2019 Utah Football Utes Complete 2019 Recruiting Class

Feb. 6, 2019

Utah Football Completes 2019 Signing Class Nine recruits commit on National Signing Day

SALT LAKE CITY—The Utah football staff received commitments from nine recruits today on National Signing Day. Twelve others signed National Letters of Intent during the early signing period (Dec. 19-Jan. 15).

“We feel we definitely improved our roster with this year’s recruiting class,” said Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham. “Although we didn’t have as many scholarships available to give as we normally do, we were able to sign a strong group of players across the board. We expect to sign 3-4 more players in the coming days who will add to the class. As always, our assistants continue to do a great job evaluating talent across the country, bringing in student-athletes from eight different states.”

The 2019 class includes 19 freshman and three transfers. The offensive line gained the most players with six followed by five defensive backs. Ten players were added on offense, 10 players were added on defense and one special teams player (punter Ben Lennon).

The Utes added six players from California, four from Utah, two from Texas and one from Florida, New Jersey, Nevada, Oklahoma and Arizona as well as players from Australia and England.

Eight members of this year’s signing class are already enrolled in school and participating in team activities: Donte Banton, Keaton Bills, Manny Bowen, Luke Felix-Fualalo, Semisi Lauaki, Lennon, Johnny Maea and Cameron Rising.

For complete biographical information on the new class, see pages 2-5 or visit https://www.utahutes.com/nsd19.

utahutes.com • facebook: uathletics • twitter: @utahathletics 1 Utah Football Notes

2019 UTAH FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS

Name (pronunciation)...... Pos...... Hgt...... Wgt...... Yr...... Exp...... Hometown/Last School Donte Banton (don-tay)...... WR...... 6-0...... 189...... Fr...... HS...... Lauderhill, Fla./Deerfield Beach HS Micah Bernard (muh-ky)...... RB...... 5-11...... 188...... Fr...... HS...... Long Beach, Calif./Gahr HS Keaton Bills...... DL...... 6-4...... 260...... Fr...... HS...... Draper, Utah/Corner Canyon HS Manny Bowen (bo-en)...... LB...... 6-2...... 231...... Sr...... TR...... Barnegat, N.J./Penn State Luke Felix-Fualalo (foo-a-lah-lo)...... OL...... 6-7...... 302...... Fr...... HS...... Brisbane, Australia/Mater Dei HS (Calif.) Falcon Kaumatule (cow-muh-tool-ay)...... OL...... 6-7...... 232...... Fr...... HS...... Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman HS Semisi Lauaki (sa-meese-ee lao-walk-ee)...... DL...... 6-2...... 235...... Fr...... HS...... Hawthorne, Calif./Leuzinger HS Sataoa Laumea (sah-tau-ah lau-may-uh)...... OL...... 6-4...... 300...... Fr...... HS...... Rialto, Calif./Eisenhower HS Ben Lennon...... P...... 6-2...... 199...... Fr...... HS...... Viewbank, Australia/Swinburne Univ. Aaron Lowe...... DB...... 6-0...... 179...... Fr...... HS...... Mesquite, Texas/West Mesquite HS Johnny Maea (ma-ay-ah)...... OL...... 6-4...... 305...... Fr...... HS...... Salt Lake City/East HS JaTravis McCloud...... DB...... 5-11...... 186...... Fr...... HS...... Tulsa, Okla./Union HS Bamidele Olaseni (bam-ih-deli oh-lah-senny).OL...... 6-7...... 332...... Jr...... JC...... London, England/Garden City CC Simote Pepa (see-mo-tay peppa)...... DL...... 6-2...... 337...... Fr...... HS...... South Jordan, Utah/Bingham HS LaCarea Pleasant-Johnson (la-car-ee-ay)...... DB...... 6-1...... 161...... Fr...... HS...... Phoenix, Ariz./Mountain Pointe HS Drew Rawls...... DB...... 6-0...... 184...... Fr...... HS...... Beaumont, Texas/West Brook HS Cameron Rising...... QB...... 6-1...... 233...... Fr...... TR...... Ventura, Calif./Texas Junior Tafuna (tah-foona)...... LB...... 6-2...... 235...... Fr...... HS...... Taylorsville, Utah/Bingham HS Marist Talavou (mare-ist tal-uh-vo)...... OL...... 6-2...... 320...... Fr...... HS...... Norwalk, Calif./St. John Bosco HS Sione Vaki (see-oh-nee vah-key)...... DB...... 6-0...... 200...... Fr...... HS...... Antioch, Calif./Liberty HS Jordan Wilmore...... RB...... 5-8...... 199...... Fr...... HS...... Inglewood, Calif./Lawndale HS

Donte Banton Micah Bernard Keaton Bills Wide Receiver Running Back Defensive Line 6-0, 189, Fr. 5-11, 188, Fr. 6-4, 260, Fr. HS HS HS Lauderhill, Fla. Long Beach, Calif. Draper, Utah Deerfield Beach HS Gahr HS Corner Canyon HS

Three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals … led 2017 All-CIF Southern Section Division 10 … Originally signed in 2016 before serving a church all wide receivers in the 40-yard dash (4.58) at 2017 Cal-Hi junior all-state … two-time all-area, mission … Deseret News 4A first-team all-state in The Opening Miami Regional (2018) … helped earning first-team honors and Area Offensive 2015 at Corner Canyon HS … Salt Lake Tribune Deerfield HS (Fla.) to district football titles in Player of the Year as a junior in 2017 … three- all-state second team defensive lineman and 2017 and 2018 … attended Boyd Anderson HS star recruit by Rivals and 247sports … 100 honorable mention offensive lineman … Region as a sophomore and played on the football team carries for 716 yards and nine touchdowns as a 7 Defensive MVP … first-team all-region in 2014 … son of Janet Banton … two brothers and one Gahr HS senior in 2018 … averaged 7.2 yards and second-team all-region in 2013 ... No. 2 sister … name is pronounced don-tay. per carry and 71.6 yards per game … also had defensive end in the state of Utah by Scout and 606 yards receiving with six touchdowns for No. 15 overall prospect by Rivals … three-star 1,322 all-purpose yards … 259 carries for 2,411 recruit by Scout, Rivals and 247Sports … 141 yards and 27 TD as a junior, when he averaged career tackles with 8.0 sacks … 69 tackles, 6.0 9.3 yards per carry and 200.9 yards per game sacks and 10 quarterback hurries as a senior … 10 100-yard rushing games in 2017 … also … 46 tackles and 4.0 sacks in 2014 included an had 23 receptions for 191 yards receiving as a 11-tackle, two-sack performance against Woods junior … SoCal Prep Legends Boys Athlete of the Cross … 26 tackles and a sack as a sophomore Week after a 224-yard rushing, three touchdown … also played baseball and threw the javelin … performance against St. Anthony … participated son of Steve and Karen Bills … has 10 siblings: in track and basketball … name is pronounced four brothers and five sisters … full name is muh-ky. Keaton Leavitt Bills.

utahutes.com • facebook: uathletics • twitter: @utahathletics 2 2019 Utah Football Notes

Manny Bowen Academy’s (Fla.) 41-game winning streak with Sataoa Laumea Linebacker a 28-24 victory … didn’t start playing football Offensive Line 6-2, 231, Sr. until his junior year in 2017 … played rugby in 6-4, 300, Fr. TR Australia … son of Denise Felix … mother was HS Barnegat, N.J. a professional netball player … three brothers Rialto, Calif. Penn State … named after Luke Skywalker of the Star Wars Eisenhower HS trilogy … full name is Luke Sione Felix-Fualalo Played in 35 games with 21 starts in three (pronounced foo-a-lah-lo). All-CIF Southern Section Division 10 Offensive seasons at Penn State (2015-17) ... career stats Player of the Year for Eisenhower HS … four- include 134 tackles (12.5 TFL, 3.5 sacks), three Falcon Kaumatule star recruit by 247Sports … first-team all-area pass breakups and two forced fumbles … 51 Offensive Line and first-team All-Citrus Belt League as a junior tackles (3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks) in nine games in 6-7, 232, Fr. in 2017 … 2017 Cal-Hi Sports junior all-state … 2017 ranked fifth on the team … also had a pass HS invited to the 2019 Polynesian Bowl … four-year breakup and a forced fumble … season-high Las Vegas, Nev. varsity player for Eisenhower HS … also played nine tackles and a forced fumble against Ohio Bishop Gorman HS defensive tackle with 19 tackles (4.0 TFL, 2.0 State … 68 tackles in 2016 with 8.5 TFL (tied for sacks), a forced fumble and blocked PAT as a second on the team) and 2.0 sacks … two pass Played defensive end and tight end at Bishop senior … 21 tackles (6.0 TFL, 6.0 sacks), two breakups … career-high 12 tackles against Ohio Gorman HS (Nev.) … 17 tackles (2.0 TFL, forced fumbles and a fumble recovery as a junior State … 2016 Academic All-Big Ten … played as 1.5 sacks), a forced fumble and a touchdown … Eisenhower won the 2018 Division 10 CIF SS a true freshman in 2015 and produced 18 tackles reception as a junior in 2017 … helped lead Championship… also participated in track and (0.5 TFL), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery Bishop Gorman to two state championships field (shot and discus) … name is pronounced … ECAC Rookie of the Week for his six tackles (2017-18) … honorable mention IHL all-star as sah-tau-ah lau-may-uh. and a fumble recovery against Army … Class B a sophomore at Punahou HS (Hawaii) in 2016, South Defensive Player of the Year as a junior at playing offensive and defensive line … three-star Ben Lennon Barnegat HS (N.J.) … two-time first-team Shore recruit by 247sports and Rivals … also played Punter Conference All-Class B South … All-Group 3 and basketball … brother Luke played football at 6-2, 199, Fr. all-Ocean County … two-time first-team Press of Stanford … brother Canton played football at HS Atlantic City All-Star … 51 tackles (10.0 TFL, 1.0 Oregon and Central Florida … full name is Noah Viewbank, Australia sack), two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble Falcon Kaumatule (pronounced cow-muh-tool- Swinburne University as a senior … 639 all-purpose yards, included ay). 204 rushing (4 TD), 313 receiving (1 TD), 65 Has four years to play four on his NCAA clock … kick return and 57 punt return … 78 tackles (15 Semisi Lauaki played four seasons of Australian rules football TFL, 2.5 sacks) four interceptions, two passes Defensive Line in the Australian Football League from 2014- defended, four forced fumbles and three fumble 6-2, 235, Fr. 17 … forward was selected in the first round recoveries as a junior … … 862 all-purpose HS of the 2013 AFL draft with the No. 12 overall yards included 479 receiving (8 TD), 124 rushing Hawthorne, Calif. pick by the Richmond Tigers … played in 21 (2 TD), 175 kick return, 71 punt return and 71 Leuzinger HS career games with 10 goals … 2015 AFL Rising interception return … attended Central Regional Star nominee... earned All-Australian honors HS as a sophomore and Southern Regional HS Originally signed in 2016 before serving a representing the Victorian Metro region at the as a freshman … also played basketball … son church mission … first-team all-Pioneer League 2013 AFL Under 18 Championships … 2013 of Richard Bowen and Monica Clarke … three defensive tackle as a senior in 2015 … first-team AIS-AFA Academy program … spent three years brothers and two sisters … full name is Richard all-Pioneer League offensive lineman as a junior in TAC Cup (2011-13) with the Northern Knights Emmanuel Bowen (pronounced bo-en). … started on both sides of the ball for Leuzinger … as a prep, attended Swinburne University HS (Calif.) … invited to play in the Polynesian … son of Stephen and Lesley Lennon … two Luke Felix-Fualalo All-American Bowl … three-star defensive tackle sisters … sister Grace is a professional golfer Offensive Line by Rivals and Scout … 41 tackles (2.0 sacks) … hometown Viewbank is located in Victoria, 6-7, 302, Fr. and a forced fumble as a senior … also threw Australia. HS shot (43’0.00’ best) and discus … son of the Brisbane, Australia late Amaleki and Fauniteni Lauaki and Ed and Mater Dei HS Lizette Russell … six brothers and one sister … full name is Semisi Finau Felemi Lauaki Native of Australia moved to the U.S. to play (pronounced sa-meese-ee lao-walk-ee). football … played his senior year at Mater Dei HS after transferring from Cathedral HS (L.A.) … three-star recruit by Rivals and 247sports … Mater Dei won the 2018 CIF-Southern Section Division 1 title … team ended IMG

utahutes.com • facebook: uathletics • twitter: @utahathletics 3 2019 Utah Football Notes

Aaron Lowe Bamidele Olaseni Drew Rawls Defensive Back Offensive Line Defensive Back 6-0, 179, Fr. 6-7, 332, Jr. 6-0, 184, Fr. HS JC Beaumont, Texas Mesquite, Texas London, England West Brook Senior HS West Mesquite HS Garden City CC First-team 21-6A All-District as a senior in 2018 First-team All-District 7-5A safety in 2018… First-team NJCAA All-American as a sophomore … three-star safety by 247Sports and Rivals … three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals … 74 in 2018… four-star recruit by 247Sports and transferred to West Brook HS (Texas) from Kelly tackles (4.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks), three interceptions Rivals … rated the No. 9 JUCO offensive tackle Catholic HS for his junior season … two-time and a forced fumble as a senior at West in the nation … 2018 first-team all-KJCCC for first-team academic all-district (2017-18) … also Mesquite HS (Texas) in 2018 … season-high 15 Garden City CC … played for the U19 London competed in track and field. tackles against Timber Creek … began his high Blitz in the British American Football Association school career as a wide receiver but switched to … also participated in track and field in London Cameron Rising defense at the end of his junior season … also … name is pronounced bam-ih-deli oh-lah-senny Quarterback ran track. … also goes by “Bam”. 6-1, 233, Fr. TR Johnny Maea Simote Pepa Ventura, Calif. Offensive Line Defensive Line Texas 6-4, 305, Fr. 6-2, 337, Fr. HS HS Redshirted at Texas in 2018 … named to the Big Salt Lake City South Jordan, Utah 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in spring 2018 East HS Bingham HS … No. 8 pro-style quarterback in the nation by Rivals out of high school … four-star recruit by Originally signed in 2016 before serving a Deseret News 6A MVP in 2017 as a junior … Rivals and 247Sports … two-time first-team church mission … 2015 first-team All-USA Utah first-team all-state in 2017 and 2018 and second All-CIF (2015, 2017) … three-year captain at Football Team as a senior at East HS … Salt team in 2016 … 2017 All-Salt Lake Tribune … Newbury Park HS (Calif.) … 2017 All-Camino Lake Tribune second-team all-state in 2015 … 2017 Region 4 Defensive MVP … 2016 all- League Offensive Back of the Year … first- rated the No. 7 overall recruit in the state of Utah region … No. 6 ranked player in the state and team all-county and all-league … MaxPreps by Scout coming out of high school … selected a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals Sophomore All-American and Cal-Hi Sports to the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl and … Bingham High won state titles in 2016 and Sophomore of the Year in 2015 … set a county Polynesian All-American Bowl … East won the 2017 … 48 tackles and 4.0 sacks as a senior in record for attempts without an interception (324) 2015 4A state championship … attended two 2018 … 60 tackles and 3.0 sacks in 2017 … 46 … 123-of-237 passing for 1,689 yards (15 TD, other high schools in Utah (played as a freshman tackles and 4.0 sacks as a sophomore … name 6 INT) and 62 carries for 496 yards and nine at Hunter HS, did not play his sophomore year is pronounced see-mo-tay peppa. touchdowns rushing as a senior … played in only at West) … two brothers and three sisters … five games as a junior due to a season-ending full name is Johnny Vaoita Maea (pronounced LaCarea Pleasant-Johnson injury, going 88-of-143 passing for 1,349 yards ma-ay-ah). Defensive Back (14 TD, 4 INT) with 47 carries for 390 yards 6-1, 161, Fr. and four touchdowns … threw for 3,213 yards JaTravis McCloud HS and 40 touchdowns (191-of-319) with just one Defensive Back Phoenix, Ariz. interception as a sophomore and rushed for 756 5-11, 186, Fr. Mountain Pointe HS yards (79 carries) and 11 touchdowns … also Tulsa, Okla. competed in track … son of Nicko and Eunice Union HS The No. 15-ranked recruit in Arizona by Rising … two brothers. 247Sports … No. 12 recruit by azcentral … Honorable mention all-state as a senior in 2018 three-star cornerback by 247Sports and Rivals Junior Tafuna … 2018 second-team All-Tulsa World and All- … 51 tackles (1.5 TFL), four interceptions and Linebacker USA Oklahoma … 2018 first-team all-district 6AI- 15 passes defended as a senior at Mountain 6-2, 235, Fr. 2 … three-star recruit by 247Sports … 56 tackles Pointe HS in 2018 … 20 tackles (1.0 TFL), HS and one interception as a junior at Union HS … an interception and 10 passes defended as a Taylorsville, Utah 27 tackles as a sophomore … Union won the junior… also played receiver in 2017 and had 27 Bingham HS state title in 2016 and finished second in 2017 catches for 436 yards and four touchdowns … … also participated in track … won the 400 and ran track … son of the late Jaquel Pleasant was Plans to serve a church mission before enrolling finished second in the 100 and 200 at the 2017 born in Yakima, Wash … name is pronounced at Utah … second-team all-state as a senior in USATF National Youth Outdoor Championships la-car-ee-ay. 2018 … three-star recruit is ranked No. 7 in the … helped Union win a team track title in 2017, state of Utah by 247Sports and Rivals … invited winning state titles in the 4x100, 4x200 and to the 2019 Polynesian Bowl … 64 tackles (1.0 4x400 relays and placing second in the 200. sack) and an interception as a senior in 2018 … 74 tackles (1.0 sack) and an interception in 2017 … Bingham HS won state championships in 2016 and 2017 … last name is pronounced tah-foona.

