This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
We're fairly late to the party, but The Tribune was able to connect with the father of T.J. Kautai on Friday to confirm reports that Kautai committed to the U. last week.
Kautai is a senior free safety at Euless Trinity in Euless, Texas, where the Utes have found a host of players in recent years. He's the younger brother of Teu Kautai, a BYU linebacker, and BYU and Utah State expressed interest. But Toutai Kautai Sr. said Utah was first to offer to offer his son a scholarship, and the Kautais were set on committing to "whoever steps up to the plate first."
The 6-foot, 200-pound Kautai was a receiver growing up and is the fastest of five brothers, but because of Trinity's preference for the running game, switched to outside linebacker and free safety.
Kautai is "very silent, kind of funny," says his dad. "He doesn't go out to much, stays home all the time with his [younger brother, Sio]."
He plans to go on a two-year LDS mission before attending the U.
Here's a list of the Utah football commits the Tribune has reported on. Click for details:
2015
2016
2017
— Matthew Piper
Twitter: @matthew_piper