Utah Football Hosted 2026, 2027 Prospects For Junior Day

Jan 27, 2025, 12:17 PM | Updated: 4:33 pm

Snow blankets Rice-Eccles Stadium before the start of an NCAA football game between the Utah Utes and Colorado Buffaloes in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. (Courtesy of Deseret News)

(Courtesy of Deseret News)

BY STEVE BARTLE

Utah Insider

SALT LAKE CITY – It’s been a busy month for football programs, especially Utah Football, as the focus has shifted to the future on the recruiting trail.

Coaches have been on the road evaluating and visiting 2026 and 2027 prospects. Over the weekend, Kyle Whittingham’s program welcomed many prospects to campus for Junior Day.

All in all, there were well over 25 prospects in attendance. Many from within the state lines but a good number of out-of-state prospects as well.

Heavy in-state presence for Utah Football’s Junior Day

Utah welcomed a large number of in-state prospects to the event, including:

Fremont athlete Salesi Moa
Pine View tight end Brock Harris
Corner Canyon offensive lineman Esun Tafa, receiver Kai Meza, defensive end Jase Kozlowski
Davis athlete Bode Sparrow, defensive lineman Junior Moala
Ridgeline athlete Graham Livingston and lineman Easton Hammond
Lehi tight end Bryton Niu, running back Devaughn Eka
Timpview athletes Jaren and Kennan Pula, cornerback Aisa Galea’i
Skyridge offensive lineman Mataali Benjamin
Olympus athlete Adam Bywater
West quarterback Kamden Loptai
Mountain Ridge athlete Tytan Dejong

Thank you Coach @coachjharding and @Utah_Football for the invite to Junior day and for taking the time to share your vision with me and my Mom. I had a good time. Looking forward to OV. #GoUtes @EsunKft @KjarEric @bcavi68 @NilxGroup pic.twitter.com/jQURYbkfna

— Esun Tafa (@esuntafa_) January 27, 2025

Ridgeline athlete Graham Livingston – “It was really cool. The coaches were super fun to be around, and the effort they put into everything really showed. They started with getting everyone great food and showing us what Utah is all about. Then we went and played a few games against the coaches, then had a little bit of time to get to know our position coaches, then they told us a little bit about the staff. I was in the wide receiver room. I have a very good connection with many of the coaches there!”

Had an incredible time at Utah Junior Day! First class operation all the way! Thank to all the coaches who invited me and left us all with inspiring words! Go Utes! @micahsimon_ @Coach_Beck7 @RSNBUtes @MasonYellicoUT @UtahCoachWhitt @RidgelineFB pic.twitter.com/mJKAr4AdXH

— Graham Livingston (@graham_liv12) January 26, 2025

Skyridge offensive lineman Mataali Benjamin – “Yesterday’s experience was so awesome! We started off with breakfast and met with all the position coaches. Coach Harding and Coach Asiata spent some time at the table with my parents and me, and we got to know more about each other. Coach Harding is really a cool dude. Later, we split into teams and played some games against the coaches. I had a lot of fun. It was great being there with a lot of our very own in-state boys. Overall, the experience was great, and the coaches and staff were awesome.”

Had a great time at Utah’s junior day yesterday thank you coaches for having me out!! @UtahCoachWhitt @FWhittinghamJr @RSNBUtes @CoachPowell99 @Utah_Football @coachjharding pic.twitter.com/BQvpvzlLqc

— Jase Kozlowski (@Jase_Kozlowski) January 26, 2025

Olympus athlete Adam Bywater – “It was a super awesome experience. The coaching staff was super cool to talk to and to meet all the other recruits. What stood out for me it was the attention to detail in all aspects of the program. Like nutrition, recovery, lifting, coaching.”

Excited to be back up on the hill tomorrow for Junior Day 2025!@Utah_Football @UtahCoachWhitt @RSNBUtes @FWhittinghamJr @CoachPowell99 @MasonYellicoUT @Colton_Swan @UteReef33 @Coach_Beck7 @bigfam94

Thank you coaches for the invite! pic.twitter.com/ye9iormtRJ

— Tytan Dejong (@Tytan_Dejong08) January 25, 2025

Davis defensive lineman Lopeti Moala Jr. is a big priority for Utah

Had a great time this morning at the Utah Utes junior day! Grateful to all those who made it a special experience, thank you for the invite ! And a happy birthday to my dad ! @MasonYellicoUT @Utah_Football @BlairAngulo @BrandonHuffman @ChadSimmons_ @RSNBUtes @UteReef33 @bigfam94… pic.twitter.com/dlBgGBbQHu

— Lopeti Matai'tini Moala Jr. (@LopetiMoala07) January 25, 2025

“It was a great experience, I enjoyed it and had a fun time with the staff and other recruits. It’s been great just being able to reach out to the coaches and getting to know them and what the program has to offer,” Moala said of his junior day experience.

