Utah Utes LB commit Trey Reynolds is an SI All-American nominee

Over the past decade, Utah has had one of the premier defenses in the nation — and with the commit of SI All-American nominee linebacker Trey Reynolds, there's no reason that expectation should drop

It may be the month of July, and the COVID-19 pandemic may be seriously hindering recruiting for most of the college football programs throughout the country. But for the University of Utah, head coach Kyle Whittingham and co. are off to a stellar start in recruiting compared to where they usually are this time of year.

Headlining Utah's 2021 recruiting class is quarterback Peter Costelli, one of the top-ranked passers in the country according SI All American's John Garcia.

On the other side of the ball, the commitment of linebacker Trey Reynolds out of Queen Creek High School in Queen Creek, Arizona is the headliner. Reynolds, who could be the next Ute in line to be a defensive star and is thus far the headliner on defense, was recently named an SI All-American nominee.

Over the coming weeks, SI will unveil its preseason top 10 for each of 14 position groups (kicking off with quarterbacks this week). SI will unveil its initial top 99 ranking, the SI99, on August 24.

The evaluation process will continue throughout the season “until the list of 1,000 contenders coalesces around just 25 young men who can say proudly they are the best of the best -- they are Sports Illustrated All-Americans,” said SI Director of Football Recruiting John Garcia Jr.

The candidates will be narrowed to 250 in October and 99 in November, and will culminate with 25 first-team Sports Illustrated All-Americans saluted at SI’s annual Sportsperson of the Year banquet in New York in December.

Excited to announce that I am committed to the University of Utah! Thank you to everyone who has helped me through the process and the incredible Utah staff! @SafetyPride @Colton_Swan @Utah_Football pic.twitter.com/QDstaQKKqk

— Trey Reynolds (@TreyReynoldsQC) May 22, 2020

Pulling Reynolds from Arizona is a massive get for the Utes, who are looking to reload on defense after being expected to get hard in the two years prior to Reynolds showing up on campus. It's also a win in getting him from the likes of Pac-12 foes Oregon and Washington, showing that Utah is a place to be.

The more you watch Reynolds' game, the more you'll fall in love with his old-school approach to the game. The kid just loves to play hard and hit people — and with his size already, is capable of stepping in and playing right away. 

He's also a lot more athletic than given credit for as he can play in coverage as well, and his three-star ranking is actually a little low for where he projects in the college ranks.

This is a massive get for the Utes and are looking at maybe adding another prospect or two in the class. Utah only signed one ILB recruit from the 2020 class in 3-star Sione Fotu — and with expected 2020 starters Devin Lloyd and Sione Lund draft eligible following the upcoming season, there is room for playing time early on for Reynolds.

Here's a complete breakdown by SI All-American director of recruiting John Gracia regarding what Nathan can do at the next level...

Prospect: Trey Reynolds
Status: SI All-American candidate
Vitals: 6-foot-2, 235 pounds
Position: Inside Linebacker
School: Queen Creek (Ariz.)
Committed to: Utah
Projected Position: Middle Linebacker

Frame: Tall and well-proportioned. Broad shoulders and wide chest taper to thick waist. Big, tightly-wound lower half. More filled out than most, but some room for additional muscle.

Athleticism: Powerful and explosive. Arrives with force as tackler. Quick, active feet. Not especially fluid hips, but very good change-of-direction ability. Claims 4.6 40-time, and shows it on tape. Reaches fifth gear in a hurry. Natural ball skills.

Instincts: Forceful and decisive. Never a wasted movement on the field. Always reading quarterback’s eyes and guard keys. Chops feet and shuffles while diagnosing. Plays quarterback on offense; clear understanding of coverage concepts. Meets blockers with power in hole.

Polish: Outstanding awareness and football IQ. High-level technique and footwork flowing to ball in box and dropping into coverage. Could use additional strength, while focusing on improving hip flexibility.

Bottom Line: Reynolds’ film suggests he possesses most every physical and mental trait coaches want from an inside linebacker. If his standout athleticism at the high-school level translates to the Pac-12, he’ll be manning the middle of Utah’s defense sooner rather than later. Likely multi-year starter, with NFL ceiling.

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