{"id":1027,"date":"2026-06-04T05:07:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T05:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=1027"},"modified":"2026-06-04T05:07:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T05:07:37","slug":"everything-we-need-to-win-big-here-how-morgan-scalleys-first-recruiting-class-at-utah-is-shaping-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/americanmovershub.com\/?p=1027","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Everything we need to win big here\u2019: How Morgan Scalley\u2019s first recruiting class at Utah is shaping up"},"content":{"rendered":"
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This article was first published in the <\/i>Ute Insiders newslett<\/i>er<\/i>. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Wednesday night. <\/i><\/p>\n

Read more Rep. Celeste Maloy secures initial $10M in Utah\u2019s bid for $1 billion in Great Salt Lake funding<\/a><\/p>\n

Morgan Scalley is right in the thick of building his first-ever recruiting class as Utah\u2019s head coach, and he\u2019s doing it his own way. <\/p>\n

Known as a good recruiter with a keen eye for under-the-radar pickups as a safeties coach and defensive coordinator, Scalley is now in charge of the entire show.<\/p>\n

He hired Joe D\u2019Orazio, the former director of football strategy at USC, as the program\u2019s general manager, and retained Mason Yellico as the director of player personnel. <\/p>\n

Scalley has extensive experience as a lead recruiter, specializing in finding players in Texas, California and Utah, but he is now overseeing everything, which puts him in a different role than he\u2019s used to.<\/p>\n

As the head coach, he\u2019s the face of the program for parents and recruits, helping each family understand the type of program \u2014 and head coach \u2014 their son could potentially play for.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, parents, recruits want to know that the head coach they\u2019re coming in to play for cares about them,\u201d Scalley told the Deseret News recently. \u201cI want to be in contact with them. I want them to think that this is not just, \u2018I\u2019m going to see coach in the hallway and that\u2019s it.\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n

Of course, as a good evaluator of talent himself, Scalley is still watching film on recruits and giving his opinion, but ultimately is trusting his position group coaches to bring in recruits that can both help the Utes win and fit with the culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have to be able to trust that our coordinators and position coaches are bringing in who they want if they can help us win,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd ultimately, my job is to sell this place, to sell this experience, to sell what makes this place great and what\u2019s going to make them great.\u201d<\/p>\n

While each recruiting pitch is tailored to the individual player, part of Scalley\u2019s \u201celevator pitch\u201d on why a player should choose Utah is about continuity and consistency.<\/p>\n

Scalley has been a Ute for his whole career, rising from the ranks of a player to a coach, and is just the second head coach of the program over the past 22 seasons. Since 2006, Scalley says, only 15 programs have had only two coaching changes over that time span, and those teams are \u201c68% winning programs.\u201d <\/p>\n

During the last four years, Scalley says, 68% of NFL draft picks played for only one school.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a place where you\u2019re going to get developed, where you\u2019re going to stick it out and you\u2019re going to be loved. Culture matters. You\u2019ve got an unbelievable fan base that shows up,\u201d Scalley said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was at Big 12 coaches meetings the last two days and just in talking to the coaches, they said Rice-Eccles is the loudest environment, the toughest environment to play in. That\u2019s saying something because there\u2019s some really good environments in our conference. So you got an unbelievable fan base, you\u2019re going to get developed both as a man and as a football player and you\u2019re going to have a coaching staff that\u2019s going to be here.\u201d <\/p>\n

Scalley was extremely busy last weekend as the Utes welcomed in 11 official visitors, according to On3, including four-star wide receivers Blake Wong and Ronnie Gomiller, four-star offensive linemen Gecova Doyal and Lincoln Mageo, and three-star safety Darrod Jacobs.<\/p>\n

For Scalley, any recruit that Utah brings in needs to fit in with the team\u2019s culture.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we recruit and we bring these young men in on these weekends, we\u2019re not just bringing in any dude. We\u2019re bringing in guys we feel that fit our culture,\u201d Scalley said. \u201cYou have to be real, you have to be genuine. They can recognize fake. So what I want is people to want us for who we are. And if that happens \u2014 and it does happen \u2014 we\u2019ll be fine. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe got an unbelievable fan base, great support, great donors. This is an amazing place. I\u2019ve had opportunities to leave and have never felt the need to because we have everything we need to win big here.\u201d <\/p>\n

As the calendar turned to June, Utah had just four commitments in its 2027 recruiting class, and is ranked last in On3\u2019s Big 12 team recruiting rankings, but the Utes are just getting started.<\/p>\n

