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Show StateSManSpOrtS Friday, Feb. 5, 2010 Page 9 Mission accomplished on campus. Andersen maintained that the No. By ADAM NETTINA staff writer Gary Andersen had a plan to turn Utah State football into a competitive WAC power when he took over as head coach prior to the 2009 season. During the fall, he accomplished a large part of that plan, transforming the Aggies from the laughingstock of the college football world into one of the most exciting and competitive teams in the conference. On Wednesday, Andersen took the next step in his plan, as he announced the addition of 28 young men to the program as part of National Signing Day. For the USU head coach, the addition of both junior college transfers and high school seniors to next year's team was a resounding success. Andersen said, "28 of the 30 young men that we recruited this year, we got. That is a high success rate." Andersen and his staff began recruiting players last summer, and throughout the season and into the offseason, they stuck with a base plan of trying to improve the team's athleticism and competition level across the board. In his Wednesday press conference, Andersen said the 28 new players will help his team do that, although he maintained that he and his staff will still be searching for two junior college players to address additional position needs. "This summer when we sat down as a staff to go over our recruiting process, we wanted to create competition at every spot and every position on this football team," Andersen said. "That was a high priority for this off-season. I think we have done that in every area right now besides the tight- and defensive-end positions." The 2010 recruiting class is one of the largest in USU history, with 20 current high school seniors faxing in their National Letters of Intent to join the Aggies in 2010. They will join eight other players — including six junior college transfers — who have already arrived to have Tavaris." his program had made in recruiting against 1 goal of this year's recruiting efforts were to Even without Fehoka, most independent in-state schools, such as BYU and Utah, keep some of Utah's best high school prosrecruiting services agree that this year's class Andersen was non-committal as far as specifpects in state and in Logan. With 11 in-state looks like the best USU signing class in years. ics went, but said he expects his staff to go signees, he declared these efforts a success. How much better does this class appear to be toe-to-toe with bigger name programs in the "The base recruiting plan when I took the when compared to other recent Aggie signing future. job in January was really simple," Andersen day classes? It's tough to say without the ben"As far as mentioning other schools and said. "We wanted to recruit the state of Utah efit of hindsight, but consider for a moment where things went, it is hard because there and we got that done. We got 11 in-state signthat USU signed four three-star prospects are so many dynamics that go into that," ees. That is big for us." (rated out of five stars by Rivals.com ) in the Andersen said. "I would say we had some Also among USU's recruiting goals for 2010 class of 2010 — the same amount the program heated battles in this process. I think what we was the continuation of a "Polynesian pipesigned in the previous four years combined. have done is put ourselves in a position to be line" to bring more pacific island natives onto Once more, the Aggies experienced success able to fight in-state. I think we can compete future teams. Again, Andersen said he was recruiting against other FBS teams, beating in this state at a very high level and we have pleased with his staff's ability to accomplish out notable schools such as Nevada and UNLV had some success in the state. I just know the this goal and pointed out that the signing of for linebacker prospect Chris Fox, while landpeople we beat this year and the recruiting recruits, such as Maui native and defensive ing speedster wide receiver Shaan Johnson. battles we were in should be expected as a lineman Elvis Kamana-Matagi, will open new Johnson, who had more than 1,400 receivstaff. That is what we should expect as a comrecruiting roads in the future. ing yards as a high school senior, also had munity." "We got eight Polynesian kids. It is imporoffers from Utah, Nevada and Kansas State. If there was one theme that continued to tant for us to recruit the Polynesian kids and While he was impressed at the job his staff pop-up in his discussion of recruiting, it was the Hawaiian islands," Andersen said. "We did in landing several high-profile recruits, that of community. From the students on had great success this year in the Hawaiian Andersen said beating other schools for playcampus to the faculty of USU to the people islands. We got a young man from Maui for ers was not always his main focus. of Logan itself, Andersen praised the entire the first time. That was important for us to "If we look at (a prospect) and we like culture of Cache Valley as being instrumental get that done." him and he fits our criteria, we are taking in helping recruits feel at home. He even went One recruit Utah State was hoping to him," Andersen said. "I don't care if no other so far as to say the location of Logan played land was VJ Fehoka, a four-star linebacker schools are recruiting him. I was very pleased a bigger role in this year's recruiting success from Hawaii who sported offers from more with some of the battles we were able to win than a dozen BCS conference schools. this year." I See SIGNING DAY, page 10 Fehoka was considering Utah State up until Asked if he was pleased in the progress Monday, when Andersen's need for a linebacker commitment forced the USU coach's hand. Andersen told Fehoka he would have to offer his would-be scholarship to another player — Florida native Tavaris McMillian — if Fehoka wasn't ready to commit. Fehoka and USU decided to part ways on positive terms. Despite missing out on Fehoka, Andersen was pleased with the signing of McMillian, who 2010 CONCERT SERIES chose USU without having seen the campus. "(VJ and Tavaris) are both tremendous "World-Class Pianists in a World-Class Setting" players," Andersen said. "We just got into a position with 48 hours left where we had to get a young linebacker that can run. One was ready to say yes and one wasn't. VJ and I talked about that and he completely underThursday, February 11, 2010 stands." Andersen added, "We are very happy AS S ERMAN N Stephen Hough, pianist 7:30 p.m. Aggie recruits Presented in the award-winning Manon Caine Russell Kathryn Caine Wanlass Performance Hall on the Utah State University Campus poised for impact he Aggies may have missed out on four-star linebacker prospect VJ Fehoko, but by all accounts, this year's signing class was a major success. Most of the junior college players who have arrived on campus already are expected to compete for playing time in 2010, as are several of the freshmen who will arrive this summer. Here are five high school signees who could make an immediate impact on next year's squad (heights and weights courtesy of the USU athletic department.) OLB Chris Fox (6 4, 220): An explosive - athlete with tremendous versatility, Fox should fit in perfectly with Andersen's attacking style of defense. On film, Fox shows the ability to play out of a 3-point stance, as well as in a more traditional stand-up role, and plays with great quickness off the snap and violence of action in pursuit of the ballcarrier. Fox also displays outstanding use of his hands against the run and the ability to shed blocks consistently in space and will likely be used as a hybrid-type defender for USU. In 2009, he helped Arizona powerhouse Chaparral win the 5A2 State Title when he recorded 13.5 sacks. He chose the Aggies over Nevada and UNLV. QB Alex Hart (6 2, 185): A spread - quarterback who played his high school ball at Jordan High School in Draper, Hart is built in the mold of current USU star Diondre Borel and should have no trouble fitting into offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin's wide-open scheme. Hart comes to USU with a star-studded resume, setting numerous Utah high school records en route to being named a First Team All-State performer by both the Salt Lake Tribune and Desert News. While he doesn't have the strongest arm (which may explain his lack of BCS conference offers), he displays a quick release and excellent decision making in his progressions. In his press conference, Andersen said Hart (who threw for 4,442 yards and 47 touchdowns as a senior) will have the opportunity to challenge current USU backup Kane Wilson for the backup job next season. CB Nevin Lawson (5 11, 180): One of four Florida players to sign with the Aggies, Lawson will have a chance to see the field as a freshman for Utah State, because of the team's previous lack of depth at the cornerback position. Also an accomplished running back and return man at Piper High School, Lawson shows good read and recognition ability against the pass and is a solid tackler in the open field. He has above-average closing speed and does not take many missteps - Reserved Seating Tickets: Adults $20, Students $8 UtahStateUn iversity in coverage. A Second Team All-County performer as a senior, he picked off a pass and posted eight tackles in the prestigious Miami-Dade vs. Broward All-Star game. PK Nick Diaz (5 9, 180): The Aggies were in need of a kicker with the graduation of last year's starter Chris Ulinski, but the team hit a home run on signing day by getting a commitment from the Redondo Beach, Calif., native in Diaz. Rated as the 55th best high school kicker in the nation, according to ESPN Scouts Inc., Diaz has an exceptionally strong leg and had more than 90 percent of his kickoffs go for touchbacks during his prep career. He missed only one extra point in high school and is widely regarded as one of the most consistent kickers on the west coast. During his signing day press conference, Andersen mentioned that Diaz would likely be the starter for when the team opens next season in Oklahoma. WR Shaan Johnson (6 2, 180): Perhaps one of the most highly touted prep receiver prospects to sign with USU in recent memory, Johnson passed up scholarship offers from Kansas State, Utah and San Jose State to play for the Aggies. He was Honorable Mention All-State as a senior at Gahr High School in California and set a school record with 1,451 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2009. A heady and instinctive wide receiver who possesses good speed and size, Johnson shows the ability to stretch the field and pick up yards consistently after the catch. He squares his body well to the ball and displays the ability to operate out of the spread offense, qualities which should earmark him for early playing time in Dave Baldwin's offense. Rated as the No. 162 wide receiver in the country by Scout.com and a three-star prospect by Rivals.com . - - Tickets: (435) 797-8022 or http://csaboxoffice.usu.edu Additional information, including concert programs, at www.usu.edu/wassermann Where Utah Gets Engaged' S.E. Needham Jewelers Since 1896 www.seneedham.com Adam Nettina is a junior majoring in history. Comments can be sent to him at adam. nettina@aggiemail. usu.edu Store Hours: Monday - Saturday 10:00 - 7;00 Whet. Utta Gess Discard/ 141 North Main • 752-7149 www.seneedhant.com |