The following is the list of recruits who have committed to the Utah State University football program. February 3 is National Signing Day. Information about each player is listed along with a short bio below. Utah State Football 2010 Signees (Sorted By Class) NAME POS HT WT CL EXP HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL/LAST SCHOOL)
<strong>Alfred Bowden#</strong>
DB 6-0 185 JR TR Glendale, Ariz. (Deer Valley HS/Phoenix CC)
<strong>Evan Huahulu#</strong>
DT 6-2 335 JR* TR Santa Ana, Calif. (Servite HS/SMU)
<strong>Gavin Jones#</strong>
DB 6-3 185 JR TR Orem, Utah (Orem HS/Snow College)
<strong>Jeremy LaPan#</strong>
OL 6-7 310 JR TR Garden Grove, Calif. (Garden Grove HS/Santa Ana College)
<strong>Xavier Martin#</strong>
WR/KR 5-10 200 JR TR Joppa, Md. (Joppatowne HS/Grossmont JC)
<strong>Brooks Abel#</strong>
OL 6-6 310 SO TR Kent, Wash. (Kentwood HS/College of the Siskiyous)
<strong>Dontel Watkins#</strong>
WR/KR 6-3 200 SO TR Nashville, Tenn. (Antioch HS/Butler CC)
<strong>Travis Reynolds^</strong>
WR 6-0 165 FR HS Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. (Boyd Anderson HS)
<strong>Keegan Andersen</strong>
WR/S 6-2 195 FR HS Logan, Utah (Juan Diego HS)
<strong>Trevor Brown</strong>
QB/ATH 6-5 210 FR HS Provo, Utah (Timpview HS)
<strong>Nick Diaz</strong>
PK 5-9 180 FR HS Redondo Beach, Calif. (Redondo Union HS)
<strong>Jason Fanaika</strong>
DE/TE 6-4 240 FR HS Pleasant Grove, Utah (Pleasant Grove HS)
<strong>Taani Fisilau</strong>
OL 6-3 315 FR HS Glendale, Utah (Cottonwood HS)
<strong>Chris Fox</strong>
LB 6-4 220 FR HS Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral HS)
<strong>Alex Hart</strong>
QB 6-2 185 FR HS Draper, Utah (Jordan HS)
<strong>Parker Hausknecht</strong>
LB 6-0 205 FR HS Draper, Utah (Alta HS)
<strong>Jeremy Higgins</strong>
QB 6-1 195 FR HS Hawaii Kai, Hawaii (St. Louis HS)
<strong>Joe Hill</strong>
RB 5-11 180 FR HS Fullerton, Calif. (Fullerton HS)
<strong>Shaan Johnson</strong>
WR 6-2 180 FR HS Cerritos, Calif. (Gahr HS)
<strong>Elvis Kamana-Matagi</strong>
DL 6-2 275 FR HS Maui, Hawaii (King Kekaulike HS)
<strong>Nevin Lawson</strong>
CB 5-11 180 FR HS Lauderhill, Fla. (Piper HS)
<strong>Jordunn Mattinson</strong>
TE 6-5 240 FR HS Spanish Fork, Utah (Spanish Fork HS)
<strong>Tavaris McMillian</strong>
LB 6-1 205 FR HS Miami, Fla. (Miami Jackson HS)
<strong>Nate Needham</strong>
LB 6-3 220 FR HS St. George, Utah (Pine View HS)
<strong>Rashard Stewart</strong>
CB 5-11 170 FR HS Miami, Fla. (Miami Jackson HS)
<strong>Brian Suite</strong>
S 6-3 185 FR HS Makiki, Hawaii (Punahou HS)
<strong>Brandon Taukeiaho</strong>
OL 6-4 315 FR HS South Jordan, Utah (Bingham HS)
<strong>Bryce Walker</strong>
OL 6-8 295 FR HS Pleasant Grove, Utah (Pleasant Grove HS) * = 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
<strong>Brooks Abel</strong>
• OL • 6-6 • 310 • SO • TR • Kent, Wash. (Kentwood HS/College of the Siskiyous) Helped the College of the Siskiyous to a 5-5 record… Anchored offensive line that amassed 440.4 yards per game of total offense, including 187.2 rushing and 253.2 passing yards per game… Was a scholar-athlete at Siskiyous… At Kentwood HS, was a SPSL 4A North all-league honoree… Son of Barbara Abel… Will major in business entrepreneurship at Utah State… Chose to sign with Utah State because of the coaching staff and team in addition to wanting to be part of up-and-coming program.
