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The top high school football prospect in Utah has committed to BYU, turning down offers from several Pac-12 schools, Nebraska, Notre Dame and others because he says he knows in his heart that "BYU is the best school for me."
Davis High senior defensive end Troy Hinds, a four-star prospect according to the recruiting website Scout.com, said in a news release emailed to dozens of Division I coaches who recruited him that he committed to BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall on Monday morning.
Hinds said he will enroll at BYU after he completes a two-year LDS Church mission.
He said in July that his top five favorites were Notre Dame, California, Utah, Nebraska and BYU.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pound prospect had scholarship offers from dozens of other top programs before narrowing his list last month. His announcement ends a heated recruiting battle between not only BYU and the Pac-12's Utah, but also several high-profile schools around the country.
"After much thought and deliberation I have made my decision where I will be getting my education and playing football," Hinds wrote. "... I'm very excited about the academic, social and football opportunities I will have at BYU."
Hinds made 58 tackles and had 7.5 sacks during his junior season at Davis.
"It was a difficult decision saying no to the great Pac-12 schools and others that have recruited me, but in the end I know in my heart that BYU is the best school for me," he said.
The prospect specifically thanked coaches at Utah, Nebraska, Stanford, Cal and Notre Dame for their interest in him and the professional way they recruited him. He also thanked his parents and his high school coach, Ryan Bishop, for their support through the three-year recruiting process. —