2007 Utah recruiting bios

Full bios for the 2007 Utah football recruiting class.

JAMES AIONO
Defensive Line
6-3, 245, Fr.
HS
West Valley City, Utah
Murray HS
First-team all-state and all-region as a senior ... won four letters in football at Murray High School (Utah) ... rated the fourth-best prospect in the state by Scout.com ... son of Ta'aloga and Ali'itasi Aiono ... brothers Toutasi and Tailate and sisters Misiono and Lisa ... last name is pronounced i-oh-no ... born Jan. 23, 1989 in Orange County, Calif.

MATT ASIATA
Running Back
6-0, 235, Jr.
JC
West Valley City, Utah
Snow College
2006 junior college All-American was also first-team all-Western States Football League ... led the WSFL and Snow College in rushing with 1,365 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2006 ... averaged 6.3 yards per carry and 136.5 yards per game ... rushed for 238 yards in a win over Scottsdale CC ... Snow won the WSFL championship in 2006 and bowl games in 2005 and 2006 ... rated the No. 79 JC recruit by Rivals.com ... 2003 and 2004 all-state and all-region selection for Hunter High (Utah) ... earned three letters in football and basketball ... Hunter was the 2003 state champion in both football and basketball ... son of Pete and Faulole Asiata ... two brothers and two sisters ... brother Shawn plays linebacker and fullback for Snow College ... married to Tangi Atiga ... daughter Ioana Faulole and son Matt ... full name is Matthew Rentinai Asiata (pronounced ah-see-ah-ta) ... born July 24, 1987 in Santa Ana, Calif.

JEREME BROOKS
Wide Receiver
5-9, 165, Fr.
HS
League City, Texas
Clear Creek HS

First-team all-district as a junior and senior ... honorable mention all-state ... first-team Texas Prepstar.com ... first-team all-Galveston County ... second-team all-Greater Houston Class 5A ... 70 receptions led the greater Houston area ... 850 receiving yards (9 touchdowns) and over 1,000 all-purpose yards ... three-time MVP of Clear Creek High School ... also lettered in baseball ... son of Warren Brooks and Judy James ... brother Warren Jr. ... name is pronounced like Jeremy ... born April 23, 1989.

JOSH BROUGHTON
Defensive Back
5-11, 185, Jr.
JC
Virginia Beach, Va.
Citrus College
Two-time all-Western States Conference cornerback for Citrus College ... Citrus College won conference titles in both 2005 and 2006 ... rated in the top 100 JC recruits by rivals.com ... native of Virginia Beach, Va., graduated from Walnut High School (Calif.) ... named all-Baseline League as a junior and senior, and all-CIF as a senior ... set school records for longest interception return, longest fumble return and longest play from the line of scrimmage ... Walnut High was the 2002 CIF runner-up ... son of Latoia Broughton ... mother is retired military and served in the Persian Gulf War ... brother Marcus ... enjoys playing chess ... full name is Joshua Broughton (pronounced brah-ton) ... born Nov. 20, 1985 in Naples, Italy.

BRANDON BURTON
Defensive Back
6-0, 172, Fr.
HS
Houston, Texas
Clear Creek HS
All-district as a return specialist his sophomore, junior and senior years ... all-district as a cornerback his junior and senior seasons ... 11 career interceptions ... 10 returns for touchdowns ... Clear Creek High School (Texas) two-time captain and 2005 Defensive Player of the Year ... also lettered in track ... district 200 meter champion (21.3) as a junior ... qualified for the Junior Olympics in the 200 meters ... son of Mark and Shawn Burton ... father is an engineer and mother is a doctor ... sister Ashley ... enjoys golf and cooking ... born July 31, 1989 in Germany.

LOUIS FINNER
Offensive Line
6-3, 289, Fr.
HS
Plano, Texas
Plano East HS
Two-time all-state ... Plano East High School's (Texas) team captain and two-time Offensive Lineman of the Year ... lettered in football and wrestling ... 2007 academic all-district ... son of Louis and Darlene Finner ... one sister ... full name is Louis Curtis Finner Jr. ... born April 19, 1989.