<strong>Keegan Andersen</strong>
• WR/S • 6-2 • 195 • FR • HS • Logan, Utah (Juan Diego HS) Played both wide receiver, cornerback and long snapper at Juan Diego, helping lead Soaring Eagle to 3A State Championship for the second-straight season… Named the Salt Lake Tribune 3A MVP… A Deseret News first-team all-state selection… Caught 11 TD passes… On defense, led team with six interceptions… As a junior, had seven TD’s and over 500 receiving yards in earning all-state accolades… Son of Gary and Stacey Andersen… Father, Gary, is USU head coach… Plans to major in business… Chose USU because of coaching staff, in particular Coaches Tuiaki and Baldwin, the USU style of offense, because he wanted to go in-state and be part of the up-and-coming program, in addition to loving the Logan community and the campus environment.
<strong>Trevor Brown</strong>
• QB/ATH • 6-5 • 210 • FR • HS • Provo, Utah (Timpview HS) Named the all-Valley Offensive MVP by the Provo Daily Herald A first-team all-state selection by both the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News… Threw for 2,185 yards and 23 TD’s while rushing for 854 yards and 17 TD’s to lead Timpview to its fourth-straight State 4A championship, finishing season with an 11-2 record… Was 17-of-21 for 196 yards with one TD in debut as starter, which came against fellow Aggie signee Parker Hausknecht and Alta HS… Had four games with over 200 yards passing, highlighted by 318 yards and five TD’s, one of his four games with three or more TD’s… Guided the Thunderbirds to their sixth district title in a row… Was high school teammates with current Aggie redshirt-freshman Travis Van Leeuwen… Threw one TD as a back-up as a junior… Transferred to Timpview prior to junior season from East HS… Son of Sheralyn and Les Brown… Brother, Les, is a walk-on for the Aggies… Older brother,Braden is an offensive lineman at BYU… Intends on majoring in business at Utah State… Chose USU because of family connections as well as the community, coaching staff and the up-and-coming program… Will serve LDS Church Mission before enrolling at USU.
<strong>Alfred Bowden</strong>
• DB • 6-0 • 185 • JR • TR • Glendale, Ariz. (Deer Valley HS/Phoenix CC) Will have two years of eligibility for the Aggies… At Phoenix CC last season, earned first-team all-Western State Football League honors after snaring a league-high five interceptions to also collect first-team all-Arizona accolades… Logged 52 tackles, including one for loss in helping the Bears to a 4-6 record… As a freshman in 2008, registered one interception, as well as 12 tackles plus one forced fumble… At Deer Valley HS, was named the all-Northwest Region player of the year as well as earning first-team all-Northwest Region accolades as a defensive back, wide receiver and punter… Also garnered honorable mention all-state accolades and was named to the Arizona All-Star Team… Was Deer Valley HS’s Athlete of the Year his senior year… As a junior, was a first-team all-region selection at defensive back after collected honorable mention recognition as a sophomore… Son of Debbie and Sabre Bowden… Majoring in management information systems at Utah State… Chose USU because of the coaching staff and the players on the team.
<strong>Nick Diaz</strong>
• PK • 5-9 • 180 • FR • HS • Redondo Beach, Calif. (Redondo Union HS) Was 33-of-34 on extra points, 4-of-7 on field goals and had over 90 percent of his kickoffs go for touchbacks… Earned second-team all-league honors as a senior after earning first-team accolades his sophomore and junior seasons… Has been attending West Coast Kicking Academy, under the direction of former USU kicker Brad Bohn, for six years and is also a student coach for the Academy… Was runner-up in the WCKA’s varsity competition… Also selected to the Chris Sailer Top 12 Kicking Camp as well as the Mario Danelo Kicking Academy… Earned a No. 1 ranking at the West Coast Kicking Academy and the Mario Danelo Kicking Academy summer camps… Son of Stella and Larry Lewis… Plans to major in business administration or sports medicine at USU… Chose Utah State because of the campus and community atmosphere, the team and the coaching staff.
