“Utah Isn’t Just Another School to Me”: Boise State Commit Ryce Palepoi Reflects on Utah Visit

Corner Canyon linebacker and 2027 Boise State commit Ryce Palepoi was in Salt Lake City for the Utah Utes' matchup against the Houston Cougars this past weekend.

For Palepoi, the visit meant more than just watching a football game. With family ties to the Utah football program, the opportunity to potentially play for the Utes is something he has thought about for a long time.

“It was honestly a special experience for me. Utah has always been familiar to me growing up, especially with my uncle playing there and my dad coaching there, so being back around the program means more to me than people might realize,” Palepoi told The Sam LeSueur Show.

“But this visit was different because I’m looking at Utah through my own eyes as a recruit and thinking about the possibility of building my own legacy there. Seeing everything firsthand made me reflect on how full-circle it would be to play for a program that’s been part of my life for so long.”

The atmosphere at Rice-Eccles Stadium also made an impression on Palepoi, especially with ESPN’s College GameDay in town for the matchup.

“The atmosphere was crazy. Having College GameDay there made it feel like the entire country was watching Utah, and Rice-Eccles was bringing that energy from start to finish.”

“As a linebacker, it’s exciting to imagine being in the middle of that environment, feeding off the crowd and making plays when the game is on the line. It was the type of atmosphere that makes you picture yourself running out of the tunnel and representing not just the university, but the state you grew up in.”

While Palepoi remains committed to Boise State, he acknowledged that the visit strengthened Utah’s position in his recruitment.

His relationships with two current Utah commits and Corner Canyon teammates, Diesel Dart and Jackson West, have also played a role.

“It definitely made Utah stand out even more. Growing up around the program, having my uncle play there, and knowing my dad coached there gives Utah a different meaning to me. On top of that, having my teammates Diesel Dart and Jackson West committed and constantly encouraging me to join them makes the possibility even more exciting.”

However, Palepoi made it clear that his eventual decision will come down to finding the best opportunity for his future development.

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“At the same time, I want to make sure that wherever I go, I’m making the best decision for my future and putting myself in the position to develop into the best linebacker I can be.”

For Utah, there is already a strong connection with Palepoi through his family and teammates. His latest visit only added to that.

“Utah isn’t just another school to me. There’s history, relationships, and a real connection there, so the opportunity to continue that legacy is definitely something I take seriously.”