2028 RB James 'Juice' Curoso calls Utah offer a ‘game changer,’ Utes high on his list

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The Utah Utes have gotten involved early with one of the more interesting running backs in the 2028 class.

Three-star running back James “Juice” Curoso is coming off a huge sophomore season at Clovis High School in California, and his recruitment has continued to take off this offseason.

Curoso rushed for 1,507 yards and 27 touchdowns last season, while adding another five touchdowns through the air. He was just as productive on defense, finishing with 110 tackles and earning All-State sophomore recognition.

Now, the 5-foot-10, 195-pound back is transferring to Cardinal Newman in Santa Rosa for his junior season, and he already holds offers from programs including USC, Oregon, Arizona, Cal, Washington and Utah.

The Utah offer caught his attention immediately.

“It was definitely shocking,” Curoso told me. “Utah has great tradition. A lot of great NFL guys have come out of there, so it definitely was a game changer for me.”

That is a strong first impression for Utah, especially considering how quickly Curoso's recruitment has grown.

USC offered him after he camped there in June, while Oregon, Arizona and Cal are among the other Power Four programs already involved. For a prospect who still has two full high school seasons ahead of him, there is plenty of time for that list to continue growing.

For Utah, assistant head coach and running backs coach Mark Atuaia has been the primary point of contact so far.

“My relationship with Coach Atuaia is great, making sure to stay in contact,” Curoso said.

That relationship will be important moving forward.

Atuaia is entering his second season running Utah's running back room, and his first year produced a school-record 3,462 rushing yards and 41 rushing touchdowns. Wayshawn Parker led the room with 981 yards and earned Third-Team All-Big 12 honors.

That gives Atuaia something real to sell to a young running back like Curoso.

But what makes Curoso especially intriguing is that football is only part of what he does.

He is also one of the best wrestlers in California.

Curoso finished second at the 2026 CIF State Championships at 165 pounds as only a sophomore, falling to eventual champion Slava Shahbazyan in the state final. He had previously placed fourth at state as a freshman.

He has essentially been wrestling his entire life, and that background has become a major part of the player he is on the football field.

“Yeah, of course,” Curoso said. “I’ve been wrestling my whole life, so it definitely has helped off the field and keeps me in shape when it’s not football season.”

Curoso already has a great frame for a 2028 running back, but the production on both sides of the ball is what really jumps out. This is a kid who scored 32 touchdowns as a sophomore and then turned around and led Clovis with 8.5 tackles per game on defense.

There is a physicality there that makes plenty of sense when you consider the wrestling background.

The next big step with Utah is getting him to Salt Lake City.

Curoso told me he has not had a chance to visit Utah yet, meaning the Utes have already made this kind of impression without getting him on campus.

That makes the first visit one to watch.

Getting Curoso around Morgan Scalley's program, the running back room and the rest of the staff allows the Utes to take this one another step.

And right now, Utah already sounds like a legitimate factor.

“Utah is high on my list,” Curoso said. “And over time I think me and the coaches will create a relationship.”

For a 2028 prospect, that is probably the biggest takeaway here.

There is a long way to go. Curoso's recruitment is only going to get more crowded if he keeps producing at his current level, and schools like USC and Oregon are already involved.

But Utah got in early enough to matter.

The offer was a “game changer.” Curoso is already building a relationship with Atuaia. The Utes are high on his list before he has even seen Salt Lake City.

Now Utah has to keep building on it.

And getting Curoso on campus feels like the obvious next step.