Alright guys, here's your defensive update. This has been compiled and worked on by Alex, Mikey, and myself. Important to keep in mind that this is fluid and with the bye week coming--allowing more in-depth recruiting--things will likely change. The best way to describe this is cautiously optimistic. Even with that said, it is awesome to see the Utes being able to go after big name guys like ones that we have listed. They're betting that their results on the field will land higher level recruits in the past and flip others.
DE: 3
TARGETS: DeAndre Wilder, Victor Jones, Anthony Luke, Alden Tofa, Jordan Lolohea. Aliki Vimahi
NOTES: Expect Wilder to end up in the SEC, so for immediate impact guys, you’re looking at Victor Jones and Anthony Luke. All of Tofa , Vimahi, and Lolohea are expected to be sign-and-sends, but word is that Tofa’s family is fixated with BYU and he’s intrigued by Oregon. Lolohea is an intriguing athlete who is likely to end up at defensive and the Utes are in a great position. Georgia Tech and Virginai should be Utah’s toughest competition for Vimahi, but he’s tight with Bradlee Anae,
DT: 1-3
COMMITTED: John Penisini
TARGETS: Jay Tufele, Noah Elliss, Lorenzo Fauatea
NOTES: Tufele and Elliss are both guys that the Utes would take no matter what. Both guys have been relatively quiet during their recruiting, but our sources tell us that Utah is in a great spot with both. If we had to say only one would choose the Utes, then Tufele is the mostly likely. However, sources tell is that Elliss is very much in play as his family wants him to go to Utah, but they won’t push him one way or another.
Lorenzo Fauatea is a sign-and-send. He’s a recent Oregon State commit, but the Utes have now changed their focus with him and are looking at him defensively, instead of on the offensive line.
LB: 2
RETURN MISSIONARY: Quinn Fabrizio (depending on size)
TARGETS: Juliano Falaniko, Daniel Green, David Morris, Levani Damuni, Tayler Katoa, Mystery guy
NOTES: Katoa and Damuni are ‘must-haves,’ but Damuni is a sign-and-send—Utah is in prime position for both in-state guys. If USC goes into chaos at the end of the year, look for Falaniko and Grant to be back in play. We’re really intrigued to see the type of shape Fabrizio comes back in and he should force his way into the lineup immediately. There’s sldo a JuCo mystery guy in the south that we’re keeping close that could come in as a big athletic backer.
CB: 4
COMMITTED: Zyon McCollum, Tristin McCollum
TARGETS: Tareke Lewis, Elijah Blades, Naytron Culpepper, Jaylon Johnson, and Noah Daniels
NOTES: It’s go big or go home, for the Utes at this important position. With two commits, they’ll take two more and expect one to be a JuCo—We’ve stated before that Lewis was tempted to commit on his visit. Look for more names to be added soon. The program realizes the need for impact recruits, here.
S: 0-1
TARGETS: Nick Pickett, Corrion Ballard, Naytron Culpepper
NOTES: Pickett is the one to watch as it’s becoming very apparent that Marcus Williams is ready for the NFL. He received his coveted Oregon offer, recently, but we all know how lackluster the Oregon D has been lately (or always). Scalley’s success with coaching up the safety position could prove key right here. Then, Culpepper is a talent that can play either safety or corner.
Keep an eye out for more updates and breakdowns of recruits and their film by former players such as K.Scott and myself. Cheers.
DE: 3
TARGETS: DeAndre Wilder, Victor Jones, Anthony Luke, Alden Tofa, Jordan Lolohea. Aliki Vimahi
NOTES: Expect Wilder to end up in the SEC, so for immediate impact guys, you’re looking at Victor Jones and Anthony Luke. All of Tofa , Vimahi, and Lolohea are expected to be sign-and-sends, but word is that Tofa’s family is fixated with BYU and he’s intrigued by Oregon. Lolohea is an intriguing athlete who is likely to end up at defensive and the Utes are in a great position. Georgia Tech and Virginai should be Utah’s toughest competition for Vimahi, but he’s tight with Bradlee Anae,
DT: 1-3
COMMITTED: John Penisini
TARGETS: Jay Tufele, Noah Elliss, Lorenzo Fauatea
NOTES: Tufele and Elliss are both guys that the Utes would take no matter what. Both guys have been relatively quiet during their recruiting, but our sources tell us that Utah is in a great spot with both. If we had to say only one would choose the Utes, then Tufele is the mostly likely. However, sources tell is that Elliss is very much in play as his family wants him to go to Utah, but they won’t push him one way or another.
Lorenzo Fauatea is a sign-and-send. He’s a recent Oregon State commit, but the Utes have now changed their focus with him and are looking at him defensively, instead of on the offensive line.
LB: 2
RETURN MISSIONARY: Quinn Fabrizio (depending on size)
TARGETS: Juliano Falaniko, Daniel Green, David Morris, Levani Damuni, Tayler Katoa, Mystery guy
NOTES: Katoa and Damuni are ‘must-haves,’ but Damuni is a sign-and-send—Utah is in prime position for both in-state guys. If USC goes into chaos at the end of the year, look for Falaniko and Grant to be back in play. We’re really intrigued to see the type of shape Fabrizio comes back in and he should force his way into the lineup immediately. There’s sldo a JuCo mystery guy in the south that we’re keeping close that could come in as a big athletic backer.
CB: 4
COMMITTED: Zyon McCollum, Tristin McCollum
TARGETS: Tareke Lewis, Elijah Blades, Naytron Culpepper, Jaylon Johnson, and Noah Daniels
NOTES: It’s go big or go home, for the Utes at this important position. With two commits, they’ll take two more and expect one to be a JuCo—We’ve stated before that Lewis was tempted to commit on his visit. Look for more names to be added soon. The program realizes the need for impact recruits, here.
S: 0-1
TARGETS: Nick Pickett, Corrion Ballard, Naytron Culpepper
NOTES: Pickett is the one to watch as it’s becoming very apparent that Marcus Williams is ready for the NFL. He received his coveted Oregon offer, recently, but we all know how lackluster the Oregon D has been lately (or always). Scalley’s success with coaching up the safety position could prove key right here. Then, Culpepper is a talent that can play either safety or corner.
Keep an eye out for more updates and breakdowns of recruits and their film by former players such as K.Scott and myself. Cheers.
