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Five-Star Academy comes to Utah and Arizona
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The Rivals.com Five-Star Academies take to the road for the third and fourth stops of its spring tour with stops at the University of Utah on Saturday and Arizona State on Sunday. Both events are expected to attract many of the West's best prospects like Todd Peat Jr. and Ryker Mathews.
Things kick off Saturday when almost all of the top players in Utah are expected at the Spence Eccles Field House on the campus of the University of Utah. Mathews, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive tackle from American Fork, Utah, will be in attendance with many of the other top prospects in the state.
Matthews already has offers from in-state powers BYU and Utah and just recently picked up an offer from Kansas. He already ranks among the top 250 players to watch in the Class of 2011. In fact all five players ranked on the Rivals250 to watch list are expected - South Jordan Bingham running back Harvey Langi, Salt Lake City Highland receiver Nate Fkahafua, Spanish Fork receiver Travis Still, Spanish Fork linemen Isaac Asiata and Mathews.
Bingham won the 2009 Class 5A state championship and a big reason why was because of the loaded group of recruits coach Dave Peck has to work with in the 2011 class. Along with Langi, Moses Kaumatule, Kesni Tausinga, Seni Fauonuku, Inoke Taufalele, Bakker Pritchard and Manoa Pikula are all talented prospects that are expected at the Five-Star Academy. Pritchard, Pikula and Kaumatule have already committed to BYU.
Pleasant Gove is another top program that should be well represented at the event. Brandon Fanaika and BYU linebacker commitment Austin Heder are expected. American Fork will have another talented prospect there along with Mathews - quarterback Chase Hansen.
All four of Utah's early pledges should also be there Saturday - Fakahafua, Asiata, Hurricane offensive tackle Daniel Nielson and Salem Hills defensive end Jordan Robles. BYU's early commits are also expected, too. Along with the crew from Bingham and Heder from Pleasant Grove, Mountain Crest quarterback Alex Kuresa will be in attendance. Other big names to watch for are Ben Heimuli from Cottonwood, Desmond Collins from Highland and Tre Ofahengauge from Westlake.
It's expected to be a banner year in Arizona with five to 10 players having the potential to be ranked four stars and higher and almost every one of those players are expected Sunday at the Ed and Nadine Carson Student-Athlete Center on Arizona State University's campus.
Peat, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive tackle, is definitely one of the best stars in Arizona that will be at Sunday's event.
Peat is the son of former NFL offensive lineman Todd Peat, who was drafted in 1987 out of Northern Illinois University by the St. Louis Cardinals. Peat's father played with the Cardinals, relocating to Phoenix when the organization moved in 1988, until he was traded to the Los Angeles Raiders in 1990 and retired after the 1993 season. His younger brother, Andrus Peat is a 6-6, 270-pound offensive tackle, will also be there, and he's expected to be one of the nation's best in the 2012 class.
The line class in Arizona is really strong on both sides and will be well represented at the event. On the offensive side Cyrus Hobbi of Saguaro and Andre Yruretagoyena of Chaparral are both high-profile linemen expected to attend the event. Perry defensive tackle Mo Latu is another elite defensive line prospect that will be at the event.
The skill players will also be at Sunday's event at ASU.
In a loaded year for top talent at the running back spot, it's easy to overlook Canyon Del Oro star Ka'Deem Carey, but the 5-10, 180-pounder rushed for 2,738 yards and 43 touchdowns as a junior and recently impressed at the Badger 7-on-7 Regional Passing Tournament. He should definitely be one of the most impressive players at Sunday's event, too.
Quarterback Brett Hundley is expected also Sunday, and the 6-4, 210-pounder could be one of the best dual-threat passers in the nation. He's already landed offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Colorado State, Montana, Nebraska, Stanford, Texas A&M and Washington.
Other top players expected on Sunday are athlete Kelvin Fisher Jr. of Higley, defensive back Jordan Morgan of Chandler Valley Christian, defensive end Sam Kamp of Mountain View, linebacker Seteone Vaitafa of Mesa, quarterback Ben Maraz of Sunnyslope, tight end Zack Brown of Boulder Creek, linebacker Brock Haman of Saguaro, running back Derek Hubbard of La Joya Community and many others.
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