The majority of its class is expected to commit by July after a flurry of June visits. Ever since early signing day was pushed up to December, most official visits happen during June, with commitments following shortly thereafter.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you\u2019re going to see by June 20th, June 21st, which is the last day of visits before the dead period, I think you\u2019re going to see them have seven to 10 new commitments by then,\u201d On3\/Rivals national recruiting analyst Brandon Huffman told the Deseret News this week.<\/p>\n

Each weekend in June will be full of official visitors. Next week, per On3, the Utes will host nine official visitors, including three-star quarterback Brody Rudnicki, and the weekend after, Utah will host 13 recruits, including four-star Davis wide receiver Bode Sparrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the way the recruiting calendar has expedited, you don\u2019t have a choice but to decide early. For instance, Rivals is doing a big national recruiting day on July 1st and it\u2019s not an official signing day, but you\u2019ll see 90% of the Power Four schools classes almost done by July 1st,\u201d Huffman said.<\/p>\n

Who are some of the big targets for Utah?<\/h3>\n

Brody Rudnicki, QB<\/h4>\n

Utah has two quarterbacks visiting \u2014 Folsom, California, three-star Brody Rudnicki and Humble, Texas, three-star Noah Spinks. <\/p>\n

Rudnicki is the higher-rated of the two and ranks No. 44 among 2027 quarterbacks in Rivals\u2019 rankings. Utah is in the mix, per Huffman, but faces challenges from finalists BYU and Cal, though Cal recently signed a 2027 quarterback in Dane Weber.<\/p>\n

Rudnicki played at the same high school as four-star Cougar commit Ryder Lyons after transferring from Oak Ridge High to Folsom. At Folsom, he sat behind Lyons, but led the school to a 42-28 comeback win in the state championship after Lyons left the game with an injury.<\/p>\n

Lyons and Rudnicki, both Latter-day Saint members, plan to serve missions. Lyons is expected to be the heir apparent to Bear Bachmeier at BYU, and Rudnicki and Lyons have a great relationship. <\/p>\n

The question is, does Rudnicki want to try and compete against Lyons for the starting spot yet again and possibly be behind him once more?<\/p>\n

\u201cThis guy\u2019s been chomping at the bit and I know a lot of people think, \u2018Oh, he was content, he transferred knowing he was going to sit behind Ryder in high school.\u2019 A lot of that was to be developed in a good high school program. I think there\u2019s people that feel, \u2018Oh, he\u2019ll do the same thing at BYU,\u2019 Huffman said. \u201cNo, now I think it\u2019s a competitive thing. So that could help with Utah, like, \u2018Hey, the best chance to go up against Ryder and compete against him is to play against him.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cI know Cal is obviously a factor as well, just given the Northern California proximity. But I think Utah, I know (QB coach) Ryan Gunderson has made a nice push for him, so I think Utah\u2019s got a very realistic chance at getting in and I think the timing is right. He\u2019ll come in with not a lot of wear and tear on that arm of his, either.\u201d<\/p>\n

The timing could work out well. <\/p>\n

Byrd Ficklin, given the Utes can hold onto him in the transfer portal for one more offseason, should be the starter in 2027 and beyond. Rudnicki would suit up in 2028, which would put him in line to be the backup in Ficklin\u2019s senior season with a potential path to start a year later. <\/p>\n

That being said, the Utes will have to fend off the Cougars and the Golden Bears for a shot at the three-star quarterback.<\/p>\n

Rashaun Lavata\u2019i, OL<\/h4>\n

Rated a four-star prospect by Rivals, offensive tackle Rashaun Lavata\u2019i is scheduled to visit Utah on June 12. He\u2019ll also visit Oregon State and Washington State.<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-6, 270-pound offensive tackle and Washington native is one of the top offensive linemen on the board for the Utes.<\/p>\n

\u201cLabatai is a four star, an elite prospect, Rivals 300, was the MVP at the Under Armor camp in Phoenix. \u2026 I think he kind of fits in naturally at Utah,\u201d Huffman said.<\/p>\n

This year, Huffman says, the Utes may be looking more out of state for offensive linemen than in-state. Just three offensive linemen from the state of Utah make Rivals\u2019 top 300 list.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt really seems, interestingly enough, for a school that\u2019s always recruited in-state offensive linemen, it\u2019s not a great offensive line class in the state in 2027. So they\u2019re doing a lot of national offensive line recruiting and it\u2019s kind of evident with how many official visits they\u2019ve got coming in that are linemen from outside the state,\u201d Huffman said.<\/p>\n

Ian Aloisio, OL<\/h4>\n

One of those top in-state targets on the offensive line is Ian Aloisio, who is ranked as the No. 6 player in the state of Utah by Rivals.<\/p>\n

