The elite 2029 recruit describes his front-row look at the Utes' explosive scoring attack and how deep coaching connections are positioning Utah as a frontrunner for his commitment.
The Utah Utes have gotten an early start with 2029 American Fork quarterback Jake Matsen, and another trip to Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Matsen was in Salt Lake City for Utah’s matchup with Utah State, getting another look at the program and more time around the coaching staff.
“I had a great time,” Matsen said in an exclusive interview. “The atmosphere in Rice-Eccles was awesome, and watching how explosive the offense was made it a fun game to be at. Getting more time around the staff was great too. The culture really stood out to me, and I left feeling good about the visit.”
A big part of the trip was another opportunity to spend time with quarterback coach Brian Gunderson and offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven.
Matsen has been building those relationships since the spring.
“I’ve been getting to know them since the spring, so it was great to spend some more time with them after the game,” Matsen said. “They congratulated me on a great season so far, and we talked about the rest of the season too.”
For a quarterback, though, getting to watch Utah’s offense in person was another big piece.
McGiven’s offense caught Matsen’s attention.
“The explosiveness definitely stood out,” Matsen said. “As a quarterback, seeing an offense make plays like that gets you excited. It makes me want to learn more about what Coach McGiven is doing and how I could fit into the offense.”
Matsen’s recruitment has started to take off, with Utah joined by programs like BYU, Arizona, Kentucky and Nebraska among the schools to offer.
Utah has been able to separate itself early because of the relationships.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given,” Matsen said.
“With Utah, the relationships have been a big part of it. I’ve had the chance to get to know the staff over the past several months, and being able to spend time there has helped me get a feel for the program. The culture that Coach Scalley has there is amazing.”
That staff has clearly made an impression on him beyond just football.
“They know how to get the best out of their players and help them develop,” Matsen said. “They’re also just good people. You can tell they care about their guys, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know them.”
There is still a long way to go in Matsen’s recruitment, but Utah has done what it needs to do to put themselves in a good position.
The relationships are growing. Matsen likes what he sees from McGiven’s offense. And another gameday visit gave him an even better feel for what Scalley is building in Salt Lake City.
“I feel really good about Utah, and this visit made me feel even better about them,” Matsen said.
“I’m still early in the process, so I want to keep building those relationships and learn more about the program and how I could develop there. I’m excited to keep watching them this season.”
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