About 600 high school athletes earn scholarships this year

Eighteen years ago when most kids in the 2011 high school graduating class were born, the cost of gas was just over a buck and college tuition was relatively affordable.

Both costs have tripled over the past 18 years, an alarming reality for parents and their kids.

For about 600 lucky few though, their accomplishments in athletics will go a long way toward easing the dent to the bank accounts over the next four years.

After contacting coaches, athletic directors and principals from every high school in Utah, the Deseret News put together a list of the estimated 608 seniors from the 2011 graduating class who received an athletic scholarship. Of that number, 167 have signed with Division 1 programs and 228 are heading out of state.

The list does not include students who received academic scholarships or those who will walk-on. The list is meant to be a reflection of the number of kids from Utah who received a scholarship based on their athletic ability.

For some, the payout isn't huge. Books might be their only compensation. For others — mostly football players — they'll be getting a full ride.

Regardless of the dollar amount, with rising tuition costs and a struggling economy, 596 seniors have made their parents very proud.

Of the scholarship recipients 307 are boys and 289 are girls.

With participation numbers that dwarf other sports, over a third of the total boys scholarships went to football players.

Highlighted by U.S. Army All-Americans Harvey Langi and Ryker Mathews, 131 seniors earned college football scholarships — roughly 5.8 percent of the estimated 2,253 seniors who played high school football last fall. Last year 101 athletes received football scholarships

Only 32 of the 131 are heading to Division I programs, up by four from last year.

Highland coach Brody Benson said it's not surprising to see so many kids getting scholarships.

"I think overall as a whole Utah has pretty darn good athletes, and I think the coaches do a real good job getting their kids exposed," said Benson.

Highland had five kids sign at Division II programs. Benson said it's great to see kids looking outside the box when it comes to getting financial assistance for college.