Deseret News | Reader comments: High school football: College commitments

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High school football: College commitments

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Anonymous | 7:43 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

I thought Mulitalo (sp?) is going to byu, not Utah?

Funny | 8:41 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

It's funny how BYU got most of the recruits, but the U of U was easily the better team this season. I wonder if any of those signees want to change their decisions now.

To: Anonymous | 8:45 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Mulitalo is going to BYU. Once again, the D-News got it wrong.

Comments continue below

To: Funny | 9:14 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

It's not a good thing that most of the State's recruits are going to BYU. Utah's recruiting class has some real standouts from California, Texas and Arizona. Check out the new California quarterback that Utah just recruited. He is the 8th best high school player in the nation.

BYU maybe needs to look outside of Utah a little more.

Latu | 9:36 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

How did BYU miss out on Heimuli?

to 9:14a | 10:08 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

What are you talking about "he is the 8th best high school player in the nation." Uh, according to whom? He isn't listed as one of the top 300 players in the country from either Scout or Rivals. In fact, none of Utah's commits are in the top 300.

Out of State | 10:08 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

If you remember BYU did look out of state for a couple of years for their recruits. Do you remember the Gary Crowton years? BYU unfortunately will always have a hard time recruiting out of state athletes because of the "code".

To BYUFANS | 10:20 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Whoever the Utes recruit or whatever they are doing is goin better for them than what the Cougs are doing

nice | 10:40 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

good to see so many strong athletes staying in the state to play ball.

Whittingham recruits | 10:47 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Now the truth starts. Whittingham has to start playing with his own recruits. And they haven't been exactly stellar recruiting classes since Urbie left. Watch what downward spiral starts next year.

Deth | 10:49 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

It's funny how much one year will change everyone's opinion on recruiting. Everyone will now say that Utah can do no wrong (@To BYU fans). Remember your team went 9-4 and 5-3 in conference last year with basically the same team. One year of recruiting doesn't change much. Three or four years of recruiting will.

What a differerence | 11:00 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

a year makes. Utah wins the conference once in the past four years and all of a sudden they are head and shoulders above all of the competition. Keep thinking that way. It won't last long. You'll be back down to 3rd of 4th in the conference next year, but enjoy the limelight while it lasts by all means.

Former coug fan | 11:03 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Long term all of you Cougar fans who cheered for Utah in the BCS in order to get mutual respect (or respect for the MWC or whatever), will rue the day since the U and Y recruit from the same pool of LDS kids in the west and more and more these players will pick an outstanding Utah program over a lazy, mediocre, Sunday-school-like BYU program. At least Utah knows how to win in the post-season and with flair and confidence, something NEVER seen at BYU in the 30 years they've been playing (barely) in bowls.

To Top 300 recruit guy @ 10:08 | 11:05 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Wait just a minute pal. Utah has the top rated junior college defensive end in the country (James Aiono), he is a 5 star recruit, the first and only 5 star recruit to ever commit to a MWC school. Also, Yner, take a look at our two QB's we have coming in this year. A JC guy by the name of Terrance Cain (4-star). It looks like Utah has taken over the "QB University" status from the little sister down south. Just go to rivals and take a look at our recruiting class, it is stellar!! Utah is getting faster and more athletic as the years go by!! Can't wait for next fall, or spring for that matter!! The Utes will win at least 10 games next year.

Latu is smart | 11:10 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

BYU missed out on Latu because he didn't want to go to BYU to be a nose tackle. Those guys disappear at BYU. Do you remember Manaia Brown? He started for Nebraska, then transferred to BYU and disappeared. Latu knew he had to be somewhere that plays a 4-3 defense because he is smart and does his research. That's why it came down to Utah and Florida.

to Funny 9:14am | 11:14 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Wrong!!!!

Utah high school players are a great talent and totally underexposed. With the right D1 coaching you will see alot of great in state athletes at the college level.

Utah's Recruiting Class | 11:26 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

These are some of the Ute's Recruits. None of them rank lower than 138 in the nation. The Ute's quarterback is actually ranked #14 (see below). If I was a BYU fan I would be shaking in my boots. ESPN said this was the best recruiting class in Utah history. Take a look:

Kapua Sai (HI) OG #13
Siosaia Tuipulotu(TX) DT #39
Jordan Wynn (CA) QB #14
Chris Washington(UT) S #93 76 Verbal
Latu Heimuli (UT) DT #57
Chris Brown RB (CA) RB #101
Jarrad Stewart (TX) S #138
Vyncent Jones (UT) OG #130
Beau Burton (AZ) RB #135
Eric Dago (TX) OLB #124
Colby Goodwin (TX)TE #104

Not Quite | 11:35 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

"It looks like Utah has taken over the "QB University""

I love casual football fans. You don't recruit qb's every single recruiting class. BYU has two 4 star qb's on missions right now, and is at the front of the line for next year's No. 1 overall qb Jake Heaps. The real QB Factory has plenty of raw material to work with. Tell me again how many qb's the mole hill has sent to the NFL?

But all of those stars are only perceived potential. I can't even begin to count how many times 4 and 5 star recruits haven't panned out in college. I think it's due to those guys getting babied, coddled, and worshipped hand and foot. They quit working, quit trying, believing everything is supposed to be handed to them. Next thing you know it's the 2 and 3 star recruits who've had to work their butts off to even be on the team in the starting positions.

To Whittingham Recruits | 11:46 a.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Wow, don't know much about recruiting, do ya?! Whittingham's been recruiting for the U for 15 years - why do you think Utah's defense has been so consistently strong?

Yes, Meyer was the head coach for 2 years, but the assistants are way more involved in football recruiting than in basketball. So to assume that since 4 years have passed since Meyer's departure and now the U's program is headed downhill is flawed logic, not to mention ignorant of reality.

There are only 2 senior starters on D, and 1 of 5 O-line starters, so even if your logic held, none of the rest can be considered Meyer's recruits anyway.

Life's good when you see it all through that royal blue prism, isn't it?!

Go UTES!!

Venom | 12:33 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

let me help you out, I know things can get confusing with that u of u education.
The number to the right of their names is their rank according to position their overall rank.

Kapua Sai (HI) OG #13
Siosaia Tuipulotu(TX) DT #39
Jordan Wynn (CA) QB #14
Chris Washington(UT) S #93 76 Verbal
Latu Heimuli (UT) DT #57
Chris Brown RB (CA) RB #101
Jarrad Stewart (TX) S #138
Vyncent Jones (UT) OG #130
Beau Burton (AZ) RB #135
Eric Dago (TX) OLB #124
Colby Goodwin (TX)TE #104

Not so stellar now is it. If I were rating them the same way you were, the Y would have the number 3 and number 4 players in the nation.

Byu has had several 5 Star commits over the years so Im not sure what top 300 guy is smoking.

As far as QB U, just wait, BYU will sign Jake Heaps the number one overall recruit in the nation next year. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

And as far as Tuipulotu, I would not count my chickens until they were hatched...You will see what I mean soon.

Utes' next season | 12:38 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Come on BYU fans. The reason the Utes' will most likely be a 7-9 win team next year isn't because of a fledgling program, but simply because it's the natural fallout from having a senior-laden team. The reason prospering programs in BCS conferences are in the thick of the national title race every year is because they have the recruiting ability to have staying power. The BYUs and Utahs of the world have about one legitimate shot every 3-4 four years to compete with the elite, because that's about the amount of time it takes for their raw 2 or 3 star athletes to fully develop. So don't mistake the Utes' '09 season as inferiority, just consider it the first year of preparation for BCS 2012.

Be Careful About Predictions | 1:21 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

I remember the beginning of this football season. BYU fans were stating that Utah would only have a 5 or 6 win season. BYU fans were also preparing for the "Quest for Perfection".