<strong>Jason Fanaika</strong>
• DE/TE • 6-4 • 240 • FR • HS • Pleasant Grove, Utah (Pleasant Grove HS) Last name is pronounced Fuh-nye-kuh… A Deseret News 5A all-state selection… Named to the Provo Daily Herald all-valley team… High school teammates with fellow Aggie signee Bryce Walker… Registered 21 tackles with five sacks and one interception in helping Pleasant Grove to an 8-3 record, advancing to the state quarterfinals… Also played tight end for the Vikings, snaring 28 catches for 310 yards (11.1 ypc) with six TD’s… Also logged three kickoff returns for 72 yards (24.0 ypr)… Also helped the Vikings end Timpview’s state record 36-game win streak… Led Pleasant Grove to a 10-2 record as a junior, winning the Region 4 title before getting upset in the quarterfinals of the 5A playoffs… Son of Sefita and Navu Fanaika… Plans to major in business at USU… Chose Utah State because of the campus and community atmosphere in addition to the coaching staff.
<strong>Taani Fisilau</strong>
• OL • 6-3 • 315 • FR • HS • Glendale, Utah (Cottonwood HS) Last name is pronounced Fees-ee-lau… Participated in the U.S. Army National Combine, and had the highest vertical leap of all the offensive lineman (34 inches)… Helped Cottonwood to an 8-4 record and a State 5A quarterfinal appearance… Chosen to play in the Hawaii/Polynesia-Mainland Bowl, along with fellow USU signees Jeremy Higgins and Elvis Matagi… Also lettered in basketball and track & field at Cottonwood HS, which is USU head coach Gary Andersen’s alma mater… Chose USU because he wanted to be a part of the excitement currently around the program and the coaching staff… Son of Soileti and Ana Fisilau… Plans on majoring in pre-health with emphasis in pharmaceutical studies at Utah State.
<strong>Chris Fox</strong>
• LB • 6-4 • 220 • FR • HS • Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral HS) Helped lead Chaparral HS to the 5A2 state championship, finishing with a 13-1 record… Earned first-team all-state and first-team all-region honors after leading the Firebirds with 99 tackles, 13.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and two pass break-ups… Had one fumble recovery for a TD which came in the state championship game… Earned the CHS Defensive MVP honor… Was captain of the varsity his junior and senior seasons, JV captain as a sophomore as well as freshman team captain… An all-City of Scottsdale Student-Athlete honoree… Son of Laura and Chris Fox… Undecided on a major at USU… Chose Utah State because of the community support of the football program, the campus and community environment and the coaching staff as well as the up-and-coming program.
<strong>Alex Hart</strong>
• QB • 6-2 • 185 • FR • HS • Draper, Utah (Jordan HS) Set five Utah state high school records and two national records, leading the nation in passing yards and touchdowns for 12 straight weeks, finishing with 4,442 yards (370 yards per game) and 47 TD’s… Had a 64.7 percent passing completion percentage (317 for 490)… Also added 544 rushing yards and eight rushing TD’s… Set state records for passing yards per game, single-season passing completions and attempts, total passing yards in a season and single-game passing TD’s with eight… Set national records for passing yards in a half with 404 yards and passing TD’s in a half with eight… A first-team all-state selection by both the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News… Led the Beetdiggers to a 7-5 record, losing to eventual state champion Bingham in the state playoffs… As a junior, earned Region II Offensive MVP honors as well as first-team all-state accolades after throwing for 3,181 yards on 228-of-339 passing for a 67.3 completion percentage and 26 TD passes… Also rushed for 610 yards and nine TD’s… Son of Jeana and Peter Hart… His great-uncle played at USU and his grandfather graduated from USU… Chose Utah State because of his family connections and he always wanted to be an Aggie… Intends on majoring in business at USU.
