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The University of Utah Athletics
Utah Head Football Coach Urban Meyer Signs His First Class
2/5/2003 12:00 AM | Football
Feb. 5, 2003
SALT LAKE CITY -
By 3:00 p.m. in Salt Lake City, Utah Head Coach Urban Meyer had received signed National Letters of Intent from 19 recruits, including 12 high school players and seven junior college transfers.
The defense picked up the most recruits with 11, while seven offensive players and one punter also signed.
Utah's biggest needs were filled by the incoming class, according to Meyer. "In the wide-open offense we run, we needed wide receivers and we got four, including Utah's 'Mr. Football' Kyle Brady (Tooele HS). We also went after defensive linemen hard and got a mix of juco players and some quality high school guys," he added.
Some of the biggest names in the Meyer's first recruiting class are Brady, Utah's 3A MVP as a senior, wide receiver Thomas Huff of Phoenix, Ariz. (Camelback HS) and defensive lineman Tony Castaldi of Simi Valley, Calif. (St. Bonaventure HS). Huff is a two-time all-conference football player and the state high hurdles champion and Castaldi is a three-time all-league player.
Other big names in the 2003 class are Californians Mike Liti (Foothill HS), Joe Jiannoni (La Quinta HS), Alex Puccinelli (Notre Dame HS) and Reza Williams (San Bernardino Valley College). Liti, a running back, was the 2002 CIF Southern Section Offensive Player of the Year and the fourth-leading career rusher in Orange County history (5,699 yards). Jiannoni was a three-time all-league linebacker and Williams was a first-team all-conference linebacker/defensive end last year.
Meyer, who was hired as Utah's head coach less than two months ago, was relieved at his signing class given the circumstances. "We got such a late start that I feel very good about the class we signed," said Meyer, whose first official weekend of recruiting was Jan. 10. "Even though most of the instate players had already committed to other schools by the time we started recruiting, we managed to get a great one in Kyle Brady. We also signed some really quality players from other states, despite getting in on them late. They really wanted to come to Salt Lake City nwhen they saw what we had to offer.
"The biggest challenge we had was getting recruits to come visit. Once they're here, we have a great chance to get them. We're going to work hard to get the word out on Utah, because this place is one of the best kept secrets in the country."
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