New Mexico quarterback Trae Hall (10) is sacked by Utah State defensive end Tipa Galeai during a college football game on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019 in Albuquerque, N.M. Galeai is one of only four current Aggies from Texas, but the hope is to bring more Texans to Logan in the future. | Andres Leighton, Associated Press
The Aggies have only played in Texas five times since 2000 and once since 2010. That will change with the appearance in the Frisco Bowl
LOGAN — Texas.
If there is a state in the country that is more alluring to college football coaches when it comes to recruiting — the lifeblood of any program — you’d be hard pressed to find it. Texas, Florida and California are the recruiting hotbeds of America and if you can successfully recruit in any of them you’ll likely secure the future of your program.
That is what makes Utah State’s berth in the Frisco Bowl this postseason “absolutely” a benefit to the program, according to head coach Gary Andersen. The Aggies recruit Texas hard. Three different assistant coaches have portions of Texas among their chief recruiting areas.
“For some of them, it’s their main spot they go to,” said Andersen. “For others, it’s their secondary recruiting spot.”
Those efforts have brought players like defensive end Tipa Galeai and cornerback Cam Lampkin to Logan. With only four native Texans on the roster, though, the Aggies’ recruiting efforts in Texas can improve.
That is where playing in the Frisco Bowl comes in. Since 2000, Utah State has played in Texas only five times: twice at the turn of the millenium, against North Texas and Texas Tech, again in 2003 against North Texas, in 2009 at Texas A&M and finally in 2012 against the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Playing in the Frisco Bowl, located in Frisco, Texas, a part of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, gives the Aggies a chance to be present and seen by recruits, which is “absolutely” a benefit to recruiting efforts.
“To get a Utah State presence in Texas is big. Absolutely,” Andersen said. “The fact that we are going to a bowl game, and we are going to a bowl game in Texas, is a great recruiting tool. Going to the Frisco Bowl is a great opportunity to build on recruiting and show people where we (the Utah State football program) are going. We’ve got an opportunity to go to a bowl game, which, in my opinion, is a great recruiting weapon.”
Recruiting has changed of late due to the implementation of the early signing period and with the Aggies playing on Dec. 20, their window to talk to recruits is shortened. Andersen isn’t worried, though. With a small graduating class this year, Utah State isn’t desperate for recruits and the benefit of playing in Texas more than outweighs the shortened amount of recruiting time.
“With our class this year, it is a little fortunate for us, because we don’t have a giant class, which we have talked about for months now,” Andersen said. “We’ll still have some coaches go out on the road. I’ll be out on the road Monday through Wednesday (Dec. 9 through Dec. 11) and we’ll do what we have to do to get that done. If we were planning on signing 15 or 20 kids on the early signing day, it would be a bit stressful, but, because of where we are at this year, we’ll handle it and manage it, and get to the kids we need. I think a lot of the kids that we are recruiting will understand the situation we are in right now, and the placement of this bowl game, but we will adjust as needed. It does not affect us in a negative way at all.”
And if the Aggies can establish a recruiting presence in Texas due to their Frisco Bowl appearance, the early trip to Texas will only be a positive.
2019 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl
Utah State (7-5) vs. Kent State (6-6)
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
Friday, Dec. 20, 5:30 p.m. MST
TV: ESPN 2
Radio: KZNS AM 1280
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