<strong>Parker Hausknecht</strong>
• LB • 6-0 • 205 • FR • HS • Draper, Utah (Alta HS) Last name is pronounced House-connect… A two-time second-team all-region 2 honoree by Deseret News… Guided Alta to 10-3 mark, losing in State 5A championship game… Registered 65 tackles (26 solo, 39 assists), including leading team with 7.5 sacks, seven pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries, one of which he scooped and ran back 35 yards for TD… Had three and a half sacks vs. fellow Aggie signee Trevor Brown and Timpview… Was team captain… As a junior, totaled 76 tackles (22 solo, 54 assists) with four sacks, two pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries, helping Hawks to second-straight State 5A championship with a 13-1 mark… Had nine tackles in title game… Also played fullback as a junior, scoring four TD’s on the season… Son of Kim and John Hausknecht… Planning on majoring in business at Utah State… Chose USU because of the campus and community environment, the coaching staff and USU’s positive academic reputation.
<strong>Jeremy Higgins</strong>
• QB • 6-1 • 195 • FR • HS • Hawaii Kai, Hawaii (St. Louis HS) Earned second-team ILH all-state honors as a senior after first-team all-ILH accolades as a junior… Also earned Honolulu Advertiser second-team all-state accolades… Led the Crusaders to a 7-4 record… Threw for 391 yards and six TD’s in the 2009 season-opener… Threw total of 27 TD’s… Led state of Hawaii in passing efficiency… Threw for 291 yards and accounted for five TD’s in his debut at starting quarterback as a junior… Chosen to play in the Hawaii/Polynesia-Mainland Bowl, along with fellow USU signees Taani Fisilau and Elvis Matagi… Also selected as a Hawai’i All-Star, leading team against the American Samoa All Stars in the Samoa Bowl VII… Older brothers Cameron (quarterback and 2008 Big Sky Conference Offensive Player of the Year) and Zach (safety) play at Weber State… Son of Jim and Anne Higgins… His father, Jim, played for the University of Hawai’i, lettering in 1984-85… Younger sister Tayler was a member of the Junior Olympic volleyball team that won gold and silver medals for Hawaii in 2007 and 2008… Undecided on a major at USU… Chose Utah State because of the coaching staff as well as the campus and community environment.
<strong>Joseph Hill</strong>
• RB • 5-11 • 180 • FR • HS • Fullerton, Calif. (Fullerton HS) Named the Freeway League Offensive MVP in addition to earning first-team all-Freeway League honors and second-team all-Orange County accolades after rushing for 1,756 yards on 225 carries (159.6 yards per game/7.8 yards per carry) with 30 TD’s his senior season… Had a season-long rush of 98 yards… Topped the 200-yard rushing mark four times, highlighted by a season-high 253 yards with three TD’s… Had two or more rushing TD’s in nine of the 11 games on the season including the l65 tacklesast eight in a row… Scored four rushing TD’s in five games… Also had 14 receptions for 236 yards (21.5 ypg/16.9 ypc) with one TD… Had season-high 136 yard receiving outing, his lone 100-yard game… Helped Indians to an 8-3 record… As a junior, he earned second-team all-Freeway League honors after amassing 1,016 rushing yards on 138 carries (84.7 ypg/7.4 ypc) with 13 TD’s… Registered 105 receiving yards on three catches with one TD, helping FHS to a 9-4 mark… Full name is Joseph Hill, Jr… Son of Jeanette and Joseph Hill, Sr… Leaning toward majoring in criminal justice at Utah State… Chose USU because of the nice, college town feel of Logan, the community and the facilities.
<strong>Evan Huahulu</strong>
• DT • 6-2 • 335 • JR* • TR • Santa Ana, Calif., (Servite HS/SMU) Last name is pronounced Who-uh-hulu… Will have two years of eligibility after sitting out of competitive action for one year due to transfer rules after transferring to USU from SMU, where he played in one game last season, only seeing action in the Mustangs’ season-opener… As a true freshman in 2008, played in nine games for SMU, mostly on field goal tries and PATs… At Servite HS, was a two-star Rivals.com prospect… Also a letterwinner in wrestling at Servite, posting a 19-3 record as a heavyweight his senior season and winning the Trinity League championship… Son of Cindy and Joe Huahulu… Majoring in education at Utah State… Chose USU because it was a better fit for him and the coaching staff.
