Ute Football Coach Ron McBride Analyzes His 2001 Recruiting Class

Feb. 7, 2001

SALT LAKE CITY -
University of Utah head football coach Ron McBride is breathing easier now that he has received signed letters of intent from 24 football recruits. While he anticipates another few letters may arrive by week's end, McBride is thrilled with the talent already locked into his 2001 recruiting class.

"This class more than fills what we need," said McBride. "It's very athletic and we don't have any projects or players with suspect talent. All of these guys have proven they can play the game the way it's supposed to be played."

McBride and his staff hit the recruiting trail particularly hard in search of wide receivers and defensive backs, the two areas most decimated by graduation. Of the seven players that he classifies as "blue chip" players, two are wide outs and two are defensive backs.

"We signed six receivers I'm really happy with, but two in particular, Lynzell Jackson and Paris Jackson (no relation), are going to make a huge impact on our program," says McBride. Ditto at corner and safety, where the Ute staff signed five players, including blue chippers Shayne Scruggs and Antonio Young. "Scruggs and Young are as good as you're going to get. Young is one of the top rated high school corners in the country and Scruggs is probably the top JC corner you could take," says McBride.

Another area that needed addressing was linebacker, where Utah has some veterans back but lost a lot of depth to graduation. Of the six linebackers who committed to the U. on Wednesday, McBride fingers freshman Marquess Ledbetter as the biggest catch. "Ledbetter is just flat out a big time player," says McBride. "He and (juco transfer) Dominic Payne are both big guys with speed."

While Utah's 2001 team returns loads of talent in the offensive and defensive trenches, it got a whole lot deeper today. Chris Kemoeatu, the younger brother of Ute nose tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu, chose Utah over Washington, Nebraska and Colorado. The younger Kemoeatu will push for time on the defensive line immediately says McBride. "Getting Chris was just huge for us. Good defensive linemen are the hardest players to find and he is just sensational. We have been on to him since the very beginning and are ecstatic he chose to come here." Another defensive lineman that Utah was lucky to land was Bernard Fano. Initially ticketed to go to Arizona State, Fano opted for Utah in the end. "Bernard was just too good a player to pass up," says McBride, who adds that Fano will go on an LDS church mission before joining the team.

While the Ute staff thinks the entire 2001 class is solid, here are a few key guys to watch for in the coming years (biographical information on the entire class follows):

Chris Kemoeatu: DL is widely considered the best player out of Hawaii this year. Big (6-4, 325) and strong.Lynzell Jackson: WR is a great athlete who should play as a freshman. At 6-3, 180, he has both size and speed.Bernard Fano: Highly sought DL committed to ASU in the fall but changed his mind and will play for the Utes.Jaun McNutt: WR out of San Diego is a leaper who could play as a freshman.Antonio Young: Great speed and skills make him one of the country's top incoming freshman corners.Shayne Scruggs: Won't enroll until January 2002, but coaches see him as a cornerback of the Andre Dyson mold.Paris Jackson: Big (6-3, 190), fast WR picked Utah over Kansas State.Marquess Ledbetter: LB is a great athlete out of Mississippi who also has baseball scouts after him.

UTAH SIGNEE BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Michael CulpepperDefensive Back/Running Back5-10, 195, Jr.Los Angeles, Calif.Arizona Western JC

Played juco ball at Arizona Western ... broke every Pioneer High (Calif.) rushing record ... MVP of conference ... all-area ... also ran track in high school ... son of Michael Culpepper and Bobby Ann Clark was raised by his grandparents ... nickname is "Pep" ... born July 30, 1980.

Bernard FanoDefensive Line6-2, 260, Fr.Fountain Valley, Calif.Fountain Valley HS

Second-team All-American ... first-team all-state, all-county and all-league ... Sunset League defensive lineman of the year ... Fountain Valley High (Calif.) MVP ... 14 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 11 hurries and 4 caused fumbles as senior in 2000 ... son of Ben and Tala Fano lived in Samoa for five years ... older brother Jardin plays football at Utah State ... full name is Bernard Patolo Fano ... born Aug. 8, 1983.

Rob GueckWide Receiver5-10, 180, Fr.Springville, UtahSpringville HS

Two-time first-team Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News all-stater ... all-region, all-valley ... Springville High (Utah) MVP, team captain and outstanding special teams player ... broke all Springville High's receiving records ... had 56 catches for 1,263 yards and 22 TDs senior season ... defensively, had 5 interceptions and an 85 yard fumble return for TD ... 2 kickoff returns for touchdowns ... averaged over 10 yards per punt return ... was 23 for 28 in PATs as senior ... scored 38 career TDs ... honor roll student ... son of James and Dana Gueck ... father played football at Nebraska and BYU ... mother also attended BYU ... full name is Robert James Gueck ... goes by Rob or Robby ... born Feb. 8, 1983.

