Corner Canyon's Isaiah Garcia, the state's No. 1-rated recruit in 2024, commits to Utah

SALT LAKE CITY — Corner Canyon quarterback Isaac Wilson made his collegiate commit known early. In May, the four-star quarterback chose the University of Utah over 19 other offers, including BYU where his older brothers attended school.

On Saturday, one of the players that will help protect Wilson this fall at Corner Canyon decided to join his quarterback at Utah. Offensive tackle Isaiah Garcia, the state's No. 1-rated recruit in 2024, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, announced his commitment to the Utes before a group of family and friends at his home.

The four-star offensive tackle held 22 scholarship offers, including all 12 schools in the Pac-12, and others such as Alabama, Auburn, BYU, Miami, Nebraska and Oklahoma. Garcia took four official visits during his recruitment and visited Utah on June 9, his second of the four visits.

At the end of June, Garcia narrowed down his list and announced his final four: Oregon, Stanford, USC and Utah.

But in the end, Garcia decided to stay home and will be added to an already deep Utah offensive line that secured the No. 1-rated recruit in Utah last year in offensive tackle Spencer Fano.

"I'd just like to say, I'm staying home," Garcia said. "I'm going to Utah."

Garcia said Utes offensive line coach Jim Harding was a major reason for his decision. Harding's "track record" is what set the program apart when it came down to picking a school, Garcia added.

"After my four officials, it really came down to — all of them were really good — but I narrowed it down to a top three that I felt like anywhere I went I'd be OK, I'd be really happy there, I would have thrived," Garcia said. "But I think what set Utah apart — a big part of it — was coach Jim Harding; he was huge. Having him to be able to develop me as a player. You've seen his track record and the people he's put in the league. He's been there for a good minute now, and he's developed some dudes."

Now he gets an opportunity to continue his playing career with the quarterback he'll be protecting this season.

"Isaac is a really good kid and he's a hell of a player; he's a really good quarterback," Garcia said. "When I saw him commit to Utah, I thought that was really good move for him. ... I'm really excited to play with him this year — started building a bond with him. I'm really excited to get up to Utah with him, and I think both of our futures are really bright."

Garcia is the ninth player to commit to Utah as part of the 2024 recruiting class. He joins fellow four-star players Isaac Wilson and wide receiver David Washington, as well as three-star recruits Vili Taufatofoa (DL), Lamar Radcliffe (ATH), Ashtin Kekahuna-Lopes (LB), Jeilani Davis (DB), Sammie Hunter (CB) and Hunter Andrews (ATH).

"I think the future of the program is really bright," Garcia said. "Utah football, as a whole, is getting some really, really good recruits these last couple of years."

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