Utah State Signs 28 to 2010 Aggie Football Signing Class

Utah State [University] head football coach Gary Andersen announced that 28 student-athletes signed letters of intent to play for the Aggies, as Andersen unveiled USU's 2010 signing class Wednesday evening [February 3, 2010] at a sold-out signing day reception and program.

 

Fans ate food provided by the Copper Mill Restaurant and visited with the Aggie coaching staff and administration before a short program in the standing-room only Spetman Auditorium where Andersen introduced the Aggie faithful to the 2010 signing class by way of video highlights.

 

Of the 28 total signings, eight are mid-year signings, including five who will have two years of eligibility, two who will have three years and one who will have four years of eligibility for USU.

 

The 2010 signing class consists of 14 offensive players, 11 defensive, two both offensive and defensive players and one placekicker.

 

"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 something that we didn't have last year and that was a high priority for this offseason. I think we have done that in every area right now besides the tight end and defensive end positions. We still have some junior college spots to fill, but we haven't filled them yet."

 

A total of 11 student-athletes are in-state signings, with a total of seven different states being represented, with six coming to USU from California, four from Florida, three from Hawaii, two from Arizona and one each from Tennessee and Maryland.

 

"I love this process. I love now that it is over we get to bring those kids into our world. We get to have them truly join our family and we can get back and focus at the task at hand," Andersen said. "We can get back to getting ready for spring ball and take care of these young men academically and socially."

 

Utah State finished head coach Andersen's first year at the helm of the USU program with a 4-8 mark, the Aggies' most wins since 2002. Utah State was 3-5 in WAC action, matching last season for top conference record in USU's five seasons in the league. The Aggies were tied for fifth in the final league standings, USU's highest-ever finish in its time in the conference and the best league finish since tying for fourth in the Sun Belt Conference in 2004.

 

Andersen and the Aggies will return 45 letterwinners (21 offense, 22 defense, two special teams), including 17 starters (eight offense, seven defense, two special teams).

 

USU's 2010 non-conference schedule includes a trip to Oklahoma Saturday, Sept. 4, where the Aggies last traveled in 2007. Utah State will also host Idaho State Saturday, Sept. 11, facing the Bengals for the first time since 2002. On Saturday, Sept. 25, USU will play at San Diego State, starting a home-and-home series. The Aggies last faced the Aztecs in 1975. USU will conclude non-conference action by hosting BYU Friday, Oct. 1.

 

USU's 2010 schedule will also have the progressing WAC foes, with that complete schedule expected to be released by the conference office in March. The Aggies will have home games against Fresno State, Hawai'i, Idaho and New Mexico State while traveling to Boise State, Louisiana Tech, Nevada and San Jose State.

 

For USU football ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305, or online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on the "buy/renew tickets" under the "tickets" drop down menu.

 

 

* = Will sit out next season due to transfer rules
^ = Originally signed with USU in 2009, enrolled this semester
# = Signed in December, enrolled this semester

 

Pronunciations = pruh-nuhn-see-ey-shuhns

 

Jason Fanaika = Fuh-nye-kuh
Taani Fisilau = Ta-ha-kneei Fees-ee-lau
Parker Hausknecht = House-connect
Evan Huahulu = Who-uh-hulu
Elvis Kamana-Matagi = Kuh-ma-na Ma-ta-gee
Tavaris McMillian = Tuh-varis McMill-in
Brandon Taukeiaho = Tow-K-Ah-ho

 

 

 

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics homepage Web site.