NAI FOTU
Defensive End
6-1, 232, Fr.
HS
Laie, Hawaii
Kahuku HS
First-team all-state Honolulu Advertiser ... second-team all-state Honolulu Star Bulletin ... 47 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a senior ... helped Kahuku High School (Hawaii) win the 2005 and 2006 state championships ... also lettered three years in rugby ... son of Timote and Florence Fotu ... youngest of 12 children (eight boys, four girls) ... full name is Timote Nai Fotu ... name is pronounced Ny Fo-too ... born Aug. 20, 1988 in Montclair, Calif., and spent most of his childhood in Tonga.

MIKE HONEYCUTT
Defensive Back
5-11, 150, Fr.
HS
Cedar Hills, Utah
Lone Peak HS
First-team all-region and second-team all-state as a senior in 2006 ... played for Lone Peak High School's (Utah) 2004 and 2005 region champion team ... Long Peak had the state's best defense from 2005-06 ... also lettered in track and baseball ... enjoys ping pong, bowling and drawing ... plans to serve an LDS church mission before enrolling at Utah ... son of Tom and Janice Honeycutt ... mother is a Utah graduate ... sister Amanda ... born Aug. 18, 1988 in Renton, Wash.

ROBERT JOHNSON
Defensive Back
6-3, 176, So.
JC
Los Angeles, Calif.
L.A. Southwest College
Honorable mention junior college All-American in 2006 ... also all-conference, all-district and all-state in '06 ... 96 total tackles, five interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble for L.A. Southwest College ... also ran track for L.A. Southwest ... 21.65 clocking in 200 meters and 47.52 in 400 meters ... 6'8" high jumper ... as a senior at Fremont High School (Calif.), he was named to L.A. Times 2005 all-region team and its "top defensive back" ... 2005 defensive co-player of the year in the Coliseum League ... also lettered in track and basketball ... all-district basketball player ... son of Wanda and the late Wayne Johnson ... three brothers and two sisters ... brother Elijah is a wide receiver at L.A. Southwest ... born Feb. 13, 1987.

JAMEL KING
Linebacker
6-3, 217, Fr.
HS
Murrieta, Calif.
Vista Murrieta HS
All-league and all-valley ... recorded 80 tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks and five caused fumbles ... helped Vista Murrieta High School (Calif.) to a 10-0 record and the Southwestern League championship in 2006 ... son of James and Lorena King ... sisters Mercedez and Quna ... first name is pronounced Ja-mell ... full name is Jamel Lawrence King ... born Mar. 31, 1989.

CORBIN LOUKS
Quarterback
6-0, 171, Fr.
HS
Danville, Calif.
San Ramon Valley HS
First-team all-East Bay Athletic League ... North Coast Section Offensive Player of the Year ... San Francisco Chronicle regional player of the year, 2005 and 2006 second-team all-metro QB ... Contra Costa Times first-team quarterback ... third-team all-state ... No. 3-ranked player in Cream of the Crop (Bay Area top 20) ... won Peter Villa Award as the tri-valley's most outstanding football player ... San Ramon Valley High (Calif.) MVP and team captain passed for 2,489 yards and 28 touchdowns (7 interceptions) ... won San Ramon's Iron Man award ... scholar-athlete ... son of Rob and Kelly Louks ... father played wide receiver for the University of Evansville... sister Madison and brother Logan ... last name rhymes with ow (l-ow-ks) ... born April 10, 1985.

CHAD MANIS
Quarterback
6-5, 201, So.
JC
Lakewood, Calif.
Cerritos College
Mid-year transfer is enrolled at Utah and will participate in spring football ... Cerritos College 2006 team captain was its leading passer and second-leading rusher ... passed for 1,389 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed 76 times for 272 yards (3.6 average) ... rated in the top 100 JC recruits by Rivals.com ... Lakewood High (Calif.) two-sport athlete won three letters in football and one in volleyball ... all-league volleyball player ... son of Greg and Laurie Manis ... father is a police officer ... brother Brett ... enjoys beach volleyball and motorcycle riding ... full name is Chad Jeffery Manis (pronounced man-iss) ... born on Feb. 13, 1988.