I would have thought that BYU fans would have learned by now not to disparage other teams. It's bad Karma. Good luck on your Quest for the Vegas Bowl next year.

BYU can | 1:53 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

afford to over recruit. Every year they recruit way more kids at a certain position then they could possibly ever use. Then after missions, a year or two at a university, etc. they end up with one of the 20 QB's or whatever that they can actually use. Other schools are a little more picky on how they spend their money and recruit kids to mold into a starter.

Scott | 2:01 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

The 'rankings' of high school players is really a farce. A lot of the kids that come in as freshmen get cut eventually. A lot of BYU players go out on missions, and have a high risk of getting cut when they return. They know that, and kudos to them for having great priorities.

When coaches recruit, they look at film, maybe observe the kid in a game and rely on input from trusted local coaches or football alum.... I doubt they pay much, if any attention, to the "Scout" websites... Those websites exist to attract fans and paid advertising.

Their are a lot of Div 1A players today who were not ranked, and a lot of 'ranked' high school players who got cut.

So comparing BYU recruiting class versus Utah using the rankings may be fun for some, but is really a meaningless exercise that proves nothing.

Falconius | 2:17 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

I'm the kind of BYU fan whose life is ruined when they lose. Take this comment from that standpoint. Anyone who can't give the Utes kudos for their season and what it can possibly mean for their future recruiting is being closed minded and so blinded that nothing will convince you, including two BCS bowl wins and forgetting that the Cougs were lucky to win in '06 and '07. Go Cougs, but let's be realistic. Oh by the way, we need a new defensive coordinator. Our head coach needs to be just that!!

Re: utes next season | 2:37 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Right, so they will be mediocre again for another 3 seasons, while BYU will just keep getting better.

P.S. I like the odds of improving on 3 straight 10 win seasons!

P.P.S. Also, BYU was coming off of a bowl loss prior to 2006. I like where our program is headed!

Re: Falconius | 2:42 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Your exactly the kind of BYU fan that we don't need, so go join the Utes bandwagon if you have so much more faith in their program. Not to take away anything from what they accomplished this year, but no one has really given BYU any credit for 3 straight 10 win seasons, so I don't see the need to think that Utah is anything special. Besides, after Urban Meyer left they were mediocre for 3 more seasons until now, so there's no reason to think that the same, or worse won't happen for them down the road.

New defensive coordinator? | 2:49 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Oh, so what BYU REALLY needs is just a head coach. Put Bronco back as the defensive coordinator and bring back ol' 'what's his name' from LSU to be the offensive coordinator.

Digger fan | 2:56 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

The best recruitment value is Jordan's OL Kyle Johnson...big, strong, (good personal work ethic and values)...though seen as a negative (injury), he played through all of it and did it well. He's the best kind of athlete...not a head-case and built to compete and win.

laughing | 5:19 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

i love how all these guys are "Rated" nationally. you can't seriously rate someone that plays in New York against someone that plays in California against someone that plays Utah against someone that plays in Florida. the levels of competition are not the same and stuff like that. How about we shut our traps and let the players do the talking on the field in the years to come.

p.s. i also find it funny how Utah has one good year and the fans are talking like they've been winning conference championships every year for the past century. and you call BYU fans irrational? can you say fair weather?

woody | 7:01 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Maybe the Y didn't do as good as they wanted but I like Broncos theory about being stared. It only shows how they stared in their playing. Go 2009-10 cougers.

Recruiting strengths | 7:26 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Of course recruiting is objective, but it is foolish to think that because Utah had a magical year that it is because they are a dominant recruiting team. BYU is traditionally rated as the higher ranked recruiting class. The reason is that BYU recruits better when it comes to QBs, OL, WR and LB. Utah focuses on some speed guys from either JCs or our of state HSs. They focus on guys who may have just been athletes in HS and then try and make them into CBs, Safeties, LBers and RBs.

