This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The final recruiting weekend for Utah football is heating up in a big way — the program has received a commitment from the top running back in Arizona and one of the top-ranked backs in the West.
T.J. Green, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound back from football powerhouse Chandler, ahttps://twitter.com/tjgotemmcoach/status/825369235178213378/photo/1";>nnounced his decision on Saturday morning after taking an official visit last weekend to Utah and decommitting from his original pledge to Oregon State.
He ran for http://usatodayhss.com/2017/tj-green-chandler-ariz-utah-recruiting";>2,267 yards and 35 touchdowns as a senior, and also had 278 receiving yards with four touchdowns. If his Hudl highlights seem reminiscent of Joe Williams' running style, you might not be far off.
A 4-star Rivals recruit and a 3-star prospect for Scout and 247 Sports, http://www.scout.com/college/football/recruiting/story/1749787-arizona-s-no-1-running-back-commits-to-utah";>he spoke to Scout about his commitment to Utah — where it seems the new offense and the academic support stood out to him:
"My family and I feel like it was the best fit for me," Green said. "It was just the best place for me to spend the next four to five years of my college career. I fit in well to the system they'll be running there since I've been exposed to it at my high school. The offense won't be anything new for me.
"What stood out to me were the resources and how I could get help from tutors. I'm leaning toward getting into sports management and I'm just excited to get going."
Chandler has produced prodigious NFL talent, including Brett Hundley, Adam Archuleta, Cameron Jordan and Dion Jordan. It's probably worth noting that Oregon State QB Darell Garretson — the passer for the team the Utes beat out for Green — went to Chandler.
Utah has plenty of running back talent from recent classes, including Zack Moss, Armand Shyne and Devonta'e Henry-Cole, but Green figures to bring a speed element that Utah's backfield will need after Troy McCormick graduates after next season.
The Utes are now up to 14 committed or signed prospects in the 2017 class and is rising in the team recruiting rankings: They're at No. 41 on Scout, No. 43 on 247 Sports and No. 54 on Rivals.
Here are the other committed players on whom the Tribune has reported:
2017
Signed
• http://bit.ly/2i8nXUr";>Pima College OT Jordan Agasiva
• http://bit.ly/2hPZeCS";>Blinn College S Corrion Ballard
• http://bit.ly/2dJjczi";>Texas WR Tyquez Hampton
Committed
• http://bit.ly/2joeJ9n";>Dodge City College S Marquise Blair
• http://bit.ly/2dwMpf3";>Texas WR Jaylen Dixon
• http://bit.ly/2jnCLgR";>California CB Javelin Guidry
• http://bit.ly/2fqQm9P";>California DB Jaylon Johnson
• http://bit.ly/2gPgMlr";>Riverside City College CB Tareke Lewis
• http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/uofusports/4863863-155/utah-football-2017-ath-devin-lloyd";>California ATH Devin Lloyd
• http://bit.ly/1TTt5JC";>Snow College DT John Penisini
• http://bit.ly/2g2UdWv";>American Fork OL Michael Richardson
•http://bit.ly/2hybHiR";> California OL Orlando Umana
• http://bit.ly/2aqwekI";>Texas QB Jason Shelley
2018
Committed
• http://bit.ly/1V3R5qi";>Highland DT Hunter Lotulelei
• http://bit.ly/2gL9RGm";>California QB Jack Tuttle
kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon