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Utah Football Announces 2016 Signing Class

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Utah Football announced 24 2016 National Letter of Intent signees. They had some Utah legends help welcome the new recruits.

SALT LAKE CITY—The University of Utah football team announced the 2016 signing class on National Letter of Intent Signing Day.  They had help from some special guests welcoming the signees, too.

Utah signed recruits from seven states with California (7), Utah (6) and Florida (5) leading the way. Also contributing to the count were Hawaii (2), Arizona (1), Texas (1), Washington (1) and Australia (1). The biggest position gains came on the offensive and defensive lines, with five players each, and at linebacker with four.

Six players are already enrolled and participating in offseason conditioning with the team: offensive linemen Jake Grant and Scott Peck; quarterbacks Troy Williams and Tyler Huntley; wide receiver Demari Simpkins and punter Mitch Wishnowsky. Two other members of this year’s class will join the team this summer after returning from church missions: defensive tackles Howard Pututau and Pita Tonga initially signed in 2014.
Full List of NLI Signees (bios below):

Name ……………………. Pos. … Hgt. .. Wgt…. Yr. …Exp. . Hometown/Last School

Bradlee Anae …………. DE …… 6-3…..229 …. Fr. … HS … Laie, Hawaii/Kahuku HS
Keaton Bills ……………. DL …… 6-4…..274 …. Fr. … HS … Draper, Utah/Corner Canyon HS
Garett Bolles ………….. OL …… 6-6…..296 …. Jr. … JC …. Lehi, Utah/Snow College
Terrell Burgess ……….. CB …… 6-0…..182 …. Fr. … HS … San Marcos, Calif./San Marcos HS
Alec Dana ……………… WR….. 6-2…..186 …. So… JC …. Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Chaffey College
Cole Fotheringham …. TE……. 6-4…..235 …. Fr. … HS … San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente HS
Leki Fotu …………………DE …… 6-5…..276 …. Fr. … HS … West Valley City, Utah/Herriman HS
Jake Grant………………. OL …… 6-4…..279 …. Fr…. HS … Scottsdale, Ariz./Horizon HS
Davir Hamilton ………LB/WR … 6-3…..208 …. Fr. … HS … Compton, Calif./Long Beach Poly HS
Devonta’e Henry-Cole..RB …… 5-8…..168 …. Fr. … HS … Boca Raton, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas
Tyler Huntley …………. QB…… 6-1…..180 …. Fr. … HS … Dania, Fla./Hallandale HS
Nygel King ……………… CB …… 6-0…..169 …. Fr. … HS … Tomball, Texas/Klein Oak HS
Semisi Lauaki……………DL …… 6-3…..231 …. Fr. … HS … Hawthorne, Calif./Leuzinger HS
David Luafatasaga …….LB……. 6-4…..232 …. Jr. … JC …. Honolulu, Hawaii/Arizona Western
Johnny Maea…………… OL …… 6-4…..308 …. Fr. … HS … Salt Lake City/East HS
Zack Moss ………………. RB …… 5-10…206 …. Fr. … HS … Hialeah Gardens, Fla./Hallandale HS
Scott Peck ……………… OL …… 6-6…..312 …. Fr. … HS … Spokane Valley, Wash./Central Valley HS
Fua Pututau ……………. DL …… 6-2…..242 …. Fr…. HS …Salt Lake City/Cottonwood HS
Tucker Scott ……………. OL …… 6-4…..288 …. Fr. … HS … San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente HS
Demari Simpkins………. WR….. 5-10…176 …. Fr…. HS …Carol City, Fla./Hallandale HS
Kurtis Taufa …………….. LB……. 6-2…..236 …. Jr. … JC …. Highland, Utah/Snow College
Donavan Thompson …. LB……. 5-10…214 …. Fr. … HS … Miami, Fla./Miami Central HS
Troy Williams ………….. QB…… 6-2…..197 …. Jr. … JC …. Carson, Calif./Santa Monica College
Mitch Wishnowsky …… P …….. 6-3…..225 …. So… JC …. Gosnells, Western Australia/San Barb Clg
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham Press Conference:

