More Big 12 Schools are Recruiting the State of Utah

It's recruiting season in college football. College football coaching staffs are traveling across the country to meet with recruits and extend scholarship offers. At this point in the recruiting calendar, the majority of the time is centered around the 2025 recruiting class. With both BYU and Utah now in the Big 12, more Big 12 schools are trying to establish recruiting pipelines in the beehive state. For BYU, inner-conference recruiting battles will become more and more common for in-state recruits. Given the high school football talent that Utah produces, more and more Big 12 schools will likely try to recruit Utah.

Iowa State, in particular, is making a concerted effort to recruit the state of Utah. In the 2025 class alone, the Cyclones have offered 10 players from the state. They have offered even more prospects in the 2026 class and beyond. Iowa State already has its foot in the door - they signed a prospect from Utah back in December. 2024 wide receiver Dominic Overby signed with the Cyclones out of West Jordan High School. Overby's recruitment flew under the radar. He didn't pick up his first FBS offer until seven or eight weeks before signing day. None of the in-state FBS schools extended Overby a scholarship offer.

Oklahoma State is another Big 12 school that has planted its flag in the Beehive state. West offensive line prospect Nuku Mafi signed with the Cowboys back in December. Mafi went on an official visit to BYU before signing day - the Cougars fell just short of pulling off the signing day flip. Oklahoma State has had a presence in Utah dating back multiple years now. West High School's Sesi Vailahi was a late addition to their 2023 recruiting class. The Cowboys have picked up other Utah prospects like Nathan Latu and Nick Session in previous years. They've also found a few transfers from Utah. Utah State transfer Jaylen Warren and BYU transfer Seleti Fevaleaki ended up in Stillwater. Warren is now a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

When Jeff Grimes left BYU for Baylor and took Eric Mateos with him, they maintained relationships in Utah. George Maile, a BYU target at the time, followed Grimes to Waco. Maile signed with the Bears out of Bingham High School. Grimes is now at Kansas. Time will tell whether Grimes tries to lure any Utah prospects to Kansas.

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