Although the class of 2015 is only recently completed, the Utah coaching staff has turned its attention to the class of 2016, and is actively looking to bring in another strong group of prospects. Today we take an early look at ten prospects to keep an eye on as recruiting starts to heat up. Here's our big board for February:
1 - BRYCE YOUNGQUIST
Linebacker
Los Osos High School (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
Four Stars
Overview: Youngquist is one of the top defenders in Southern California. The Rivals 250 linebacker is a high school teammate of Utah signee Caleb Repp, and took an unofficial visit to Salt Lake City in October of last year. Utah was one of the first programs to offer, and Coach Roderick has already been working to build a relationship, and the Utes are looking to get him on campus once again.
2 - SIMI FEHOKO
Wide Receiver
Brighton High School (Sandy, UT)
Three Stars
Overview: Fehoko has seen his stock rise significantly in recent weeks, with a number of Pac-12 schools offering the talented wideout. Fehoko is a priority for the Utah staff, and recently took an unofficial visit to campus to sit down one-on-one with the coaching staff and learn how he might fit in the program.
3 - TUCKER SCOTT
Offensive Line
San Clemente High School (San Clemente, CA)
Three Stars
Overview: Scott, the son of former Ute center Lance Scott, is one of the top offensive line prospects in California. A long tackle prospect that has the strength and athleticism to play inside and outside, Scott has a number of Pac-12 schools after him. Scott has significant ties to Utah, and has visited the Utes unofficially numerous times.
4 - MAX TUPAI
Defensive Line
Murray High School (Murray, UT)
Unrated
Overview: Tupai may seem to some like an unknown, but it won't be that way for long. Arguably the best defensive lineman in the state of Utah, Tupai plays end right now, but will likely be a tackle before it's said and done. Utah was the first school to offer him, but other P5 schools, including Washington, Oregon State and Oklahoma State have gotten in the game as well.
5 - COLE FOTHERINGHAM
Tight End
San Clemente High School (San Clemente, CA)
Three Stars
Overview: One of the top tight end prospects on the West coast, Fotheringham is a big target with excellent hands. Utah was the first school to offer, but several other schools have entered the picture in the past few weeks as well. Fotheringham is LDS, and will likely serve a two-year mission before enrolling.
6 - POOKIE MAKA
Linebacker/Defensive End
Woods Cross High School (Woods Cross, UT)
Unrated
Overview: At 6-foot-4 inches, 190, Maka is another ideal candidate to play the hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end position at Utah. He's tremendously athletic and is a relentless pass rusher. The Utes have made Maka an in-state priority.
7 - JACOB CAPRA
Offensive Line
Placer High School (Auburn, CA)
Three Stars
Overview: Capra, the younger brother of 2015 Utah signee Johnny Capra, is another tall tackle prospect. Utah was the first to offer, and were quickly followed by Cal. Although Johnny's decision to come to Utah isn't a guarantee that Jacob will follow, the family has a strong relationship with Coach Harding, and the Utes will definitely be a big part of Capra's recruitment.
8 - DREW JENSEN
Safety
Brighton High School (Sandy, UT)
Three Stars
Overview: Despite a knee injury suffered during his junior year, Jensen is one of the most sought after prospects in the state of Utah. All three in-state schools have offered Jensen, and several out of state programs are inquiring. Jensen has plans to take an unofficial visit to campus this week to meet one-on-one with the Utah staff.
9 - CJ POLLARD
Safety
Junipero Serra High School (Gardena, CA)
Four Stars
Overview: Pollard is one of the hottest defensive back prospects in the country, and he has openly stated interest in taking an unofficial visit to Utah this spring. Utah was the first school to offer Pollard, and Sharrieff Shah has worked to build a relationship with him. That relationship will be key if Utah wants to stay in the game, with some of the biggest programs in the country coming in to offer Pollard.
10 - KEATON TORRE
Quarterback
Bingham High School (South Jordan, UT)
Four Stars
Overview: Torre, who recently moved to Utah from Oklahoma, is one of the more intriguing prospects on Utah's board. The four star signal caller is currently a soft commit to Louisville, but is openly listening to other schools and has expressed an interest in the Utes. Scouts that have seen him play live readily agree that Torre is a strong P5 level prospect, and he should thrive in Bingham's offense this fall.
Committed Players
MITCH WISHNOWSKY
Punter
Santa Barbara Community College (Santa Barbara, CA)
Unrated
Overview: Wishnowski is next in line for the Australia to Utah punter pipeline. A physically imposing player at 6-foot-4 inches, 245 pounds, Wishnowsky attended the same punting academy as Tom Hackett in Australia and spent last year on the JUCO circuit. He'll sit out this season to train and will join the Utes in time to take over for Hackett with three years to play three.
MICAH CROOM
Safety
Servite High School (Anaheim, CA)
Three Stars
Overview: Croom committed to the Utes this past fall, and has seen his stock rise in subsequent months. Although he's a soft commit, and still plans on visiting other schools throughout the process, Croom has Utah in front primarily because of his relationship with the coaching staff. Utah is going to need to fight to hang onto him, especially if he blows up on the camp circuit.
KAHI NEVES
Athlete
Brighton High School (Sandy, UT)
Three Stars
Overview: Neves, son of former Utah offensive lineman Kani Neves, is one of the more versatile athletes in the state of Utah. He made waves last spring on the camp circuit at quarterback, but played the majority of his reps during his junior season at outside linebacker. Neves will still try to give quarterback a shot as a senior, but is big and athletic enough to play multiple positions on both sides of the ball.
KURTIS TAUFA
Linebacker
Snow College (Ephraim, UT)
Two Stars
Overview: A former teammate of Chase Hansen at Lone Peak High School, Taufa committed to the Utes on signing day. Taufa is a tough inside linebacker prospect that can run from sideline to sideline and make the play. He's a smart player that should have an early impact on a Utah defense that is losing three starters at linebacker to graduation.
1 - BRYCE YOUNGQUIST
Linebacker
Los Osos High School (Rancho Cucamonga, CA)
Four Stars
Overview: Youngquist is one of the top defenders in Southern California. The Rivals 250 linebacker is a high school teammate of Utah signee Caleb Repp, and took an unofficial visit to Salt Lake City in October of last year. Utah was one of the first programs to offer, and Coach Roderick has already been working to build a relationship, and the Utes are looking to get him on campus once again.
2 - SIMI FEHOKO
Wide Receiver
Brighton High School (Sandy, UT)
Three Stars
Overview: Fehoko has seen his stock rise significantly in recent weeks, with a number of Pac-12 schools offering the talented wideout. Fehoko is a priority for the Utah staff, and recently took an unofficial visit to campus to sit down one-on-one with the coaching staff and learn how he might fit in the program.
3 - TUCKER SCOTT
Offensive Line
San Clemente High School (San Clemente, CA)
Three Stars
Overview: Scott, the son of former Ute center Lance Scott, is one of the top offensive line prospects in California. A long tackle prospect that has the strength and athleticism to play inside and outside, Scott has a number of Pac-12 schools after him. Scott has significant ties to Utah, and has visited the Utes unofficially numerous times.
4 - MAX TUPAI
Defensive Line
Murray High School (Murray, UT)
Unrated
Overview: Tupai may seem to some like an unknown, but it won't be that way for long. Arguably the best defensive lineman in the state of Utah, Tupai plays end right now, but will likely be a tackle before it's said and done. Utah was the first school to offer him, but other P5 schools, including Washington, Oregon State and Oklahoma State have gotten in the game as well.
5 - COLE FOTHERINGHAM
Tight End
San Clemente High School (San Clemente, CA)
Three Stars
Overview: One of the top tight end prospects on the West coast, Fotheringham is a big target with excellent hands. Utah was the first school to offer, but several other schools have entered the picture in the past few weeks as well. Fotheringham is LDS, and will likely serve a two-year mission before enrolling.
6 - POOKIE MAKA
Linebacker/Defensive End
Woods Cross High School (Woods Cross, UT)
Unrated
Overview: At 6-foot-4 inches, 190, Maka is another ideal candidate to play the hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end position at Utah. He's tremendously athletic and is a relentless pass rusher. The Utes have made Maka an in-state priority.
7 - JACOB CAPRA
Offensive Line
Placer High School (Auburn, CA)
Three Stars
Overview: Capra, the younger brother of 2015 Utah signee Johnny Capra, is another tall tackle prospect. Utah was the first to offer, and were quickly followed by Cal. Although Johnny's decision to come to Utah isn't a guarantee that Jacob will follow, the family has a strong relationship with Coach Harding, and the Utes will definitely be a big part of Capra's recruitment.
8 - DREW JENSEN
Safety
Brighton High School (Sandy, UT)
Three Stars
Overview: Despite a knee injury suffered during his junior year, Jensen is one of the most sought after prospects in the state of Utah. All three in-state schools have offered Jensen, and several out of state programs are inquiring. Jensen has plans to take an unofficial visit to campus this week to meet one-on-one with the Utah staff.
9 - CJ POLLARD
Safety
Junipero Serra High School (Gardena, CA)
Four Stars
Overview: Pollard is one of the hottest defensive back prospects in the country, and he has openly stated interest in taking an unofficial visit to Utah this spring. Utah was the first school to offer Pollard, and Sharrieff Shah has worked to build a relationship with him. That relationship will be key if Utah wants to stay in the game, with some of the biggest programs in the country coming in to offer Pollard.
10 - KEATON TORRE
Quarterback
Bingham High School (South Jordan, UT)
Four Stars
Overview: Torre, who recently moved to Utah from Oklahoma, is one of the more intriguing prospects on Utah's board. The four star signal caller is currently a soft commit to Louisville, but is openly listening to other schools and has expressed an interest in the Utes. Scouts that have seen him play live readily agree that Torre is a strong P5 level prospect, and he should thrive in Bingham's offense this fall.
Committed Players
MITCH WISHNOWSKY
Punter
Santa Barbara Community College (Santa Barbara, CA)
Unrated
Overview: Wishnowski is next in line for the Australia to Utah punter pipeline. A physically imposing player at 6-foot-4 inches, 245 pounds, Wishnowsky attended the same punting academy as Tom Hackett in Australia and spent last year on the JUCO circuit. He'll sit out this season to train and will join the Utes in time to take over for Hackett with three years to play three.
MICAH CROOM
Safety
Servite High School (Anaheim, CA)
Three Stars
Overview: Croom committed to the Utes this past fall, and has seen his stock rise in subsequent months. Although he's a soft commit, and still plans on visiting other schools throughout the process, Croom has Utah in front primarily because of his relationship with the coaching staff. Utah is going to need to fight to hang onto him, especially if he blows up on the camp circuit.
KAHI NEVES
Athlete
Brighton High School (Sandy, UT)
Three Stars
Overview: Neves, son of former Utah offensive lineman Kani Neves, is one of the more versatile athletes in the state of Utah. He made waves last spring on the camp circuit at quarterback, but played the majority of his reps during his junior season at outside linebacker. Neves will still try to give quarterback a shot as a senior, but is big and athletic enough to play multiple positions on both sides of the ball.
KURTIS TAUFA
Linebacker
Snow College (Ephraim, UT)
Two Stars
Overview: A former teammate of Chase Hansen at Lone Peak High School, Taufa committed to the Utes on signing day. Taufa is a tough inside linebacker prospect that can run from sideline to sideline and make the play. He's a smart player that should have an early impact on a Utah defense that is losing three starters at linebacker to graduation.
