War Room - January 17, 2016
THE RULES: The contents of this War Room are confidential. Our goal is to supplement our normal content with a forum that allows us to talk about unconfirmed rumors and insider reports. We think this new feature adds value to your subscription, but if the contents of this War Room are leaked on other message boards or websites it cheapens what you pay for. Please do not share this on other message boards or websites. Anybody found to be violating these rules will be blacklisted from this board.
War Room for January 17, 2016: The quiet period is over, and recruiting has started in full force to finish off the class of 2016. Utah hosted the first of three big visit weekends and made some real progress in filling the last remaining holes in the class. Let’s get to today’s War Room.
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Visit Weekend Recap:
Utah hosted four official visitors on campus this weekend in JUCO OL and commit Garett Bolles, JUCO LB David Luafatasaga, CB Nygel King, and LB Victor Viramontes. Here’s the latest:
Next Weekend’s Expected Visitors
The weekend of January 22 will be another big visit weekend for the Utes. The full list of which prospects will be on campus is still in flux, but we expect anywhere between 5-8 players to visit. As of right now, the following players are expected to visit next weekend:
Confirmed Visitors
There is also going to be one MYSTERY VISITOR. His name will likely come out as the week progresses, but we need to keep his name quiet for as long as possible, so until then, you know the drill. We will keep the board updated as the visitor list gets finalized.
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UteZone Top 10
1 - Maxs Tupai (DE)
2 - Nygel King (CB)
3 - Fua Pututau (DE)*
4 - David Luafatasaga (LB)
5 - Terrell Burgess (CB)
6 - Jonah Trinnaman (WR)
7 - Keaton Bills (DT)*
8 - Kaelin Himphill (LB)
9 - Victor Viramontes (LB)
10 - Pookie Maka (LB/DE)*
* Sign and send
Missed the cut: Wayne Kirby (DT), Kapri Doucet (LB), Chris Gaston (CB), Jackson Kaufusi (LB), Lyric Bartley (DE), Maxwell Tooley (LB), Hussein Howe (RB), Turner Bernard (LS)
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Current Commits (Signed and Enrolled)
QB - Troy Williams
QB - Tyler Huntley
OL - Jake Grant
OL - Scott Peck
WR - Demari Simpkins
P - Mitch Wishnowski
Current Unsigned Commitments:
RB - Zack Moss
RB - Thomas McDonald
RB - Devontae Henry-Cole
WR - Alec Dana
OL - Garett Bolles
OL - Tucker Scott
DE - Leki Fotu
LB - Kurtis Taufa
LB - Davir Hamilton
CB - Julian Blackmon
CB - Ohaji Hawkins
FS/ATH - Samson Nacua
Sign and Send Commits:
WR - RJ Hubert (S/S)
TE - Cole Fotheringham (S/S)
DE - Semisi Lauaki (S/S)
LB - Alema Pilimai (S/S)
OL - Johnny Maea (S/S)
Returning Missionaries:
LB/DE - Howard Pututau
DT - Pita Tonga
Remaining Needs:
Linebacker (1-2)
Cornerback (1)
Defensive End (1)
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New Addition for Spring
One unexpected addition to the team for spring football is 2015 commitment Chad Hekking. Hekking is back earlier than expected from his LDS mission, and is expected to be enrolled in school this month so he can participate in spring football. Hekking was a quarterback in high school, but will start his Utah career at tight end.
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Playing Defense
Utah is going to have to play defense with a number of their commitments. BYU in particular is coming on strong for a number of Utah commits, including Leki Fotu, Kurtis Taufa, Alema Pilimai, Johnny Maea, and Cole Fotheringham. The BYU staff is making an especially strong push for the Polynesian commits, trying to sell them on playing for the first Tongan head coach in FBS history. That message seems to be resonating extremely well within the Polynesian community - especially the LDS Polynesians. That said, many of the more savvy families are concerned about the level of inexperience across the board on the BYU coaching staff, and they recognize that it’s a risk choosing a school solely based on a staff that is unproven. Either way, the Utes are going to have to fight tooth and nail to hang on to many of these players.
Additionally, players like Zack Moss (Miami, Tennessee), Leki Fotu (USC, Oklahoma State), and Semisi Lauaki (USC) are being pursued by some big names as wall. It’s going to be a wild two and a half weeks heading into signing day.
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Please post your questions in the thread below and I will answer them as they come in.
THE RULES: The contents of this War Room are confidential. Our goal is to supplement our normal content with a forum that allows us to talk about unconfirmed rumors and insider reports. We think this new feature adds value to your subscription, but if the contents of this War Room are leaked on other message boards or websites it cheapens what you pay for. Please do not share this on other message boards or websites. Anybody found to be violating these rules will be blacklisted from this board.
War Room for January 17, 2016: The quiet period is over, and recruiting has started in full force to finish off the class of 2016. Utah hosted the first of three big visit weekends and made some real progress in filling the last remaining holes in the class. Let’s get to today’s War Room.