KOA MISI
Defensive Line
6-3, 253, So.
JC
Santa Rosa, Calif.
Santa Rosa JC
Mid-year transfer is enrolled at Utah and will participate in spring football ... first-team all-conference defensive end for Santa Rosa Junior College ... helped Santa Rosa to a division title and a bowl invitation ... two-time first-team all-conference player for Montgomery High School (Calif.) ... Defensive Player of the Year ... Montgomery went 13-0 in 2005 and won the league title ... also lettered in baseball and basketball ... honor roll student ... enjoys snowboarding and wakeboarding ... son of Sione and Katherine Misi ... father played football for Hawaii ... sister Alysea ... full name is Nawa'akoa Lisiate Foti Analeseanoa Misi (pronounced ko-a mee-see) ... born Jan. 17, 1987.

MO NEAL
Linebacker
6-2, 205, Fr.
HS
Oakland, Calif.
San Leandro HS
2006 Cream of the Crop and preseason All-American ... first-team all league and second-team all-East Bay ... played for two-time HAAL champion San Leandro High School (Calif.) ... 48 tackles, two interceptions for touchdowns, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries his senior year ... son of Ginger Neal and Gary Dugger ... brother Anthony ... enjoys cooking ... full name is Maurice Neal ... born Jan. 2, 1988.

DESHAWN RICHARD
Defensive Back
6-1, 192, Jr.
JC
Las Vegas, Nev.
Victor Valley College
Mid-year transfer is enrolled at Utah and will participate in spring football ... 2006 second-team all-conference safety for Victor Valley College ... prepped at Rancho High School in Las Vegas, Nev. ... Rancho Valley's defensive MVP and Athlete of the Year as a junior and senior ... lettered in football, basketball and track ... honor roll student ... son of Janice Richard ... brother Jarquez Bouldon and sister Javaree Bouldon ... born May 12, 1986.

GRIFF ROBLES
Quarterback
6-5, 220, Fr.
HS
Spanish Fork, Utah
Spanish Fork HS
First-team all-region IV and first-team all-valley ... second-team all-state ... Spanish Fork High (Utah) 2006 MVP and team captain ... won four letters in basketball and three in football ... rated the No. 2 ranked prospect in the state of Utah by both Rivals.com and Scout.com ... plans to serve an LDS church mission before enrolling at Utah ... son of Rob and Jeane Robles ... father graduated from Utah and mother was a three-sport athlete at Snow College ... two brothers and three sisters ... enjoys fishing ... full name is Griffin Robles ... born July 1, 1988 in Santa Clara, Calif.

DALLIN ROGERS
Tight End
6-4, 210, Fr.
HS
Placerville, Calif.
Union Mine HS
Three-time first-team all-Sierra Valley Conference tight end/wide receiver ... third-team all-state as an all-purpose player in 2006 ... first-team all-Metro (Sacramento area) as a junior and senior ... all-San Joaquin Section in 2005-06 (he was the only junior selected in 2005) ... also played linebacker and was the league's 2006 Defensive MVP ... 2006 first-team all NorCal ... 62 receptions for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior ... 61 catches for 1,033 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior ... lettered all four years in basketball and was a first-team all SVC selection as a sophomore and junior (currently in his senior season) ... 2006 Union Mine High School (Calif.) basketball MVP .... averaged 17 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals as a sophomore, and 21 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals as a junior ... son of Doug and Jana Rogers ... father played his college football at Stanford and then played for three NFL teams (Atlanta, New England and San Francisco) from 1982-88 ... four sisters ... sister Kiana plays volleyball for BYU ... enjoys fishing and golf ... full name is Dallin Rogers (first name rhymes with allen) ... born Aug. 23, 1989.

DERRICK SHELBY
Defensive End
6-3, 201, Fr.
HS
Houston, Texas
Hightower HS
All-district first team as a senior in 2006 ... recorded 15 sacks ... Hightower High School (Texas) won the 2006 district championship ... also lettered two years in track ... won an academic excellence award ... son of Alisa and Derrick Shelby Sr. ... one sister ... full name is Derrick Shelby II ... born Mar. 4, 1989.