utahutes.com • facebook: uathletics • twitter: @utahathletics 4 2019 Utah Football Notes

Marist Talavou Jordan Wilmore Offensive Line Running Back 6-2, 320, Fr. 5-8, 199, Fr. HS Inglewood, Calif. Norwalk, Calif. Lawndale HS St. John Bosco HS Four-star recruit by 247Sports … three-time first- All-CIF Southern Section Division 1 team for team All-CIF … CIF Southern Section Division St. John Bosco HS … three-star recruit by 5 Offensive Player of the Year in 2018 … 2018 247Sports and Rivals … will play in the 2019 All-Area Player of the Year … first-team all-area Polynesian Bowl … helped St. John Bosco HS as a junior in 2017 … 2018 SoCal All-Varsity … to the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 title in 2018 Cal-Hi Medium Schools State Player of the 2016 and runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2018 … Year … two-time Cal-Hi All-State … 15 career name is pronounced mare-ist tal-uh-vo. 200 yard games, 32 career 100-yard games and three straight seasons with 2,000-plus rushing Sione Vaki yards … 211 carries for 2,236 yards (172 yards Defensive Back per game) and 22 touchdowns in 2018 … also 6-0, 200, Fr. had 13 catches for 281 yards (1 TD) as a senior HS … 180 carries for 2,220 yards (185 ypg) and Antioch, Calif. 31 touchdowns as a junior, when he also had Liberty HS 16 catches for 329 yards (3 TD) … 248 carries for 2,289 yards (176.1 ypg) and 24 TD, along Plans to serve a church mission before enrolling with nine receptions for 133 yards (1 TD) his at Utah … Bay Valley Athletic League MVP as sophomore season … Lawndale HS won the a senior in 2018 … two-time first-team all-BVAL 2018 2-A state championship. selection earned honors on both offense and defense as a senior … second-team all-metro as a junior … third-team all-Bay Area News Group and Cal-Hi Sports Junior All-State in 2017 … invited to the 2019 Polynesian Bowl … three- star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals … played safety, receiver and returner at Liberty HS … 73 tackles (1.0 TFL), four interceptions (1 TD), two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a senior … 65 receptions for 1,359 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2018, averaging 104.5 yards per game and 20.9 yards per catch … 1,684 all-purpose yards as a senior included 111 kick return (1 TD), 96 punt return, 75 interception return and 43 rushing (1 TD) … 45 tackles, an interception returned 47 yards for a touchdown and two fumble recoveries as a junior … 1,214 all-purpose yards in 2017 included 809 receiving (12 TD) and 358 rushing (6 TD) … Liberty won the CIF North Coast Section Division I state title in 2017 and finished second in the state in the open division in 2018 … 2018 Bay Valley Athletic League champion … played on the varsity at Antioch HS as a sophomore and recorded 14 tackles (2.0 sacks) and 146 receiving yards … name is pronounced see-oh-nee vah-key.

utahutes.com • facebook: uathletics • twitter: @utahathletics 5