Offensive Lineman Darrin Paulo Commits to Utah Football

Newly appointed co-offensive coordinator Jim Harding didn't waste much time on the day of his promotion, getting a commitment from three-star offensive tackle Darrin Paulo of Sacramento, Calif. Paulo stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 344 pounds, a massive get (both literally and figuratively) for the Utah football team.

Paulo had taken recruiting visits to 2014 national runner up Oregon, as well as Nebraska and Pac-12 competition Washington State. Beating the Ducks and Cornhuskers for an O-lineman of Paulo's talent is a big win, as is wresting him away from Washington State where his brother plays. Paulo also held offers from other Power 5 teams like Arizona, Arizona State, California, Michigan, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin.

The commitment from Paulo brings the number of offensive lineman in the 2015 class to six, including Johnny Capra (6-5, 282), Nick Carman (6-4, 275), Keven Dixon, Jr. (6-6, 275), James Empey (6-4, 270), and Jake Grant (6-4, 275). All six are three-star recruits, and all six were recruiting by Harding. In fact, Harding has garnered commitments from eight three-star recruits, which amounts to 33 percent of the entire 2015 class.

Paulo's film* (below) shows a relentless blocker in the running game who pushes defenders downfield in a hurry and opens up running lanes. He does't appear to be much of a pancake blocker, but he definitely has the size and athletic ability to make a defensive ends life miserable. In the passing game, he has good footwork and solid hands to push rushers off their direct routes. Paulo stays with his assignment and plays to the whistle, something Harding both teaches and, obviously, looks for in a recruit.

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*Stats and film courtesy of Hudl.