Utah Recruiting

[BoylenOver]

Sounds like the Utes are pulling all but one of their recruiters from Texas and focusing harder on California. There might also be some exciting player news in the next day or two.

(so says Tom Cella)

[DrumNFeather]

Sounds like the Utes are pulling all but one of their recruiters from Texas and focusing harder on California. There might also be some exciting player news in the next day or two.

(so says Tom Cella)

Interesting strategy...and a bit surprising.

[Surfah]

Interesting strategy...and a bit surprising.

Bad move IMO. Utah seems to have done alright in Texas. I am not sure I would go all in California.

[TripletDaddy]

Bad move IMO. Utah seems to have done alright in Texas. I am not sure I would go all in California.

I wonder how much of that is due to playing in Texas every other year?

Now that Utah will be playing in California every year, makes sense to focus more there. Also, chow has a lot of contacts within the local socal HS pipeline.

[Surfah]

I wonder how much of that is due to playing in Texas every other year?

Now that Utah will be playing in California every year, makes sense to focus more there. Also, chow has a lot of contacts within the local socal HS pipeline.

That's a fair point. I forget they have Chow now.

Still I'd shift my focus for sure since you're going to be in LA every year now, but I think they could do well drawing some good kids from Texas that maybe want to play in the Pac 10 that aren't going to make it to SC or Oregon.

[TripletDaddy]

I agree that they shouldnt abandon Texas. That is fertile recruiting soil.

[Top Ute]

I agree that they shouldnt abandon Texas. That is fertile recruiting soil.

We're not abandoning Texas. Instead of having 2 or 3 coaches working that area, we're dropping to one. The surprise, if you will, is who we're keeping in Texas.

[BoylenOver]

That's a fair point. I forget they have Chow now.

Still I'd shift my focus for sure since you're going to be in LA every year now, but I think they could do well drawing some good kids from Texas that maybe want to play in the Pac 10 that aren't going to make it to SC or Oregon.

Over the last 2 years, Utah's had too many issues with Texas kids committing, then getting convinced to go elsewhere (distance probably being the biggest factor).

[Top Ute]

Over the last 2 years, Utah's had too many issues with Texas kids committing, then getting convinced to go elsewhere (distance probably being the biggest factor).

My guess would be that we're going to maintain a JUCO presence in Texas, but significantly reduce our HS efforts there.

[Flystripper]

I don't really follow this thread but now is the time for Utah to strike when the iron is hot. Brandon Davies says you're welcome.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Over the last 2 years, Utah's had too many issues with Texas kids committing, then getting convinced to go elsewhere (distance probably being the biggest factor).

In 2009 yes, but in 2010, the only decommits were Cali kids, Brown and Henderson.

I am torn. I think of the Texas kids that have been an integral part of our growth and success. I understand the shift, but it seems too drastic to me. I would consider leaving Johnson and Scalley in Texas.

[cougjunkie]

In 2009 yes, but in 2010, the only decommits were Cali kids, Brown and Henderson.

I am torn. I think of the Texas kids that have been an integral part of our growth and success. I understand the shift, but it seems too drastic to me. I would consider leaving Johnson and Scalley in Texas.

Who are the top recruiters on the staff? Usually young energetic guys are the best (Ed. O being the exception at USC) Utah seems to have a ton of those guys with A-rod, Kalani, BJ, Scalley etc.

Just curious who the top guy is, I think you leave him in Texas. Nocho can handle Socal.

My other question is why don't they ever have recruiters by race. I know that sounds bad but polys relate better to polys, african americans to african americans, etc.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Who are the top recruiters on the staff? Usually young energetic guys are the best (Ed. O being the exception at USC) Utah seems to have a ton of those guys with A-rod, Kalani, BJ, Scalley etc.

Just curious who the top guy is, I think you leave him in Texas. Nocho can handle Socal. .

Scalley would likely be considered the best recruiter overall. He has been recruiting Texas for the last 3-4 years and has plenty of inroads and connections. I would hate to see all of that ground work go for naught by moving him. If we only have one person in Texas, I hope it is Morgan.

My other question is why don't they ever have recruiters by race. I know that sounds bad but polys relate better to polys, african americans to african americans, etc.

They do that to some degree. Usually each player recruited will have a second coach involved. Sometimes it is the position coach, sometimes it is a race contact. Eg, Sitake recruits in Socal, but his name appears in alot of articles on poly recruits, regardless of where they are from.

I think they use the area approach to help develop longitudinal relationships with the HS and Juco coaches

[TripletDaddy]

Who are the top recruiters on the staff? Usually young energetic guys are the best (Ed. O being the exception at USC) Utah seems to have a ton of those guys with A-rod, Kalani, BJ, Scalley etc.

Just curious who the top guy is, I think you leave him in Texas. Nocho can handle Socal.

My other question is why don't they ever have recruiters by race. I know that sounds bad but polys relate better to polys, african americans to african americans, etc.

I think NoCho is not a day to day recruiter and he certainly isnt an energy guy. He is a closer, and rumored to be so only in name. In other words, his in-house visit will be persuasive more because of who he is, not necessarily because he says amazing stuff once he is in the home. Whatever works is fine by me, but I think it would be a mistake for any school to entrust major recruiting responsibilities to Chow. My guess is that Whit understands this and frankly would probably want to be closely associated with SoCal recruiting himself.

What Chow does bring is basically a cell phone list of the HCs and OCs of every major HS in SoCal. Does Whit want to quick direct line to Mater Dei, Poly, Westlake, Oaks Christian, Servite, Mission Viejo, Canyon, Serra, Los Alamitos, Crenshaw, etc etc etc? No prob...Norm has all those numbers and every single one will take his call. That is something that most schools would love to have.

Scenario One:

"Coach X at Mater Dei...hi, this is Kyle Whittingham of the Utah Utes.....you don't know me but....."

Scenario Two:

"Coach, this is Norm. Howzit? I need the next Matt Leinart, who do you have that I should be looking at?"

I'll take scenario 2, please.

[Jarid in Cedar]

I think NoCho is not a day to day recruiter and he certainly isnt an energy guy. He is a closer, and rumored to be so only in name. In other words, his in-house visit will be persuasive more because of who he is, not necessarily because he says amazing stuff once he is in the home. Whatever works is fine by me, but I think it would be a mistake for any school to entrust major recruiting responsibilities to Chow. My guess is that Whit understands this and frankly would probably want to be closely associated with SoCal recruiting himself.

What Chow does bring is basically a cell phone list of the HCs and OCs of every major HS in SoCal. Does Whit want to quick direct line to Mater Dei, Poly, Westlake, Oaks Christian, Servite, Mission Viejo, Canyon, Serra, Los Alamitos, Crenshaw, etc etc etc? No prob...Norm has all those numbers and every single one will take his call. That is something that most schools would love to have.

Scenario One:

"Coach X at Mater Dei...hi, this is Kyle Whittingham of the Utah Utes.....you don't know me but....."

Scenario Two:

"Coach, this is Norm. Howzit? I need the next Matt Leinart, who do you have that I should be looking at?"

I'll take scenario 2, please.

I agree with this. Norm is too old for most 18 year olds to know/relate with, but their coaches know all about him, and that is where he can make a big impact.