He will visit Utah on June 19 and Arizona on June 12, and the Utes are in a good position to earn his services. Aloisio will be a top priority to keep in-state for the Utes.<\/p>\n

Christian Hanshaw, TE<\/h4>\n

American Fork tight end Christian Hanshaw has drawn interest from all over the nation, including Florida, UCLA and Tennessee. Of course, he has the in-state offers from BYU and Utah, but Freddie and Kyle Whittingham at Michigan are also making a run at the talented tight end.<\/p>\n

Read more All 4 Black GOP House members exit this year. What\u2019s next for Utah Rep. Burgess Owens?<\/a><\/p>\n

He\u2019ll visit Utah, where Scalley and tight ends coach Luke Wells will make their pitch. Will he stay in state?<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing back to one of the in-state kids that I think that they really do have a good chance is Christian Hanshaw,\u201d Huffman said.<\/p>\n

Other top targets<\/h3>\n

Other top targets include Orem edge rusher Jag Ioane, Davis wide receiver Sparrow (No. 1 the state of Utah) and Maple Mountain edge rusher Uhila Wolfgramm.<\/p>\n

All three have Utah visits lined up, but it could be an uphill battle for the Utes to keep them in-state.<\/p>\n

Four-star California wide receiver Blake Wong is high on the Utes\u2019 list, and after last weekend\u2019s visit to Salt Lake City, Utah may have moved into a position to be competitive in the recruitment, though he does have offers from Oregon and Ohio State.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think they made a very, very good move with him. I don\u2019t want to call them the favorite, but I think they certainly moved into that very short list. I know BYU is definitely up there as well and Oregon obviously has made a big push there and he\u2019s had a really good relationship with Oregon for some time,\u201d Huffman said.<\/p>\n

\u201c… I think Utah certainly went from being, \u2018Hey, I\u2019m going to take a visit,\u2019 to very much a consideration for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another priority skill player is four-star wide receiver Ronnie Gomiller, who had a good visit with Utah this weekend.<\/p>\n

What are the priority positions for Scalley in 2027?<\/h3>\n

As expected with Scalley\u2019s culture, which prides itself on physicality, the trenches are a big priority, especially after the Utes lost all five starters on the offensive line.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, having two first-round draft picks is certainly helpful with a first-time offensive line coach, first-time college coach and Jordan Gross, there hasn\u2019t been any seemingly dropoff in terms of his effort at that position,\u201d Huffman said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, obviously Jim Harding had a lot of experience and then to go and get two first-round draft picks and develop them was huge. And then he goes and gets Kelvin Obot. But obviously nobody knows Kelvin Obot better than Jordan Gross, so it\u2019s almost like you can give Jordan a lot of credit for him. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd so when he\u2019s been out recruiting offensive linemen in this class, you\u2019re seeing an emphasis on like, \u2018Hey, we\u2019re Utah. We pride ourselves on winning the trenches.\u2019 So I think you\u2019re seeing an emphasis on offensive linemen, you\u2019re seeing an emphasis on edge rushers.\u201d <\/p>\n

We\u2019ve discussed Lavata\u2019i and Aloisio, and Utah will try to land other commitments from players like four-star offensive linemen Lincoln Mageo and Gecova Doyal and three-stars Tye Kennedy and Ben Rainwater.<\/p>\n

Scalley will have to fend off his former boss for Mageo and Kennedy \u2014 Michigan has offered both players \u2014 but Utah has a shot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really like Tye Kennedy. Michigan\u2019s recruiting him, he\u2019s taken an official visit up to Michigan. But I know he really likes Utah. His dad played in the NFL for a long time, dad was a first-round draft pick. His brother played in the NFL for a long time, played at USC. So there\u2019s some strong ties. I know he really likes Jordan Gross,\u201d Huffman said.<\/p>\n

The Utes have already seen action on the offensive line front after last weekend\u2019s official visit, landing a commitment from three-star Arizona offensive lineman Sire Stewart late Tuesday night.<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-5, 255-pound interior offensive lineman had offers from Arizona, Cal, Baylor, Duke and Oklahoma State, but Utah made enough of an impression this weekend for him to shut down his recruitment.<\/p>\n

On the defensive line, the Utes have two commitments already \u2014 three-star edge rusher Jack Henderson and defensive lineman Tiki Teeples \u2014 and are in pursuit of more, like three-star edge rusher Cameron Saunders.<\/p>\n

A look at who is already committed to Utah<\/h3>\n

Jack Henderson, edge rusher, 6-3, 230 pounds, Bishop Kelly High (Boise, Idaho)<\/h4>\n