LEI TALAMAIVAO
Defensive Tackle
6-2, 272, Fr.
HS
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Rancho Cucamonga HS
All-state, all-CIF, all-Inland Valley ... league MVP ... 145 tackles and 12.5 sacks as a senior in 2006 ... also lettered in track at Rancho Cucamonga High School (Calif.) ... son of Ivan Cajaho and Anna Martinez ... one stepsister and three stepbrothers ... enjoys camping ... full name is Agalelei Talamaivao ... name is pronounced Lay Tal-a-my-vow ... born Sept. 20, 1988 in Samoa.

DAMILYN TANNER
Defensive Back
5-10, 175, Jr.
JC
Sacramento, Calif.
El Camino College
Two-time all-conference and preseason junior college All-American ... El Camino College was the 2006 So Cal champion and state champion ... rated the No. 65 JC recruit by Rivals.com ... two-year Lakewood High School (Calif.) team captain ... first-team all-league in 2004 ... son of Ron and Donna Lewis ... brother Tahiran and sister Larhan ... first name is pronounced da-my-lin ... nickname is D-Tan ... born Oct. 26, 1987.

JUSTIN TAPLIN-ROSS
Linebacker
6-3, 198, Fr.
HS
Murrieta, Calif.
Vista Murrieta HS
All-league, all-valley and all C.I.F. ... recorded 103 tackles, 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries ... helped Vista Murrieta High School (Calif.) to a 10-0 record and the Southwestern League championship in 2006 ... also lettered in basketball and track ... honor student ... calculus Student of the Month ... son of Wanda Taplin and Tyrone and Pauline Ross (stepmother) ... five sisters and two brothers ... enjoys dancing and boxing ... full name is Justin Shaun Taplin-Ross ... born Mar. 26, 1989 in Texas.

WESTLEE TONGA
Tight End
6-4, 211, Fr.
HS
Spring, Texas
Spring HS
Second-team all-district as a senior in 2006 ... Spring High School (Texas) team captain ... won three letters in football, two in track and one in basketball ... plans to serve an LDS church mission before enrolling at Utah ... son of Kathy Barney and Lee Tonga ... sisters Kalani and Sunny, and brother Steven ... brother-in-law, Reno Mahe, plays for the Philadelphia Eagles ... first name is pronounced Wesley.

REGGIE TOPPS
Defensive Back
5-11, 164, Fr.
HS
Prunedale, Calif.
N. Monterey County HS
All-county ... played running back, receiver and cornerback for North Monterey County High School (Calif.) ... rushed 116 times for 995 yards (8.6 average) as a senior in 2006 ... rushed for 245 yards in one game ... averaged 21 yards a reception ... scored 15 total touchdowns ... won four letters in track and three in football and basketball ... clocked at 21.87 in the 200 meters and recorded a 10.61 100-meter time ... son of Sam and Kathy Topps ... enjoys drawing and working on cars with his father, who is a mechanic ... sister Kindra ... full name is Reginald Topps ... born Dec. 19, 1988.

EDDIE WIDE
Running Back/Defensive Back
5-10, 170, Fr.
HS
Las Vegas, Nev.
Cimarron Memorial HS
All-state running back ... all-region running back and defensive back ... Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Nevada ... Cimarron Memorial High School (Nev.) team captain ... as a senior in 2006, rushed 202 times for 1,743 yards (8.6 average) and 23 touchdowns, and totaled 31 tackles, three interceptions and one fumble recovery ... rated the No. 5 player in the state of Nevada by Rivals.com ... son of Eddie Wide, Jr. ... father played football for UNLV ... sisters Shanta, Calais and Mariah ... full name is Eddie Lee Wide III ... born Nov. 19, 1988.

THOR SALANOA
Linebacker
6-2, 187, Fr.
Honolulu, Hawaii; Radford HS
Honorable mention all-state ... first-team all-star ... Radford High School (Hawaii) team captain ... Radford won the 2006 OIA White championship ... also lettered in track ... made the honor roll all four years ... son of Thor and June Iagi Salanoa ... father played football for BYU ... two brothers and a sister ... younger brother is autistic ... full name is Thor Eric Salanoa (pronounced sal-a-noa) ... born Feb. 7, 1989.