Top prospect Dalton Schultz emerges as offensive leader for Bingham football

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – Dalton Schultz thinks like a lineman.

Playing on the line was Schultz's natural position through most of youth football and it shows. He is as much at home knocking an opposing player to the ground as hauling in a first-down catch. Life in the trenches feels good for the senior tight end.

One reason Schultz wholeheartedly embraces his role in the Bingham (South Jordan) offense is it lets him show what he can do in all aspects of the game.

"You have to know all blocking schemes," Schultz said. "You have to know all the pass routes. It's fun to do both. I'm still a lineman on the inside but, at the same time, I love going out and catching passes. It's a position that lets you do both. That's a big thing."

What he does is also a big thing for Bingham. Schultz enters his third year as a starter having grown into one of the nation's top tight ends, ranked No. 102 overall in the 247Sports Composite Rankings. He is a 6-foot-6, 235-pound bruiser who can make a block and deliver a crushing hit at just the right times. He is also a gifted pass catcher who gives the Miners a reliable short yardage option.

As a junior, Schultz tallied 490 yards and three touchdowns on 34 catches. His versatility as a receiver and blocker already has several colleges drooling over the prospect of getting Schultz into their 2014 recruiting class. Schultz's first scholarship offer came from the University of Utah just two games into his sophomore season. It suddenly opened his eyes on how bright of a football future was ahead for him.

"It didn't really hit me until my sophomore year that college scholarships were the next big thing," Schultz said. "All through little league, it is about getting to the NFL. I never really thought about colleges until I got into high school and then I got my first offer. That was one of the best experiences of my life."

The interest has only exploded since that time, as he has received offers from more than 20 schools. Schultz recently narrowed the list of schools he is considering to five – Stanford, Washington, Utah, Oregon State and Notre Dame. He plans to make an official visit to Utah during the fall and will visit the other four schools as soon as his senior season ends.

Bingham coach Dave Peck has coached many special athletes – including 2013 NFL first round draft pick Star Loutulelei – during his three decades in the Utah high school ranks. Peck thinks Schultz might have a higher ceiling than anyone who has come before him.

"Honestly, he might be the No. 1 prospect I've coached in my 30 years," Peck said, noting Schultz is also a leader in the classroom with a 3.9 grade point average. "Going into the season right now, I don't know if I've ever had another kid I could project that's going to go on and do the same great things. If he stays healthy, he's going to do some great things at the next level and possibly beyond. He's that talented."

One reason Schultz holds so much potential is his attention to detail. He put in tons of work between his junior and senior seasons to fine tune everything from his footwork while blocking to ball control on passes thrown his way.

Peck counts on Schultz being a potent weapon for Bingham no matter which defense the Miners face during the season. His skills will make the senior tight end a game-planning nightmare for defensive coordinators.

"There is no way anybody should be able to cover him by just putting one guy on him," Peck said. "He'll be a three-year starter for us. He knows our offense. He knows what needs to be done. People are going to have to pay special attention to him."

Schultz will team up with an offensive line that returns four players who either started part-time or full-time for the Miners last fall. Bingham came within less than a yard of advancing to the Class 5A championship game a year ago. Miners running back Scott Nichols gained just a yard on fourth-and-2 from the Syracuse 15-yard line in the final minute and Bingham fell to the Titans 21-16 in the Class 5A semifinals.

Going the rest of the distance has dominated Schultz's thoughts and those of his fellow seniors heading into the 2013 season

"There's always a few of us talking about going that extra yard," Schultz said. "We were less than a yard short last year and I think that's pushing everybody to work that much harder."

With Schultz leading the way, that final yard could finally be within reach for Bingham.

John Coon covers Utah high school sports for MaxPreps.com. He is a former prep sports reporter with the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News. You can contact him at john_coon@hotmail.com