Crunch time is fast approaching for Utah's bumper crop of high school football recruits, considered by many experts as the strongest class the state has ever produced. National letter of intent day is Feb. 4.
Several of the state's top prospects have made their commitments, while others, including top recruits Osa Masina (Brighton) and Porter Gustin (Salem Hills), have yet to decide.
Both Masina and Gustin recently narrowed their final options and will soon make their decisions public before signing their letters of intent on Feb. 4. The 6-foot-4, 233-pound Masina is slated to announce his commitment Jan. 23 at Brighton High and recently narrowed his extensive list to three (USC, UCLA and Arizona State).
"It's amazing the type of schools he's had to turn down," said Brighton coach Ryan Bullett of Masina. "Just recently he had to tell Oregon, Stanford and Notre Dame he wasn't going there, which is a very difficult thing."
Another big-time program recently threw its hat in the ring after hiring a new head coach.
"Jim Harbaugh, just like two days after he took the job at Michigan, called up to say they were interested," Bullett said. "That's just another great program on top of all the others and I really don't know how you decide between all the offers he has. Fortunately, Osa is a very smart and thoughtful young man who has managed all of this far better than most of us could."
Gustin (6 foot 5, 240 pounds), meanwhile, will likely commit shortly after Masina due to a late trip to national champion Ohio State, according to his high school coach, Joel Higginson.
Gustin has already made official trips to Notre Dame and USC and will visit Arizona State and Ohio State prior to NLI day. "Porter is down to five or seven schools right now," Higginson said. "He recently had to call programs like LSU and Florida State and tell them no, which was tough for him. But you know what? Those schools are still pursuing him and might keep on doing so until signing day."
Gustin's national appeal has resulted from his extraordinary athleticism, which could result in him playing outside linebacker or defensive end at the collegiate level. The Salem Hills product put that athleticism on national display recently in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, returning an interception for a touchdown and being named the game's defensive MVP.
Masina also participated in the prestigious event and showed well while forging a friendship with Gustin, a friendship both may consider heavily when making their final decisions.
"In talking to Porter, he doesn't look at Osa as a rival, but as someone he'd love to play with, and Osa feels the same," Higginson said. "They're both linebackers, but I know they both love the idea of playing together at the next level."
Considering both prospects list USC and Arizona State as late favorites, both programs could be the beneficiary of the state's best packaged deal in years.
As for Masina's performance, according to Bullett he was noticed by about everyone in attendance.
"I've had the pleasure to coach him, and have my own opinions about how great he is, but to hear what others would say was really a great thing," Bullett said. "Guys at the game would constantly point to him and say, 'That's the best player on the field.'"
For both prospects, the recruiting process has been rewarding but arduous.
"Porter isn't a guy who likes to chat much, so all this time meeting with coaches from the top schools in the country, while he's obviously grateful for it, it's not really his thing," Higginson said. "It's been great for him though and it's been great for me as his coach having the opportunity to meet with the best coaches there are."
Gustin and Masina aren't the only top Utah prospects that remain uncommitted — far from it. Top prospects such as American Fork offensive lineman James Empey and East linebacker Christian Folau haven't yet made their commitments known.
Empey will likely choose between Utah, BYU and Washington, and made an official visit to Utah on Jan. 16. Sources indicate Empey is a strong possibility to sign with the Utes, although Empey himself has not tipped his hand to anyone.
Utah may also land Folau, who recently announced a final four of Utah, Oregon State, Oregon and Wisconsin. The 6-foot-1, 240-pound linebacker had previously committed to Stanford, but opened up his recruitment anew over the summer and was previously viewed as a strong lean toward Wisconsin until Gary Andersen left the Badgers to coach at Oregon State.
Other top uncommitted prospects include American Fork running back Lopini Katoa, who will likely decide between offers from Utah State and Oregon State.
Timpview's Gabe Reid, a defensive end prospect, and Britain Covey, who will likely play receiver at the next level, are also yet to commit. Both prospects are intent on playing with each other in college and will likely decide between Utah and BYU should they stick to that plan. If not, Reid could end up signing with Stanford.
Another uncommitted prospect is Dayan Lake (Northridge), who had previously committed to BYU, but de-committed from the program recently to explore other options. Those options include both Utah and Utah State, among others.
The Deseret News will keep tabs on each top in-state recruit and update any developments between now and Feb. 4.
Top in-state committed prospects:
Zayne Anderson, 6-2, 190 pounds, DB, Stansbury (committed to BYU)
Chad Artist, 6-3, 180, WR, Logan (Utah State)
Cody Barton, 6-2, 210, DB/LB, Brighton (Utah)
Branden Bowen, 6-7, 310, OL, Corner Canyon (Ohio State)
Riley Burt, 6-2, 195, RB, Box Elder (BYU)
Quinn Fabrizio, 6-3, 210, DB/LB, Alta (Utah)
T.J. Fehoko, 6-2, 250, DL, Cottonwood (Colorado)
Jeremiah Ieremia, 6-2, 225, LB, Hurricane (BYU)
Andre James, 6-5, 270, OL, Herriman (UCLA)
Chayden Johnston, 6-0, 160, K, Bingham (Utah)
Austin Kafentzis, 6-1, 200, QB, Jordan (Wisconsin)
Devin Kaufusi, 6-6, 220, DL, Timpview (BYU)
Daniel Langi, 6-0, 225, LB, Bingham (Utah State)
Gabriel Sewell, 5-11, 225, LB, Desert Hills (Nevada)
Kody Wilstead, 6-6, 215, QB, Pine View (BYU)
Email: bgurney@desnews.com
Twitter: @BrandonCGurney