Will committed recruits stay committed?

[Utah#1]

Dunn already left for USC because NIL and because it’s USC. Doesn’t matter that they are 4-4 this season. USC 4-4 is different from a Utah 4-4, because they are USC and Utah is NOT USC.

So will be hearing more de-commits soon? I don’t see Wyatt hanging around unless he really likes SLC and the UofU, minus the football program part.

[EagleMountainUte]

The recruits can tell you…for money.

[2008 National Champ]

You may see some not sign during the early period if they perceive, or are told, that there is a pending HC change. The main problem they will be facing is whether there are still landing spots for them elsewhere. The class is mainly upper 3 stars so it’s not like they can write their own ticket at other P4 schools. Does changing to a G5 make more sense than sticking with Utah? That’s always the question

[Larry B]

I’d be more concerned about players already in the program transferring out. Apparently Wilson has already expressed some frustrations. I bet he’ll at least test the waters. If Whitt sticks around, I imagine we’ll see a handful hit the portal. It feels like he’s lost the locker room.

It’s going to be a rough few years for us. And if Scalley turns out to be a dud at HC, our football program will take the same path as the basketball program.

[The Miami Ute]

Wilson has been expressing frustrations? I mean, Larry come on now…it’s not like Wilson is the second coming of Caleb Williams…where’s he going to go to? Boise State? Maybe with some excellent coaching, he can find his niche but I haven’t seen anything out of him this season that leads me to believe some powerhouse program that’s not named BYU will be all hot after him.

[2008 National Champ]

If anything, this season has lowered Wilson’s value. His warts have been put on display for everyone to see. No top program is going hard after an undersized kid who can’t cope with pressure in his face.

[The Miami Ute]

You’re right…I’m sure he’s got some upside but his play and skillset scream “G5” at me. Yeah, sure, he had moments early on this season and at Copper Canyon, but once the book on him was printed he hasn’t been able to play well consistently. I mean, what’s the difference between him and Maddux Madsen at BSU, other than Madsen is providing better results at this point.

[John]

Wilson is playing like most freshman play. He has some talent but his size is a negative. He tries to make what I call “High school” plays. By that I mean that in HS the best player on the field is normally the QB. He can do things that he cannot do at the next level. The same from college to the NFL. He will have to learn what he cannot do. Good example is Retzlaff at BYU. Last year he was trying to make plays that he did at the JC level and turned the ball over. This year he appears to have learned what he can and cannot do and few TOs.

Whittingham should have gone to the portal and brought in another QB as insurance for an injury prone Rising. But I suspect that would have caused Wilson to look elsewhere. Put the coaching staff between a rock and a hard place.

[The Miami Ute]

Whittingham should have gone to the portal and brought in another QB as insurance for an injury prone Rising.

Some of us have been saying that statement the moment we knew the extent of Rising’s injury in July 2023. It’s also something that will be printed on Whitt’s tombstone should he not be able to right this ship.

[Rick Walker]

Honestly I don’t think them not bringing in a QB is for lack of trying. It could be but when asked about it Whittingham said it was hard to bring in transfer QB because of rising which isn’t at all surprising.

[2008 National Champ]

If the sales pitch was come in and hold a clipboard because it’s Rising’s job no matter what you do, it’s no wonder the only guy to come in during the last 2 offseasons was a 5 star bust who had to drop down to the FCS level and barely completed 50% of his passes there.

[ReconUte]

Without a doubt! I’ve been saying this since last season. I know there were a ton of injuries but it also felt like the team lost leadership and the edge to compete it usually always has.
This coaching staff is out of its element. The Whittingham philosophy is no longer working. I see too many lazy and c**ky players on the field. Minus Bernard, I don’t see anyone on the field taking charge. Now with his comment that he knows what’s wrong but won’t say it hints at a coaching problem.
This could definitely turn into a monumental slide exactly like the basketball program.
I have zero faith in Harlan turning this around. He’s done absolutely nothing for this University! Nearly every single sport is having a rough time. Even our steady gymnastics team had chaos recently. The only sport thriving is women’s basketball.
This University is going to need a little luck and a ton of NIL money to stay afloat.
Honestly I’m truly sick to my stomach watching this team crumble and knowing this could be reality for a really long time. I hope I’m wrong about all of this!!

[Anfernee]

I totally get it.. This is what I posted earlier: I still truly believe the future of Utah football is still in good hands. I know right now with how raw and ridiculously disappointing everything feels like the program is completely lost. But it’s not. The thing about this day and age of college football is things can turnaround in a hurry. The NIL/transfer portal (which I hate) allows a coach with Scalley’s personality to get dudes and inspire. I grew up in Provo. And so a lot of my still close friends and family members are big BYU fans. They’ve been jealous of our program for awhile. And a lot of it peaked last year with just 5 wins and ending season on a 5 game losing streak. Now not even 12 months later they are 8-0 and gonna be top 10. Sports is cyclical. And it was our turn to be MASSIVELY disappointed. I know it’s not apples to apples because of our expectations going into ’24 but programs go through this. It hurts right now. Bad. But I 💯 believe in Morgan. He’s Relentless. The kinda coach who will let a season like this fuel him. He’s already said he wants a “Urban-like offense.” It might take a couple seasons or we might be surprised with how quick it takes off. Morgan is much more Urban Meyer than he is Kyle. Everyone breathe. And go Utes!