Bios via utahutes.com

Troy Williams – QB – Carson, CA – 6’2″ – 197 lbs
Bio: Enrolled in classes at Utah in January … played at Santa Monica College in 2015 after transferring from Washington … threw for 2,750 yards (180-of-265) and 31 touchdowns with just four interceptions … played in five games with one start at Washington in 2014 after redshirting in 2013… in first NCAA start against Arizona State, completed 18-of-26 passes for 130 yards (2 INT) … coming out of Narbonne HS (Calif.), he was listed as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback recruit in the nation by Rivals and the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback by ESPN … two-time CIF Los Angeles City Section Division I Player of the Year (2011-12)

Dennis Erickson and Aaron Roderick talk about Williams here

David Luafatasaga – LB – Honolulu, HI – 6’4″ – 232 lbs
Bio: First-team all-WSFL and all-ACCAC in 2015 … four-star recruit by Scout.com … led Arizona Western with 93 tackles, including 16 TFL and four sacks as a sophomore … also had two forced fumbles, an interception, a blocked kick and a fumble recovery in 2015 … five double-figure tackle games


Mitch Wishnowsky – P – Gosnells, Western Australia – 6’3″ – 225 lbs
Bio: Enrolled in classes at Utah in January … placed 30 of his 63 total punts (47.6%) inside the 20-yard line as a freshman at Santa Barbara CC in 2014 … averaged 39.8 yards per punt … long punt of 77 yards … averaged 45.6 yards per punt and placed five of his eight punts inside the 20 against Santa Monica … did not play football in 2015 … was on the reserves for Perth in the West Australian Football League in 2012


Demari Simpkins – WR – Carol City, FL – 5’10” – 176 lbs
Bio: Enrolled in classes at Utah in January … as a senior at Hallandale HS (Fla.), he had 38 receptions for 506 yards and seven touchdowns … four catches for 137 yards (34.3 average) and two touchdowns vs. Bishop Moore HS … rushed 15 times for 47 yards in 2015 … played quarterback at Miramar HS (Fla.) as a junior, passing for 574 yards … honorable mention all-Broward County in 2014

Dennis Erickson talks about Simpkins here


Scott Peck – OL – Spokane Valley, WA – 6’6″ – 312 lbs
Bio: Enrolled in classes at Utah in January … rated the No. 1 offensive tackle in Washington by Scout.com … all-state as a senior … two-time first-team all-Greater Spokane League … helped Central Valley reach the state playoffs in 2015 after the team won just three games the year before … also played basketball and participated in track and field (shot, discus and hammer throw)


Tyler Huntley – QB – Dania, FL – 6’1″ – 180 lbs
Bio: Graduated from high school early and enrolled in classes at Utah in January … 2015 Florida Gatorade Football Player of the Year … two-time all-Broward County … went 34-10 as a starter in four years at Hallandale HS, passing for 9,053 yards and 106 touchdowns … 237-of-387 passing for 3,636 yards and 42 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions as a senior … Hallandale finished 10-3 and advanced to the 5A regional finals for the first time in school history in 2015 … set a state record with 71 pass attempts against St. Thomas Aquinas, throwing for 468 yards in the game

Dennis Erickson and Aaron Roderick talk about Huntley here


Jake Grant – OL – Scottsdale, AZ – 6’4″ – 279 lbs
Bio: Enrolled in classes at Utah in January … rated as Arizona’s No. 6 overall prospect and third among offensive linemen in the 2014 class by the Arizona Republic … three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com … No. 12 overall prospect in Arizona by Rivals.com … azcentral first-team all-state as a senior … first-team all-state, all-section and all-division as a junior in 2013 … second-team all-East Valley Tribune in 2013 … had 41 pancake blocks and did not allow a sack in 290 pass attempts as a junior … named to the 24-7Football.com All-D1 team and the all-Paradise Valley Unified School District team as a senior


Zack Moss – RB – Hialeah Gardens, FL – 5’10” – 206 lbs
Bio: Named the running back MVP at the Rivals Camp Series in Miami … led Hallandale HS (Fla.) with 1,098 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns on 145 carries as a senior … also had 25 receptions for 425 yards and four touchdowns … related to Santana Moss, an All-American at Miami who had more than 10,000 yards receiving during a 14-year NFL career.


Devonta’e Henry-Cole – RB – Boca Raton, FL – 5’8″ – 168 lbs
Bio: Played in three games his senior season at St. Thomas Aquinas HS (Fla.) before being sidelined with a broken wrist … 37 carries, 173 yards and one touchdown in 2015 … also had two catches for 35 yards … 25 rushes for 118 yards and a touchdown against Booker T. Washington … as a junior, he averaged 11.8 yards per carry, rushing 34 times for 400 yards and five touchdowns … also ran track … clocked in 10.87 seconds in the 100 meters and 22.63 in the 200 meters … placed fifth in the 200 meters at the 2015 FHSAA 4A District 13 meet.


