Aggies sign 36 recruits on signing day, capping 2026 class

Utah State University Football announced its 2026 football signees on National Signing Day, Feb. 4. The class was highlighted by multiple standout defensive transfers, a large quarterback class and one of the highest-rated recruiting classes for the Aggies in the past five years. 

Head coach Bronco Mendenhall held a press conference to share his thoughts and answer questions about the incoming class and preparation for this offseason. In his conference, Mendenhall highlighted his focus on players in the transfer portal, something he hadn’t focused on much in prior seasons. 

“The transfer portal is something unlike I’ve ever experienced. We chose as a program to engage in it at a different level this year now that I’ve seen the national landscape and see our roster needs,” Mendenhall said. “The number of players we were looking for going into the portal was originally 35 players. We brought in 32.” 

As part of this signing class, the Aggies brought in four new quarterbacks, a position of need for the Aggies and a focus during recruiting. Two of the quarterbacks are incoming freshmen, and the other two were recruited from the portal. Mendenhall said he hopes this wave of quarterbacks will help to increase the competition in the quarterback room. 

“We really like where we are quarterback-wise right now. Our offensive coordinator, again, Robert, he’s almost giddy, he says, ‘You can’t believe the quarterback situation I walked into,’” Mendenhall said. “We brought McCae [Hillstead] from BYU. I really like Grady [Brosterhous], quarterback from Virginia, and he’s been so impressive in leadership and size and physicality and speed. The competition really helps.” 

Another hole in the roster looking to be filled was on the offensive line. Between the high school and transfer classes, the Aggies brought in eight new offensive linemen. Mendenhall said he feels as though the incoming linemen will be an improvement upon last year’s squad.  

“I’ve told our team, as well as coaches, that we’re going to look into any vacancy. We’re going to look to bring in players that are greater than, not equal to, what we just lost, as well as greater than or not equal to what we currently have,” Mendenhall said. “We were looking to bring in players who were better than what we had last year, not only by the qualities of each player but by the numbers.” 

For Mendenhall and the coaching staff, getting the offensive line better while still keeping the team’s identity was important.

“We need to make sure we identify players who can come in with our existing group that’s coming back to not just help [the quarterback] and protect him but other players around him,” said Evan Butts, Utah State director of player personnel. “I feel great about the guys that we’re bringing in to do that.”

One aspect of this class Mendenhall is proud of is how many of the new players have already reported to campus. 

“A number of players we’ve added, both through high school and four-year players, are already onboarding. The majority are here already in workouts,” Mendenhall said. “A benefit to this portal window is that our current roster development, our current culture building, our current teaching of the values of the program and the schematics can begin earlier.” 

Another aspect of recruiting Mendenhall touched on was the use of NIL for bringing in talent. Mendenhall acknowledged the university’s help in bringing in funds for the roster. 

“I’d never thought I’d be talking about this on Signing Day, a financial discussion, but it is exactly that. At this point, it is quite frankly a professional sport. This is pay for play. It puts stress on an institution to support these rosters. It puts pressure on the coach as well to spread funds over the entire roster,” Mendenhall said. “I think Utah State has really done a nice job helping our football program in year two to address the market.”

While the transfer portal is now closed, players can still attempt to join the roster through walk-ons and summer camps. While a large portion of the roster construction has been completed, the final roster will not be set until this fall.