"I know we took more in-state guys last year, at least on signing day, than we did this year," he said. "But we did target four guys, and we got those four guys that we wanted."

Running back Matt Asiata of Snow College was the most important, headlining the group of 25 new players who have signed letters of intent to join the Utes next season.

"We think he's going to be an immediate impact guy for us," Whittingham said.

The Utes also signed eight defensive backs, four of whom - junior-college transfer cornerbacks Damilyn Tanner and Josh Broughton and safeties Deshawn Richard and Robert Johnson - are among the new players most likely to make an impact next season, considering the Utes lost almost their entire secondary after going 8-5 last year.

"Time will tell, as far as how this recruiting class pans out," Whittingham said. "But on paper, obviously we feel really good."

Two prominent recruiting services - Rivals.com and Scout.com - rated the Utes as having the third-best recruiting class in the Mountain West, with BYU ranked No. 1 by both.

But Whittingham clearly was sensitive to the attention the Cougars have received for signing nine in-state players, suggesting the rivals "had maybe a different list of guys [than] we targeted." Defensive coordinator Gary Andersen took exception to BYU's Bronco Mendenhall saying he doesn't expect to lose an in-state recruiting battle again.

"I'd be surprised if Bronco said that," Andersen said, "and if he did, it was ignorant and not factual. Utah and BYU will battle for in-state recruits year-in and year-out. However, we do not always recruit the same players. We feel very good about our in-state recruits. We have once again signed quality players from the state of Utah and we look forward to recruiting against BYU in the future - and winning."

Quarterback Griff Robles of Spanish Fork, defensive lineman James Aiono of Murray and cornerback Mike Honeycutt of Lone Peak are the three Utahns who will join Asiata with the Utes - though Robles and Honeycutt plan to serve LDS Church missions before enrolling. Whittingham said the Utes also have awarded scholarships to five in-state players who formerly had been walk-ons.

"That's really the bottom line, when you're talking in-state," Whittingham said, "is how many you have on your roster that are on scholarship."

The Utes also signed five players from Texas, continuing their focus on the talent-rich state by using two assistant coaches - Derrick Odum and Jay Boulware - to recruit the state full-time for the first time. Whittingham said he envisions having 20 to 25 Texans on the roster at any given time.

mcl@sltrib.com