Utah is one of the fastest-growing states, with a population increase of around 20 percent in the past 10 years. With that rise, there has been a major increase in the amount of Division I football talent in the state. It has improved so much that Utah has become a must-stop spot for other national programs.

In the Class of 2009, Utah had 26 players sign with Football Bowl Subdivision (i.e., Division I-A) schools; there were 11 in the Class of 2002. The state produced four “national” recruits in the class, including the nation’s No. 1 center, John Martinez, from Salt Lake City Cottonwood.

The Class of 2010 group looks as talented as ever, with two four-star prospects already on the charts and at least 12 players with offers before the spring evaluation process has started.

“Per capita, we sign more Division I football players than any other state,” said Les Hamilton, the coach at Sandy’s Alta High. “Fifteen years ago, (Salt Lake City’s) Skyline High went on a roll and became a national program. They’ve set the stage and now you have the Altas, the (South Jordan) Binghams, the (Provo) Timpviews and the (Salt Lake City) Cottonwoods that are kind of the powerhouses of the state of Utah.

“Fifteen years ago, basketball was the No. 1 sport. It’s changed.”

There are many reasons Utah has become such a hotbed, but the biggest involve better coaching, great youth league organizations, the support of the community from a facilities standpoint and the family atmosphere generated throughout the region.

“We have a brand-new stadium that seats 7,000, and places like Bingham have a brand new video scoreboard,” Hamilton said. “That’s a commitment from our administration and our community. We put a lot of time and money into our facilities. We’re not Texas by any means, but we do have very nice facilities.

“Our kids are motivated to play high school sports in the state of Utah. You put that with a family-oriented community like you have in Utah because of the predominant religion, you get pretty good athletic programs.”

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham points toward coaching and the increase of population as the biggest factors in the increase in talent.

“The population increase has been big,” Whittingham said. “I think (the number of signees) increases proportionally as the population increases. I think the quality of coaching in Utah is getting better and better each year. The high school coaches are doing a great job with these athletes with fundamentals, techniques and that type of thing.”

The state’s top prospects for 2010 are Timpview tight end Bronson Kaufusi and Salt Lake City Brighton defensive tackle Ricky Heimuli. Kaufusi has committed to BYU, and Heimuli has plenty of national offers.

Both are four-star prospects, and other big-time prospects around the state are Pleasant Grove quarterback Dallas Lloyd, Skyline running back Algrenon Brown, Alta offensive tackle Jordan Black, Orem Timpanogos defensive end Joe Kruger, Cottonwood defensive tackle Jordan Afo and Timpview safety Chris Badger.

No more roaming

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Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge four-star defensive end Chase Rome had quite the offer list, but he ended the recruiting process Monday when he committed to Oklahoma State. Rome (6-foot-3, 275 pounds) turned down offers from programs such as South Carolina, Wisconsin, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri.

“I feel real solid about it,” he said. “I had taken several unofficial visits throughout the country and Oklahoma State just felt right. They don’t down talk other programs, which speaks volumes about them. No program is perfect; you just have to find the program that is perfect for you. I think I’ve done that.”

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With his commitment out of the way, Rome now will be a recruiter for the Cowboys.

“I’ve already met (Oklahoma State commitment) Stephen Maeweather, and he’s a real athletic guy,” Rome said. “I’m emailing prospects pictures of the facilities and trying to get in touch with kids they are recruiting.”