Deseret News | Kaufusi still living the D-I recruit dream

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Kaufusi still living the D-I recruit dream

Welcome | 1:09 a.m. April 23, 2008

Go Utes, beat the Cewgs. Kaufusi's are all great players and even though he lived out of the boundaries when going to Catenwood he was groomed for this and I'm stoked!

Powerhouses | 6:39 a.m. April 23, 2008

Colorado, OSU X2 as we all know, are well-known powerhouses.

There is way too much hype with recruits. Show us you deserve to be on the field by a good performance. Some schools have top recruiting #'s in the nation, but still don't produce conference championships often, or even close sometimes.

The best... | 6:59 a.m. April 23, 2008

of luck to Keni at Utah. We are very proud of you. Now keep your priorities straight. Play hard and study hard...

Comments continue below

This kid is a stud | 7:05 a.m. April 23, 2008

He will be playing serious minutes for Utah THIS year. Go Keni! Go Utes!

Go Gary! Good to keep the Kaufusi lineage running through Utah.

The Realist | 7:23 a.m. April 23, 2008

Regarding Powerhouses comments; what are you talking about? Colorado and OSU are in a BCS conference, but they are by no means powerhouses. Utah has had much greater success, especially in bowl games, over the last 20 years than either of those schools. Although many recruits don't always pan out, recruiting is very important to a program. Especially quality local kids.

BigD | 8:05 a.m. April 23, 2008

What a recruiting year, This makes 2 of the best players in the state that have been signed by Utah after the letter of intent day.The other being defensive player of the year Boo Anderson. Utah doesn't give up on kids-what a great story. Go UTES

deseretnews.com moderator | 8:59 a.m. April 23, 2008

We have deleted several comments from this story that violated our policy of no criticism of high school athletes.

Re: The best | 9:26 a.m. April 23, 2008

Hey Cuz,

I agree with you, but let's keep it very straight forward for Keni...

Keni, please study hard and play hard...

Good luck @ Utah!

MPalmer | 10:00 a.m. April 23, 2008

Both Jordan and I wish you great luck. What a blessing to continue your education at such a wonderful University. Take advantage and have a great time with football. I hope that your brother is blocking you sometime soon, during a late-November game... :-)

Dave | 10:27 a.m. April 23, 2008

What a great way for the Utes to finish up the 2008 recruiting class with a Big Time Recruit. Good luck Keni and GO UTES!!

Proud | 11:06 a.m. April 23, 2008

Great job son ..............we are all very proud of you.

We will really enjoy you getting after it in late August against Mich. in the BIG HOUSE

Always your family

D-WOOD

Anonymous | 11:19 a.m. April 23, 2008

I just have one question. How many Kaufusi family members are there. It seems like there has been about ten between BYU and Utah already. Then this kid. BYU has a commit from one of them. I wonder if this blood line is ever going to end. Lets hope not they are a good athletes. Keep pumping out football players.

radoslaw | 11:30 a.m. April 23, 2008

Congrats to Keni. What an inspiring story of determination and hard work. I'd root for this kid no matter what team he played for (other than BYU).

Keep up the hard work in school and football during college.

Kaufusi question | 11:50 a.m. April 23, 2008

Keni would be the first of the NEXT generation of Kaufusi's. There are many others coming as well, PLUS all the "Kaufusi women" whose kids' married last names you won't recognize as easily.

You will know them once they put the pads on though. There are several more 'Kaufusi kids' at Cottonwood alone.

Anonymous | 11:51 a.m. April 23, 2008

You've made the greatest choice of your life choosing to go to such a quality school. Keep up the hard work. We're all rooting for you, son.

Typical | 12:05 p.m. April 23, 2008

athletes have a chance to go to a power school and they choose to stay at home. I would like to see more Utah athletes venture out of this state.

Go Cougs! | 12:19 p.m. April 23, 2008

Congrats to Keni for finishing up all loose ends academically. Good luck at the U and wish you all the best except when you play the Cougs!

TheCrow | 12:22 p.m. April 23, 2008

Good for him. I'd like to see more good Utah high school prospects stay in state.

TMitchell | 12:33 p.m. April 23, 2008

Congratulations to Keni and a big "way to go" to Steve and his wife for providing this fine young man the opportunity to turn his life around.

I wish that all of this could have happened with the Cougars, but it's far more important that Keni is now taking advantage of his talents and potential in and out of the classroom. GREAT JOB and very best wishes!

ManyMore | 2:28 p.m. April 23, 2008

I hope there are hundreds of Kafusi' It improves our school and adds to greater diversity and sportsmanship. Go.

status quo | 2:39 p.m. April 23, 2008

Typical wants Utah atheletes to leave? Instead of staying and making the in state teams better, hopefully bringing them to the same level as the so-called "powerhouse" schools?
you are typical. You want to preserve the status quo.

Utah Man | 3:17 p.m. April 23, 2008

Congratulations Keni, and a warm welcome to THE University of Utah. You can be anything you want to be if you put your mind, heart, and soul into it. Good luck to you on and off the field. I can't wait to watch you play!!

What a GREAT recruiting class this year!!!!!!!!!!

GO UTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Typical | 3:59 p.m. April 23, 2008

Why should more athletes leave Utah to play at ï¿½powerhouseï¿½ schools? Are the Utah schools not good enough? I would argue that Utah athletes who have the option to play football at USC or LSU would be better served staying in state. They will still get a good education (if they go to class and study) and would have a better chance of making it at the next level ï¿½ the NFL. Why? Because theyï¿½ll actually play. How many stud running backs go to USC and never touch the field?

Furthermore, these big time recruits can help improve our programs. What is wrong with that?

Great Recruit | 5:06 p.m. April 23, 2008

Kaufusi is aware that Gary Anderson puts lineman into the NFl consistently. Great recruit who will do great at Utah. Keep going to class and study hard Keni.

Go Utes !!!!!!!

Student or Athlete | 5:17 p.m. April 23, 2008

Depending on how "great" a player is - it seems any D1 School can "assist" with affording a student eligibility.

I was one of those study table mentors @ the U of U for over(5) years. Most football players end up with a sociology major (despite their goals) and not necessarily a degree. Unfortunately, several are not any more educated than when they entered the "program".

The student-athletes are only better off (education wise)if they choose to take advantage of everything that is available to them.

Coach Thomas | 9:29 p.m. April 23, 2008

Hay, only if cach Thomas of Cotton Wood High would encourage all his players to go to Utah. he lets the best ones get away to BCS schools. Come on coach. Stay loyal.

Nate | 10:42 p.m. April 23, 2008

Congrats and welcome to THE University of UTAH! Please stay on track. We will be there in the stands this fall to cheer you on.

Go UTES!!!!!!!!

re: Realist | 12:23 a.m. April 24, 2008

Utah does not have a better program than CO or OSU. These other schools regularly play in better bowls against better competition than Utah so their W-L record is not comparable. And Utah is a relative newcomer to bowls, with a big gap between 1964 and 1995.

Good luck to Keni (as a Cottonwood High alum). I hope he can do well both in class and on the field. I hope he figures out early that class success means more long term than football.

Your Bishop | 12:26 a.m. April 24, 2008

Keni,

Words cannot explain how happy I am for you and reading this article. Hard work, determination and keeping your priorities straight will always open the doors of success. Stay focused son! You sre setting a serious trend for the rest of our youth.

Much love,

T.M. Kinikini

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