This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

A safety? A linebacker? Utah has had some success with players who can play a bit of both.

That's the hope the Utes have for Marquise Blair, an All-American junior college linebacker/safety who committed to the program this weekend on his official visit.

"I like the coaches and all the people there," he said. "It's a good team."

Blair said he went on another official visit to UCF, but decided to go with the Utes who offered him before Christmas break. He was also reported to have scholarship offers to Louisville, Michigan State, Nebraska and Syracuse among others.

His commitment brings Utah football's 2017 recruiting class to 12 men strong. The Utes are believed to be pursuing six to seven more commitments before Signing Day on Feb. 1. There are two recruiting weekends remaining to fill out the class, and Utah still has fewer commitments than any team in the conference except Stanford (9) and Arizona State (12).

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 190, Blair is ahttp://www.scout.com/player/188033-marquise-blair";> four-star Scout recruit and https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/10502";>three-star Rivals andhttp://247sports.com/Player/Marquise-Blair-54490";> 247Sports recruit out of Dodge City College in Kansas.http://goconqs.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1024&path=football";> As a sophomore outside linebacker for the Conquistadors, Blair had 99 tackles, 4 picks, 4 forced fumbles and 5 pass breakups in the 2016 season. You can view http://www.hudl.com/video/3/2336669/5839f267dfd8b827b0bd6d85";>his Hudl highlights here.

Utah is getting some overhaul in the secondary with the departure of Marcus Williams: Blair said the plan is for him to play strong safety at the next level. Utah has cashed in on other similar hybrid-style players, such as Brian Blechen and Chase Hansen.

"Strong safety is just where I fit their scheme," he said.

Utah's class so far is heavy on defensive backfield talent: Between Blair, early enrollee Corrion Ballard, Army All-American Jaylon Johnson and JuCo cornerback Tareke Lewis, the secondary will have a lot to work with when replacing Williams and four graduated seniors who played a lot of snaps. It also may give Utah some flexibility with Hansen, perhaps one of the best returning players on either side of the ball, as the rising junior has the size (6-foot-3, 216 pounds) to play as a linebacker.

Here are the other Utah football commitments on which The Tribune has reported:

2017
Signed
http://bit.ly/2i8nXUr";>Pima College OT Jordan Agasiva
http://bit.ly/2hPZeCS";>Blinn College S Corrion Ballard
http://bit.ly/2dJjczi";>Texas WR Tyquez Hampton

Committed
http://bit.ly/2dwMpf3";>Texas WR Jaylen Dixon
http://bit.ly/2fqQm9P";>California DB Jaylon Johnson
http://bit.ly/2gPgMlr";>Riverside City College CB Tareke Lewis
http://bit.ly/2h23q2w";>Washington TE Ben Moos
http://bit.ly/1TTt5JC";>Snow College DT John Penisini
http://bit.ly/2g2UdWv";>American Fork OL Michael Richardson
http://bit.ly/2hybHiR";>California OL Orlando Umana
http://bit.ly/2aqwekI";>Texas QB Jason Shelley

2018
Committed
http://bit.ly/1V3R5qi";>Highland DT Hunter Lotulelei
http://bit.ly/2gL9RGm";>California QB Jack Tuttle

kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon