Redefining 'Do-It-All Athlete': Meet 4-Star LB-DE-QB Tayler Katoa

Layton, Utah's Tayler Katoa, a 2017 standout with double-digit FBS offers, had a respectable senior season, one that made him a hot commodity as a linebacker/defensive end hybrid.

Per MaxPreps, Katoa in eight games recorded 36 tackles, two sacks and a fumble return for a touchdown.

The 4-star defender also rushed for 784 yards, passed for 299 yards and accounted for 17 touchdowns.

How often can a rush end brag about also being an offensive catalyst? Taking it a step further, when's the last time a rush end can also say he was his team's starting quarterback?

That's how versatile Katoa was to Layton High School. In addition to being one of the team's defensive leaders, he was the team's best playmaker for an offense that not only thrived on the run but also had its highlights with its passing game.

"When people find out I also play quarterback, they sometimes give me a surprising look," Katoa said. "It's not a natural combination. A lot of people ask, 'Why do you do that?'

"I tell them, 'Because my team needed me.' And it's really paid off."

At 6'2" and 225 pounds, Katoa is being recruited primarily as a linebacker. He can play both the outside and inside linebacker positions. He has taken official visits to Washington (weekend of Nov. 11), Boise State (Nov. 18), USC (Nov. 25) and UCLA (Dec. 2). He will take his fifth and final official visit to Utah this weekend.

A mid-year enrollee set to graduate this month, Katoa is planning on announcing his verbal commitment in the upcoming days. The winning school will get a player who plays with a high motor and has a valued football IQ, quick to pick up scheme—on both sides of the ball.

"All the coaches I'm talking to like that I play linebacker and play quarterback," he said. "I know offensive schemes and how to make checks when there are certain blitzes. And when I flip to the defensive side of the ball, I understand if the play is a power or a blast or what happens when the quarterback drops his shoulder.

"I've done it so many times at quarterback that I can recognize it as a linebacker."

How important was Katoa this season? His presence—or lack thereof—was felt in Layton's final game of the season. Katoa was sidelined with a knee injury as Layton lost a play-in game against Hunter High School to determine a playoff spot.

"He's been starting at quarterback since he was a junior, and he still played defensive end. He's one of those kids where, physically, he's a grown man among boys," Layton head coach Jim Batchelor said. "He's got great instinct coming off the edge as a rush end, and he did a great job when we moved him to linebacker."

Batchelor, who just completed 12th season as Layton's head coach, remembers Katoa playing quarterback in elementary school. He had good size and speed and always seemed to be a step ahead of the competition.

When Katoa was a freshman, he was tested on the defensive side as a defensive end. His lateral movement, aggressive nature and instincts made him a leader on that side of the ball. He played quarterback for the varsity as a junior and grabbed early interest from colleges as an option signal-caller.

Credit: Scout.com

Schools like Oregon State, Army, Navy and Tulane were among the ones to express interest in Katoa the quarterback.

"He's one of those kids you've got to count for every play, or he'll burn you," Batchelor said. "As an option quarterback, he did a fantastic job of rushing for us. He's just so naturally gifted."

Look for Katoa, however, to make a name for himself in college as a hybrid defender, someone who can be a solid pass-rusher and a blue-collar tackler. While scoring touchdowns is part of the position, playing on defense, he said, is something that feels more natural in preparing for next-level competition.

"I feel like I need a lot more work," Katoa said, "but I'm getting there."

Katoa's athletic genes run strong. His father, Fotu, was a tight end at BYU. His mother, Elizabeth, was a distance runner for BYU. His sister, Eliza, is an outside hitter for Utah's volleyball team.

He will be the next to put on a college uniform, but which uniform is the big question. Katoa said he will choose a school that has good facilities, solid academics and a reputation for building football players following their athletic careers. He said alumni relations are important, as well.

And while it isn't an X-factor, being considered an "athlete" wouldn't be something he'd shy away from.

"I feel really lucky," he said. "I don't think a lot of kids can say they have these options. I've worked hard and feel blessed to even get a chance to play college football. Not everyone gets that chance."

"He has all the physical tools, no question about it, to be very successful at the next level," Batchelor added. "It's all about mental toughness and being a student of the game, and I think he'll continue to progress. He's just beginning to tap into his potential."

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of Scout.com. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles