a kids sophmore year.

If you offer so early, literally everyone will offer afterwards.

Utah generally waits, although not always. Additionally, Utah has better athletes all around than BYU, why is Utah 'seeing if they are good enough for BYU' and if they are, then offer?

Both programs offer maybe 10 of the same kids in a recruiting cycle. At the most. Utah will offer 40 kids. The incommon recruits are mostly in-state.

They are on the radar of Utah already. What BYU does in recruiting does not drive anything regarding how Utah recruits, when they offer, etc.

Utah offers later than BYU in almost every case. It is their strategy. BYU offers early in almost every case. It's their strategy. BYU know that if they don't commit as Jr.'s, they likely don't get the kid. It's just how it is.

Is BYU copying Utah by going after more JC kids now? Or is it just a new part of their strategy? Utah has always done it. Star Latulelei is a JC kid. He is projected as a top 3 draftee in 2013, some have him as an overall #1.

One thing to note. Utah offers later but often still gets the kid over BYU now.