Utah Secures Verbal from Prolific 2017 Texas Dual-Threat Jason Shelley

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Utah’s recruiting efforts for the 2017 class are finally starting to pay off as the summer months turn towards the start of the 2016 season. The Utes’ staff have begun to pick up momentum over the last six-plus weeks landing their fifth verbal commitment thus far on Sunday when Texas dual-threat Jason Shelley announced to Utah.

The last three seasons have been nothing short of dynamic playmaking on the Texas 5A gridiron for Shelley. Shelley passed for 1,346 yards with 12 scores as a freshman adding 821 yards on the ground with seven more touchdowns. His sophomore season was a step up in the action with 2,081 yards passing along with 21 touchdowns and another 873 yards on the ground with 13 more scores.

With the pressure mounting to keep upping his game, the 6’0”, 178 pound, talent threw for 3,716 yards connecting on 39 touchdowns while tearing up the turf for 1,661 more yards on the ground with 21 total trips to the end zone in 2015.

Shelley showed what was to come in 2014 leading Lone Star High School (Frisco) to a 7-3 mark. During his junior campaign, Shelley guided the Rangers to a 14-2 record with an appearance in the UIL State Football Championship Game against Cedar Park (22-6 loss).

Shelley had eight reported offers from Division-I programs picking the Utes over Virginia, North Texas, Utah State, Southern Miss, New Mexico, SMU, and Clemson. His commitment was made public on Twitter:

The Utes had been sitting on one verbal commitment since March when John Penisini pledged. After three months of waiting, Utah fans got three commits in two days from Zyon and Tristin McCollum along with Armand Shyne. The addition of Shelley to the class should help bring other offensive weapons to the Utes going forward.

Utah Utes 2017 Verbal Commitment List (5)

CB Tristin McCollum, 6-1, 175, Ball HS, Galveston, TX

CB Zyon McCollum, 6-1, 171, Ball HS, Galveston, TX

DT John Penisini, 6-2, 285, Snow C.C., Ephraim, UT

RB Armand Shyne, 6-0, 200, American River C.C., Sacramento, CA

QB Jason Shelley, 6-0, 178, Lone Star HS, Frisco, TX

 

Photo credit: dallasnews.com; No. 18 Jason Shelley scores another touchdown.