Utah Wraps Up 2026 Recruiting Class With Two Late Additions, Including JUCO Standout Brandon Holmes
Signing day always brings a few surprises, and Utah delivered a couple of them on Wednesday by adding two final pieces to its 2026 recruiting class: junior college cornerback Brandon Holmes and offensive lineman Milz Asiata.
Let’s start with Holmes - a 6-foot-1, 180-pound corner out of Fresno City College who originally committed to Arizona. Utah flipped him late and officially brought him into the fold on signing day.
Holmes had a standout 2025 campaign, racking up 45 tackles, a sack, five interceptions, and 11 pass breakups. That’s production you can’t ignore, especially for a Utah secondary that’s had to do some serious reshuffling this offseason.
The Utes lost seven cornerbacks to graduation and the transfer portal, so Holmes isn’t just a depth piece - he’s a potential contributor right away. He brings experience, ball skills, and a physical presence that fits Utah’s defensive identity. For a program that prides itself on developing defensive backs, Holmes is a timely addition.
Then there’s Milz Asiata - a name Utah fans might already recognize. Asiata originally signed with the Utes in the 2025 class but didn’t enroll last year.
Now, after a year away from the program, the 6-foot-5, 331-pound lineman is back in the mix. He’s a bit of a project at this stage, but with that kind of size and a new offensive line coach in Jordan Gross - a former NFL All-Pro and Utah alum - Asiata’s ceiling is intriguing.
He’s not expected to crack the two-deep right away, but he’ll be one to watch in the development pipeline.
With Holmes and Asiata on board, Utah’s 2026 high school and junior college class is locked in at 20 players - not counting transfers from other Division I programs. And while the class may not be loaded top to bottom with blue-chip talent, it’s got some serious headliners.
The crown jewel? That would be five-star offensive tackle Kelvin Obot.
Not only is Obot the highest-rated recruit in Utah history according to the 247Sports composite, but he’s also got a built-in connection to the program’s new offensive line coach - Gross coached him at Fruitland High in Idaho. Obot checks in at 6-foot-5, 300 pounds and has the kind of polish and physicality that could make him a day-one starter at tackle in 2026.
He’s not the only promising big man joining the trenches. Four-star tackle Mataalii Benjamin, a 6-foot-7, 315-pounder from Lehi High, brings plenty of upside as well. He earned 6A honorable mention honors from the Deseret News and adds more muscle to what’s shaping up to be a revamped offensive line.
On the offensive skill side, running back LaMarcus Bell is another name to circle. Bell turned heads in his senior season, rushing for 1,517 yards and 25 touchdowns on just 144 carries - that’s over 10 yards a pop. Utah beat out Oregon for his commitment, and if he has a strong spring and fall camp, don’t be surprised if he earns carries early in his college career.
Of course, not every storyline in this class is about additions. Utah also saw one major departure - four-star athlete Salesi Moa, who had been the second-highest-rated commit in school history. Moa enrolled in January but entered the transfer portal before it closed and ended up at Michigan, joining former Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham.
Moa’s exit was the only defection from the class after Whittingham’s departure and Morgan Scalley’s promotion to head coach. That’s a testament to Scalley’s ability to steady the ship during a turbulent transition. Every other recruit signed on knowing Scalley would be leading the program, and they stayed committed through the coaching change and the ever-chaotic transfer portal window.
While Obot is the lone five-star and the rest of the class leans heavily on three-star talent, it’s a group that gives Scalley a solid foundation as he steps into his first full season as head coach. There’s a mix of high-upside prospects, instant-impact candidates, and developmental pieces - the kind of class that can grow into something special with the right coaching and culture.
Here’s a full look at Utah’s 2026 high school and junior college signees:
Utah’s 2026 High School and Junior College Signing Class
- Kelvin Obot, OT, 5⭐, 6-5, 300 - Fruitland High (Fruitland, Idaho)
- Mataalii Benjamin, OT, 4⭐, 6-7, 315 - Lehi High (Lehi, Utah)
- LaMarcus Bell, RB, 3⭐, 5-11, 190 - Lake Oswego High (Lake Oswego, Ore.)
- **Moses Sparks Jr.
**, IOL, 3⭐, 6-4, 280 - V. Sue Cleveland High (Rio Rancho, N.M.)
- Fameitau Siale, DE, 3⭐, 6-4, 260 - O’Dea High (Seattle, Wash.)
- Preston Pitts, LB, 3⭐, 6-4, 213 - Clear Falls High (League City, Texas)
- LaGary Mitchell, LB, 3⭐, 6-2, 200 - Meridian High (Meridian, Idaho)
- PJ Takitaki, DE, 3⭐, 6-4, 230 - Lehi High (Lehi, Utah)
- Michael Johnson, QB, 3⭐, 5-11.5, 165 - Douglas County High (Douglasville, Ga.)
- Kane Archer, QB, 3⭐, 6-1, 205 - Greenwood High (Greenwood, Ark.)
- Major Hinchen, CB, 3⭐, 6-2, 175 - La Quinta High (La Quinta, Calif.)
- Rowdy Pearce, IOL, 3⭐, 6-3.5, 285 - Midland Christian High (Midland, Texas)
- Aisa Galea’i, CB, 3⭐, 6-1, 185 - Orem High (Orem, Utah)
- Milz Asiata, OL, 3⭐, 6-5, 331 - Aquinas High (San Bernardino, Calif.)
- Dylan Waters, CB, 3⭐, 6-1, 175 - Fort Bend Marshall High (Missouri City, Texas)
- Bear Fisher, TE, 3⭐, 6-5, 235 - Queen Creek High (Queen Creek, Ariz.)
- Tayson Reid, LB, 3⭐, 6-1, 225 - Snow College (Ephraim, Utah)
- Earl Parker, CB, 3⭐, 6-3, 195 - Hutchinson Community College (Redshirt Freshman)
- Nicholas Igwe, DE, NR, 6-4, 255 - Kilgore College (Freshman)
- Brandon Holmes, CB, 3⭐, 6-1, 180 - Fresno City College
All told, this class might not flash with five-star depth, but it’s got grit, versatility, and a few potential stars in the making. For Morgan Scalley, it’s a strong opening statement - one that balances short-term needs with long-term development. Utah football’s next era is officially underway.