Garett Bolles – OL – Lehi, UT – 6’6″ – 296 lbs
Bio: NJCAA first team All-American in 2015 … has three years to play two … No. 1 overall junior college prospect in the nation by Scout.com, which rated him as five stars … No. 3-ranked juco prospect and four-star rating by Rivals.com … 2015 Western States Football League Offensive Player of the Year … first team all-WSFL in 2015 and second-team in 2014 … helped Snow College finish No. 2 in the 2015 NJCAA rankings … Snow won the 2015 WSFL championship and the Salt City Bowl … served an LDS church mission in Colorado Springs.


Nygel King – CB – Tomball, TX – 6’0″ – 169 lbs
Bio: District 15-6A honorable mention as a senior despite a shoulder injury that caused him to miss most of the season … 40 tackles and two interceptions … three-star prospect by Scout.com and 247Sports.com … No. 17 Texas cornerback recruit by Scout.com … Klein Oak HS reached the 2014 state quarterfinals his junior season … Klein Oak’s Defensive MVP against Austin Bowie and Klein … scored on an 85-yard fumble recovery against Klein … also competes in track.


Kurtis Taufa – LB – Highland, UT – 6’2″ – 236 lbs
Bio: Second-team all-WSFL as a Snow College sophomore in 2015 … 68 tackles with 11.5 TFL (2.0 sacks) … also had a pass breakup, forced fumble and fumble recovery … career-high 16 tackles (2 TFL) and a pass breakup against Eastern Arizona … 11 tackles (2.0 TFL) vs. New Mexico Military … three tackles for loss against both Pima and Arizona Western … as a freshman in 2014, he had 45 tackles (7.5 TFL), two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery … season-high 12 tackles included three TFL against Eastern Arizona … first-team all-state in 2011 at Lone Peak HS (Utah) … 2011 Region 4 Defensive MVP.


Johnny Maea – OL – Salt Lake City, UT – 6’4″ – 308 lbs
Bio: Plans to serve a church mission before enrolling … 2015 first-team All-USA Utah Football Team … Salt Lake Tribune second-team all-state as a senior … rated the No. 7 overall recruit in the state of Utah by Scout.com … named to the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl and the Polynesian All-American Bowl … helped East HS (Utah) win the 2015 4A state championship.


Tucker Scott – OL – San Clemente, CA – 6’4″ – 288 lbs
Bio: Two-time first-team All-Sea View League … all-CIF Southern Section Southwest Division as a junior … helped San Clemente HS (Calif.) to two CIF-SS Southwest Division runner-up finishes … also played basketball as a sophomore … son of Lance and Stacy Scott … father was a two-time all-WAC center for Utah and a fifth-round NFL draft pick who had a six-year career with the Arizona Cardinals, New York Giants and New England Patriots (1995-2000).


Donavan Thompson – LB – Miami, FL – 5’10” – 214 lbs
Bio: Two-time all-state linebacker earned first-team honors as a senior … helped lead Miami Central HS (Fla.) to four state championships … 135 tackles, 11 sacks as a senior … forced a fumble in the 2015 state championship game that led to a touchdown … named the 2014 all-Miami-Dade & Keys Underclassman of the Year as a junior … led Miami-Dade County in tackles in 2014 with 167 stops … also had 14 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two interceptions in 2014.


Alec Dana – WR – Rancho Cucamonga, CA – 6’2″ – 186 lbs
Bio: Attended Chaffey College from 2014-15 and played football one season … had 39 receptions for 543 yards (13.9 ypc) and three touchdowns in 2014 … named SCFA Central League Player of the Week after a school-record 247 yards and two touchdowns against Moorpark … listed in the College Football America 2015 Yearbook on its junior college Starting Lineup … three-star prospect by both Scout.com and Rivals.com … ran track at Chaffey and recorded season-best times of 10.86 in the 100 and 22.12 in the 200 in the spring of 2015 … originally committed to Washington State out of Rancho Cucamonga High School in 2013 and redshirted at College of the Desert the following fall semester.