Also, BYU has gotten commits from two Five Star recruits this decade in Ben Olsen and Ofa Mohetau. Neither worked out for what it is worth. They are also in the running for the best HS LB in the country this year in Manti Te'o (#4 overall player in the country and winner of the Butkis Award, national player of the year).

So the recruiting battle goes back and forth. It seems to have worked well for both schools but it is hard to argue that Utah has gotten the best of the in-state recruits. BYU simply dominates the in-state recruiting battles.

Aggie fan | 8:14 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

I hope more of the talented kids start looking at USU in the future with the new coach. I hear he is great at bringing kids in. I hope the Aggies can start to build the program up. It has been really tough the past few years up in Logan. Congrats to Utah on a sweet win over Bama.

curious | 9:04 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Wonder why there's no Bingham or Alta kids on that list. For the last three years those teams have been pretty much owning the whole time

Seattleview | 11:06 p.m. Jan. 6, 2009

Once again we should let the "facts" speak louder than the "hype" about BYU and Utah. I pull for BYU but I hate the constant hype about them and how they continually fall short. You have to give Utah credit because the facts say they deserve it. Yes it was a magical season but they did put it together and was rewarding with the opportunity to play in a big national exposure game. And then they dominated it.

BYU could never pull off a win like Utah did against Alabama. That defense was outstanding.

As for recruiting, Utah may not get the number of Utah recruits but more often than not they are getting 3-4 of the best each year. Both OL and DL show that this year.

As for Jake Heaps, dont count on him going to BYU. I am afraid the Steve Sarkesian will convince him that he can make him a better quarterback at the U of WA than BYU can. And he will have the credibility to justify that statement.

Utah's success this year was due to Johnson. He didnt through the ball away. Great composure.

Hall is a product of hype.

RE: Seattleview | 12:40 a.m. Jan. 7, 2009

Ute Fan pretending to like BYU.

RE: Seattleview | 8:42 a.m. Jan. 7, 2009

Yep, it's a good thing Johnson didn't "through" the ball away, but he "threw" it well when he needed to. Johnson didn't "throw" many interceptions at crucial times and that made him seem better than Max Hall. If Max can learn to relax more and not try too hard, he will rise to the top next year and will have a banner year.

Austin Collie, Andrew George, Dennis Pitta, Harvey Unga, McKay Jacobson, O'Neil Chambers, JJ Diluigi . . . This team will be incredible, if they can hang with Oklahoma on Sept. 5th, but it could be a tough way to start the season.

Fan | 9:13 a.m. Jan. 7, 2009

"Utah has the top rated junior college defensive end in the country (James Aiono), he is a 5 star recruit, the first and only 5 star recruit to ever commit to a MWC school"

Ummm, where have you been buddy? BYU got three 5 star recruits in the same season back in 02'. DT Scott Young, CB Walter Williams, and QB Ben Olson. Plus we got Ofa Mohetau the next year. That fact that only 1 of them panned out suggests that star ratings aren't the be all end all that we make it out to be. BYU has done fine with 2 star guys like Kehl, Unga, and Pitta.

Congratulations | 11:03 a.m. Jan. 7, 2009

To all you Utah fans - congratulations on one of the best non-BCS team years ever! (yes, even better than 1984 - just check the teams BYU beat, you will see what I mean).

To all you BYU fans - congratulations on another 10 win season in which you beat....um.....um...Air Force and Colorado State!!! Once again, you have superseeded my expectations. Good luck next year with Oklahoma - please do not disgrace our conference again like you did against a horrible Arizona team in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Re: Congratulations | 1:37 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

Thanks for that hearty congratulations, complete with insecure ruminations and spelling errors that made it 100% U of U.

