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Utah Utes National Signing Day

Follow all of Utah’s NLI signees throughout National Signing Day.

Utah Football signed 19 recruits to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, including five junior college transfers and 14 incoming high school seniors.  The Utes signed players from seven states, led by Texas (6) and California (4). Utah collected three players in-state.

The offensive and defensive lines each picked up four players while the defensive backfield, needing a boost after losing four seniors and a junior from the 2016 season, increased depth with five signees.

Four-star junior college transfer safety Corrion Ballard, who is expected to contribute immediately for the Utes, is already enrolled, as is JC transfer offensive lineman Jordan Agasiva and freshman four-star receiver Tyquez Hampton.

ESPN 700’s Bill Riley Show and O’Connell & Swinney covered Signing Day throughout the day Wednesday, interviewing recruiting specialists and incoming recruits.

Dan Sorensen (UteZone.com) on the Bill Riley Show:

Utah QB signee Jason Shelley (Little Elm, TX) on the Bill Riley Show:

Utah OT signee Mo Unutoa (Kapaa, HI) on OC & Swinney:

Utah CB signee Jaylon Johnson (Fresno, CA) on OC & Swinney:

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham’s press conference:

 

University of Utah Football Signees
(detailed information below)

FULL NAME POS. HT. WT. YEAR EXP. HOMETOWN PREVIOUS SCHOOL SIGNING TIME
Jordan Agasiva OL 6-4 345 Jr. JC Kalihi, Hawaii Pima CC ENROLLED
Corrion Ballard S 6-3 202 Jr. JC Humble, Texas Blinn College ENROLLED
Marquise Blair DB 6-2 185 Jr. JC Wooster, Ohio Dodge City CC 4:10 PM
Jaylen Dixon WR 5-9 156 Fr. HS Frisco, Texas Lone Star HS 8:22 AM
Nick Ford DL 6-5 282 Fr. HS San Pedro, Calif. San Pedro HS 2:38 PM
TJ Green RB 5-11 185 Fr. HS Chandler, Ariz. Chandler HS 10:30 AM
Javelin Guidry DB 5-9 188 Fr. HS Murrieta, Calif. Vista Murrieta HS 10:41 AM
Tyquez Hampton WR 6-2 204 Fr. HS El Paso, Texas El Dorado HS ENROLLED
Jaylon Johnson DB 6-0 181 Fr. HS Fresno, Calif. Central HS 4:10 PM
Tareke Lewis DB 5-11 168 Jr. JC Palatka, Fla. Riverside CC 2:50 PM
Devin Lloyd LB 6-3 219 Fr. HS Chula Vista, Calif. Otay Ranch HS 12:15 PM
John Penisini DT 6-2 307 So. JC Kearns, Utah Snow College 9:06 AM
Taniela Pututau DL 6-3 202 Fr. FR Salt Lake City, Utah Cottonwood HS 11:37 AM
Michael Richardson OT 6-4 235 Fr. HS American Fork, Utah American Fork HS 8:13 AM
Jason Shelley QB 6-0 181 Fr. HS Little Elm, Texas Lone Star HS 8:22 AM
Bryan Thompson WR 6-2 181 Fr. HS Moreno Valley, Calif. Rancho Verde HS 9:35 AM
Orlando Umana OG 6-4 329 Fr. HS Sacramento, Calif. Grant HS 8:25 AM
Mo Unutoa OL 6-5 280 Fr. HS Kapaa, Hawaii Kapaa HS 12:45 PM
Aliki Vimahi DE 6-4 247 Fr. HS Kahuku, Hawaii Kahuku HS 1:45 PM

 

Bios courtesy of Utah Athletics

CORRION BALLARD

Co-Defensive Player of the Year in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference and First-team all-conference as a sophomore safety at Blinn College … 41 tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble, three interceptions and eight pass break-ups in 2016 … season-high 10 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup against Kilgore College … five sacks, an interception and four pass breakups against Arkansas Baptist College … played in seven games as a freshman at Blinn and recorded 19 tackles and three pass breakups … first-team All-District 16-6A as a senior at Summer Creek HS (Texas) in 2014 … helped Summer Creek win a district title in 2013 … honorable mention All-District basket- ball player … son of Cedric Ballard and Cherie Coxeff … one brother and three sisters … full name is Corrion (pro- nounced kory-ahn) D’Neal Ballard … born Dec. 15, 1997.

