Utah Welcomes 24 New Players

Courtesy of Utah Athletics

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah football coach Kyle Whittingham received 19 signed National Letters of Intent today, to bring his 2010 recruiting class to 24. Five players signed financial tenders in January and are already enrolled in school.

Utah’s latest recruiting class includes 20 high school players and four junior college transfers. The offense and defense each picked up 12 newcomers, with the potential for a couple of two-way players.

Utah’s big recruiting push in Texas paid off as the Utes snagged eight players from the Lone Star state. The Utes also signed eight players from California, seven from Utah and one from Hawaii.

“We had good production in Texas this year, signing eight quality players,” said Whittingham. “Our heavy emphasis there is really starting to pay dividends. We also fared well in our traditionally strong recruiting territories–Utah, California and Hawaii. It seems as though the number of Division I players in Utah increases every year and we make every effort to properly evaluate all of the instate talent.”

The positions gaining the most players with the 2010 class were the defensive secondary (5) and the defensive line (4). Utah also signed three linebackers, three offensive linemen, three receivers, two quarterbacks, two running backs and two tight ends.

“While we did well in filling needs at specific positions, our primary emphasis has always been to recruit the best athletes possible, regardless of position,” said Whittingham.

The Utes maintained some strong family ties by signing Joe Kruger of Orem, Utah (Pleasant Grove HS). Kruger’s brother Dave started at defensive tackle as a Ute freshman last year, and older brother Paul was a 2008 all-conference defensive end for Utah who now plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

Five members of the 2010 class are already on campus, among them two mid-year junior college transfers, two returned LDS missionaries and an early freshman enrollee. Defensive lineman James Aiono, who originally signed last year, enrolled in January after completing his academic requirements. Offensive lineman Ron Tongaonevai is a mid-year junior college transfer.

Defensive back Mike Honeycutt and tight end Westlee Tonga—both members of the 2007 signing class out of high school—have returned from church missions. Defensive back Damian Payne graduated from high school early and is already taking classes at the U.

      2010 UTAH FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS
      Name.....................Pos........Hgt..........Wgt........Yr....... Exp........ Hometown/Last School
      James Aiono..............DL.........6-4.......... 305.........Jr........JC.........West Valley City, Utah/Snow College
      Dres Anderson............WR.........6-1.......... 157.........Fr........HS.........Riverside, Calif./JW North HS
      Brian Blechen............QB.........6-2.......... 203.........Fr........HS.........Moorpark, Calif./Moorpark HS
      Zach Bolton..............OL.........6-2.......... 271.........Fr........HS.........Houston, Texas/Klein Forest HS
      Princeton Collins........RB.........5-11........  198.........Fr........HS.........Austin, Texas/Westwood HS
      John Cullen..............OL.........6-5.......... 270.........Jr........JC.........La Mirada, Calif./Fullerton College
      V.J. Fehoko..............LB.........6-0.......... 222.........Fr........HS.........Honolulu, Hawaii/Farrington HS
      Wykie Freeman............DB.........5-11........  158.........Fr........HS.........Pasadena, Texas/Pasadena Memorial HS
      Jacoby Hale..............LB.........6-0.......... 192.........Fr........HS.........Beaumont, Texas/Beaumont Central HS
      Mike Honeycutt...........DB.........5-10........  180.........Fr........HS.........Cedar Hills, Utah/Lone Peak HS
      Joe Kruger...............DE.........6-7.......... 245.........Fr........HS.........Orem, Utah/Pleasant Grove HS
      Ofa Latu.................LB.........6-1.......... 210.........Fr........HS.........Provo, Utah/Timpview HS
      Star Lotulelei...........DL.........6-4.......... 300.........So........JC.........South Jordan, Utah/Snow College
      Damian Payne.............DB.........6-0.......... 200.........Fr........HS.........Houston, Texas/Klein Forest HS
      Lucky Radley.............RB.........5-9.......... 187.........Fr........HS.........Woodland Hills, Calif./Taft HS
      Terrell Reese............WR.........6-0.......... 198.........Fr........HS.........Chappell Hill, Texas/Brenham HS
      Kenneth Scott............WR.........6-3.......... 192.........Fr........HS.........Fontana, Calif./Colony HS
      Tyler Shreve.............QB.........6-3.......... 218.........Fr........HS.........Highland, Calif./Redlands East Valley HS
      Joseph Smith.............DB.........5-9.......... 179.........Fr........HS.........Corona, Calif./Norco HS
      Sefa Tanoai..............TE/DE......6-3.......... 275.........Fr........HS.........Pleasant Grove, Utah/Pleasant Grove HS
      Westlee Tonga............TE.........6-4.......... 235.........Fr........HS.........Spring, Texas/Spring HS
      Ron Tongaonevai..........OL.........6-3.......... 345.........So........JC.........West Valley City, Utah/Snow College
      Sione Tupouata...........ATH/DL.....6-4.......... 260.........Fr........HS.........Oakland, Calif./Fremont HS
      Michael Walker...........DB.........5-9.......... 171.........Fr........HS.........Brenham, Texas/Brenham HS