It has long been considered established fact that Utah is a great developmental program. And it is true that Utah routinely finishes higher in actual polling than their recruiting rankings would suggest.
I thought I’d take a look to see whether that development mantra was true when it came to the Blue Chips Utah has recruited. My premise is that there are X number of plays in every game and someone has to make them. And a team full of 2 stars should have roughly the same amount of results available as a team full of 4 stars. So is the lesser talented team truly better at development or just distributing those plays to what they have available at the time.
I chose the 2019 HS class for the start date since that is the first one both current coordinators were involved with recruiting. I’m including transfers in during those years if their HS ranking has them as a 4 or 5 star (247 composite). And I’m using my usual highly scientific and not in any way personally biased opinion to rank them based on their time at Utah:
A) starter who played at an All-Conference level
B) consistent playing time with some starts
C) “Just A Guy”. Got playing time but easily replaceable by lower rated talent. A slight step up from roster filler D) Bust. Transferred w/o playing, continually injured or just roster filler
RB Jordan Wilmore (.8921): C
OL Sataoa Laumea (.9011): A
QB Cameron Rising (.9096): A
LB Manny Bowen (.9069): D
DB Clark Phillips (.9744): A
DE Van Fillinger (.9276): B
DE Xavier Carlton (.9100): D
DB Nate Ritchie (.8967): B although a case could be made for C. borderline to date
QB Jake Bentley (.9068): C
LB Ethan Calvert (.9652): D
LB Mason Tufaga (.9027): D
RB Ricky Parks (.9014): D
QB Peter Costelli (.9095): D
LB Josh Calvert (.9144): C
DB Brandon McKinney (.9060): B
WR Theo Howard (.9533): C
RB TJ Pledger (.9543): B
RB Chris Curry (.8924): C
QB Ja’Quinden Jackson (.9663): D as a QB, B as a RB. I wouldn’t argue with anyone who chose either
(here is where we start getting grades that could change down the road but as of today)
LB Lander Barton (.9587): A
QB Nate Johnson (.9124): C
RB Jaylon Glover (.8976): C
LB Mohamoud Diabate (.9510): B
(I’m only giving grades to those who have made it on the field or already transferred out)
OL Spencer Fano (.9564): B
DB CJ Blocker (.9151): Jury is out
OL Caleb Lomu (.9458): B
DB Smith Snowden (.8976): B
RB John Randle (.9000): Jury is out. Bust as a RB right now but could earn grade at DB or move back to RB
RB Dijon Stanley (.8920): Jury is out
WR Mikey Matthews (.9095): B
DE Hunter Clegg (.9196): Jury is out
WR Mycah Pittman (.9578): C
DB Miles Battle (.8958): B
DE Logan Fano (.8933): B
I’m actually really glad I did this. The pessimist in me focuses on that 2021 class and decides that Utah is overrated when it comes to attracting Blue Chips and turning them into ball players. And there is a case to be made that the list is bloated with transfers who just ended up being role players at best or “one and dones” so should they really be included when trying to evaluate Utah’s development ability. Ultimately, I’ve now had it reinforced that the talent level (to the extent that recruiting ratings matter) is actually as advertised and the obvious misses don’t represent the true picture.
Fano is struggling with losing contain. I think Barton got blamed for a couple of his because the numbers look so similar. That 12 yard run by Leavitt to the left side in the first half was all on Fano taking too direct an angle to the QB.
Van is not out. Tafuna still there. Logan Fano still there. Secondary still there.
22,
Five games in – mostly led by the backup QB and you’re making conclusions like these? The O’line is solid and they may become really good in the back half. The U chose to go with the young tackles and that’s bitten us a few times but I’d say he was accurate so far. How do we feel about the defensive ends if O’Toole is healthy? I doubt we lose contain of Fifita as often in the loss – especially on the final touchdown pass. Unfortunately, Fano got suckered into leaving the outside lane on that play and did a few other times. Tough to get all over him. He’s trying to make plays and has a fair amount to learn. I love the D’tackles.
