Recruiting Round-Up: Utah’s Top Targets and Emerging Quarterback Prospects
Feb 20, 2025, 2:26 PM | Updated: Feb 21, 2025, 1:30 pm
Utah Utes fans fly flags during a game between the University of Utah Utes and the Brigham Young University Cougars held at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024.
SALT LAKE CITY—As Utah football continues to build its future, the 2026 recruiting cycle is just getting started but is already taking shape.
The Utes have identified several top prospects who are viewed as big priorities this cycle. Some position groups will need more addressing than others, but this class should still be pretty balanced.
Regardless of the cycle, no position is more important than quarterback, and Utah is in the mix with a handful of exciting options. Here’s a look at who Utah is recruiting at quarterback.
Utah’s Quarterback Targets: Four-Star Standouts
Two of the biggest names on Utah’s radar for the 2026 class are four-star quarterbacks Peyton Falzone and Oscar Rios. Both signal-callers have emerged as premier talents in their class, drawing interest from top programs nationwide.
Peyton Falzone: A dynamic talent and playmaker who is still developing the finer points of his game. Falzone has exactly the sort of dual-threat ability that Beck seems to want in his offense. The Utes have prioritized him, and the interest is reciprocated. Utah has done quite well to not only gain the ground they have in his recruitment but to emerge as a top option for him. After visiting last month, Falzone is set to return for an official visit April 17-19. The Iowa Hawkeyes (April 4) are the only other program he is set to officially visit.
It’s Official! @Utah_Football pic.twitter.com/AFjaAZj51W
— Peyton Falzone (@PeytonFalzone) February 14, 2025
Oscar Rios: Another top talent and target for Utah, Rios has a number of schools he’s set to officially visit over the coming months. He’ll start by tripping to Oklahoma State in April, followed by visits to Utah on June 6, Arizona on June 13, and Colorado on June 20. Rios is another athletic passer who possesses the dual-threat ability Beck is searching for at the quarterback position. Utah has been very involved in his recruitment and remains a strong contender for his commitment.
Emerging Quarterback Prospects to Watch
Beyond the top-tier targets, Utah is also keeping a close eye on two rising quarterbacks who could play pivotal roles in the program’s future: Kaleb Maryland, Travis Burgess, and Ryan Hopkins.
Kaleb Maryland: A 6-foot, 180-pound dynamic dual-threat quarterback with a good arm and explosive athleticism. Maryland has started to gain momentum as a prospect in the 2026 cycle. His ability to extend plays and make tough throws on the run makes him an intriguing option for Utah’s offensive scheme. He’s locked in an official visit with the Utes for June 13. That is his only official visit scheduled, but promising offers continue to come his way, which will likely result in additional visits.
Excited to be officially visiting @Utah_Football #GoUtes @dctf @RivalsFriedman @QBHitList @GPowersScout @UANextFootball @samspiegs @AFGP_Sports @jackson_dip @Hayesfawcett3 @bykeeganpope @JPierreSports @JamesMarylandJR @ZSpavital @SPTrainingHTX @RecruitEastside @TexasQBLab pic.twitter.com/5qbawuFNUR
— Kaleb Maryland (@KMaryland2026) February 14, 2025
Travis Burgess: Just offered by Utah, Burgess is a really intriguing quarterback prospect. At 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, he has really promising qualities as an athlete and passer. Burgess threw for 2,255 yards while adding another 600 on the ground. His recruitment has grown to over 15 schools, but Auburn has emerged as an early frontrunner. Utah entering the race now gives them time to potentially schedule a visit.
Ryan Hopkins: Hopkins only recently picked up an offer from Utah, in fact, seven of his 12 offers have come over the last month. Hopkins is an interesting evaluation, given his limited exposure. However, he’s shown enough flashes as a passer while also possessing sub-11.00 second track speed that interest in him continues to grow. Hopkins hasn’t scheduled any official visits but could be close to doing so.
Committed Elsewhere: Flip Candidates
In addition to their primary targets, Utah is monitoring the status of two quarterbacks who have committed to other programs but could be potential flip candidates: Helaman Casuga and Tait Reynolds.
Helaman Casuga: A four-star quarterback from Draper, Utah, Casuga committed to Texas A&M in October 2024. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 200 pounds, he has been a standout at Timpview and Corner Canyon High School. Despite his commitment, Utah’s new staff has been developing a relationship with him.
Tait Reynolds: Hailing from Queen Creek, Arizona, Reynolds is a three-star quarterback who committed to Clemson in July 2024. At 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds, he has shown significant potential as a two-sport athlete. Given the competitive depth charts at Clemson, Utah might present a more immediate path to playing time, which could entice Reynolds to reconsider his options.
The Recruiting Landscape
Utah faces stiff competition in pursuing these quarterbacks, with multiple Power Four programs vying for their commitments. However, with Jason Beck guiding a new offense and developing the quarterback room, landing a top signal caller will be key to Utah’s 2026 recruiting efforts. As the cycle progresses over the next four months, all eyes will be on these key targets and how they navigate the process.
