Utah State football welcomes 14 during Early Signing Period

LOGAN, Utah (Wednesday, Dec. 19) – Newly appointed Utah State head football coach Gary Andersen announced portions of his first signing class on Wednesday, as part of the NCAA early signing period. The class, which includes 14 players, is comprised entirely of high school athletes. Of those 14 signees, two will enroll at USU for the spring semester in 2019, while one will serve a two-year LDS Church Mission before beginning his collegiate career.

Of the 14 signees, nine signed National Letters of Intent and five signed letters of acceptance.

“This is a great start to our 2019 recruiting class and we are excited about the young men we are welcoming to the program,” said Andersen. “We have been able to develop the right relationship with each of them to ensure we are comfortable with them and they are comfortable with us in the short time since we’ve been here, whether they are signing National Letters of Intent or are preferred walk-ons. There was a lot of work done by the staff that remained to solidify these commitments and we will now continue to look to fill the needs and find the difference makers that will help us in 2019 and beyond. We appreciate the help and support of Aggie Nation because it takes us all and you all have been a tremendous support. Go Aggies!”

The state of California produced the most signees with five, followed by four players from Utah, two each from Oregon and Washington, and one from Texas.

The greatest emphasis thus far in Andersen’s first recruiting class was at linebacker with four signees and along the offensive line with three players, to go along with two defensive linemen, and one player each at quarterback, wide receiver, safety, kicker and long snapper.

In all, Utah State’s early signing period class includes five recruits on offense, seven recruits on defensive and two specialists. The two new student-athletes who will enroll at Utah State for classes beginning in the spring semester of 2019 include freshman OL Aric Davison and freshman LB Christian LaValle.

Utah State will announce its complete 2019 signing class on Wednesday, Feb. 6.

 

ASHTON ADAMS                 OL • 6-4 • 300 • FR • HS • Salem, Ore. (South Salem HS)

High School: Earned Oregon Class 6A first-team all-Mid Valley and all-Mountain Valley honors from the Statesman Journal at South Salem High School in Salem, Ore… Helped pave the way for 11 different rushers to accumulate 940 yards on 247 carries (3.8 ypc) during the season… Blocked for a quarterback that passed for more than 1,350 yards and 13 touchdowns, and completed more than 50 percent of his passes…  Anchored an offensive line that helped the Saxons average 268.1 yards of offense per game with 163.6 rushing yards as South Salem HS totaled just under 1,000 rushing yards in nine games… As a junior, he helped the offense average 283.5 yards per game, guiding the Saxons to over 2,100 yards rushing in 10 games… Was a three-year starter for South Salem HS… Also wrestled for three years and earned first-team all-conference honors as a junior as he placed sixth at the state championship… Rated as the 10th-best recruit in the state of Oregon by 247Sports.com.

 

AARON BREDSGUARD                       DL • 6-3 • 225 • FR • HS • Bountiful, Utah (Viewmont HS)

High School: Earned Utah Class 5A first-team all-Region 5 honors at defensive end as a prep senior at Viewmont High School in Bountiful, Utah… As a senior, recorded 59 tackles, including a team-best 11.0 sacks, to go along with three interceptions… Also caught three passes for 56 yards (18.7 ypc) while playing tight end for the Vikings… Ended his prep career with 144 total tackles… Helped lead the Vikings to a 7-4 overall record and appearance in the 2018 5A state playoffs as senior… Recorded a season-high 11 tackles against Corner Canyon HS in the first round of the state playoffs… Tallied at least three tackles in each game… As a sophomore in 2016, racked up a career-high 15 tackles in the Vikings’ 28-25 win over Granger HS… Also plays baseball in high school.

 

PIERCE CALLISTER                           K/P • 6-0 • 170 • FR • HS • Ogden, Utah (Weber HS)

High School: Earned Utah Class 6A second-team all-state honors from the Deseret News at punter as a prep senior at Weber High School in Pleasant View, Utah… Averaged 37.9 yards per punt and had 11 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, helping the Warriors to the Region 1 Championship game… Also kicked off 52 times, averaging 53.9 yards per kickoff… Was 17-of-21 (.809) on extra points and 7-of-16 (.437) on field goals with a long of 47 yards during his senior campaign… Earned second-team all-state honors at kicker during his junior season, as he was 38-of-42 (.904) on extra points and 5-of-7 (.714) on field goals… Also kicked off 67 times, averaging 52.4 yards per kickoff…Is also a three-year letterwinner in soccer for Weber HS.

 

JOSH CALVIN                      QB • 6-3 • 190 • FR • HS • Bellflower, Calif. (Mayfair HS)

High School: Was named first-team all-Suburban League at quarterback as a prep senior at Mayfair High School in Lakewood, Calif., as he led the Monsoons to a 9-3 record and claimed the Suburban League title for the second consecutive season… As a senior, he completed 118-of-220 passes (53.6) for 2,010 yards with 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions, and rushed for 136 yards on 14 carries (9.7 ypc) and one touchdown… Named the Long Beach offensive player of the week by The Press-Telegram after a season-opening 50-14 win at Woodrow Wilson HS, where he went 12-of-14 for 258 yards on five touchdowns… Threw for a career-high 412 yards against St. Francis HS, as he was 18-of-26 passing for 412 yards with three touchdowns… Transferred in from La Mirada High School after his sophomore year and took full advantage of his first season as a starter, throwing for 1,981 yards and 21 touchdowns against just four interceptions and also ran for two touchdowns… In his first season at Mayfair HS in 2017, he led the Monsoons to the Suburban League title and to the CIF-SS Division 9 semifinals… Also plays basketball for the Monsoons.

 

ARIC DAVISON                    OL • 6-3 • 305 • FR • HS • Richland, Wash. (Richland HS)

High School: Prepped at Richland (Wash.) High School, where he was a four-year starter for the Bombers, leading them to the state playoffs his first three seasons… Richland HS played well enough in the offensive trenches to help its quarterback pass for 1,957 yards, while its top running back racked up 658 yards on the ground… Helped the Bombers finish the 2017 season with a perfect 14-0 record as they captured the 4A state championship with a 28-21 win against Woodinville HS… Following a successful junior season, Davison was selected to the Tri-City Herald All-Area first team and was also a second-team all-conference honoree as a defensive lineman… Richland HS racked up some impressive offensive numbers during his junior campaign, throwing for 48 touchdowns and averaging 251.1 yards passing per game, while rushing for an additional 1,991 yards and 27 touchdowns… Richland HS posted a 46-6 record during Davison’s four seasons anchoring the offensive trenches.

 

KEITH HARRIS                    S • 5-11 • 170 • FR • HS • Lawndale, Calif. (Leuzinger HS)

High School: Earned California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) first-team all-Bay League honors as cornerback as a prep senior at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, Calif… As a junior, played at Whittier (Calif.) High School, where he recorded 26 tackles (23-solo, 3-assist), 1.0 sacks and two interceptions… Offensively, he caught 27 passes for 340 yards (12.6 ypr) as a prep junior with one touchdown, along with 18 carries for 142 yards (7.9 ypc) and one touchdown… Also competes in track & field for Leuzinger HS.

 

CAM LAMPKIN                    WR • 5-11 • 165 • FR • HS • Mesquite, Texas (Poteet HS)

High School: Earned Texas 5A-1 Region II First-Team All-District 7 honors at wide receiver as a prep senior at Poteet High School in Mesquite, Texas, as he caught 26 passes for a team-high 608 yards (23.4 ypc/55.3 ypg) and six touchdowns, and carried the ball seven times for 57 yards (8.1 ypc/5.2 ypg) and one touchdown.. Also returned four kickoffs for 249 yards (62.3 ypr) and scored on a career-long 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Lee HS… Returned four punts for 56 yards (14.0 ypr) with a season-long 45 yards… Had a season-high seven catches for 162 yards against John Tyler HS and had a career-long 73-yard touchdown reception against Wylie East HS… Scored a season-high two touchdowns against West Mesquite HS as he caught three passes for 65 yards… Defensively, he recorded 17 tackles (13-solo, four-assist), including 1.0 tackles for loss… Recorded a season-high five tackles against West McKinney North HS and returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown against McKinney North HS… Also earned Texas 5A-1 Region II First-Team All-District 7 honors during his junior season, as he caught 26 passes for 493 yards (19.0 ypc/44.8 ypc) and three touchdowns… Carried the ball 46 times for 208 yards (4.5 ypr/18.9 ypg) and three touchdowns… Had 12 carries for 86 yards and scored a touchdown against Midlothian HS… Had four receptions for a career-high 178 yards against Forney HS… Caught seven passes for 72 yards and two scores against Lovejoy HS, and had four catches for 101 yards against Royse City HS… Also played quarterback in four games and completed 43.9 percent (18-of-41) of his passes for 214 yards (19.5 ypg) with one touchdown and one interception.