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JORDAN AGASIVA

First-team all-region as a sophomore
at Pima CC … two-time first-team All- Arizona Community College Athletic Conference … two-time All-Western States Football League ( first team in 2016) … played in 17 games over two seasons … two-time first-team all-state at Mililani HS (Hawaii) … 2014 All- USA Hawaii Football Team … helped lead the Trojans to a state championship in 2014 … two-time first-team OIA All- Star … played his freshman and sopho- more years at Farrington High in Hawaii … son of Darick and Iva Agasiva … full name is Jordan Elijah Phidallez Agasiva (on-gah-see-vah) … born May 21, 1997

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TYQUEZ HAMPTON

Two-time All-District 1-6A, earning unanimous first-team honors as a senior … 74 receptions for 989 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2016 … also rushed for two touchdowns … 562 yards on 25 re- ceptions with six touchdowns as a junior … helped lead El Dorado HS (Texas)
to two Division 1-6A championships … played running back at Chapin HS as a sophomore and rushed for 475 yards … also played basketball and ran track … 2016 district champion in the 200 and 4×100 relay … son of Cathy and Marvin Thomas … one brother and one sister … name is pronounced ty-qwez … born on Aug. 1, 1998 in Gainesville, Fla.

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ORLANDO UMANA

Two-time first-team Sacramento Bee All-Metro … 2015 first team Maxpreps All-Sac-Joaquin Section offensive line … also played on defense for Grant HS (Calif.) and had 49 tackles, a sack and
a forced fumble as a senior … participated in track … second in the Delta League as a junior in the discus and shot put … son of Jose Umana (pronounced oo-mah-nah) and Mele Tua … born Feb. 4, 1998.

 

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MICHAEL RICHARDSON
First-team all-state offensive lineman as a senior in 2016 … also played on the defensive line and had 24 tackles and three sacks … helped lead American Fork HS to the Utah 5A state semi nals … two-time first-team USA Today All- USA Utah Football Team … two-time All-Valley … three-time All-Region 4 selection earned first-team honors in 2015 and 2016 … son of Joe and Charlie Richardson … born Nov. 6, 1998.

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JAYLEN DIXON

All-state in 2015 … two-time all-district (9-5A first-team in 2015 and 13-5A All-Purpose MVP in 2016) … 1,239 receiving yards with 15 touchdowns as a senior … 1,178 yards and 16 touch- downs as a junior … helped Lone Star HS (Texas) to a state runner-up finish in 2015 … also competes in track in the 100, 200 and long jump … son of Jamie Cofer and Nicole Dixon … father is a high school football coach … one sister … hobby is shing … full name is Jaylen Nerrell Dixon … nickname is JD … born Oct. 11, 1998 in Kansas City, Kan.

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JASON SHELLEY

Ranked 12th nationally among dual- threat quarterbacks by 247Sports and 27th by ESPN … two-time honorable mention all-state … two-time All-District MVP was a unanimous 9-5A pick in 2015 and the 13-5A MVP in 2016 … two-time All-District Offensive New- comer of the Year (10-3A in 2013 and 9-5A in 2014) … first-team all-area in 2015 … passed for 2,975 yards (195- of-306) and 24 touchdowns (4 INT), and rushed 180 times for 629 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior … threw for 3,716 yards (233-of-371) and 39 touch- downs (8 INT), while rushing for 1,661 yards (295 attempts) and 21 touchdowns as a junior … 2,081 yards passing and 21 TDs and 873 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns as a sophomore … led Lone Star HS (Texas) to a state runner-up finish in 2015 … named Dallas Morning News Offensive Player of the Week after scoring seven touchdowns (two passing, ve rushing) and accumulating more than 500 yards (316 passing, 204 rushing) in a triple overtime state semi nal win over Lake Dallas.

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JOHN PENISINI

Honorable mention All-Western States Football League as a freshman at Snow College in 2015 … 40 tackles with 6.5 TFL, three sacks and a forced fumble his freshman season at Snow … did not play in 2016 and will have three years to play three at Utah … honorable men-tion all-state as a senior at West Jordan HS (Utah) … 92 tackles and six sacks … first-team All-Region 3 … name is pronounced pen-ih-seeny … born May, 31, 1997.

