It’s not a holiday. But for many football fans it certainly feels like one.
Signing day is the first day that a high school senior can sign a National Letter of Intent for college football. Until 1980, conferences had their own signing days. In 1981, the NCAA established a uniform day in February, and it has traditionally been the first Wednesday.
In the past decade, the day has evolved into one of celebrating the signings of especially sought after recruits. Many top-tier athletes held press conferences on the day to announce their decision. And while some avoided the fanfare of a press conference or school-wide celebration, more and more Utah recruits and their high schools are embracing it.
"I think it’s a great thing," said Corner Canyon head football coach Donald Eck, who attended a small gathering for the high school's three student athletes signing National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. "It’s great for these kids. It’s what these kids work for. It’s what their parents help them out with their whole life, and what parents kind of hope for. I think it’s huge."
Taylorsville head coach Rod Wells said planning the signing ceremony for defensive end Mufi Hunt, who signed to play for Michigan State after serving an LDS mission, and quarterback To'a Maumau, who signed with Eastern Arizona, where he will play both football and baseball.
"It's probably the most rewarding thing I’ve planned in awhile," Wells said. "I’m probably as emotional as I was when my daughter got married. It’s been a culmination of a lot of great coaches working hard and building ... something out of nothing and turning it into what it is. It’s all about these kids and my coaching staff. I don’t deserve or should get any credit for anything, but these kids are awesome."
Wells said the celebrations are the moments of accomplishment for those who've earned scholarships, but they're also an inspiration to other players.
"I think that’s what’s awesome for the program is seeing there are quality kids at Taylorsville that are going to open eyes to a lot of other colleges around," Wells said. "That’s the culmination of the hard work. Obviously Mufi is a special talent, but having two kids sign on the same day is a big deal for this program that has struggled in the past."
Regardless about how people outside the sport feel about the signing day festivities, they seem to be gaining popularity. Many Utah schools now include athletes from other sports in the gatherings. Each year, student athletes find more unique ways to announce their decisions, while their families and schools revel in the culmination of years of hard work.
Below is a list of Utah players and the schools they signed with on Wednesday. The Deseret News will update the list as we get new information. If you have information, corrections or signings that aren't listed, email adonaldson@deseretnews.com.
ALTA
Quinn Fabrizio, safety, Utah
Zachary Moreton, linebacker, Southern Utah
Joshua Soifua, offensive lineman, Snow College
Don Wilkinson, offensive lineman, Southern Utah
AMERICAN FORK
Nick Bernardo, tight end/linebacker, Southern Utah
Ben Cummings, wide receiver/safety, William Penn
James Empey, offensive lineman, Utah
Grayson Granley, wide receiver/linebacker, William Penn
Nate Heaps, tight end/linebacker, Weber State
Zach Lopini Katoa, running back, Oregon State
Fui Tuifua, linebacker, Snow College
BINGHAM
Chayden Johnston, kicker, Utah
Dominieke Jones, cornerback, Air Force Academy
Daniel Langi, linebacker, Utah State
Cameron Smith, running back, Dixie State
Stefan Cantwell, quarterback, Snow College
BONNEVILLE
Alex Croyle, wide receiver, Snow College
BOUNTIFUL
Houston Heimuli, running back, Stanford
Brady Christensen, offensive lineman, BYU
Mitch Halverson, defensive end, Southern Utah
Collin Parish, defensive end, Southern Utah
BOX ELDER
Riley Burt, running back, BYU
BRIGHTON
Cody Barton, linebacker, Utah
Ransom Cochrane, quarterback/safety, Greenville College (Illinois)
Osa Masina, linebacker, USC
Robert Schwenke, defensive line, Idaho State
Sione Kitekeiaho Tuita, linebacker, Snow College
Nua Poteki, offensive lineman, Snow College
CLEARFIELD
Deondre Hambric, wide receiver, Weber State
Dominique Frazider, defensive lineman, Weber State
CORNER CANYON
Brandon Bowen, offensive lineman, Ohio State University
