On Saturday, Utah football capped a successful recruiting week by securing a commitment from Nathan Tilmon, a safety from Mansfield Timberview in Arlington, Texas. Tilmon chose Utah over finalists Texas and TCU, despite strong late efforts from both programs. He made his decision public through social media.
Utah has been seeking to bolster its safety position, and Tilmon is an excellent fit for their defensive scheme. In his junior season, he accumulated 34 tackles and six pass breakups in just eight games. Over the past two years as a starter, Tilmon has built a reputation as a savvy defender with excellent vision and the ability to quickly assess and respond to plays. He has a keen sense for the ball, effective tackling skills in open space, and agile movement that could also make him a candidate for nickel back. His impressive speed is complemented by his track background, where he clocked a sub-11-second 100-meter dash as a sophomore.
Tilmon’s commitment is a major win for Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley, known for his success in recruiting talent from Texas. Beating out local powerhouses like the Longhorns and Horned Frogs highlights Utah’s strong coaching staff, culture, and a defensive scheme that has produced NFL-caliber safeties for over a decade.
Tilmon is rated as a three-star prospect by 247Sports with an 86 rating and holds a composite score of .8675, ranking him as the #79 high school safety in the nation and among the top 150 prospects in Texas. A standout senior season could improve his ranking further. Previously committed to SMU, Tilmon had 15 offers before choosing Utah.
He is the second high school recruit to commit to Utah this week, joining four-star offensive lineman Aaron Dunn. Tilmon’s commitment brings Utah’s 2025 recruiting class to 18 players, including three from Texas: Tilmon, safety Shelton “Manny” Fuller, and cornerback Jason Stokes Jr. Utah has a history of attracting top defensive back talent from Texas, and Tilmon is eager to continue that tradition.
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