By most accounts, the two top high school football recruits in the state of Utah this year are Davis High defensive end and Pleasant Grove lineman Brandon Fanaika.
Monday morning, Hinds made his decision, picking BYU over offers from a list of more than a dozen Division I programs that included Utah, Cal, Nebraska and Notre Dame.
It is an absolutely huge get for BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall, given the immense amount of scrutiny the Cougars' recruiting efforts regarding instate recruits have received since rival Utah was invited to join the Pac-12.
In a letter emailed to dozens of D-I coaches around the country and selected media members, Hinds said he will enroll at BYU after he completes a two-year LDS Church mission.
He said in July that his top five favorites were Notre Dame, California, Utah, Nebraska and BYU.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound prospect had scholarship offers from dozens of other top programs before narrowing his list last month. His announcement ends a heated recruiting battle between not only BYU and the Pac-12's Utah, but also several high-profile schools around the country.
"After much thought and deliberation I have made my decision where I will be getting my education and playing football," Hinds wrote. "...I'm very excited about the academic, social and football opportunities I will have at BYU."
Hinds made 58 tackles and had 7.5 sacks his junior season at Davis.
"It was a difficult decision saying no to the great Pac-12 schools and others that have recruited me, but in the end I know in my heart that BYU is the best school for me," he said.
The prospect specifically thanked coaches at Utah, Nebraska, Stanford, Cal and Notre Dame for their interest in him and the professional way they recruited him. He also thanked his parents and his high school coach, Ryan Bishop, for their support through the three-year recruiting process.

Here's the entire release:

Troy Hinds Press Release:


After much thought and deliberation I have made my decision where I will be getting my education and playing football. My Dad and I met with Coach Mendenhall in his office this morning and I committed to him that I will be enrolling at Brigham Young University after I complete my LDS church mission. I’m very excited about the academic, social and football opportunities I will have at BYU.

I want to express my sincere appreciation to Coach Whittingham and Coach Hill at the University of Utah along with Coach Anderson at Stanford, Coach Tupoi at CAL, the coaches at Notre Dame, Coach Brown at Nebraska along with all of the rest of the wonderful coaches I have met along the way. They have all been very kind and professional in the way they have recruited me. I have made good friendships with many coaches across the country during the process and I hope to continue those relationships over time. It was a difficult decision saying no to the great PAC 12 schools and others that have recruited me but in the end I know in my heart that BYU is the best school for me.

I would also like to thank my Mom and Dad along with coach Ryan Bishop for their support throughout the entire 3 year recruiting process. It was a fun ride but I’m relieved and excited that I know I’m going to be playing football and getting my education at BYU.

Troy Hinds
Davis High School
Kaysville, Utah