Recruits: Making it isn't easy

Both systems at BYU and Utah work, and the two schools probably will have the most recruiting success among Mountain West programs next month. Like most programs, they have fallouts and no shows. BYU tends to lose more players to two-year missions, hoping most come back capable of playing. Utah loses more signees or commitments to non-qualifier status, hoping they obtain a degree at a junior college and return to the fold.

An interesting peek into this phenomenon of the number 15 is BYU and Utah's 2006 recruiting classes — both had very good recruiting classes.

It appeared 2006 was the year of the defensive lineman for both schools.

It was Bronco Mendenhall's first signature class, one he'd been responsible for. He discovered a lightly recruited gem in Hawaii, a player named Ian Dulan, who didn't make the lists and "star" systems. Within months, Mendenhall started Dulan, the youngest player on his team.

Kyle Whittingham signed what appeared to be a solid if not outstanding class. A Deseret Morning News headline after signing day read, "Whittingham says recruiting class is the highest-ranked Utah has ever had." That was based primarily on the D-line.

The Ute gem was Joseph Faifili, from Granger High and Kahuku High in Laie, Hawaii, who had committed to Utah on national TV during the U.S. Army All-American game in January 2006.

What's interesting is to examine what's happened to the dozen D-line players signed that February — and see if it holds up to the 60 percent threshold. Granted, there is still time left on all their clocks.

BYU's list:

Ian Dulan — Starter as a freshman and sophomore, expected to leave for an LDS mission this summer.

Mosese Fokeiti — JC transfer, redshirted, worked into rotation at nose guard in 2007.

Romney Fuga — Played as freshman in 2006, currently on mission to Madagascar Antananarivo.

Jordan Richardson — Serving mission in Brazil Belo Horizante.

Matangi Tonga — Played in 2006, suspended in 2007, attended UVSC, will attend Snow College this fall.

Rick Wolfley — OL-DL converted from OL to nose guard in August 2007, expected to be on roster 2008.

Utah's list:

Neili A'asa — Redshirted in 2006 and won team's defensive "Future Award," moved to offensive line in 2007, appeared in 10 games on special teams.

Joe Faifili — Did not qualify, working to get an AA degree at American River College in Sacramento, worked as a bouncer in Utah County clubs, summers of 2006 and 2007.

Pauli Latu — Redshirted first season, transferred to Arizona Western.

Zane Taylor — Moved to OL, where he is competing for a starting job.

Aaron Tonga — JC transfer, competing for a defensive tackle job.

Zeke Wiley — Competing for a job on the defensive line.

Bottom line? Next month is national letter of intent signing date. Both Utah and BYU have received a bundle of commitments from some pretty good talent. But what's it all mean?

Everyone has to wait and see. It'll take between three and six years to fully understand who did what exactly where and how it all filtered out.

Recruiting?

Notre Dame's legendary Knute Rockne once said, "I've found that prayers work best when you have big players."

Amen.

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E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com