This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
After two vaunted in-state prospects committed to out-of-state programs in the past week alone, Utah secured a commitment Monday from a hometown boy who both grew up watching the Utes and hopes to see himself in crimson someday.
Layton cornerback/wideout Julian Blackmon received an offer last Thursday, he said, and informed coaches Monday morning.
It was an easy call, he said.
"They were my first big offer, and not only that, they were my favorite team," he said.
That's what Utah coaches want to hear more of, especially after Brighton's Simi Fehoko pledged his commitment to Stanford and Bingham's Langi Tuifua verballed to Oregon.
Standing 6-foot-1, Blackmon ran a 4.52 40-yard dash at the Nike combine held at Clearfield High last month and participated in the Ute Shoot 7-on-7 passing tournament. He was recruited primarily by safeties coach Morgan Scalley and cornerbacks coach Sharrieff Shah, and offered as a cornerback.
He's rated two stars by Rivals, which also lists offers from Idaho, Southern Utah and Weber State. Blackmon said "it's always a good thing to listen" if other programs come calling, but "I think I'm a Utah man at heart."
The Lancers didn't set the world alight last year, going 2-8, and Blackmon's biggest goal this season is to make the state playoffs.
Blackmon, whose older brother Jarriesse is committed to play hoops for UC Santa Barbara, also helped lead the Lancers to a 5A basketball championship in late February.
He's not sure what he wants to study just yet, but he may follow his father — like his mom, a U. graduate — into criminal justice.
Below are links to the committed recruits that the Tribune has reported on.
2016:
2017:
— Matthew Piper
Twitter: @matthew_piper