One of the top priorities for Utah in the 2026 recruiting class is Davis defensive lineman Lopeti Moala Jr. He holds offers from BYU, Iowa State, UCLA, USC, and Utah, among others. He’ll be one Utah fans need to keep a close eye on. The 6-foot-4, 230-pounder has been a focal point of Utah’s recruiting efforts in this class. Thanks to his athleticism and size, he’s a versatile defensive line prospect.

Pine View tight end Brock Harris impressed by Coach Beck

Thank you so much @FWhittinghamJr Coach Beck and @coachjharding for stopping by and spending time with me and my family. Was a great time. @Utah_Football pic.twitter.com/0GGzodLA2Q

— Brock Harris (@BrockHarris2026) January 9, 2025

“It was good, I had a lot of fun with the guys that I’ve gotten to know over the last couple of years,” Brock Harris said. “I really like Coach Beck, he’s really personable.”

After welcoming coaches to his home in St George earlier this month, Harris traveled north to attend Utah’s Junior Day on Saturday. One of the top talents in the country regardless of position, Harris is a hot commodity.

Three-star athlete Brandon Smith loved his experience

Had a great time out at @Utah_Football Loved getting to see all the coaches! Their priority junior day was an amazing experience! pic.twitter.com/ILI6oCOOYA

— Brandon Smith 3⭐️ATH (@brandonsmith026) January 26, 2025

“I was honored to receive the invite for their Junior Day, the visit was such an amazing experience,” Smith shared. “They welcomed us in with a lot of energy, which is very nice. The facilities and campus were very nice. The football stadium is in a class of its own, especially with the mountain views. We walked around the campus and got to tour the facilities, I could sense the pride Utah has in the program. Hopefully, one day, I might become a Utah Man and continue that standard of excellence!”

Smith is a two-way athlete at Central East in Fresno, California, and his recruitment has grown this month. Thanks to a long-standing relationship with Coach Atuaia, Utah is primarily recruiting him as a running back.

“Coach is such a fun guy and very honest, which I appreciate. I was originally offered by him last summer when he was on the coaching staff at Washington State, so I have a good connection with him,” Smith shared.

Three-star athlete Sefanaia Alatini

You’ll catch me at the University Of Utahs Junior Day Tomorrow !!!#GoUtes🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/HqGZWYuvqI

— Sefanaia Alatini (@NaiaAlatini) January 25, 2025

“Junior day was a good experience for sure, got to meet a lot of the coaches face to face for the first time. They were very welcoming when I first got there; we also did a lot of games that got us closer to the coaches. Also, getting to learn what they teach at the University of Utah gave me a few tips I can use in the game. The campus was top tier and statistically a top team every year. I loved it, it was a great experience, and I can’t wait to set up my official visit,” Sefa Alatini shared.

Alatini is a three-star athlete, who plays primarily in the defensive secondary. Utah is actually recruiting him to play linebacker, where his coverage skills and physical potential would mimic the path of players like Chase Hansen or Devin Lloyd.

2027 Arbor View trio QB Thaddeus Thatcher, WR Damani Warren, TE Zac Fares

Utah is pursuing a dynamic trio of prospects out of Las Vegas. Thaddeus, the younger brother of linebacker signee Christian Thatcher, is a promising ’27 signal caller. Meanwhile, Damani Warren and Zac Fares are two blue-chip prospects at receiver and tight end. The day provided new offensive coordinator Jason Beck with an opportunity to share his vision for Utah’s offense.

“The new offensive guys were great, really cool, and I really think they are going to get Utah’s offense going, Beck and Detmer work really well together,” Thatcher described.

“The visit was good overall, it’s always fun getting up to Salt Lake City and reuniting with the coaching staff, it was real easy to talk with the new receivers coach, Micah Simon,” Warren shared.

New offers extended to 2026 four-star QB, Peyton Falzone, three-star LB LaGary Mitchell

Both Falzone and Mitchell attended over the weekend. Falzone is an uncommitted quarterback prospect from Pennsylvania, while Mitchell is a linebacker from Idaho who has committed to Boise State.

After a great visit and conversation with @UtahCoachWhitt I’m very blessed to receive an offer from @Utah_Football. It was awesome being on campus. #GoUtes @Coach_Beck7 @COACHKDJR @NazarethTD @NAHSBlueEagles @BradMaendler pic.twitter.com/2TIOjbE7pQ

— Peyton Falzone (@PeytonFalzone) January 25, 2025

After a great talk with @Colton_Swan I am extremely blessed to say I have received my 2nd D1 scholarship to the university of Utah🙏🏽#AGTG pic.twitter.com/ieIVTbuFHk

— LaGary Mitchell Jr (@LaGaryMitchell8) January 25, 2025