Utah signing day: Keeping SEC schools away from Isaac Wilson, a low-volume class and a solid in-state haul

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham knows the job is far from finished on this 2024 signing class.

He will add more transfers in the coming days. He has scholarship spots to fill.

The high school class he signed Wednesday was low on numbers. It translated to Utah having a recruiting class ranked outside the top 60, per the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Here are five thoughts on Utah’s early signing day.

1. Light class right now

As the early signing period hits, Whittingham’s 2024 class is fairly small. It only has 15 high school commitments. The last two years, the Utes finished with 20-plus.

As a result, the overall ranking of this class took a hit. Right now, Utah’s high school class ranks 61st in the country. If that stays put, it would be a step back from the No. 20 class a year ago (Whittingham’s best).

That said, Utah’s average prospect rating is still competitive with what it was a year ago. The average grade is 87.41 this year, per 247Sports. In 2023, it was 88.76.

So the volume isn’t there, but the quality of the recruits is.

If you just went by the average prospect rating in the class, Utah’s class would be tied for fifth in the Big 12 behind Colorado, UCF, TCU and Texas Tech. It would be right on par with Kansas.

Whittingham said the lighter high school numbers will leave room for Utah to go after the transfer portal in the coming weeks and after spring practice.

“We will have more portal guys added in the next two-to-10 days,” he said. “We will continue to fill out the roster. We have plenty of space left in the 85 [scholarship] count. So we will continue to add this portal period and also at the end of April.

“It is an ongoing deal. It used to be that 95% of your work was done on signing day. But that is not the case anymore.”

2. Keeping Isaac Wilson had added emphasis, plus Utah fended off an SEC school late

Utah saw a mass exodus from the quarterback room since the end of the season. Nate Johnson is now at Vanderbilt. Bryson Barnes is leaving. Freshman Mack Howard is in the transfer portal.

That means Utah’s 2024 quarterbacks all of a sudden have more emphasis. Utah is bringing in Isaac Wilson, the top-rated quarterback in Utah and the brother of Zach Wilson.

He is expected to enroll early and get a head start on Andy Ludwig’s offense. He likely won’t have to play this year, as Cam Rising returns for a seventh season. But after that, the quarterback pipeline is thinner than it once was.

“We think with the addition of Isaac, it really gives a solidification to that position group,” Whittingham said.

The coach did mention Wilson had a flurry of schools trying to poach him in the final weeks before signing day. He didn’t say any names, but said an SEC school came calling.

“People [were] trying to get in on Isaac at the last minute, an SEC school,” he said. “One prominent SEC school in particular. It was great to add him to the program.”

3. In-state talent sees an uptick

Utah’s stretch of keeping the top recruits home might have hit a high in this class. Whittingham reeled in three of the top five recruits in the state. Another, Bountiful’s Faletau Satuala, is committing in January and could come to Utah.

So far, Whittingham’s only miss in the top five came from Orem four-star Roger Saleapaga, who committed to Oregon.

It continues Utah’s run dating back to 2019 in wihch Whittingham has signed 12, top-five composite prospects in the state. It has produced players like Lander Barton, Spencer Fano and Nate Ritchie.

Whittingham may not have the volume of Utah recruits that the rest of the state relies on. (This class has six high school players from Utah committed. Last class, Utah had fewer.) But he is hitting on the top players. This marks the second straight year the No. 1 composite prospect in the state will be at Utah. This year, it is Isaiah Garcia. Last year it was Spencer Fano.

4. Secondary help

If there was one takeaway about Whittingham’s emphasis this year, it would be defensive backs.

Almost half of the signees are in the secondary: four corners and three safeties.

“We have been light there for a couple of years,” he said. “It really manifested against Ohio State a couple of years back. We took a step in the right direction.”

Whittingham went all over for help. Davis Andrews, a high three-star prospect from American Fork, signed. Utah also brought in Sammie Hunter from Arizona and Jeilani Davis from California. And the Utes are looking for more.

This new push comes after a couple of lighter years in the secondary. Last year, Utah had a few (Smith Snowden among them). In 2022, Utah brought in three defensive backs. But this is the most secondary help in a signing class since 2020.

It comes at a good time. Utah is losing both of its starting safeties next year to the NFL.

5. Wilson represents what Whittingham is looking for at quarterback

Whittingham talked about playing against Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr., Caleb Williams and Shedeur Sanders. What is common among them?

They are all quarterbacks who can make plays when everything breaks down.

Whittingham kept that in mind this recruiting cycle and saw parts of the playmaking ability in Wilson.

“Exceptional arm, can make every throw,” Whittingham said. “Great pocket presence and does a great job of extending the play and keeping his eyes down field. You hear me say that over and over [during] the season when we play good quarterbacks.

“These are the traits they all seem to have in common and he has those traits.”

Whittingham was also drawn to Wilson’s ability to run. He said the Corner Canyon quarterback can, “run as well as anybody that we’ve had here from the quarterback position.”