Utah picks up commit from linebacker
Jared Norris liked the coaching staff, liked the situation at Utah and liked that he might be able to get some early playing time so after a recent unofficial visit the Bakersfield (Calif.) Centennial linebacker sat down with those close to him and talked about his recruitment.
Norris decided it was time to end things early by committing to the Utes and even though Pac-10 programs and others have pursued him he's content with his decision.
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"I committed on Saturday and I talked to Coach (John) Pease," Norris said. "They said they're only offering one (inside) linebacker for the 2011 class and they chose me and I went out for an unofficial visit and I really liked what I saw.
"I really liked the coaches and it was a real family atmosphere. I may not even have to redshirt my freshman year so I might see some early playing time. You never know how that goes but I really like the program at Utah and where it's going so it was a good fit for me."
Everything seemed like a perfect fit between Utah and Norris, a 6-foot-2, 228-pound prospect who had an offer from New Mexico State and was hearing from Fresno State, San Diego State, Arizona, Oregon State and Colorado State.
The atmosphere at Utah played a role in his decision but maybe most important to Norris was the coaching staff from Pease, the assistant head coach and defensive line coach, to head coach Kyle Whittingham to defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kalani Sitake.
"Coach Pease is the man," Norris said. "Anything we wanted to see he'd take us there right away. Coach Whittingham asked us if there was anything we needed or coaches we needed to talk to, he'd set all that up and we talked to the linebackers coach.
"Coach (Sitake) is also great and he made me feel real comfortable and we went over some defensive stuff so it was really cool. I'm 100 percent committed and ready to go."