Utah is hosting its biggest official on-campus football recruiting weekend in years, perhaps ever, Friday through Sunday as the group of approximately 15 recruits and 15 parents are scheduled to meet the coaches, tour the campus, watch the Utah-BYU men's basketball game and stay for the NCAA-allotted maximum of 48 hours.

About half of the recruits already have orally committed to Utah, according to Director of Football Operations Jeff Rudy, who cannot discuss specific names, another NCAA rule.

But all eyes will be on the six or seven recruits who have not yet made their college choices known, and the Utes plan to give them and the others the royal treatment, complete with delicious meals and nice lodging accommodations.

"It's the largest group [in a single weekend] since I've been doing this," Rudy said.

Last week, BYU hosted some 20 recruits and 30 parents, and the results were favorable, as three of the four uncommitted players pledged to sign with the Cougars.

This weekend is just as big for the Utes, with several high-profile recruits expected to visit.

Their commitments could take this particular recruiting class from good to great, several recruiting insiders say.

Most notably, Utah will entertain Benji Kemoeatu, a four-star lineman from Kahuku, Hawaii, who is also being recruited by several Pac-10 schools.

Another four-star lineman, David Kruger of Timpanogos High in Orem, is one of the seven or eight players visiting this weekend who already have committed.

He represents a recruiting coup for the Utes over archrival BYU, and will be in familiar territory: his brother, Paul, started at defensive end for Utah last season.

CSTV recruiting analyst Tom Lemming told The Tribune last week that campus visits are huge in cementing decisions.

Schools are trending toward large-group visits such as the one the Utes are hosting this weekend, rather than having a handful of recruits on campus every weekend.

It will start with lunch on Friday shortly after the players arrive. There will be a tour of the football facilities, the campus and the dorms, followed by a group dinner.

Recruits will spend Friday night with their "player hosts," usually with a trip to a bowling alley, dance club, movie or the like. Saturday morning will be spent talking with academic advisers over breakfast.

drew@sltrib.com

Weekend at Whittingham's

* Perhaps the most football recruits ever, around 15, will visit the University of Utah campus this weekend, along with about 15 of their parents.

* The visitors can stay for up to 48 hours, per NCAA rules.