Utah adds OT Mataalii Benjamin to 2026 class

Just two days after decommitting from Minnesota, West Valley City (Utah) Lehi three-star offensive tackle Mataalii Benjamin has now committed to Utah.

The Beehive State standout was pledged to the Golden Gophers since the beginning of June, but came back on the board on Monday. He’s now set to stay home and play for the Utes.

Benjamin is the No. 746 overall prospect and No. 56 OT in the 2026 cycle, according to the Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 12 recruit in Utah.

The 6-foot-7, 320-pounder landed his offer from Kyle Whittingham and Co. last October. One year later and he’s now in the fold, adding to a class that ranks No. 41 in the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

Benjamin plays for one of the top high school programs in Utah. Lehi is currently the No. 5 team in the state, according to the Massey Ratings.

More on Utah Recruiting

Utah now has 17 commits in its 2026 class. Benjamin becomes the fourth O-lineman to join the fold. Sitting at the top of the class is Fruitland (Idaho) OT Kelvin Obot, the No. 4 overall prospect in the Rivals300.

Last month, Rivals National Scout Cody Bellaire broke down what has kept Obot near the top of Rivals’ rankings for nearly the entire cycle:

“Obot is a prospect Rivals has been higher on for some time now and was a newly minted five star in our previous update. And now that he has some senior film under his belt, we still feel confident in his ability to translate his game seamlessly to the next level. This film is the first time we have seen him move around at his new weight and he looks just as sudden and flexible as ever.

The burst off the line of scrimmage, the pad level, and the foot speed is all there. Plus, he looks like he has some extra pop in his hands at the point of attack which is excellent. Obot continues to trend in the right direction and has a chance at becoming the top tackle in the country.”

Provo (Utah) Timpview twin wide receivers Jaron and Kennan Pula flipped to the Utes from UCLA in July. Lake Oswego (Ore.) three-star running back LaMarcus Bell, a one-time Oregon State commit, pledged in June and is the No. 32 RB in the nation.

“The family feeling they have there was a big part of my commitment,” Bell told Rivals. “The bond between the coaches and players are so genuine… It just feels like one big family. My relationship with coach Atuaia was a big factor too. He has a plan for me and I definitely want to compete with him.”

The Utes have the No. 6 class in the Big 12. The 17-man class can be seen here.