BYU | 3:25 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

What did Ben Olson and Ofa Mohetau do for BYU besides transfer good thing they did only helped your program. And just because Heaps is rated 1 recruit next year doesnï¿½t mean anything see Olson. He is going to UW anyway. Te'o you really think he is going to BYU. USC bound, better weather, better education, better football, hotter women, beaches, better coaching, NFL bound most of the time there is any reason he goes to BYU over USC your telling me you would honestly go to BYU over USC if you say yes you never been to Southern Cal. Have you been outside lately its 22 degrees here and 85 there really I donï¿½t get BYU fans BYU gets the number 7 recruit in Te'o and gets Heaps the 1 recruit in Heaps next season when SC wants them both. Look at Uona Kaivenga the supposed savior of LB for BYU where is he know he is at SC, I hate SC but I go there in a second over BYU and so would you.

Jake Heaps | 5:23 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

He is not going to UW, he does not care for Sarkisian. I know his family and talk to them all the time.

Seabisquit | 8:08 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

As a fanatical BYU fan may I thank Utah for one of the best and most enjoyable bowl games ever. I always root for them until they play BYU. My daughter is even starting to cheer for them and may get tickets next year under our encouragement. She is in her second year at U graduate school.

May you always get just as many good recruits (not more), and kick our butts when we need to learn our weaknesses. I wish the other schools would not take advantage of what you expose.

I think you have great coaches also who learned well at BYU and more later. Just a hearty congratualtions. I hope we are worthy of the same next year.

trolls | 8:32 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

I see lots of ute fandom pretending to be cougar fans to pat themselves on the back. What a joke!

Running Backs | 8:33 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

I've seen a lot of HS backs including several that played in the NFL, and I have never seen anyone do what Adam Timo can do. It'll be fun to watch him in the years to come.

BYU & Utah | 9:02 p.m. Jan. 7, 2009

First of all, I do not understand all of the hate between BYU and Utah fans. It's like a stereotype drive by. Honestly, all this personal bashing is ridiculous. Get over yourselves.

BYU diehards need to understand that they are not the greatest team on the planet. When has BYU gone undefeated? Utah has twice in the last 4 years. Not to mention the absolute demolition they put on Bama in the Sugar Bowl while BYU lost to a mediocre Arizona team. Give the Utes some credit, and don't look too far ahead...you never know how the season is going to turn out.

Utah fans typically aren't as hostile as BYU fans, at least not on these boards. BYU has the consistency that Utah does not have: BYU is always above-par, even if they aren't often amazing. Utah is occasionally amazing, but sometimes not very good at all.

This is a moot argument. No one can really know how good a team will be until a couple games into the season. It all depends on chemistry, schemes, demeanor, etc...not how many 5 star recruits you have. Look at history: the most talent stacked teams usually don't win it all.

Warriors | 1:25 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009

I go to school with Adam Timo (great kid), and I've talked to him on occasion about college. As of a few weeks ago, he said he's considering Stanford for football and Texas and a few other places for track. (The kid high jumps 7'2") Has DesNews even checked up on him since he committed to BYU shortly after his soph year?

The Shamwow Guy | 9:41 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Folks, let the Shamwow Guy put things in perspective for you. BYU has a 1-21 record against ranked teams. Do you honestly think it matters what kind of recruits BYU is getting this year? Folks, 1-21 against ranked teams. Let me repeat it once more, 1-21 against ranked teams.

End of Discussion. The Shamwow Guy bids thee adieu.

To the yewts | 10:57 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009

Stay off these comments sections util you can have a real conversation. The same yewt team that beat BYU this year lost to them last year. BJ will flop in the NFL. Utah last a two coahes this year. It will take a cuolpe or years to figure things out. So read your foorball for dummies book and the come and talk to us whe you want to talk football.

Zelph, the Sport Guru | 11:21 a.m. Jan. 8, 2009

To: To the yewts,

That was an embarrassing post. Notwithstanding all of the spelling and grammatical errors, it didn't make any sense.

BYU is a good local sports program, Utah is a good national sports program.

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