Devin HoustonWide Receiver5-10, 175, Jr.Los Angeles, Calif.West Los Angeles JC

Team captain at West L.A. Junior College ... clocked at 4.3 seconds in 40 yard dash while at West L.A. ... prepped at Fremont High (Calif.) ... first-team all-conference and all-region ... 48 catches for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns as senior ... also had 4 interceptions and returned 2 for TDs ... lettered in football, basketball, track and baseball ... son of Kevin Houston and Noranece Roberts (step mother) ... father played baseball for Cal State Fullerton ... born April 4, 1981.

Lynzell JacksonWide Receiver6-3, 180, Fr.Tempe, Ariz.Tempe HS

All-state two years in football ... all-city and all-region ... also all-state in basketball and track ... region basketball player of the year ... lettered all four years in football, basketball and track at Tempe High (Ariz.) ... school record in high jump (6'9") and triple jump (49'6") ... son of Doarnell and Doris Jackson ... born Jan. 31, 1982.

Paris JacksonWide Receiver6-3, 190, Jr.Vancouver, B.C.Butte JC

All-conference player for Butte College ... Butte JC won 2 league titles ... 35 catches for 899 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2000 ... prepped at Carson Graham (Canada) ... all-conference, all-state, all-Canadian ... league MVP ... Carson's team captain ... set school single-game records for most rushing yards and touchdowns ... 2,138 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns as senior ... also had 5 interceptions ... lettered in football, basketball, hockey and track ... son of Glenn Jackson and the late Louise Frazier ... father played professional football for B.C. Lions ... born July 24, 1980.

Andrew JohnsonOffensive Line6-2, 270, Fr.Salt Lake CityCottonwood HS

First-team all-region in 1999 and 2000 ... honorable mention all-state ... starting center and long snapper for Cottonwood High (Utah) ... 2000 team captain ... played in 29 straight varsity games ... earned four letters in football and three in track ... legal guardians Dennie and Barbara Dunn are Utah graduates ... full name is Andrew Bud Johnson ... born May 23, 1983.

Chris KemoeatuDefensive Line6-4, 325, Fr.Kahuku, HawaiiKahuku HS

Defensive Player of the Year in Hawaii ... top recruit on the Islands this year.

Keon KirkpatrickDefensive Line6-2, 225, Fr.Gardena, Calif.Serra HS

Marquess LedbetterLinebacker.6-3 , 220, Fr.Louisville, Miss.Louisville HS

One of the top 15 recruits in state of Mississippi ... all-conference ... only three-sport athlete at Louisville High (Miss.) starred for football, basketball and baseball teams.

Semisi LivaiLinebacker6-1, 200, Fr.Kahuku, HawaiiKahuku HS

All-state player for Kahuku High (Hawaii) ... will go on LDS church mission before joining Ute team.

Raymond ManumaleunaOffensive Line6-2, 275, Fr.Kahuku, HawaiiKahuku, HS

All-state player for Kahuku High (Hawaii) ... second best lineman in state after Chris Kemoeatu ... plays both offensive and defensive line.

Jaun McNuttWide Receiver6-1, 185, Fr.San Diego, Calif.Marian Catholic HS

Second-team all-conference ... Marian Catholic High (Calif.) team captain ... Marian won 1999 Harbor League championship ... also lettered in basketball and track ... son of Pamela McNutt ... name is pronounced jew-ahn ... has four sisters ... first person in his family to go to college ... hopes to get degree in education ... born April 19, 1982 in St. Louis, Mo.

Dominic PayneLinebacker6-4, 205, Jr.Phoenix, Ariz.Eastern Arizona JC

All-American for Eastern Arizona College ... also all-conference and team captain ... 82 total tackles, 8.5 sacks and 14 tackles for loss last year ... prepped at McClintock High (Ariz.), where he was all-conference in football and basketball in high school ... raised by grandmother Clarice Hunter ... full name is Dominic Roshand Payne ... born July 25, 1980.

Eric PettitOffensive Line6-3, 250, Fr.West Jordan, UtahWest Jordan HS

All-state and all-region ... earned three letters at West Jordan High (Utah) ... team captain two years ... son of Glen and Stacey Pettit ... enjoys water and snow skiing ... full name is Eric Steele Pettit ... born Mar. 31, 1983.

