PREP FOOTBALL RECRUITING:

Silverado star now considering Utah over UCLA

Cheyenne lineman also ponders joining the Utes

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Published Monday, Jan. 19, 2009 | 9:04 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009 | 1:28 p.m.

Graham

The shady side of recruiting

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Steve Silver and Ray Brewer reveal the darker side of prep sports recruiting and announce some major news regarding some of the top football players in the valley.

Silverado football player Keenan Graham has had a change of heart about his college choice.

Graham, who committed to UCLA in November, said Monday that Utah is now the leading contender for his services. The defensive end took a recruiting trip to Utah last weekend and two Utah coaches visited Graham Monday night at Big Dog's on Sahara Avenue and Torrey Pines Drive prior to the Sunrise Region awards banquet.

Graham, the region's defensive player of the year, said UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel is scheduled to make a home visit Tuesday night. He should decide between UCLA and Utah by the end of the week.

Graham was a first-team All-Sunrise performer for the second consecutive year. Often double teamed, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound defensive end finished with 73 tackles, seven sacks and three fumble recoveries.

Graham is not the only Las Vegas prospect Utah is after. The Utes are also also recruiting Cheyenne lineman Jeremiah Tofaeono. Utah coaches made a home visit to the 6-foot-5, 320-pound lineman Monday night.

Tofaeono took an official visit to Washington last weekend and said he loved the campus and the direction the program is headed under new coach Steve Sarkisian. Sarkisian will visit with Tofaeono and his family Tuesday.

Both Tofaeono and Graham have until Feb. 4, the national signing day, to make their final decisions.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@hbcpub.com.

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