<strong>Gavin Jones</strong>
• DB • 6-3 • 185 • JR • TR • Orem, Utah (Orem HS/Snow College) Will have two years of eligibility, coming to USU from Snow College, where he helped the Badgers win the Top of Mountains Bowl last season, finishing with a 10-2 record… As a sophomore in 2009, earned first-team all-region accolades after registering 46 tackles and six pass break-ups in addition to blocking two punts… For his career at Snow, finished with 90 tackles, 20 pass break-ups and three interceptions… At Orem HS, earned all-state and academic all-state honors… Had four interceptions in addition to 17 tackles his senior season… Son of Diane and Kurt Jones… Majoring in exercise science/pre-dental at Utah State… Chose USU because of the coaching staff and the Aggies’ defensive style.
<strong>Jeremy LaPan</strong>
• OL • 6-7 • 310 • JR • TR • Garden Grove, Calif. (Garden Grove HS/Santa Ana College) Earned first-team all-Southern Conference honors after helping anchor an offense that averaged 354.3 yards per game, including 134.0 rushing and 220.3 passing, as the Dons finished the season 4-6… Helped Santa Ana College to the 2008 Orange County Bowl title… Graduated from Garden Grove HS in 2007… Earned all-League honors his senior year… Was a two-year letterwinner in football, a four-year letterwinner in wrestling, a three-year letterwinner in track & field and a letterwinner in basketball… Son of Jason and Audrey LaPan… Plans to major in exercise science at USU… Chose Utah State because of the program going in the right direction, the coaching staff will make him a better player as well as the facilities and the people in the community.
<strong>Shaan Johnson</strong>
• WR • 6-2 • 180 • FR • HS • Cerritos, Calif. (Gahr HS) Earned first-team all-San Gabriel Valley League in addition to first-team all-area, first-team all-CIF-SS Western Division and honorable mention all-state accolades as a senior… Set the Gahr HS record for receiving yards with 1,451 yards on 76 receptions with 14 TD’s… Added a two-point conversion for a total of 104 points leading the Gladiators in scoring as well… Had season-high 219 yards on nine catches vs. Downey HS, one of two games over the 200 receiving yards mark… Tallied a total of nine games with at least 100 yards receiving… Recorded eight or more catches in six games with a career-high of 10 receptions… Averaged 19.1 yards per catch with 131.8 yards per game… Had six games with two or more TD’s, including two games with three scores… As a junior, tallied 26 catches for 477 yards and four TD’s after snaring 34 catches for 818 yards and five TD’s as a sophomore… Also a letterwinner in track & field, competing in the high jump and long jump, earning first-team all-area honors and qualifying for the 2009 CIF-SS Masters Meet… Son of Chandra and Aaron Johnson… Undecided on a major at Utah State… Chose USU because of Logan and the community atmosphere, the coaching staff and the team in addition to his family liking the community, campus and people.
<strong>Elvis Kamana-Matagi</strong>
• DL • 6-2 • 275 • FR • HS • Pukalani, Hawaii (King Kekaulike HS) Last name is pronounced Kuh-ma-na Ma-ta-gee… Becomes the first King Kekaulike HS player to earn a football scholarship at a Football Bowl Subdivision school… A two-time first-team all-Maui Interscholastic League selection… Named one of rivals.com’s top 25 players in the state of Hawaii… Son of Yasmin Kamana and Elvis Matagi, Sr… Undecided on a major at Utah State… Chose USU because of the coaching staff and team, as well as the community surroundings.
<strong>Nevin Lawson</strong>
• CB • 5-11 • 180 • FR • HS • Lauderhill, Fla. (Piper HS) A two-year two-way starter at both cornerback and running back, as well as returning kickoffs and punts for Piper HS… Named second-team all-Broward County… Posted 68 tackles with three interceptions in eight games at cornerback for the Bengals… Registered 41 carries for 526 yards and eight TD’s as running back… Also had two punt returns for TD… Selected to the Broward County North-South All-Star Game, where he registered eight tackles and did not give up a pass reception… Also named to the Miami-Dade/Broward All-Star game, recording one interception and two pass break-ups, not yielding a pass reception in helping Broward County to the win… Named the Bengals’s team MVP… Also a letterwinning sprinter in track & field… Son of Jennifer and Clive Lawson… Intends on majoring in exercise science… Chose USU because of campus and community environment and he wanted to play in the WAC.
