USU Football announces 2022 signing class

Utah State Football announced its 2022 Signing Day class on National Signing Day on Wednesday. 

On the heels of an 11-3 season in Blake Anderson’s first year as head coach, the Aggies added 33 recruits, in an effort to build upon their historic success. 

The signing class of 2022 is composed of 23 high school commits, nine transfers and one return missionary. According to 247Sports.com, the class ranks fourth in the Mountain West, 77th nationally and features 18 linemen. 

Leading the high school signees is an offensive tackle from Hawaii, Tavo Motu’apuaka. Motu’apuaka is the younger brother of Utah State defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches and weighing 280 pounds, Motu’apuaka originally signed to Pac-12 powerhouse Utah, but de-committed and committed to Utah State in December. 

Utah State’s top-ranked recruit from Utah, offensive lineman Weylin Lapuaho, will travel from South Jordan to Logan in the Spring. The 6-foot-4 inch 295 pounds Bingham high product declined offers from Utah, UNLV, and New Mexico. 

Motuapuaka and Lapuaho exemplify Coach Anderson’s philosophy: build foundational offensive and defensive lines. 

“The class starts with offensive and defensive linemen,” Anderson said. “We closed the gap on the offensive line and picked up some really solid players.” 

12 of the 23 high school signees hail from the Beehive State. 

Anderson, who has been impressed with the talent level with Utah, said recruiting locally is critical to the team’s culture and tradition. 

“We don’t look at recruiting as like is a Logan guy or he is a Salt Lake City guy, we look for in-state guys. We want to start at home and work our way from there,” he said. 

But recruiting in-state talent is becoming increasingly difficult. For the first time in history, BYU, Utah, and Utah State all ended their seasons in AP’s top 25. With tough recruiting competition along the Wasatch Front, Anderson explained what makes Utah State a favorable destination amongst recruits.

“We’ve built tradition. If you look at the last 10 years, minus maybe one year, we have had great tradition,” he said. “Students have unreal energy and we get players to a higher level. For some players maybe they can get on the field faster here than Utah or BYU.” 

Playing time is certainly on the minds of the recruits. With several players graduating and All-American receiver Deven Thompkins declaring for the draft, Coach Anderson hopes to fill vacancies with seasoned transfers. 

Junior wide receiver Xavier Williams, a former four-star high school recruit, joins the Aggies from Alabama. Williams signed with USU in January after a combination of injuries and limited playing time kept him off the field. 

“Xavier had some medical issues and wanted to come here and flourish in a different system,” Anderson said. “He can have a bigger impact on the team now. He’s so versatile and he has speed when the ball is in his hands. He has a tremendous ability to fight for the ball in the air.” 

In addition to Williams, wide receiver Brian Cobbs (Maryland), four-star quarterback Levi Williams (Wyoming), and offensive tackle Cade Parrish (BYU) will join the Aggies for Spring training. 

Besides talent, transfers are scouted for their leadership, character, and willingness to contribute to the Aggie football culture. 

“I’m very blunt with transfers,” Anderson said. “I try to convince them not to come here and I tell them how hard it will be. But I mostly talk to them about culture so that when they get here, they know what to expect. They know our culture is centered on faith, family, toughness, and self-lessness. These transfers will succeed because they are underdogs and blue-collar guys.” 

For the high school prospects coming in, Coach Anderson reminded fan to temper their expectation. 

“We never know if any draft class is good until 2, 3 years into the future.”

High school signees

• Bryce Radford, OL, Green Canyon HS
• Ryker Lotulelei, LB, West HS
• James Aloisio, OL, Timpview HS
• Kauasi Hansen, OL, Herriman HS
• Saco Alofipe, S, Liberty HS, Nevada
• Malachi Keels, WR, Orange Glen HS, California
• Jett Solomon S, Desert Pines HS, Nevada
• Jordan Drew, CB, Booker T. Washington HS, Oklahoma
• Thomas Turpin, DE, Bonneville HS
• Austin Okerwa, WR, Skyline HS
• Kyler Baker, TE, Green Canyon HS
• Max Alford, LB, Park City HS
• Lofa Fonoti-Maikui, LB, Layton HS
• Joshua Williams, LB, Mesquite, Texas
• Paul Fitzgerald, DL, Idaho Falls, Idaho
• Adam Tomczyk, DE, Los Alamitos, California
• Sione Tavo Motu’apuaka, OL, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Teague Anderson, OL, Lehi HS
• Weylin Lapuaho, OL, Bingham HS
• Bishop Davenport, QB, Spring, Texas
• Chase Tuatagaloa, QB, Orem HS
• Robert Briggs, RB, Bellville, Texas

Transfer players

• Anthony Switzer, LB, Arkansas State, Jr.
• MJ Tafisi, LB, Washington, Jr.
• Gurvan Hall Jr., S, Miami, Sr.
• Tavian Coleman, DT, Trinity Valley CC (Texas), So.
• Brian Cobbs, WR, Maryland, Sr.
• Xavier Williams, WR, Alabama, Jr.
• Levi Williams, QB, Wyoming, So.
• Terrell Vaughn, WR, Ventura JC (California), Jr.
• Daniel Grzesiak DE, Nevada, Jr.

Return missionary

• Bronson Olevao, DB, Highland HS