Kyler RushtonDefensive Back6-0, 195, Fr.Las Vegas, Nev.Cimarron HS

All-state and all-conference junior and senior years (1999-00) ... 2000 conference defensive MVP ... Gatorade Nevada player of the year ... Cimarron High (Nevada) team captain ... school record for most interceptions ... played for state champion team in 1998 and `99 ... son of Stephen and Kelley Rushton ... father graduated from Utah State (mother also attended USU) ... hopes for career in physical therapy ... full name is Stephen Kyler Rushton ... born Oct. 14, 1982 in St. George, Utah.

Colt SampsonLinebacker6-3, 215, Fr.Pleasant Grove, UtahPleasant Grove HS

All-state ... Pleasant Grove High (Utah) team captain ... lettered three years in football, basketball and baseball ... set school records in basketball for blocked shots ... Pleasant Grove High student of the month and student of the day ... Eagle scout ... son of Dale and Cindy Sampson ... father played football at Southern Utah and is now teacher and football coach ... enjoys hunting and fishing ... full name is Colt Jay Sampson ... born Mar. 18, 1983.

Antwoine SandersDefensive Back6-3, 200, So.Fayetteville, N.C.Arizona Western JC

First-team all-conference and all-region defensive back for Arizona Western JC ... also first-team all-conference and all-region in high school ... two-year letterman for Terry Sanford High (N.C.) ... named one of top 50 players in state of North Carolina ... son of Arthur Galbreath and Christine Allen ... uncle (mother's brother) played football at North Carolina and later played for Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins ... daughter (Ey'tiana) ... enjoys computers and fishing ... full name is Antwoine T Sanders ... born Sept. 22, 1977.

Shayne ScruggsDefensive Back5-10, 185, So.Ontario, Calif.Chaffey JC

Possibly best pure corner in JC ranks.

Chad SmithRunning Back6-2, 195, Fr.Lehi, UtahLehi HS

Utah state MVP ... region 10 MVP ... first-team all-region as junior ... Lehi High (Utah) team captain ... school rushing record (2,090 yards rushing) ... finished career as state's sixth all-time leading rusher ... also had 22 touchdowns ... ran track ... honor roll ... All-American Scholar Award ... Who's Who in American High School Students ... won National English merit award ... son of Stan and Kathy Smith ... both parents graduated from Brigham Young ... raised on a cattle ranch ... enjoys horseback riding ... full name is Chad Ethan Smith ... born July 28, 1982.

Soane TaliauliLinebacker5-9, 185, Fr.Long Beach, Calif.Long Beach Poly HS

Played for state champion Long Beach Poly High (Calif.) team.

Elia TaualaDefensive Line6-4, 275, Jr.Honolulu, HawaiiSanta Ana JC

Mission Conference Central Division defensive player of the year in 1999 ... two-time first-team all-conference ... in two years had 90 total tackles and 7 sacks ... played high school ball at Roosevelt High (Hawaii).

Dwayne TaylorWide Receiver5-10, 180, Fr.Oxnard, Calif.Hueneme HS

All-American, all-state, all-conference ... team captain at Hueneme High (Calif.) ... had 787 rushing yards and 1,080 receiving yards senior year ...Hueneme High won conference title from 1988-2000 ... sound director at St. Paul Baptist Church was also president of church youth group ... son of Eddie and Mary Baugh ... father played football for Ventura JC ... mother graduated from Cal State Northridge ... full name is Renwick Dwayne Taylor ... born April 20, 1982.

Steven ThompsonLinebacker5-10, 212, Fr.Los Angeles, Calif.Dorsey HS

Named to all-league team twice ... also two-time all-city pick (first team as senior, second team as junior) ... PrepStar all-region team twice ... team captain for Dorsey High (Calif.) ... senior year had 128 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss and 4 forced fumbles ... junior year had 129 tackles, 6 sacks, 17 tackles for loss and 3 forced fumbles ... made high school Who's Who as a junior and senior ... son of Eric and Deborah Thompson ... both parents graduated from Langston University ... father played college football ... career interests include starting a chain of animal hospitals, accounting and working behind cameras ... born July 10 1983.

Antonio YoungDefensive Back5-11, 185, Fr.Carson, Calif.Serra HS

All-American ... first-team all-conference and all-region ... league defensive back of the year ... lettered in football and track at Serra High (Calif.) ... 60 tackles, 12 pass deflections, 4 interceptions as senior ... played both ways ... 572 yards rushing, 226 yards receiving and 5 TDs ... Serra won 2000 league championship ... son of Antonio Young and Katheryn Browder ... father played football at Loyola Marymount ... mother has degrees from Pepperdine and Long Beach State ... hopes for career in sports medicine ... full name is Antonio Vincent Young II ... born Oct. 13, 1983.

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Ute Football Coach Ron McBride Analyzes His 2001 Recruiting Class

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