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LAYTON — Many top Utah high school football players are committing to programs out of state.
But Layton two-sport star Julian Blackmon has decided to stay home — and he only needed one offer.
The senior-to-be defensive back committed to assistant coach Morgan Scalley and Utah on Monday morning, the teenager told KSL Sports.
It's a chance to play for his dream school.
"I was actually speechless when they offered me," Blackmon said. "I didn't know what to say. I just said, 'Thank you so much, coach; you don't know how much I appreciate it.'
"It was awesome."
Blackmon received the offer from the Utes last week, thought about it over the weekend, and was ready to make his decision by Monday.
"First of all, Pac-12 is big time," he said. "But what also drew me more to the U. than other schools was how close I felt I was with the coaches. They really made me feel like I was at home. It was a great process."
Blackmon notched 25 tackles on defense for the Lancers as a junior, when he also hauled in 27 passes for 464 yards and two touchdowns on offense.
But his stock has been rapidly rising over the summer, when he clocked a 4.52 40-yard dash at a Nike combine. More offers would likely head Blackmon's way. But the chance to play for his dream school — the alma mater of his cousin Matt Asiata — was too good to pass up, he said.
"I knew that I wanted to be there," Blackmon said. "And now I am — I'm going there."
Blackmon is also a standout point guard for the Class 5A state champion boys basketball team. He averaged 7.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game while helping the Lancers to the state title in older brother Jarriesse Blackmon's senior year.
Still, his college future remains firmly in football, at least for now.
"I actually love both of them the same," Blackmon said. "But a lot more football love was coming toward me. Football was the way."
Contributing: Sean Walker, Dave Noriega
