Not the best week for Utah and BYU in the ol' football recruiting game.

And there's not a lot of time left to recover, with the signing period for high school football stars beginning Wednesday.

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham flew to Dallas in the middle of the week, but got some news he didn't want to hear.

Cole Loftin, a quarterback from Aledo High in the heart of Texas who probably will be used as a slot receiver in college, de-committed to Whittingham (four months or so after committing) and told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he has pledged to SMU.

The Cougars aren't giggling, though.

Hemet (Calif.) High's Hamani Stevens, ranked as one of the top offensive centers in the country, eliminated BYU from his Oregon-or-BYU list and replaced the Cougars with nearby UCLA.

Stevens told the recruiting Web site Rivals.com that BYU had offered a scholarship to his brother, Tevita Stevens, who is currently on an LDS Church mission. He signed with UTEP out of high school.

BYU's focus now is on four-star recruit Uona Kaveinga, a linebacker from Leuzinger High in Lawndale, Calif., who is trying to decide between BYU and USC after having committed to BYU in the middle of January. Kaveinga hasn't been talking much, but his high school coach, Deon Tolliver, told The Tribune on Thursday that "BYU is still in the picture, as far as I know."

WSU class taking shape

Weber State's class of 2008 is starting to take shape, with the Wildcats getting commitments recently from two of Utah's better prep prospects, Layton lineman Justin Turner and Bountiful defensive back Jamie Rigby. Two preps from Oklahoma - RB Keno Meadows of Del City High and DT Pierre Alexander of Carl Albert High - have said they will sign with the Wildcats, along with Ryan Eastman, a defensive tackle from Hawaii.

A source said Weber State was also recruiting Timpanogos quarterback Christian Stewart and had offered a scholarship. However, Stewart has agreed to walk on at BYU and will receive "preferred walk on" status next fall before departing on an LDS Church mission. He was also offered by Snow College.

The Wildcats have a signing party on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Stewart Stadium.

Southern Utah gets locals

SUU's new coaching staff had 18 players on campus last weekend, and it appears some commitments are in.

Chiefly, Murray lineman Zach Brackus, Alta defensive end Derek Keller, Cyprus lineman James Nielson and Cottonwood linebacker Paul Fuaalii have said they will become Thunderbirds, along with a QB from Kamehameha High in Hawaii, Michael Hoke.

drew@sltrib.com