New Utah OT commit Kelvin Obot named Rivals 5-star prospect

Fruitland (Idaho) offensive tackle Kelvin Obot kept his recruitment lowkey this summer. He whittled his list of top schools down to four, logged his official visits in June, then quickly came to a decision earlier this month.

Last Tuesday, Obot announced his commitment to the Utah Utes, choosing the Big 12 program over Nebraska, Oregon and Michigan. The pledge felt like a massive deal for head coach Kyle Whittingham and Co. in the moment, but it now looks even bigger.

On Monday, Obot was rated as a five-star prospect in the updated Rivals300 rankings. He now ranks as the nation’s No. 7 overall prospect and is now the No. 2 offensive tackle in the cycle. Only top-ranked Jackson Cantwell checks in ahead of Obot in what’s one of the deepest tackle groups in some time.

Despite not playing high school football in a talent-rich area, Obot has still managed to solidify himself as an elite trench monster. The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder has long been considered as an under-the-radar national talent by Rivals Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power.

“We’ve loved the Idaho native’s junior film since last October,” Power said last fall. “Obot shows outstanding functional athleticism and is a dominant player against weaker competition. Since February, we’ve nailed down verified measurements and Obot is bigger than expected, checking in at north of 6-foot-5.5 and 300 pounds with plus length. We feel like the great film, stellar movement skills, projectable frame, and multi-sport background (53-1 foot shot put throw this spring) give him one of the higher upsides at offensive tackle in the cycle.”

Obot gives the Utes a landmark commitment

Utah has shown its development chops on the offensive line and that certainly helped the program land Obot. Early 2026 NFL mock drafts tab current Utah tackles Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu as first-round picks.

Consistent communication and familiarity also helped the Utes pull off the pledge — which came as a surprise to some last week.

“I have family in Utah, so I feel pretty familiar with the area, and their staff and program is very consistent, Obot told Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong in April.

Obot will be the headliner for Utah’s 2026 class that currently features 17 commitments, but ranks outside the top 50 of the Rivals Industry Team Recruiting Rankings. Adding a prospect of Obot’s caliber could provide a jolt for Whittingham and his staff on the trail this summer, however.

Top-100 in-state athlete Salesi Moa and twin in-state receiver recruits Keenan and Jaron Pula are among those currently trending toward Utah, per the Rivals Recruiting Prediction Machine. The Utes will look to build around Obot moving forward.