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BRYAN THOMPSON

First-team 2015 All-CIF Southern Sec- tion Inland Division as a junior … 77 catches for 1,377 yards and 14 touch- downs as a senior … helped Rancho Verde HS (Calif.) advance to the 2016 CIF Football semi nals and a 6-0 Inland Valley League record … 58 receptions for 1,259 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior … also competes in track … member of the 2016 CIF Southern Sec- tion Division I runner-up 4×400 relay team and also took second in the long jump … son of Shaunda Greene … born Apr. 7, 1999.

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TJ GREEN
2016 Arizona Cardinals’ High School All-Around Player of the Year … East Valley Tribune Football Player of the Year … first-team USA Today All-USA Arizona … 2016 finalist for Big Schools Football Athlete of the Year and first- team All-6A Conference … earned The Valley of the Sun Chapter of the Nation- al Football Foundation Archie Amerson Running Back Award, given to the top senior player in the state at his position … 2,267 yards and 35 touchdowns on 247 carries as a senior for an average of 9.2 yards per rush and 151.1 yards per game … also had 14 receptions for 278 yards and four touchdowns … helped lead Chandler HS to the 2016 6A state title, scoring three touchdowns in the title game and rushing for 233 yards on 30 carries … Chandler also won the State Champions Bowl Series game over Georgia state high school champion Valdosta … 1,148 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 109 carries as a junior, when he also had six receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown … also ran track and won 2016 state championships in the 110 hurdles and 4×100 relay … nished second in the state in the 300 hurdles, helping lead Chandler to the team title … son of Dion Green and Vonda Wilson … born Oct. 6, 1998.

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TANIELA PUTUTAU

Plans to serve an LDS church mission before enrolling in school … 2015 first- team all-region 3 as a junior at Cottonwood HS (Utah) … missed his senior season with an injury … 24 tacklesand three fumble recoveries his junior year … also played receiver and had 29 catches for 283 yards and a touchdown in 2015 … 18 receptions for 337 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore … son of Howard and Taina Pututao (pronounced poo-too-tau) … brother Hauati is a redshirt freshman at Utah and brother Fua (currently on a church mission) was a 2016 Ute signee … born Aug. 4, 1999.

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DEVIN LLOYD

Played safety, receiver and punter at Otay Ranch HS (Calif.) … 2016 second- team All-CIF San Diego Section defense and Metro-Mesa League offense … as a senior team captain, he had 52 tackles, eight interceptions, three pass breakups and three defensive touchdowns (1 FR, 2 IR), as well as 29 receptions for 493 yards and six touchdowns … 43 punts for 1,596 yards (37.1 average) with 12 punts inside the 20-yard line and a long of 60 yards his senior season … San Diego Union-Tribune Prep Athlete of the Week for his four interceptions—two returned for touchdowns—in a win over Eastlake … 23 receptions for 384 yards and two touchdowns as a junior … 47 punts for 1,575 yards (33.5 average) in 2015 … also lettered two seasons in basketball … son of Joe Lloyd and Ronyta Johnson … father was in the military for 26 years … only child … full name is Devin Eric Lloyd … born Sept. 30, 1998 in Kansas City.

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MO UNUTOA

2017 Polynesian bowl … as a senior in 2016, became the first player from Kapaa HS (Hawaii) to earn first-team all-state honors … two-time All-Hawaii Division II ( first-team in 2016) … 2016 USA Today All-USA Hawaii … 2016 first-team All-Maui Interscholastic League … also competed in track (discus and shot put) … father Morris Sr. Unutoa played seven seasons in the NFL (1996-2002) for the Eagles, Buccaneers and Bills … full name is Morris Unutoa (pronounced (oo-new-toe-uh), but prefers Mo … born Jan. 24, 1999.

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ALIKI VIMAHI

2016 Honolulu Star Advertiser Hawaii All-State Football Team and first-team USA Today All-USA Hawaii Football Team … two-time All-Hawaii Division I pick earned first-team honors as a senior in 2016 … 2016 first-team All-OIA Di- vision I Blue Conference and 2015 OIA first-team all-star … 20.5 tackles, six sacks and a fumble recovery in 2016 … invited to play in the Polynesian Bowl in Hawaii after his senior season and led all tacklers in the first half with four stops (2 TFL, 1 sack) … son of Tevita and Lori Vimahi … full name is Alekisanita Vimahi, but goes by Aliki (pronounced uh-leek-ee vee-ma-hee) … born Aug. 3, 1998.

