Will Latu status?

What are the “few other concerns”….

Agreed. This is a terrible spin. Tupai they didn’t turn away and say “we don’t have room for you because your not tall enough for DE and not big enough for DT.” 

Utah is thin at 4* players. “Other concerns” must be severe.

yep, damage control…

From what I understand, recruiting at some schools (not sure about Utah) works in terms of phases.  The primary recruiter identifies players and  evaluates talent, then brings that back for everyone to weigh in on whether an offer is warranted or not.  After an offer is given, then the primary recruiter pushes to get a commitment.  Once a commitment appears imminent, the coaches regroup and reassess whether they’ll accept the commitment.  Assuming that’s how Utah does things, then this is obviously where Latu’s offer would’ve been pulled.  

When explained in that light, hopefully it makes a bit more sense….

Onlyu isn’t the only place where I’ve read Latu is really only in contention with Washington at this point.  If you look at his 247, he received offers from USC and Michigan….but only 11 offers and mostly from slightly less respected schools.  If he was a true 4 star, then I think you’d expect more offers from big time schools.  Van Fillinger was hearing from LSU and Ohio State at this point.  If hometown Washington (who missed on a lot of DL prospects last year) is the only major player left, then isn’t that a pretty strong indicator that Utah is making the right choice?  Some here think we shouldn’t pass on “4 Star” talent….but it may be that Latu isn’t actually 4 Star talent.  Let’s see where things sit in 6 months (ignoring potential pandemic repercussions… )

I think we can all agree that we’ve been thin the last few years at LB. We always seem to have 2-3 very good backers and then are either very young or somewhat less talented behind them. An injury last year to Lloyd or Bernard would have been devastating. The year before it was Chase and Cody. Either of those guys go down early with Francis still learning the system would have been a major challenge.

LB is one of the last positions where we have lacked Pac12 depth but that is changing quickly. We have commitments and underclass talent already here and will receive more this cycle. Coach Swan is doing an excellent job there.

That said, we’re still young so can’t afford a miss for another cycle, maybe even two. We’re in serious contention for other 3 and 4 star LB’s that have fewer questions than Will has currently. There are reasons that Washington is the only school left engaged…it might be that they’re a little thin on the D-line so if he ends up there they can make that work. Who knows what they’re thinking. These reasons might not be crazy serious but enough to create doubt. All I can tell you is that Utah (and other programs) have decided, sometime in the last few weeks, that there is too much uncertainty with this particular player and they’re not willing to risk that when there are other kids in play with VERY similar talent. Stars or no stars. We have mission kids coming back on the D-line as well. That’s not to say Will doesn’t figure it out and have a great college career. Hopefully for his sake he does….But this one has 100% nothing to do with Scalley.

No reason for me to sugar coat that…recruiting rankings are improving almost yearly and 4 star recruits are definitely in play at a higher rate that at any point in our history. My guess is that in 5 years we’ll have 20-30 4 star kids on our roster at any given time…maybe I’ll be wrong on that and while I’m wrong plenty in my life I rarely, if ever, provide inaccurate info here.

Normally I would agree with you if it were any other position than D line. If he would project more as a safety for example, maybe you still take him, but DL at Utah is set.