star recruit, is in the NFL, not a lot of others in the NFL from Utah that signed with Utah.

[RedUte14]

from Layton.

[BSC8]

Here’s what I’m sure is an incomplete list of impact players on the current team…
– Smith Snowden
– Nate Ritchie
– Tao Johnson (Utah-north lol)
– Karene Reid
– Lander Barton
– Levani Damuni
– Junior Tafuna
– Simote Pepa
– Dallas Vakalahi
– Sione Fotu
– Tevita Fotu
– Logan Fano
– Van Fillinger
– Dallen Bentley
– Carson Ryan
– Spencer Fano
– Michael Mokofisi
– Johnny Maea
– Jaren Kump
– Tonia Togiai (utah- north)
– Issac Wilson

Okay, I ended up checking the roster for some of the o-lineman. If I count right, that’s 21 local kids making a significant impact on this years team of 22 starters. And of course this doesn’t count many others that will be starters in the future, are important backups, or on the scout team. Pretty amazing really that a top 20 team has that much local talent when they split recruits with BYU and a bunch of top programs throughout the country.

[Ute Dub]

I get what you’re saying. What the other post was griping about was not landing top 10 Utah guys. Half the guys on your list are not top 10 or didn’t sign with Utah, originally, or are not from Utah.

Mokofisi, not top 10,
Kump, not top 10,
Bently, not top 30
Vakalahi not top 10.
Damuni signed with Stanford
Tao Johnson, Idaho
Togiai, Idaho
Karene Reid, Utah #21
Johny Maea not top 10
Carson Ryan signed with UCLA
Tevita Fotu not top 10

[BSC8]

You’re totally right. I’m not very good at responding to the right comment. My post is in response to those that say Utah’s in-state talent isn’t very good or important to recruiting. Clearly it is to this year’s team. And, as pointed out, we often don’t get the state’s best talent. Imagine if we got it all… wouldn’t mind having had guys like Jaxon Dart, Puka Nacua, the Sewell brothers, Kingsley Suamataia, Jackson Powers Johnson, etc.

[RedUte14]

off the top of my head snowden has been good, and Covey was good as well.
Lander Barton, I think Vele is from Utah.

[Rick Walker]

Vele’s from Southern Cal, but he did serve an LDS mission which I could see confusing people and making them think he’s from Utah.

[Stone]

To clarify, I believe Utah recruited more of the top ten in-state players than that, but that is how many signed with Utah. Your point remains the same (in terms of success trends for signing in-state recruits). But I want to clarify the distinction because the original poster on the other thread made it sound like Utah was not even recruiting the top in-state talent. Utah is definitely doing that, but they are not overwhelmingly signing with Utah.

[Author]

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