Get up to speed on the Utah Utes’ 2022 recruiting class

FILE - Utah Utes linebacker Devin Lloyd (20) leads the Utes onto the field before the start of an NCAA football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News

Whether it be the middle of the college football season, the dog days of summer or the outset of spring camp, recruiting is an ever present part of college football.

There is no such thing as an offseason, and for head coach Kyle Whittingham and company, finding the next batch of Utes is always a priority.

With that in mind, here is a look at Utah’s 2022 recruiting class, with prospects listed according to reporting by 247 Sports, Rivals and the Deseret News.

(All commitments at this point are verbal and non-binding.)

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Nate Johnson

QB — Clovis (Clovis, California)

6-2, 183

★★★ — 247 Sports

★★★ — Rivals

A true dual-threat quarterback with offers from a host of teams — including, but not limited to Michigan, TCU, UCLA, ASU, Arizona and Oregon State — Johnson committed to the Utes on June 18. He was recently selected to be one of just 20 quarterbacks nationwide who will participate in the Elite11 Finals, a quarterback competition generally viewed as the best in the country.

Per 247 Sports’ Brandon Huffman, speed is Johnson’s greatest attribute and arguably the main reason that he is rated the 51st-best quarterback prospect in the country and the 55th-best player out of California.

“He’s got a unique skill set, with arm strength and a quicker, consistent release and a smooth motion,” Huffman wrote. “He is boiling with upside and has all the natural physical tools to be a great quarterback.”

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Aisea Moa

DE — Weber (Ogden)

6-3, 220

★★★★ — 247 Sports

★★★ — Rivals

One of the best recruits in the state of Utah — Moa is currently rated No. 4, behind only Lander Barton (Utah lean), Carsen Ryan (UCLA commit) and George Maile (USC lean) — Moa chose the Utes over offers from BYU and Utah State.

Rated the 42nd-best defensive end in the country, Moa contributed on both sides of the ball for Weber as a junior. On offense, he recorded seven receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. On defense, he contributed 17 tackles and a team-high three sacks.

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Zion Steptoe

WR — Memorial (Frisco, Texas)

6-0, 170

★★★ — 247 Sports

★★★ — Rivals

The first offensive player to commit to Utah as a member of the 2022 class, Steptoe is also the first high school wideout commit of the Chad Bumphis era. Rated the 138th-best wide receiver prospect in America, per 247 Sports, Steptoe chose the Utes over offers from Purdue, Air Force, Vanderbilt, Pittsburg, Navy and others.

In addition to playing football, Steptoe is a track and field star. His official 100 meter dash time is 10.97 seconds, which he posted last year as a junior. He also competes the long jump and runs the 4x100 and 4x200 relays. Steptoe was a Texas District 7-5A D-II first-team selection as a junior.

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