 

CHRISTIAN LAVALLE                       LB • 6-0 • 230 • FR • HS • Mission Viejo, Calif. (Mission Viejo HS)

High School: Earned California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) first-team all-state honors at linebacker as a prep senior at Mission Viejo (Calif.) High School in 2017, as he recorded 98 tackles, which included 1.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss, while adding one interception… Also registered a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries… Helped Mission Viejo HS to a 12-1 record and a league championship as the Diablos posted a perfect 5-0 mark… Was a team captain… As a senior, he recorded double-digit tackles in six of eight games, including a season-high 17 stops against Santa Margarita HS… Also had one sack, six tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery as part of his 13 total tackles against Trabuco Hills HS, where the Diablos shut out the Mustangs in a 63-0 rout… Offensively, he caught six passes for 149 yards (24.8 ypr) as a prep senior with two touchdowns, along with six carries for 41 yards… Recorded 108 tackles as a junior and had six double-digit tackle outings, including a career-high 18 stops against Servite HS… Also added one sack and three quarterback hurries during the year, to go along with 11 receptions for 207 yards on offense with five touchdowns… Also competed in track & field in high school, where he won the 2017 CIF state discus title with a personal-best throw of 55.67 meters (182-7)…  Rated as the 31st-best linebacker in the country and the 84th-best overall prospect in California by 247Sports.com… Originally committed to Arizona State in June, 2017.

 

SIONE MOA                          LB • 6-1 • 180 • FR • HS • North Odgen, Utah (Weber HS)

High School: Earned Utah Class 6A first-team all-Region 1 honors while playing wide receiver and outside linebacker as a prep senior at Weber High School in Pleasant View, Utah… During his senior season, he ranked second on the team with 27 catches for 370 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with 58 tackles, including 6.0 sacks to rank second on the team… Helped lead Weber HS to a 7-4 overall record and appearance in the 2018 6A state playoffs… Recorded one sack in six different games… Recorded a career-high 11 tackles in the Warriors’ 35-14 win over Granger HS… Best receiving game of the season was against Alta HS as he caught five passes for a career-high 102 yards… Caught a career-best seven passes for 99 yards and a touchdown during his junior season against Davis HS… Finished his prep career with 84 receptions for 1,015 yards and five touchdowns, to go along with 62 tackles.

 

JACKSON OWENS                               OL • 6-4 • 290 • FR • HS • Sandy, Utah (East HS)

High School: Earned Utah Class 6A honorable mention all-state honors from the Deseret News at offensive tackle as a prep senior at East High School in Salt Lake City, Utah… Helped lead the Leopards to a 7-3 overall record and appearance in the 6A state playoffs… Paved the way for East HS running back Tutu Spann to record a 6A-best 16 rushing touchdowns in 2018… As a senior, helped the Leopards average nearly 200 rushing yards per game… East HS averaged 36.2 points per game in 2018 and scored more than 50 points in four games, including three straight.

