Utah gets sackmaster

The Utah Utes under the guidance of new head coach Urban Meyer are doing a terrific job on the recruiting trail. The new Ute staff is leaving no stone unturned in their effort to increase the talent level and once again they scored with the commitment of defensive end Alex Pucchinelli (6-3, 225, 4.7) Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame.

The Utes get a terrific player in Pucchinelli. Pucchinelli was selected 1st-team all-state, and he was his Area and League Defensive Player of Year.

Pucchinelli was unstoppable off the edge in 2002. He accounted for 29 tackles for loss causing opponents to lose 165 yards. That is a lot of ground to make up.

Pucchinelli also made life miserable for quarterbacks as he registered 23 sacks as a senior.

“I went up to Utah with an open mind,” Pucchinelli said. “My heart told me that Utah was the place for me.”

“I had heard coach (Urban) Meyer and was impressed what he did at Bowling Green,” Pucchinelli said. “I just got the feeling something big is going to happen here.”

“Just walking around the Utah campus you can feel the winning attitude,” Pucchinelli said. “I wanted to be part of it.”

“I felt good about the new coaching staff,” Pucchinelli said. “I felt that the new coaching staff will make me a better football player. I feel I haven’t scratched the surface of my football potential and that this staff will help me get there.”

Pucchinelli selected Utah over Nevada.

Pucchinelli also visited Oregon and Washington and received recruiting interest from Colorado State and Boise State.

Utah gets a good edge player here.