The Utah Utes are a season removed from their Sugar Bowl appearance, but they're still reaping the rewards of that BCS win over Alabama.
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham credited the exposure the Utes received from that game as well as the success which followed as a reason the Utes landed what many believe is Utah's best recruiting class in history.
The Utes had a strong class going into the final day, then snagged three of the four holdouts they wanted the most.
John Cullen, an offensive lineman out of Fullerton College, Lucky Radley, a running back out of California, and V.J. Fehoko, a linebacker who was the only Hawaiian on the Utes' list, all selected Utah on Wednesday.
Brighton defensive lineman Ricky Heimuli was the one who got away as he picked the Oregon Ducks over the Utes. Avery Williams, a defensive back out of Washington, D.C., who had committed to the Utes, changed his mind and signed with West Virginia.
Still, the good far outweighed the bad for the Utes.
Whittingham said he felt the Utes addressed all of their needs.
"Only time will tell, but all indications are we got some good players," he said.
Replacing left tackle Zane Beadles was the Utes' "most pressing need," Whittingham said, and Cullen is a guy who should be able to fill the role well.
Cullen, rated by some as the top junior college offensive lineman, was recruited by numerous schools and ultimately picked the Utes over USC.
Cullen said he considered the Utes a BCS-quality team because of their success against the power conferences and he plans to help the Utes continue to win those games.
"Oh, we're winning a BCS game, that isn't a question," he said. "The Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, I don't care. We are going to a BCS game."
Whittingham acknowledged the Utes are able to land athletes such as Cullen because of the recent success.
"Playing on a national platform gives you good exposure and people are starting to recognize that," he said. "We aren't going to win all those battles, obviously, but to get a guy like John Cullen says a lot about where we are as a program."
Utah's 2010 signees
| Player | Position | Hometown | High School/Junior College | Ht/Wt | Comments |
| James Aiono | Defensive lineman | West Valley City | Snow College | 6-4/305 | Already enrolled, originally part of '07 class. |
| Dres Anderson | Receiver | Riverside, Calif. | North H.S. | 6-2/170 | Son of former NFL star Flipper Anderson. |
| Brian Blechen | Quarterback | Moorpark, Calif. | Moorpark H.S. | 6-3/190 | All-around good athlete could be drafted into baseball. |
| Zach Bolton | Offensive lineman | Houston,Texas | Klein Forest H.S. | 6-2/260 | Late de-commit from Illinois |
| Princeton Collins | Running back | Round Rock, Texas | Westwood H.S. | 6-0/190 | Has averaged 5-plus yards last three years |
| John Cullen | Offensive lineman | La Mirada, Calif. | Fullerton College | 6-5/270 | Rated by some as top J.C. offensive lineman. |
| V.J. Fehoko | Linebacker | Honolulu | Farrington H.S. | 5-11/165 | High school All-American. |
| Wykie Freeman | Cornerback | Pasadena, Texas | Pasadena Memorial H.S. | 5-11/165 | Trackster joins trend of Utes recruiting speed. |
| Jacoby Hale | Linebacker | Beaumont, Texas | Central H.S. | 6-1/195 | Little known Texas recruits have excelled for Utes, he could be next one. |
| Mike Honeycutt | Defensive back | Cedar Hills | Lone Peak H.S. | 5-10/180 | 2007 signee back from mission, enrolled in January. |
| Joe Kruger | Defensive end | Orem | Pleasant Grove H.S. | 6-8/245 | Third Kruger to play for Utes. |
| Ofa Latu | Linebacker | Provo | Timpview H.S. | 6-0/185 | Canceled visit to Utah St. when Utes offered. |
| Star Lotulelei | Defensive lineman | South Jordan | Snow College | 6-3/290 | Committed to BYU out of H.S. |
| Damian Payne | Cornerback | Houston, Texas | Klein Forest H.S. | 6-0/185 | Oklahoma St., other schools came after him hard but he remained loyal to Utes. |
| Lucky Radley | Running back | Woodland Hills, Calif. | Taft H.S. | 6-0/185 | Hoping he can play some defense, too. |
| Terrell Reese | Receiver | Brenham, Texas | Brenham H.S. | 6-2/190 | Texas A&M made push for talented receiver. |
| Kenneth Scott | Receiver | Ontario, Calif. | Colony H.S. | 6-2/198 | Not drawing much attention but could be a sleeper. |
| Tyler Shreve | Quarterback | Redlands, Calif. | Redlands East Valley H.S. | 6-3/220 | Another baseball star who could get drafted. |
| Joseph Smith | Athlete | Norco, Calif. | Norco H.S. | 5-11/185 | Was recruited as a corner, very early commitment. |
| Sefa Tanoai | Defensive end | Pleasant Grove | Pleasant Grove H.S. | 6-4/265 | Utes made a late run at versatile player. |
| Westlee Tonga | Tightend | Spring, Texas | Spring H.S. | 6-4/235 | Originally part of '07 class, returning from mission. |
| Ron Tongaonevai | Offensive lineman | West Valley | Snow College | 6-3/345 | Mid-year transfer enrolled in January. |
| Sione Tupouata | Athlete/defensive lineman | Oakland, Calif. | Fremont H.S. | 6-4/260 | Conference MVP in 2009, 2008 defensive MVP. |
| Michael Walker | Defensive back | Brenham, Texas | Brenham H.S. | 5-10/170 | Utah recruiting coordinator Scalley snags another from Texas. |
