Utah Football Recruiting Round-Up
Aug 13, 2024, 3:38 PM | Updated: Aug 16, 2024, 9:46 am
(Photo Cred: Megan Nielson, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – It’s been a pretty successful summer of recruiting for Kyle Whittingham’s Utah Football program. The Utes have secured 18 commitments in their 2025 recruiting class, with two coming last week.
With the season just a couple of weeks away from kickoff, there are still top priorities Utah will try to close on this cycle, but recruiting priorities will begin to change.
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Utah remains prominently in the mix for Jerome Myles
‘23 highlights after playing 4 games (broke ankle week 2)finished with 19rec 486yrds 6tds @bradodom @CoachKev6k @CoachDee_USC @CoachField @TyBarret @CoachAhmadPSU @CoachTyusMoe @KjarEric @bcavi68 @AJTownsend13 @CoachHamp__ @RyanJenkinsTV @BlairAngulo pic.twitter.com/1BGOTKVujn
— Jerome myles (@jerome_myles6) November 20, 2023
One of the top prospects remaining on the board, not only for Utah, but across the country. Myles is a gifted five-star pass catcher that ranks among the best throughout the industry.
The Utes have prioritized Myles for obvious reasons. Texas A&M and Ohio State seem to be the other two big contenders. While programs like Georgia, LSU, and USC could always make a move. Myles has already tripped to Texas A&M and has now solidified plans to officially visit Ohio State this fall.
Little doubt that five-star Jerome Myles has been the top target for the Utes this cycle. Utah has made it very clear to Myles how big of a priority he is to them this cycle, according to a source. It sounds like that has remained the case even as those other notable programs have officially entered the mix.
Even with those other programs entering the picture, Utah has remained towards the top of the list for the Corner Canyon product. The program would love to add its first five-star prospect of the modern recruiting era and they would love nothing more than to accomplish that by sealing the deal with Myles.
What’s the latest on Iose Epenesa?
After speaking with a source in the industry who is familiar with Iowa recruiting and the Epenesa family, this one could be coming to a close soon. The Epenesa’s are rooted in Iowa Athletics, so the Hawkeye influence there is real and quite strong.
According to the source, Iose is down to Iowa and Utah. More interestingly, there is some worry in Iowa recruiting circles that Iose is thinking hard about blazing his own trail.
Utah has garnered buzz after a tremendous experience on his official visit back in June. And the belief has been Utah has been pushing hard behind the scenes.
However, according to a source more familiar with Utah’s end of things, the amount of communication between the two parties (Utah and Iose) has apparently diminished of late. Regardless, Utah will continue to put in the effort here. Perhaps Epenesa could surprise but its just too hard to see this one ending up in anyone else’s favor but Iowa.
Utah recruiting focus shifts
With the two recent additions from Aaron Dunn and Nathan Tilmon, Utah is currently sitting on 18 commitments in their 2025 class. Utah’s class currently ranks No. 38 in the country and the program is still pushing for a few top targets that would improve that ranking.
The class should grow but only minimally, perhaps by only 2-3 more. It seems Utah will keep the class size to around 20-22 high school prospects. They will always look to maximize the quality of a class. There are about 10 committed-to-another-program-prospects they’ll continue to recruit. Yet, the quantity should still settle close to that 20-22 number.
The early signing period is set to open on December 4th. That gives Utah roughly four months of recruiting before players put ink to their national letters of intent. Hanging onto current commits is as important, if not more so, than adding to the class.
Another change in focus will be shifting efforts to next year’s 2026 crop of prospects. Part of that is due to changes to the recruiting calendar, namely that visit periods have moved up the calendar. Meaning programs can do home visits with kids starting in January of their junior years.
The bigger reason though is that the ’26 class, particularly the in-state prospects, are quite good. Currently, there are 14 in-state players with Utah offers, there are five blue-chip prospects, and three players that rank in the top 50 overall rankings.
Brock Harris, Salesi Moa, Bott Mulitalo, Helaman Casuga, Esun Tafa, Junior Moala, and Jaxon Toala among others are top priorities for Utah.
Another focus will be preparing for the transfer portal when the winter window opens on December 9.
Utah Football Schedule
Utah will kick off the season against Southern Utah on August 29. You can find Utah football’s conference schedule here.