Terrell Burgess – CB – San Marcos, CA – 6’0″ – 182 lbs
Bio: All-CIF San Diego Section first-team wide receiver as a senior and second-team defensive back as a junior … KUSI Silver Pigskin finalist … three-star recruit by Scout.com and Rivals.com … No. 6 cornerback in California by Scout.com … eight career interceptions and 90 career tackles … 73 career receptions for 1,288 yards and 17 touchdowns … 61 catches for 1,162 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior … also had 21 tackles and three interceptions in 2015 … 51 tackles and four interceptions as a junior in 2014.

Bradlee Anae – DE – Laie, HI – 6’3″ – 229 lbs

Honolulu Star-Advertiser first-team all-state … KHON Cover2 first-team all-state … all-USA Hawaii second team … Oahu Interscholastic Association Red Division first team … three-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com … selected to play in the Polynesian All-American Bowl … helped Kahuku HS win the Division 1 state title and go 13-0 in 2015.

Cole Fotheringham – TE – San Clemente, CA – 6’4″ – 235 lbs
Bio: Plans to serve a church mission before enrolling … selected to the 2015 All-USA California Football Team … rated as a three-star prospect by Rivals.com and Scout.com … 100 career receptions for 1,244 yards and 19 touchdowns … as a senior in 2015, had 45 receptions for 600 yards and 10 touchdowns (as well as five pancake blocks) … 50 catches for 585 yards and eight touchdowns his junior season at San Clemente HS.

Leki Fotu – DE – West Valley City, UT – 6’5″ – 276 lbs
Bio: 2015 Deseret News 5A MVP and first-team all-state … 2015 Salt Lake Tribune first-team all-state and All-Salt Lake Tribune Team … 2015 Region 4 Defensive MVP … three-star recruit according to Scout.com … 79 tackles and 7.5 sacks his senior season at Herriman HS (Utah) … did not play football as a junior in 2014 … in 2013, attended San Leandro HS (Calif.) … also played rugby and basketball in high school … played on the USA Rugby Boys High School All-American team.

Fua Pututau – DL – Salt Lake City, UT – 6’2″ – 242 lbs
Bio: Plans to serve a church mission before enrolling … ranked the ninth-best recruit in the state of Utah by Rivals.com … two-time honorable mention all-state at Cottonwood HS … first-team all-region as a senior in 2015 … 60 tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble, pass breakup, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt his senior season … also had 74 all-purpose yards (48 rushing, 26 receiving) in 2015

Keaton Bills – DL – Draper, UT – 6-4 – 274 lbs
Bio: Plans to serve a church mission before enrolling … Deseret News 4A first-team all-state in 2015 … Salt Lake Tribune all-state second team defensive lineman and honorable mention offensive lineman … Region 7 Defensive MVP … first-team all-region in 2014 and second-team all-region in 2013 … No. 2 defensive end in the state of Utah by Scout.com and No. 15 overall prospect by Rivals.com … three-star recruit by Scout.com, Rivals.com and 247Sports.com … 141 career tackles with 8.0 sacks

Davir Hamilton – LB/WR – Compton, CA – 6’3″ – 208 lbs
Bio: Two-way player (linebacker and receiver) was named to the 2015 Long Beach Press-Telegram All-Area Dream Team as a linebacker … invited to play linebacker in the 2015 Semper Fi All-American Bowl … three-star recruit by Scout.com … career totals included 108 tackles, 17.0 sacks, 723 receiving yards (10 TDs), 2,296 all-purpose yards and 25 total touchdowns … transferred to Long Beach Poly HS from Verbum Dei HS for his senior year … 33 tackles (4.0 sacks), three caused fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 112 receiving yards (7 catches) and two touchdowns in his only season at Long Beach Poly.

Semisi Lauaki – DL – Hawthorne, CA – 6’3″ – 231 lbs
Bio: Plans to serve a church mission before enrolling … first-team all-Pioneer League defensive tackle in 2015 … first-team all-Pioneer League offensive lineman as a junior … started on both sides of the ball … selected to the Polynesian All-American Bowl after his senior season … three-star defensive tackle prospect by Rivals.com and Scout.com … 41 tackles (2.0 sacks) and a caused fumble as a senior at Leuzinger HS (Calif.) in 2015 … also threw shot (43’0.00′ best) and discus.

Former Ute and current Kansas City Chiefs QB Alex Smith kicked things off.

Former Ute and Atlanta Falcon Paul Soliai wrapped up the day

Early signees got some love early in the morning.

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