After winning Mountain West Conference and Liberty Bowl titles, Utah carried a theme into its recruiting efforts.
"It's kind of obvious, but you need to capitalize off success," head coach Urban Meyer said. "That's something you're going to hear quite often from myself, from our staff and from our players."
Recruiting, he continued, is the most important component of a plan to take advantage of last year's 10-2 campaign and No. 21 ranking. Other elements include boosting season-ticket sales, national television exposure and improving facilities.
"If you don't follow up a great season with a great recruiting class then everything you've done is kind of for nothing," said Meyer, who praised his staff for their efforts in securing 25 signed letters of intent.
Utah's 2004 recruiting class consists of 17 players from the high school ranks, six from junior colleges and two transfers.
The prep recruits, which include a couple of
returned missionaries, were spread over six states and American Samoa. California and Hawaii led the way with four signees, while Texas and Utah had three. The other signees came from Arizona, Wyoming and America n Samoa, respectively.
With depth a concern at several positions, the Utes also secured the services of four junior college players from Kansas and two from California. Two veteran transfers — one from Oregon State, the other from Idaho — are also in the mix.
Though Meyer admits losing some recruits to higher-profile programs, the Utes did win their share of battles. Offensive lineman Paul Soliai, a 6-foot-5, 300-pounder from Coffeyville Community College (Kansas), is what Meyer considers the "Cadillac" of Utah's recruiting class.
Tailback Quinton Ganther, a junior college All-American, and Texas high school quarterback Brian Johnson are other marquee signings for the Utes.
The 2004 class by position:
QUARTERBACKS: Although Johnson is just 16 (he'll turn 17 in less than two weeks), Meyer anticipates having him back up starter Alex Smith next fall. He considers him Utah's future at the position. The departures of Lance Rice and Brett Elliott had many assuming the Utes would try and find an experienced junior college player to fill the role.
"If you could go find a junior college quarterback stupid enough to come here and back up Alex Smith for two years, we don't want him," Meyer said. "You couldn't find a junior college quarterback so we found the next-best thing and that's a high school quarterback who's been in our style of offense that really studies the game of football."
Johnson was a second-team all-stater at Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown, Texas. He completed 71.6 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,900 yards and 33 touchdowns. In addition, Johnson rushed for 540 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Utah also signed Timpanogos quarterback Paul Kruger. The four-year letterman may serve an LDS Church mission before beginning his career in earnest, however.
RUNNING BACKS: Ganther is described by Meyer as someone who can come in and play now. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound tailback leaves Citrus Community College as the school record-holder in career rushing and all-purpose yards. Ray Stowers headlines the freshman cast. Meyer considers him the "best player in Hawaii." Brent Casteel of California and Lehi High product Chad Smith bring additional depth to the backfield.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Meyer said the Utes need 12 scholarship receivers to run his spread offense. He added five to the fold on Wednesday. The speedy additions include Desmond Hanohano of Hawaii, John Peel of Arizona, Aaron Straiten of California, athletic Texas product Jordan Johnson and versatile West Los Angeles Community College standout Justin Weatherall-Walker, who may also see action at defensive back.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Soliai is expected to step in and start at left guard. He was a first-team junior college all-American in 2003.
Texas all-stater Robert Conley (6-3, 315) and Terrence Apted (6-5, 280), who like Soliai is from American Somoa, provide size to a position still hurting depth-wise. Apted, however, may play defense until he bulks up.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Hawaii prep standout Randy Faletoi, the nephew of former Ute Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, is a three-time all-star on the islands. He's among a talented group of newcomers to Utah's defensive front that includes Hunter High alum Pate Moleni, a returned missionary, and Olympus product Nik Sonntag. Sonntag was an all-American at Dixie State before a short stint at Oregon State. Kelly Tavavou, who played two seasons for Idaho, is another transfer at the position.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: To offset the loss of Dave Revill and Arnold Parker, the Utes have brought in three junior college products — Fano Tagovailoa, Tim Harris and Eugene Oates — to provide immediate help.
Afa Garrigan of Hawaii, who may serve an LDS Church mission, is among a speedy trio of new high school recruits at the position. Matt Mason and Adarrious Ross of California are the others.
LINEBACKER:Bryce Scanlon of Evanston, Wyo., originally signed with the Utes in 2003, but opted not to enroll in school while recovering from a shoulder injury. He made 160 tackles as a senior.
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com