Gaige Kartchner, offensive lineman, Weber State
COTTONWOOD
TJ Fehoko, defensive end, Washington State
DAVIS
Ty Hinds, defensive back, Weber State
DESERT HILLS
Gabe Sewell, safety, Nevada
Lausi'i (Boogie) Sewell, defensive line, Weber State
Bridger Cowdin, running back, Southern Utah
DIXIE
Ammon Takau, quarterback, Dixie State
RJ Wilgar, safety, Dixie State
McLane Keenan, wide receiver/kicker, Dixie State
EAST
Christian Folau, linebacker, Oregon State
Hausia Sekona, defensive line, Nevada
Lorenzo Manu, defensive back, Southern Utah
Sione Mafua, offensive line, William Penn
Sione Mafi, running back, William Penn
Junior Tuamoheloa, defensive line, William Penn
FREMONT
Paxton Merrill, tight end/defensive end, Snow College
HERRIMAN
Dylan Bennet, defensive end, Snow College
Alec Blonquist, linebacker, Augustana College (South Dakota)
Andre James, offensive line, UCLA
Kody Jarvis, safety, William Penn
Josh McMillin, tight end, Southern Utah
Kalisi Moli, defensive lineman, Weber State
Harris LaChance, defensive end, Utah State
Dylan Bennet, defensive lineman, Snow College
HIGHLAND
Alassane Niang, wide receiver, Army
Brandon Jones, wide receiver, Snow College
Thomas Pembroke, safety, Army
Brandon Jones, tight end, Snow College
HILLCREST
Tanner Thompson, quarterback, Dixie State
HUNTER
Tevita Tauteoli, offensive line/defensive line, Weber State
Noah Togiai, tight end, Oregon State
HURRICANE
Jeremiah Ieremia, linebacker, BYU
Harris LaChance, defensive end, Utah State
JORDAN
Austin Kafentzis, quarterback, Wisconsin (already enrolled)
Sharmon Sealey, defensive lineman, Southern Utah
JUAB
Nick Robins, quarterback, Southern Utah
Dedric Davidson, running back, Snow
JUDGE MEMORIAL
Max Barnett, running back, Washington University (St. Louis)
Michael Kearns, cornerback, Johns Hopkins
LAYTON
Wade Meacham, offensive lineman, Utah State
LOGAN
Chad Artist, wide receiver, Utah State
MANTI
Keltn Pritchard, defensive lineman, Dixie State
Penisimani Taufa, defensive lineman, Snow College
MURRAY
Treven Aloi, defensive lineman, Idaho State
Riley Richmond, wide receiver, Snow College
NORTHRIDGE
Dayan Lake, defensive back, BYU
OLYMPUS
JoJo Henderson, safety, Lamar University (Texas)
Zack Hodgson, quarterback, William Penn
OREM
Junior Latu, defensive end/fullback, Weber State
Sampson Saluone, defensive line, Snow College
Isaiah Frame, defensive end/fullback, Coffeyville Community College
Malcolm Macatiag, defensive back, Pima Community College
PAYSON
Dalton Baker, linebacker, Utah State
Preston Little, wide receiver, William Penn
Phil Perez, running back, William Penn
PINE VIEW
Kody Wilstead, quarterback, BYU
PLEASANT GROVE
Taylor Bott, offensive/defensive lineman, Southern Utah
Tylor Bott, offensive lineman, Southern Utah
RIVERTON
ROY
Cody Hobbs, linebacker/tight end, Dixie State
SALEM HILLS
Porter Gustin, linebacker, USC
SPANISH FORK
Ioane (John) Leilua, defensive end, Weber State
Adrian Rodriguez, offensive line, Snow College
SPRINGVILLE
Bradyn Swanson, offensive line, Weber State
Leni Neiufi, defensive line, Snow College
STANSBURY
Zayne Anderson, safety, BYU
Landon Stice, linebacker, Weber State
SYRACUSE
Alex Harris, offensive line/defensive line, Snow College
TAYLORSVILLE
Mufi Hunt, defensive end, Michigan State
To'a Maumau, quarterback/safety, Eastern Arizona
TIMPVIEW
Brittian Covey, quarterback/special teams, Utah
Devin Kaufusi, defensive end, BYU
Gabe Reid, defensive end, Stanford
Isaiah Holloway, defensive back, Snow College
Kainoa Tu'ua, defensive lineman, Snow College
VIEWMONT
Hunter Anfinsen, quarterback, William Penn
Ethan Penrose, defensive end, William Penn
WEBER
Jaxon Porter, wide receiver/linebacker, Dixie State
Stetson Clapp, safety/linebacker, Snow College
WEST
Antonio Andiarena, offensive line, Grinnell College
Myles Tapusoa, defensive line, Southern Utah
Webber Ava, fullback/linebacker, William Penn
Sioeli Olive, offensive, defensive line, William Penn
Azia Se'ei, fullback/linebacker, William Penn
Landon Tapusoa, running back, Snow College
WEST LAKE
Timothy (Connor) Forsythe, defensive back, Snow College
WOODS CROSS
Saile Mausia, defensive lineman, Snow College
Deion Semealu, defensive lineman, Snow College
Austin Peterson, offensive lineman, Southern Utah
Tomasi Giles, defensive lineman, Southern Utah
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