This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
When Gary Andersen took over the head coaching job at Utah State, his recruiting consisted of leftovers, players who really had few offers at the Division I level, players who wanted the chance to prove themselves on a big stage.
His recruiting for the Class of 2013 has shown just how far his recruiting, and Utah State's program, has come in four years.
The Aggies have 11 commits before the high school season even starts, many of them coming from some of the best players in the state. It's by far the best start Andersen has had on the recruiting scene in his tenure at Utah State.
And there are stars in this bunch. Braden Harris is considered one of the best small school players to come around in years.
USU had to beat out big schools for John Fakahafua, the wide receiver out of East.
People like Tyler Fox and Zach Swenson are also highly regarded. And the Aggies, along with BYU and Utah, are hot on the trail of Alta wideout Harrison Handley.
It all points to the change of conference from the WAC to the Mountain West really meaning something for Utah State.
It's doubtful, for all of Andersen's recruiting prowress, that he would have this much success, this early, if the Aggies were still in conference limbo.
Tony Jones