 

DEAN RICE                           DL • 6-4 • 280 • FR • HS • Yuba City, Calif. (River Valley HS)

High School: Played on the defensive line and at tight end for River Valley High School in Yuba City, Calif., where he was a three-year letterman for the Falcons… Helped River Valley HS to a 7-6 record during his senior season as the Falcons advanced to the semifinals of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs… River Valley HS played well enough in the offensive trenches to help its quarterback pass for 2,180 yards, while its top running back racked up 812 yards (8.8 ypc/73.8 ypg) on the ground… As a prep senior,  he recorded 19 tackles, which included 2.0 tackles for loss, and a fumble recovery… As a tight end, he added three receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown… Earned honorable mention all-Metro honors from the Sacramento Bee as a defensive lineman following his junior season as he had 16 tackles, which included 2.0 sacks… Added six receptions for 54 yards on offense… River Valley HS racked up some impressive offensive numbers during his junior campaign, throwing for 26 touchdowns and averaging 175.0 yards passing per game, while rushing for an additional 2,643 yards and 27 touchdowns… Also plays basketball in high school.

 

SIMON THOMPSON                            LB • 6-2 • 210 • FR • HS • Salem, Ore. (West Salem HS)

High School: Earned Oregon Class 6A first-team all-Mid Valley honors from the Statesman Journal at quarterback as a prep senior at West Salem High School in Salem, Ore… Was also named the Mountain Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year, as he threw for 2,403 yards (218.4 ypg) and 30 touchdowns with 12 interceptions, as well as 571 rushing yards on five touchdowns… Threw for a career-high 475 yards on 23-of-29 passing against Mt. View HS…  Eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark in two games as a senior… Threw a career-high seven touchdowns on 13-of-19 passing against Bend HS, and had at least one touchdown toss in 10 of his 11 games… Ran a season-high 117 yards and one touchdown against Grant HS… Threw for 196 yards on 16-of-22 passing and had four touchdowns in a first-round playoff win against Southridge HS… Also earned first-team all-conference honors at safety during his senior season as he recorded 54 tackles (29-solo, 25-assist), which included one interception and one forced fumble … Logged 68 tackles during his junior campaign, including four interceptions, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries… Also competes in track & field in high school as he captured the 6A championship in the 110-meter hurdles as a junior to help propel West Salem HS to the state championship… Rated as the eighth-best recruit in the state of Oregon and the 102nd-best athlete in the country by 247Sports.com.

 

JESSE JAMES VASQUEZ    LS • 6-1 • 225 • FR • HS • Thousand Oaks, Calif. (Oaks Christian School)

High School: Was a three-year letterwinner at Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, Calif… Ranked 17th by the Kornblue Snapping Fab 50… Received an invitation to participate in the 2018 Blue-Grey All American Bowl, the Hawaii Tiki Bowl and the National Underclassmen Committee All-American Game… Recorded three tackles during his senior season… Helped Oaks Christian School to a 32-7 record in his three years with the Lions, including three-straight Marmonte region titles.

 

JAYMASON WILLINGHAM               LB • 6-3 • 215 • FR • HS • Lacey, Wash. (Steilacoom HS)

High School: Earned first-team all-Area honors by The News Tribune at linebacker as a prep senior at Steilacoom (Wash.) High School, as he helped the Sentinels to a 10-2 record and a league title after going 6-0 in the South Puget Sound League… Was also named to The Seattle Times’ all-state football team and was named South Puget Sound League 2A Defensive MVP as a prep senior as he recorded 124 tackles, which included 15.0 sacks and 22.0 tackles for loss… Also registered two forced fumbles… Offensively, he rushed for a team-high 1,198 yards on 142 carries (8.4 ypc) and caught six passes for 142 yards with 16 touchdowns… Ran for a career-high 221 yards against Clover Park HS and recorded a career-tying-high 16 tackles against Cascade Christian HS… Led the Sentinels in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, yards per carry, tackles, tackles for loss and sacks during his senior season… Was selected to play in the U.S. U-18 National Team at the International Bowl IX… Earned South Puget Sound League Sound Division first-team honors as a junior, as he recorded a team-high 120 tackles (59-solo, 61-assist), which included 2.0 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss, to go along with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery… Rushed for 739 yards on 113 carries (6.5 ypc) and recorded 10 touchdowns… Steilacoom HS also won the South Puget Sound title in 2017… As a sophomore, he recorded 96 tackles, which included 4.0 sacks… Also competes in track & field in high school… Rated as the eighth-best recruit in the state of Washington and the 83rd-best athlete in the country by 247Sports.com.

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