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Logan
The Vigil brothers are pictured together, as always, but only one of them is smiling.
Zach Vigil was thrilled about shooting a deer as a teenager, until the moment when Nick Vigil bagged a bigger buck.
"The story of my life," Zach said.
The brothers have created their own success stories at Utah State, with distinctive personalities that are easily traced to one parent or the other. They're the composite face of the Aggie program, as linebackers known for their toughness and consistent production.
Not even Nick's emergence as a two-way player as a redshirt sophomore could eclipse Zach's performance as a fifth-year senior in 2014. He should be voted the Mountain West's Defensive Player of the Year and has "played himself into an NFL Draft pick," said USU coach Matt Wells.
The inevitable contrast of the brothers as an overachiever and a prep star tends to devalue Zach's athletic ability — "He says he's slow, but he's actually pretty fast," Nick said — and discount Nick's level of effort. Kory Bosgieter, his coach at Fremont High, welcomed the convergence "when your best player is your hardest worker."
It's true, though, that everything comes more naturally for Nick. "As an older brother," Zach said, "that can be very irritating."
Except when they're teaming up, as homegrown Utahns leading a USU defense that ranks 10th in points allowed (18.3) during a 9-3 regular season that concludes Saturday at Boise State.
The Vigils have loved their two years together on the field, and so have relatives numbering between 75 and 100 for Aggie home games. "When we're out on the field and share those moments, it's pretty cool," Zach said. "Honestly, I don't think we'll be able to understand the gravity anytime soon. Later in life, I'm sure we'll have pictures on the wall and memories of playing together at this level."
Zach is approaching the end of a remarkable college career, considering his unlikely checkpoints — attending a Class 1A high school, once becoming so discouraged in Logan that he almost gave up football, and sustaining a shoulder injury that was miraculously healed.
No one who's watched him play for the Aggies could imagine him telling his father, Jamie, "My heart's not in it; I just don't think I love football anymore."
He's known for enforcing high standards among his teammates, especially his brother — and their three younger siblings, who have labeled him "The General."
Madeline Vigil, a Fremont volleyball player, is not shy about calling Zach "the worst basketball player I've seen," but she seeks his advice in her quest to become a college athlete. He's a positive influence now, unlike the days when he taught his sister how to crawl out of her crib.
Zach and Nick were born 29 months apart, separated by three grades in school. They hunted, rode horses and competed in rodeo together, and Nick even tried to join his brother's tackle football team at 6, until the coach asked about his age.
"Whatever Zach did, I wanted to do," Nick said.
He may not have chosen Zach's circuitous, difficult road to stardom in college football. As the oldest of five children in a devoutly Christian family, Zach began high school at Layton Christian Academy (where Nick attended seventh grade). The parochial education and coaching of former University of Utah star Henry Lusk appealed to their parents.
Lusk left the school in the middle of the season, however, disrupting the program. Zach insisted on staying at LCA for another year to support his teammates, then transferred to Clearfield as a senior in the interest of attracting college recruiters.
"He played as hard as he possibly could, every single snap he was on the field," said Billy Pluime, then Clearfield's coach. "You don't see that very often from high school kids."
Pluime also observed the charisma that once resulted in Zach's election as West Point Junior High's student body president, with no campaigning. "The kids gravitated toward him," Pluime said. "It was that way the minute he walked in here at Clearfield."
Zach attracted some interest from Weber State, and then followed WSU assistant coach Kevin Clune to Logan as a walk-on when former USU coach Gary Andersen assembled his staff.
He officially joined the program in the winter of 2010, then redshirted that season and wondered if he could play at that level. He considered giving up football and attending Weber State, closer to home, but his father encouraged him to stick with it.
Zach appeared in four games in 2011, as injuries held him back. Prior to the Aggies' final spring scrimmage in 2012, during a Sunday dinner at the family's home, Jamie Vigil prayed for his son's aching shoulder.
"Honestly, since that day, I haven't had one ounce of shoulder pain," Zach said.
His performance in that scrimmage changed everything, giving him confidence. He's started every game for three years as USU has gone 29-10 and is undoubtedly the team's 2014 MVP — rivaled only by his brother.
Zach returned an interception for a touchdown in the first quarter against Wake Forest, then Nick forced a fumble that resulted in a teammate's score. Nick delivered an epic performance in a win over BYU as the Aggies' leading tackler and rusher, having become a part-time offensive player.
Against Air Force, Zach was involved in 22 tackles and Nick made 11 stops, while also running for a touchdown and completing two passes. That was enough for Wells to declare he should offer a scholarship to the next Vigil brother — although he'll have to wait for Freedomn, who's 13 (Shayd, the youngest brother, is 9).
Last week, the Vigils teamed for a sack on the game's first play vs. San Jose State and were credited with 31 total tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss, in a 41-7 victory.
Nick's collegiate success was more predictable than Zach's. After the family moved to horse property in a remote part of western Weber County, Nick became a star for Fremont's teams that played in two state championship games. In a 2011 quarterfinal game, he rushed for 256 yards against Bingham.
Nick went through the playoffs with a broken foot, finally giving out during the title game against Lone Peak. That's evidence of how the Vigils are "country tough," according to USU linebackers coach Joe Lorig. "I'm married to a dairy farmer's daughter, so I know what country tough is."
Interviewing the Vigils at USU's football complex in Logan and then visiting their family drives home the brothers' distinctions. Zach is like their mother, Kayla. They're great storytellers with animated expressions, and they're outspoken — she's the one who questioned Wells about Nick's offense-defense workload, for instance, exploiting her "great rapport" with the coach. Nick is more measured, like their father. But they know when something needs to be said, and how to say it.
In his brother's absence next season, Nick will have to grow into the role of vocal leader. "Eventually, we'll replace [Zach's] talent," Wells said. "I don't know if we'll replace the character and the leadership and everything that you can't put a price tag on, that he brings to this program."
At least, Wells will know where to look.
Twitter: @tribkurt —
Brotherly duos
O Utah State linebackers Zach and Nick Vigil may become the third set of brothers from FBS schools in Utah to make an all-conference defensive team in the same season, following BYU twins Stan and John Raass in 1995 and Utah's Doug and Jason Kaufusi in 2001.
Zach Vigil
Birth • March 28, 1991, Layton
High schools • Layton Christian; Clearfield (2009)
Height/weight • 6-2, 240
Mountain West rankings • First in tackles for loss (1.54 per game), second in tackles (11.1), tied for third in sacks (0.67)
Nick Vigil
Birth • Aug. 20, 1993, Layton
High school • Fremont (2012)
Height/weight • 6-2, 230
Mountain West rankings • First in forced fumbles (0.36), third in tackles for loss (1.27), fifth in tackles (9.4), fifth in sacks (0.55)