<strong>Xavier Martin</strong>
WR/KR 5-10 200 JR TR Joppa, Md. (Joppatowne HS/Grossmont JC) Will have two years of eligibility, coming to USU from Grossmont JC, where he helped the Griffons to an 8-3 record this past season… The Griffins capped their season by defeating El Camino College 27-22 in the US Bank Beach Bowl… Originally signed with the University of Maine out of high school… Earned first-team all-Super 7 Conference honors as a freshman and second-team all-conference accolades as a sophomore… Finished Grossmont career with 30 catches for 400 yards with 1,110 all-purpose yards with six TD’s… At Joppatowne HS, was a two-time all-county running back selection in helping JHS to the state playoffs his senior season after making it to the state semifinals as a junior… Rushed for over 1,000 yards his senior season in being named to the Prepstar Top 25 for the state of Maryland… Also lettered in basketball, earning defensive player of the year honors as a senior… Was also named to the JHS academic honor roll all four years… Son of Jackie and Marvin Martin… A business major at Utah State… Chose USU because of the coaching staff.
<strong>Jordunn Mattinson</strong>
• TE • 6-5 • 240 • FR • HS • Spanish Fork, Utah (Spanish Fork HS) A two-time honorable mention all-valley selection by the Provo Daily Herald… Was a three-year starter and letterwinner for Spanish Fork HS… Helped the Dons to an 8-3 record, losing in the quarterfinals to Timpview and fellow Aggie signee Trevor Brown… Had 24 catches for 302 yards (12.6 ypc) with four TD’s as a senior… Caught six TD’s as part of his 401 yards as a junior, earning the SFHS Outstanding Wide Receiver award and led the team in TD receptions as a sophomore with nine… Helped the Dons to a first-round playoff appearance as a junior… Was also a part of Spanish Fork’s 5A state baseball title team his junior season… Son of Scott Mattinson and Stacey Nelson… Plans on majoring in large animal veterinary studies at Utah State… Chose USU because of Utah State’s agriculture program, in addition to its recently upgraded facilities and an enthusiastic coaching staff, in addition to the outdoor community environment.
<strong>Tavaris McMillian</strong>
• LB • 6-1 • 205 • FR • HS • Miami, Fla. (Miami Jackson HS) High school teammates with fellow signee Rashard Stewart, helping Miami Jackson HS to a 7-4 record… Posted 62 tackles (24 solo and 38 assists) with six sacks and two pass break-ups in addition to four fumble recoveries and one forced fumble… Transferred to Miami Jackson HS prior to senior season after playing at Miami Northwestern HS as a junior… Son of Shamika Baldwin and Sam McMillian… Undecided on a major at USU… Chose Utah State for the opportunity to play for an up-and-coming program and to play in the WAC.
<strong>Nate Needham</strong>
• LB • 6-3 • 220 • FR • HS • St. George, Utah (Pine View HS) Signed with USU in 2007 before going on LDS Church Mission to Sao Paulo, Brazil… Was a second-team all-state selection as a senior… Earned first-team all-region honors and was selected as a Dixie Rotary Bowl all-star… Registered 95 tackles and forced seven fumbles in just eight games… Was named his team’s defensive MVP as a senior… Son of Grant and Christina Needham… Undecided on a major at Utah State… Chose USU to be a part of the football program’s ever-growing LDS Mission program.
<strong>Travis Reynolds</strong>
• WR • 6-0 • 165 • FR • HS • Lauderdale Lakes, Fla. (Boyd Anderson HS) Earned first-team all-Broward County honors after leading Class 6A-5A-4A in receiving with 48 receptions… Averaged 11.4 yards per catch to finish with 545 yards and five TD’s on the season, helping the Cobras to the second round of the state playoffs… Helped lead BAHS to three-straight District 10 6A championships… For his career, amassed 107 receptions for 1,230 yards with 13 TD’s… Was named the WR MVP of the University of Miami camp in the summer of 2008… Son of Ella Cheley and Willie Reynolds… Undecided on a major at Utah State… Chose USU for opportunity to play in the WAC and coaching staff.
