USU coaches sign 32 players — three from Cache Valley
USU head coach Mick Dennehy is pleased with the 32 players who signed letters of intent Wednesday. And why not?
“We’re just like doctors,” Dennehy said of coaches recruiting. “I never ran into a doctor that said he had a bad operation.”
And while the coaches will not know exactly what they have until the football season, they said they are happy with the 27 high school and five junior college transfer they signed.
“It was a very, very efficient effort by the coaches,” Dennehy said. He also boasted about the players’ personalities and academic ability. “[We found] good people, who happen to be good athletes.”
The Aggies picked up a player from every high school in the Cache Valley and four others in the state – including last year’s Mr. Football, Skyline’s Steve Tate.
And all this without a conference to play in – the Big West won’t sponsor football next year. Dennehy said he and his assistant coach compensated with the likelihood of having an immediate impact on the team and the team’s all-over-the-country schedule.
It’s a modified version of the Navy’s “Let’s go see the world” slogan, Dennehy said.
Here is a breakdown of the recruits:
Defensive backs
Though he’s a quarterback for high school power Skyline, Tate will play next year as a defensiveback for USU. After a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mission, he could compete for a quarterback spot, said assistant coach Kraig Paulson.
“He was a good get,” Paulson said of Tate, whose family has ties to the Utes. “From the University of Utah, you could hit his house with a rock.”
Joining him in the defensive backfield is Andre Bala, Matt Mower and Mark Estelle. Bala was named to the Texas 100 Club out of Houston. Mower, who can also play running back, is a safety from Highland. One of five junior college transfers Dennehy said might all start next season, Estelle is from Los Angeles Southwest Junior College.
“He’s got a great understanding of the game,” said assistant coach Derrick Odum.
Linebackers
Brigham City native Josh Anderson leads a list of freshman linebackers that also includes D.J. Brookter, Dan Catalano and Nathan Dandridge.
Anderson, who raises bees as a hobby, has been called the best ball player in the area, said assistant head coach David Reeves. Brookter played several positions at Bullard high school in Fresno, Calif.
From Westlake, Calif., Catalano recorded 85 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions in his final year of high school. Dandridge was dropped by several Pac-10 schools and “fell into USU’s lap” late, Reeves said. The native of Moreno Valley, Calif., had two friends in the program who helped convince him to come to USU.
Defensive lineman
Emosi “Amos” Fiefia (Mountain Crest High School) leads the list of defensive tackles and ends – positions USU recruited most heavily for. He’s the brother of former USU starters Vaea and Walter Fiefia and cousin of current offensive player David Fiefia.
“We felt it was important to keep the line going,” Dennehy joked. “Amos will come in and make his own mark.”
He joins fellow valley-native Ben Calderwood (Smithfield), as well as John Chick (Gillette, Wyo), Blake Curci (Orange County, Calif.), Michael Gate (Arlington, Texas), Jeremy Guenter (Orem) and James Robinson (Phoenix, Ariz.).
Running back
USU assistant coach Mike Trevathan said Richard Watson is from the same mold as Emmett White. From Grant High School, Sacramento, Calif. – the same school as USU’s Chris Stallworth – Watson has good hands, Trevathan said.
“[He] is going to be a star for a long, long time,” Dennehy said.
Offensive line
Logan High School graduate Tyler Wilkinson will head a large lineman class including Grant Calverley (Moreno, Calif.), Aric Galliano (Cerritos JC, Calif.), Ryan Gunstream (LaPuente, Calif.), Jason Jones (Carlsbad, Calif.), Kohl Mayberry (Phoenix, Ariz.), Joshua Newman-Gomez (Covina, Calif.) and Donald Penn (Playa Del Rey, Calif.).
Wide receivers
Of all the wideouts, Dennehy is most impressed by the junior college transfer from Pasadena Junior College, Calif., Gary Coleman.
“He’s going to help us become a better wide receiver corps,” he said.
Donta’ Candler (Long Beach, Calif.), Jerome Eason (Lancaster, Calif.), Brandon McFee (Pasadena, Calif.), Jason Thomas (Temecula Valley, Calif.) and Michael Washington (Lancaster, Calif.) should all make an immediate impact on the team, Dennehy said.
Special teams
Kicker/punter Ben Chaet should be in the battle for the top kicker spot.
“He has a pretty strong leg,” Trevathan said.