Football team signs 23 new recruits
Utah State football signed 23 players Wednesday after a whirlwind recruiting period for head coach Brent Guy’s new coaching staff.
With all of the changes and hirings going on, it did help the recruiting effort because it broadened the recruiting range for the Aggies.
“We hired guys from all parts of the country and told them to bring their lists with them,” Guy said.
Four of the 23 recruits are from Utah, a rather low number for Utah State. Eleven of the players went to school in California and three in Texas. Guy said those two states, along with Utah, would become Utah State’s recruiting base in the future.
Another difference from past Utah State classes was the number of junior college transfers. For the past six years the Aggies averaged eight per year. However, only two signed this year, one is coming in as a sophomore.
“In order to build a program we had to sign high school kids and make a high school base,” Guy said.
Guy said they tried to bring in offensive line talent to get a better push at the line of scrimmage. Nearly half of the offensive recruits were linemen. We tried to recruit guys that would fill out into big linemen he said.
Other than the lineman Guy said he was pleased to get a bruising running back in Keith Gilliam, who was the Texas 4A Player of the Year.
“We were looking for a durable running back,” Guy said. “In Gilliam I think we got that. He played in 16 games this season which is unheard of for a high school player.”
Gilliam played in so many games because his Kilgore High School team won the Division II state title. A point that wasn’t lost on the coaching staff.
“We wanted to get kids who are traditional winners and have high expectations,” Guy said.
Of the 23 signees, 19 played in their state or section playoffs – six won their state championship.
Guy said he hopes this leads to the Aggies becoming a tough team. Being tough and physical will be the focus of spring practice.
For that reason, Guy said the team recruited “tough kids from tough programs.”
In addition to performing well on the field, Guy said the Aggies have players that work hard off the field as well.
“We have some good athletes who have already shown they’re good students,” Guy said.
One aspect that helped with the recruiting was the recognition of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) by the players.
Guy said people would still ask what teams are in the conference but everyone knew what playing in the WAC entailed.
“It’s an instant recognition,” Guy said. “They know what you’re talking about and who you are.”
Since Boise State and Fresno State have played a lot of nationally televised games, Guy said parents recognize that they’ll get to see their sons play if not on TV then close to home.
With changes to the offense, which involve the quarterback more in the running game, and defense Guy brought from Arizona State, the coaching staff is looking forward to spring practice.
Spring practice starts the week after spring break in March.
-krn@cc.usu.edu