<strong>Rashard Stewart</strong>
• CB • 5-11 • 170 • FR • HS • Miami, Fla. (Miami Jackson HS) High school teammates with fellow signee Tavaris McMillian, helping Miami Jackson HS to a 7-4 record… Played cornerback and quarterback… Totaled 25 tackles with six interceptions, eight pass break-ups and two forced fumbles at cornerback… Tallied 31 rushes for 159 yards (5.1 ypc) with five TD’s and was 21-of-36 passing for 372 yards with five TD’s… Finished career with 602 rushing yards on 39 carries (6.5 ypc)and four TD’s, as well as 56-of-155 passing for 822 yards… Son of Debra Stewart… Intends on majoring in aviation or business at Utah State… Chose USU because he wanted to play in the WAC.
<strong>Brian Suite</strong>
• S • 6-3 • 185 • FR • HS • Makiki, Hawaii (Punahou HS) A first-team all-state honoree, helping Punahou HS to a 12-1 record… Selected to the Hawaii Goodwill Senior Bowl… Highlights from his senior season include eight tackles and an interception return for a touchdown against fellow USU signee Jeremy Higgins and Saint Louis HS… Had three punt blocks in one game vs. Damien HS, including one out of the end zone for a safety… Snared two interceptions as a junior, helping the Buffnblu to the state championship, the first state title in school history for the Interscholastic League of Honolulu… Also a letterman on the Punahou baseball team… Son of Wendy and Howard Suite… Undecided on a major at Utah State… Chose USU because of coaching staff, the university environment and what USU has to offer.
<strong>Brandon Taukeiaho</strong>
• OL • 6-4 • 315 • FR • HS • South Jordan, Utah (Bingham HS) Last name is pronounced Tow-K-Ah-ho… Earned honorable mention all-state honors by the Deseret News… Helped Bingham HS to the State 5A championship with a 13-1 record… Paved way for Bingham offense that amassed 4,859 yards of total offense (347.1 yards per game) with 3,085 rushing yards (220.4 ypg) with 52 rushing TD’s as well as 1,774 yards passing (126.7 ypg) with 22 passing TD’s… Team captain… Miners were 11-3 his junior season, losing in the state title game… Son of Vea and Maloni Taukeiaho… Mother, Vea, earned her master’s and doctorate from USU… Undecided on a major at Utah State… Chose USU because of family connections and he’s always been a fan and wanted to be an Aggie… Will serve LDS Church Mission before enrolling at USU.
<strong>Bryce Walker</strong>
• OL • 6-8 • 295 • FR • HS • Pleasant Grove, Utah (Pleasant Grove HS) High school teammates with fellow Aggie signee Jason Fanaika… A Class 5A first-team all-state selection, helping the Vikings to an 8-3 record, advancing to the state quarterfinals… Helped pave the way for a Pleasant Grove offense that tallied 1,763 passing yards (160.3 ypg) and 1,410 rushing yards (128.2 ypg) with 35 total TD’s… Also helped the Vikings end Timpview’s state record 36-game win streak… Led Pleasant Grove to a 10-2 record his junior season, winning the Region 4 title before getting upset in the quarterfinals of the 5A playoffs… Also plays basketball for PGHS… Son of April Walker and Mark Walker… Undecided on a major at Utah State… Chose USU because of coaching staff, the community and wanted to have an impact on the up-and-coming program.
<strong>Dontel Watkins</strong>
• WR/KR • 6-3 • 200 • SO • TR • Nashville, Tenn. (Antioch HS/Butler CC) Will have three years of eligibility for USU, joining the Aggies from Butler CC, the winningest junior college program in the country with the highest winning percentage since 1998 and the No. 1 program in NJCAA since 2000…. Redshirted during Butler’s 2008 national championship season… Earned first-team all-Jayhawk Conference accolades as a kick returner and honorable mention all-Jayhawk Conference recognition as a wide receiver in helping the Grizzlies to an 8-3 ledger and a No. 10 national ranking last season… Had a 36.8 yards per kick return average with one TD… Also had 16 receptions for 370 yards (23.1 ypc) with three TD’s, as well as three rushes for 21 yards with an additional TD… At Antioch HS, was a three-sport letterwinner in football, basketball and track & field… Earned third-team all-state honors in football his senior season, as well as earning all-state recognition for track & field in the long jump… Son of Tunita Watkins… Majoring in landscape architecture at Utah State… Chose USU because of the family feel of the team and coaches. -USU-