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TAREKE LEWIS

First-team All-SCFA National Division Central League cornerback as a Riverside CC freshman in 2015 … two-time Southern California Football Associa- tion National Central Division player of the week (Defensive Player of the Week in win over Bakers eld in 2016 and Special Teams/All-Purpose Player of the Week vs. Mt. San Antonio in 2015) … 16 total tackles, two interceptions and seven pass breakups as a sophomore in 2016 …. 30 tackles, three interceptions and six pass breakups his freshman season, along with a team-high 16 kick returns for 399 yards and a touchdown … prepped at Palatka HS (Fla.) where he captained his football and basketball teams … played in the Border Wars all- star game … son of Katrina Williams … two brothers and one sister … full name is Tareke (pronounced tuh-reek) Daquon Lewis … born Aug. 14, 1996.

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NICK FORD

Marine League Defensive Player of the Year and CIF-LA City Section Division I Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior in 2016 … had 56 tackles (includ- ing 24 tackles for loss and 10 sacks), two pass breakups and a forced fumble his senior year … also had 25 pancake blocks in 2016, when his San Pedro HS (Calif.) team gained 4,004 yards of total offense and scored 43 offensive touchdowns … lettered three years in track and eld … enjoys piano, guitar, science, surfing and horseback riding … heritage includes black Portuguese and native American … son of Michael and Maria Ford … father played wide receiver for California from 1986-89 … two brothers and one sister … full name is Nicolas Ford … born Oct. 8, 1999.

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MARQUISE BLAIR

First-team NJCAA All-American and first-team all-Region VI as a sophomore at Dodge City CC … two-time All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference made the first team as a sophomore … 24 tackles for loss in 2016
tied for third nationally in the NJCAA … tied for 19th in the nation with 100 tackles his sophomore season, when he also had three sacks, four interceptions, ve pass breakups, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a fumble return for a touchdown … 64 tackles, eight sacks, two interceptions, three pass breakups and three forced fumbles as a freshman … first-team Division II all-state as a senior at Wooster HS (Ohio) … also named first-team Division II All-Ohio and Ohio Cardinal Conference Defensive Player of the Year … two-time All-Northeast Inland District selection earned first-team honors as a senior … first-team all-OCC as a junior when he had a team-high 75 tackles, as well as 35 receptions for 724 yards and 11 touchdowns … also competed in track, nishing 10th in the long jump at the Ohio State Track and Field Championships as a senior … placed first in the conference in the long jump and second in the 100 as a senior … son of Tonya Boykins and stepfather Rayford Lee… full name is Marquise (pronounced mar-keece) Damond Blair … born July 18, 1997.

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JAYLON JOHNSON
Named to the US Army All-American Bowl … sixth-ranked cornerback in the 2017 recruiting class by Rivals.com and eighth by Scout … four-star recruit by both Rivals and Scout … 2016 first-team USA Today All-USA California Football Team … All-Tri-River Conference … 2016 Central HS Fall Male Athlete of the Year … team captain … ran a laser- timed 4.47 40-yard dash and recorded a 38’3” vertical jump at The Opening Finals camp … son of John and Carmella Johnson … also lettered three years in basketball … honor roll … both parents are Fresno State graduates … two brothers and one sister … brother John plays defensive back for UCLA … full name is Jaylon Lawrence Johnson … born Apr. 19, 1999.

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JAVELIN GUIDRY

First-team all-Southwestern League in his only season at Vista Murrieta HS (Calif.) … 38 tackles, six interceptions and 31 passes defended as a senior … also played running back, nishing with 589 yards and three touchdowns rushing and 233 yards receiving … attended three different high schools, including two (A&M Consolidated and Cedar Park) in his home state of Texas … two-time first-team All-District 25-5A pick as a sophomore and junior at Cedar Park HS … his sophomore season, he had 63 tackles, seven interceptions and two forced fumbles, while rushing for 293 yards and four touchdowns … also played on the return teams his sophomore season … as a junior, he rushed for 378 yards and five touchdowns … won the 2016 Texas 5A 100m championships at the state track meet with a time of 10.41 seconds … also in the spring of 2016, he clocked a 4.35-second 40 at The Opening Regional in Dallas … son of Javelin Guidry Sr. and Kaishauna Guidry … full name is Javelin Kajireh Guidry (pronounced gidrey) … born Aug. 6, 1998.

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MIKI SUGUTURAGA

(Committed and signed; Awaiting official word from Utah)

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