Utah Utes football get commitment from offensive tackle

Archie Muniz, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound offensive tackle from Cypress Creek High School in Houston, has given the Utes an early recruiting commitment. He plans to sign a letter-of-intent in February and join the team next summer.

"I feel great," Muniz said. "I feel that I'll be successful there."

Muniz chose Utah over offers from Arizona State, Colorado State, Houston, Iowa, Kansas State, Mississippi State, Northwestern, Rice, SMU, Tulane, UTEP, Vanderbilt and Wake Forest.

The decision to accept Utah's offer came Sunday when he discussed the situation with his whole family at dinner.

Muniz, who had narrowed his final choices to Utah, Rice, Vanderbilt, Northwestern and Wake Forest, cited three reasons for his decision — the opportunity to play right away, the Utes' recent bowl history and the university's sports medicine program (an area of study he plans to pursue).

—Dirk Facer