-----------------------------------
Visit Weekend Recap:
Utah hosted four official visitors on campus this weekend in JUCO OL and commit Garett Bolles, JUCO LB David Luafatasaga, CB Nygel King, and LB Victor Viramontes. Here’s the latest:
- Nygel King told us that he had an amazing time on his trip. He was hosted by Brian Allen, and the two hit it off well. He loved the snow and snowmobiling (he spent three years growing up in Alaska, so the snow and cold are old hat for him). He also loved the family atmosphere of the program. That’s one of the biggest things that he’s looking for in a school, so that bodes well for the Utes. He’s visiting Virginia Tech next weekend and a decision is expected to come soon after. King told us that Utah set the bar high. That's good news, as King has moved rapidly up to the top of Utah's board.
- Luafatasaga has shied away from the media throughout his recruitment, but we’re trying to get in touch with him to get his thoughts. We talked to a source close to him, and were told that the trip went about as well as it could have, and the Utes made a huge impression on him. He’s visiting Cal next weekend, and a final decision will likely come after that. Utah positioned themselves well to flip him.
- Viramontes hasn’t returned our calls yet, but we’re following up to get his thoughts.
Next Weekend’s Expected Visitors
The weekend of January 22 will be another big visit weekend for the Utes. The full list of which prospects will be on campus is still in flux, but we expect anywhere between 5-8 players to visit. As of right now, the following players are expected to visit next weekend:
Confirmed Visitors
- Jonah Trinnaman - WR/Snow College (BYU Commit)
- Kurtis Taufa - LB/Snow College (Utah Commit)
- Zack Moss - RB/Hallandale HS (Utah Commit)
- Fua Pututau - DE/Cottonwood HS (May be moved to 1/29)
- Pookie Maka - LB/Cottonwood HS (May be moved to 1/29)
- Keaton Bills - DL/Corner Canyon HS (May be moved to 1/29)
- Giovanni LaFrance - LB/St. Augustine HS
- Max Tooley - LB/Bountiful HS
There is also going to be one MYSTERY VISITOR. His name will likely come out as the week progresses, but we need to keep his name quiet for as long as possible, so until then, you know the drill. We will keep the board updated as the visitor list gets finalized.
-----------------------------------
UteZone Top 10
1 - Maxs Tupai (DE)
2 - Nygel King (CB)
3 - Fua Pututau (DE)*
4 - David Luafatasaga (LB)
5 - Terrell Burgess (CB)
6 - Jonah Trinnaman (WR)
7 - Keaton Bills (DT)*
8 - Kaelin Himphill (LB)
9 - Victor Viramontes (LB)
10 - Pookie Maka (LB/DE)*
* Sign and send
Missed the cut: Wayne Kirby (DT), Kapri Doucet (LB), Chris Gaston (CB), Jackson Kaufusi (LB), Lyric Bartley (DE), Maxwell Tooley (LB), Hussein Howe (RB), Turner Bernard (LS)
-----------------------------------
Current Commits (Signed and Enrolled)
QB - Troy Williams
QB - Tyler Huntley
OL - Jake Grant
OL - Scott Peck
WR - Demari Simpkins
P - Mitch Wishnowski
Current Unsigned Commitments:
RB - Zack Moss
RB - Thomas McDonald
RB - Devontae Henry-Cole
WR - Alec Dana
OL - Garett Bolles
OL - Tucker Scott
DE - Leki Fotu
LB - Kurtis Taufa
LB - Davir Hamilton
CB - Julian Blackmon
CB - Ohaji Hawkins
FS/ATH - Samson Nacua
Sign and Send Commits:
WR - RJ Hubert (S/S)
TE - Cole Fotheringham (S/S)
DE - Semisi Lauaki (S/S)
LB - Alema Pilimai (S/S)
OL - Johnny Maea (S/S)
Returning Missionaries:
LB/DE - Howard Pututau
DT - Pita Tonga
Remaining Needs:
Linebacker (1-2)
Cornerback (1)
Defensive End (1)
-----------------------------------
New Addition for Spring
One unexpected addition to the team for spring football is 2015 commitment Chad Hekking. Hekking is back earlier than expected from his LDS mission, and is expected to be enrolled in school this month so he can participate in spring football. Hekking was a quarterback in high school, but will start his Utah career at tight end.
-----------------------------------
Playing Defense
Utah is going to have to play defense with a number of their commitments. BYU in particular is coming on strong for a number of Utah commits, including Leki Fotu, Kurtis Taufa, Alema Pilimai, Johnny Maea, and Cole Fotheringham. The BYU staff is making an especially strong push for the Polynesian commits, trying to sell them on playing for the first Tongan head coach in FBS history. That message seems to be resonating extremely well within the Polynesian community - especially the LDS Polynesians. That said, many of the more savvy families are concerned about the level of inexperience across the board on the BYU coaching staff, and they recognize that it’s a risk choosing a school solely based on a staff that is unproven. Either way, the Utes are going to have to fight tooth and nail to hang on to many of these players.
Additionally, players like Zack Moss (Miami, Tennessee), Leki Fotu (USC, Oklahoma State), and Semisi Lauaki (USC) are being pursued by some big names as wall. It’s going to be a wild two and a half weeks heading into signing day.
-----------------------------------
Please post your questions in the thread below and I will answer them as they come in.