Where are we with a healthy Reid? Are we better? I do agree with those who think Lander may be a step slow coming back from injury and I don’t know that he was ready to call the defense. My issue isn’t with the backups. I think Fotu and Hall are playing well. Hall could be another special Utah linebacker when all is said and done. My issue is with Lander. I think that I’ve expected too much. He may be a year away from the NFL instead of ready to go after this season.
I do agree that the tight ends may have been over-hyped but I also point back to the quarterback. How do we feel if Wilson hits a wide open Bentley on the stick route against Arizona. It was a touchdown if the ball doesn’t sail on him. What about the throw to Lohner? Too low. If it’s up high? OnlyU is probably more right than wrong. I’ve seen flashes from all six this season. The problem is there are six – an embarrassment of riches.
I do think the wide receivers could show a little more but Singer and Parks have been strong, haven’t they? I hope we see two or three more get involved – Lyons? McClain? the Syracuse player? Perhaps Rising’s return will help here but if two or three receivers and two or three tight ends and a running back or two are getting catches at that point the U will have a damn good offense. That’s six to eight play makers.
I guess that I’m still all in with OnlyU.
At DE Fano is who I was referring to and yes he is only a Sophomore. Watch the film and watch him over play and lose contain again and again.
At LB we had Hall and Fotu, both Sophomores. Again, watch the film and you will see them bite on counters and play action a LOT.
Not dishing these guys, just stating what you see when you watch the film. But go ahead and say we aren’t young if it makes you feel better..
Copying this list from another thread. Not sure if they’re all “lighting things up,” but I would say all of them are making very positive contributions. And the list does not include a bunch of future starters (guys like Ike Garcia, Cash Dillon, John Henry Dailey, etc).
– Smith Snowden
– Nate Ritchie
– Tao Johnson (Utah-north lol)
– Karene Reid
– Lander Barton
– Levani Damuni
– Junior Tafuna
– Simote Pepa
– Dallas Vakalahi
– Sione Fotu
– Tevita Fotu
– Logan Fano
– Van Fillinger
– Dallen Bentley
– Carson Ryan
– Spencer Fano
– Michael Mokofisi
– Johnny Maea
– Jaren Kump
– Tonia Togiai (utah- north)
– Issac Wilson
Here’s what I’m sure is an incomplete list of impact players on the current team…
– Smith Snowden
– Nate Ritchie
– Tao Johnson (Utah-north lol)
– Karene Reid
– Lander Barton
– Levani Damuni
– Junior Tafuna
– Simote Pepa
– Dallas Vakalahi
– Sione Fotu
– Tevita Fotu
– Logan Fano
– Van Fillinger
– Dallen Bentley
– Carson Ryan
– Spencer Fano
– Michael Mokofisi
– Johnny Maea
– Jaren Kump
– Tonia Togiai (utah- north)
– Issac Wilson
Okay, I ended up checking the roster for some of the o-lineman. If I count right, that’s 21 local kids making a significant impact on this years team of 22 starters. And of course this doesn’t count many others that will be starters in the future, are important backups, or on the scout team. Pretty amazing really that a top 20 team has that much local talent when they split recruits with BYU and a bunch of top programs throughout the country.
Most of the in state talent isn’t all that great. The Fano brothers are great. Who else do we have on the roster that is lighting things up? The great in state talent almost always leave Utah. Always have, always will. The great ones we get, I’m grateful for. But this isn’t a trend. In fact, you take away the last three years, and Utah has traditionally not done well w recruiting the state.
But we get it, it’s all about Whit hate. Enjoy that while you can.
Thanks Rick and Stbone. Always appreciate your posts. The red zone performance was bad. It’s been bad for a couple years. Not having that big back hurts. That RPO with Rising and TT was hard to stop. Rising will open the play book more.
Stbone I was watching Barton last game. He over ran a couple tackles and Fano lost containment a couple times. It was almost like they knew what our defense was going to do. I can only remember 1 sack and that was a coverage sack. We need OToole and Reid. Not having them showed up last game.
The reason would be a long season. Our best chance to get into the playoffs and win a game are a function of healthy depth without much drop-off. Fano and Van stay most healthy with rotation. The next couple of DEs after O’Toole need reps to manage a small drop-off margin. Rotate early and often and only shorten rotations when a game is in doubt. Two scores down or even in the second half shorten, three scores up increase rotation.