[Utah#1]

Right on brother! What I’ve taken into consideration at this juncture in the season is BYU is lucky they haven’t had the level of injuries that Utah has sustained the past few years, but what I’ve noticed is about half or more than half of their staff are former Ute assistance. Their OC is ARod. They are 8-0 and playing very good football against B12 competition which is okay. I think their 8-0 is due to Sitake trusting his coaching staff to do their jobs and be successful, and thus far it is working! These are the same assistance that worked under Whitt for a period of time. So my question now is, is Kyle too much of a control freak, especially on offense, and not letting his coaches do their job?! I believe he is and has been for years, I just think it’s come to a head this season and has manifested itself and complete out of control!

[Utesbyfive]

Harlan, Harlan, Harlan…

What exactly has he NOT done regarding the football program that should have been done?

I hear tons of bitching about him, but it’s hard to see why the collapse of this team is his problem.

[Anfernee]

Yeah I don’t understand the Harlan thing. He came in with a already long tenured HC. Harlan has nothing to do with what’s happening right now with the football program. And I don’t see how he would impede Morgan as HC in anyway.

[The Miami Ute]

The way I see it, here’s where the heartburn with Harlan comes in:
1. It was Harlan that gave Whitt the massive extension that Utah is on the hook for.
2. Harlan flubbed the Smith hire and stayed too long with Farden. Given that, it’s hard to see him being capable of selecting the next football coach if Scalley isn’t the automatic hire.

[Xanthis]

If the rumors are true then Wilson should probably keep his hands to himself. The rumor is a locker room fight after TCU and Wilson punched someone.

[Larry B]

I heard it was a punch and a roundhouse kick.

[EagleMountainUte]

This is impressive coming from a 2’3” person.

[Tednab]

Curious about where this “Rumor” about Wilson came from ?

[EagleMountainUte]

There is a lot of smoke around a locker room
fight. Social media being what it is you might as well call it truth.
Remember the Thomas situation? Yeah there was a lot of smoke around his fight as well.

[Tednab]

Well he’s an 18 year old freshmen that hasn’t lived up to the hype yet, and if it’s an entitlement issue… if that’s the case he needs to be gone asap .. they held on to Thomas too long. You would think they’d learn .. did we turn into the university of spoiled children all of the sudden ? Nil and accolades go to their heads?

[EagleMountainUte]

The money for these athletes is where I hear Harlan has been meddling.

[silverliningsurfer]

Meddling in what way? Deciding who should be paid what? Overruling other decisions?

I don’t know a lot about the NIL procedure honestly but wouldn’t the AD be heavily involved in negotiating those contracts/payments?

[2008 National Champ]

He shouldn’t be. Bob’s Used Car Lot should be able to pay any player on the Utes roster they want to.

[Rick Walker]

Harlan “meddling” in NIL contracts is technically illegal under the one single NIL rule.

[J Rocksville]

I think what will happen is offensive recruits will probably be apprehensive about signing without knowing who the coach or what the scheme will be. We’ll get a new OC and he’ll have to plug and play through the portal while we recruit the athletes for his system.

I mean, this seems like how it works everywhere else now.

[Tony (admin)]

Some will. Some won’t.

[JB]

Based off results would it be a bad thing if people transferred out of the program? Need to find guys that have chip on their shoulder,and a QB that can make a basic throw. Most importantly an OC that isn’t predictable who doesn’t have route concepts that take forever to develop.

[Rick]

This is exactly my feelings. To me the only players that are not seniors that I would be totally bummed if they left are Calhoun, Garcia, Lomu, both Fanos, Snowden (sometimes), Tao Johnson, Tanuvasa, Barton (if he can get his speed back), Woods (if he can actually play), Bouwmeester, Togiai, and Pepa. Notice I have not put in a single WR or TE because those two positions groups, aside from Singer who has no more eligibility, have grossly underperformed. You can blame the QB but I have focused a ton of my time watching them and they get zero separation, whiff on blocks, and have not contributed jack squat to special teams. I would put Glover on here but why is he now on a 2-3 snap count per game? Glover averaged 8.3 yards per carry against Houston BUT he only got 4 attempts. FOUR! What in the hell are the coaches actually watching on the field? Did he get hurt?

So, that is 13 players from an 85 man roster. 14 if you add Glover back in. I think we may be having a Coach Prime level of transfers in and out this off season and I am OK with that at this point. This team has stunk for two years in a row and I am not all that convinced it was all due to injuries. I have said here and elsewhere numerous times but this team is not very athletic and lacks speed on the edges on both sides of the ball. Teams like Arizona, ASU, TCU, and no Houston make us look like we are playing in quicksand. I watched the Boise State vs. UNLV game last Friday night and both of those teams are MUCH faster than us overall. Prove me wrong and don’t give me the game speed vs. track speed argument because all I am seeing is game speed in the game of football.

[Author]

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