This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Orlando Umana has a familiar answer for http://bit.ly/2hk2t6g";>what convinced him to commit to Utah over the weekend: He felt the football program felt like a family.
So what exactly was his favorite part of his official visit this last weekend?
"Snowmobiling," he said. "Yup."
A three-star lineman from Grant High in Sacramento, Umana made the Utes as happy as snowmobiling made him when he committed to them on Saturday night in the midst of his official visit. He's 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, and in the words of his coach Mike Alberghini: "He possesses a body that is big enough to play in college right now."
He's not a talkative guy. Maybe that's why former and future teammate Darrin Paulo, who also matriculated from Grant, was surprised when he committed — he wasn't sure where Umana's head was at with other offers from Washington, UCLA and Arizona.
But Umana can often be found at the front of big runs: He was the starring blocker as the Pacers ran for over 4,000 yards this year as the passing offense struggled to get going. In his league, he was the offensive lineman of the year. He also played on defense this year, and was one of the leaders on the team.
"He's a great leader, a good person, and he shows it by the way he acts as a human being," Alberghini said. "He's a lot like Darrin Paulo. Just fully well-liked teammate, a good person, a hard worker. You don't have to worry about him doing things to get in trouble."
Umana said he's looking forward to reuniting with Paulo, with whom he went to the CIF championship in Paulo's senior year. Devontae Booker was also from Grant, although he didn't sign with Utah out of high school.
http://bit.ly/2d6DrIY";>Grant has produced a ton of talent, especially on the line. Umana said he maintained a good relationship with offensive line coach Jim Harding, making him think he could continue that chain.
"Being on the O-line, all of them hang out after and stuff — it's not just a football thing," he said. "I just liked it over there."
Enough said.
Here are the other commitments The Tribune has reported on:
2017
• http://bit.ly/2dwMpf3";>Texas WR Jaylen Dixon
• http://bit.ly/2dJjczi";>Texas WR Tyquez Hampton
• http://bit.ly/2fqQm9P";>California DB Jaylon Johnson
• http://bit.ly/2gPgMlr";>Riverside City College CB Tareke Lewis
• http://bit.ly/2hk2t6g";>Washington TE Ben Moos
• http://bit.ly/1TTt5JC";>Snow College DT John Penisini
• http://bit.ly/2g2UdWv";>American Fork OL Michael Richardson
• http://bit.ly/2aqwekI";>Texas QB Jason Shelley
2018
• http://bit.ly/1V3R5qi";>Highland DT Hunter Lotulelei
kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon