Whether it be the middle of the college football season, the dog days of summer or the outset of spring camp, recruiting is an ever present part of college football.
There is no such thing as an offseason, and for head coach Blake Anderson and company, finding the next batch of Aggies is always a priority.
With that in mind, here is a look at Utah State’s 2022 recruiting class, with prospects listed according to reporting by 247 Sports, Rivals and the Deseret News.
(All commitments at this point are verbal and non-binding.)
Saco Alofipo
S — Liberty (Henderson, Nevada)
5-10, 175
★★★ — 247 Sports
★★ — Rivals
Alofipo chose the Aggies over an offer from Northern Arizona, amidst interest (no scholarship offer) from Arizona, Arizona State and BYU. Formerly of Wood Cross High School, Alofipo is rated the 19th best player in Nevada and the 89th-best safety prospect in the country. As a Wildcat in 2019-20, he racked up 35 tackles and two interceptions (tied for the second-most on the team).
James Aloisio
OT — Timpview (Provo)
6-4, 270
★★★ — 247 Sports
★★★ — Rivals
Rated the 18th-best prospect in Utah, per 247 Sports’ composite rating, and the 129th-rated offensive tackle prospect in the country, Aloisio chose the Aggies over an offer from Nebraska. Sporting a 5.5 rating on Rivals (0.8315 on 247 Sports) Aloisio helped the T-Birds to a 7-5 record and a berth in the 5A state championship game.
Robert Briggs
RB — Bellville (Bellville, Texas)
5-7, 170
Not rated — 247 Sports
Not rated — Rivals
An all-purpose running back out of southeastern Texas, Briggs was offered by the Aggies on April 11, visited Logan on June 23 and committed on June 25. Per 247 Sports, Briggs was Texas District 12-4A-II Offensive Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 2018, was a Texas 12-4A-II first-team All-District selection at both running back and returner as a sophomore in 2019, and was Texas District 12-4A-II Utility Player of the Year as a junior in 2020. A speedster, Briggs runs a 4.42 second 40-yard dash and a a 10.7 second 100 meter dash. He is the first offensive skill player to commit to the Aggies for 2022.
Bishop Davenport
QB — Spring (Spring, Texas)
6-1, 187
Not rated — 247 Sports
Not rated — Rivals
A pro-style quarterback, Davenport chose the Aggies over interest from Houston Baptist, Lamar and Texas Southern. As a junior last season, Davenport was named District 14-6A Overall MVP after leading Spring High School to an undefeated regular season. Davenport threw for 3459 yards and 36 touchdowns with only three interceptions, while also rushing for 680 yards and seven scores. He was offered by the Aggies on June 21 and committed on June 25.
Takeao Hansen
ATH — Lone Peak (Highland)
6-3, 195
★★★ — 247 Sports
★★ — Rivals
Rated by 247 Sports as the 18th-best prospect in the state of Utah, as well as the 93rd-best athlete in the country, Hansen committed to the Aggies over offers from BYU and Colorado State. Playing for Lone Peak as a junior last season, Hansen recorded 56 tackles, two interceptions and two defensive touchdowns, helping the Knights advance to the 6A state championship game, where’d they lose to Corner Canyon.
Hansen also saw some time on the the offensive side of the ball last year, recording two receptions for 34 yards.
Cahlede Jackson
DT — Chaminade-Madonna Prep (Hollywood, Fla.)
6-1, 280
★★★ — 247 Sports
★★ — Rivals
The first non-Utahn to join the Aggies’ 2022 class, Jackson was first offered by the Syracuse Orange over a year ago, in January 2021, before getting an offer from USU on March 2 of this year. He committed to the Aggies 20 days later, on March 22.
Per NCSA Sports, Jackson, a 6-foot-1, 280-pound defensive tackle, runs a 5.2 second 40-yard dash, bench presses 325 pounds and squats 500.
As a sophomore in 2019-20, per MaxPreps, Jackson played in seven games and totaled 24 tackles, including two tackles for loss.
Maximus ‘Lofa’ Fonoti-Maikui
OLB — Northridge (Layton)
6-3, 185
★★★ — 247 Sports
★★ — Rivals
The 33rd-best recruit in the state of Utah, Fonoti-Maikui made an instant impact even as a freshman in 2018-19. In his first season playing high school football he tallied 18 tackles and an interception. He then took a leap forward as a sophomore and led the Northridge Knights with 77 tackles and three sacks. As a junior, Fonoti-Maikui transferred to Layton, where he had regular double-digit tackle performances and dabbled at playing quarterback. Fonoti-Maikui will be back at Northridge for his senior year.
Northridge head coach Andrew Fresques’ comments on Fonoti-Maikui:
“Lofa is a great young man and football player. He will not only bring physical toughness to Utah State, but also mental toughness. He has a high football IQ and motor, and is a great leader who leads by example. Utah State is getting a special student-athlete.”
Weylin Lapuaho
OL — Bingham (South Jordan)
6-4, 295
★★★ — 247 Sports
Not rated — Rivals
Rated the 22nd-best prospect in Utah and the 42nd-best offensive line prospect in the country, per 247 Sports, Lapuaho chose the Aggies over offers from Utah, New Mexico and UNLV. He was offered by Utah State on May 21 and committed on July 2. Lapuaho helped the Miners to a 8-4 record and a run to the quarterfinals of the 6A state tournament as a junior.
Ryker Lotulelei
OLB — West (Salt Lake City)
6-2, 230
★★★ — 247 Sports
Not rated — Rivals
Rated the 45th-best prospect in Utah and the 186th-best linebacker in the country, per 247 Sports, Lotulelei was offered by Utah State on February 4 and committed on June 25. One of eight defenders in the Aggies’ 2022 class, Lotulelei led the Highland Rams — he has since transferred to West High — as a junior last season with 50 tackles. The Rams lost to Spanish Fork in the first round of the 5A state tournament.
West head coach Olossa Solovi’s comments on Lotulelei:
“We’re super excited for Ryker and his family. He is a humble and hard working young man. His example on and off the field has given him the opportunity to play at the next level. Grateful for the Utah State staff believing in him.”
Ken Moore Jr.
CB — Colombus (Miami, Fla.)
5-9, 155
Not rated — 247 Sports
★★ — Rivals
Offered by Utah State on March 1, Moore committed to the Aggies on April 29. Capable of running a sub 11-second 100 meter dash, Moore played in 12 games as a sophomore in 2019-20, per MaxPreps, and racked up 42 total tackles, along with an interception. He also saw action as a kick returner, totaling 104 return yards.
Bryce Radford
OT — Green Canyon (Logan)
6-6, 285
★★★ — 247 Sports
★★ — Rivals
Offered by UNLV, New Mexico and Utah State, Radford chose the hometown Aggies, following in the footsteps of his father Curt Radford. Radford has been a key cog on the Wolves’ offensive line, and in 2019-20 helped Green Canyon to a 5-5 overall record and a berth in the second round of the 4A state tournament.
Green Canyon head coach Craig Anhder’s comments on Radford:
“Bryce is a hard working kid committed to excellence. He has brought a desire to get better to the whole program and I know he will take that attitude to USU!”
Jett Solomon
S — Desert Pines (Las Vegas)
6-0, 190
★★★ — 247 Sports
★★ – Rivals
The 15th-highest rated prospect in Nevada and the 103rd-rated cornerback in the country, Solomon chose the Aggies over an offer from the North Texas Mean Green. Solomon has played both wide receiver and cornerback for Desert Pines, helping form a group of pass catchers described by Jaguars’ head coach Tico Rodriguez as a “very talented young corps of receivers.”
Adam Tomczyk
DL — Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos, California)
6-4, 260
★★★ — 247 Sports
Not rated — Rivals
Offered by the Aggies on April 8, Tomczyk committed to play his college football in Logan on June 27. Rated the 164th-best prospect out of California by 247 Sports — he is 200-best defensive line prospect in the country — Tomczyk recorded 31 tackles and eight tackles for loss in six games played as a junior.
Utah State is the only school to have offered Tomczyk a scholarship thus far and he is the 13th member of the Aggies’ 2022 class.
Chase Tuatagaloa
ATH — Orem (Orem)
6-4, 200
★★★ — 247 Sports
★★ — Rivals
The 15th-best prospect in the state of Utah in the 2022 class, Tuatagaloa was Utah State’s first commitment, choosing the Aggies over an offer from Morgan State.
A former Bingham Miner, Tuatagaloa transferred to Orem prior to last season. He proved to be a solid pass catcher for the Tigers, hauling in six receptions for 56 yards, an average of 9.33 yards per catch. His total receiving yardage was the fourth-most on the team.
Orem head coach Gabriel Sewell’s comments on Tuatagaloa:
“He is a great student-athlete and an even greater young man. He leads by example, puts his head down and is all about the work. He is going to be a great contributor and asset up in Logan.”
Mapa Vaenuku
S — East (Salt Lake City)
6-1, 200
Not rated — 247 Sports
Not rated — Rivals
The fourth defensive back to commit to Utah State this recruiting cycle, Vaenuku was offered by the Aggies on February 25 and committed on June 25. As a junior last season, Vaenuku racked up 29 tackles for the Leopards, who advanced to the semifinals of the 6A state tournament, before falling short to the eventual state champion Corner Canyon Chargers.
East head coach Brandon Matich’s comments on Vaenuku (via Twitter):
“This guy will be a state household name for several years. Unreal talent and a ceiling that we can’t even see yet! Great get for Logan!”
Joshua Williams
OLB — Mesquite (Mesquite, Texas)
6-2, 200
Not rated — 247 Sports
★★ — Rivals
The second linebacker to commit to Utah State during this recruiting cycle — Fonoti-Maikui was the first — Williams had only one FBS scholarship offer and that came from Aggies, back on May 3. He committed to Utah State on June 9, becoming the eighth member of the class. Williams has a 5.3 overall prospect rating per Rivals, and is not rated by 247 Sports.
As a junior at Mesquite High School, Williams showed great versatility from his outside linebacker position, playing behind both three-man and four-man fronts, where he was often asked to rush the quarterback.
from Deseret News https://ift.tt/3udZiSl
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