This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
With a brand new offensive coordinator in tow, the Utah State Aggies appear to be going heavy on that side of the ball as National Signing Day approaches Wednesday. Of the 27 commitments or early national letter of intent signees listed on various recruiting websites, more than half come on offense.
The Aggies, coming off back-to-back losing seasons, hired David Yost on Dec. 30 to take the reins of a USU offense that has underachieved the last couple of years. Yost heads to Logan after spending the 2016 year as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Oregon.
The bulk of this year's recruiting class looks to be a next foundation of protecting the quarterback.
Of the reported commitments, five are on the offensive line. That includes three-star Alfred Edwards, who as recently as Jan. 23 took to Twitter to announce that he was decommitting from the University of Nevada and choosing the Aggies instead. At 6-foot-7 and 275 pounds, the tackle of out Redlands, Calif., headlines an area of apparent need for USU.
While the Aggies will be in search of a full-time replacement for the graduated Devante Mays (1,225 yards, 12 touchdowns in two years), USU is expected to sign tailback Eltoro Allen out of Riverside City College. Allen rushed for 1,001 yards and eight touchdowns last year.
Three-star wideout Savon Scarver out of Centennial High in Las Vegas, Nev., had 946 receiving yards on 43 receptions and eight touchdowns his senior year. Scarver is listed as Scout.com's third-best wideout in Nevada's 2017 class. The Aggies also snagged a local commitment from three-star Lehi High School tight end Carson Terrell. Terrell chose USU over offers from UCLA and Oregon State.
USU is also expected to sign a pair of 6-foot-3 quarterbacks. Henry Colombi, a passer out of Hollywood, Fla., and Jamaal Evans, who will join his high school teammate Scarver in Logan. Colombi committed over the summer, choosing USU over the likes of Arkansas, Wake Forest and Temple. Colombi, Florida's 4A Player of the Year, accounted for over 5,800 yards and 58 touchdowns in his high school career.
Including Terrell, several of USU's reported commits come from within the recent Utah prep ranks. The group includes Jordan center Heneli Avendano, Taylorsville defensive lineman Josh Sterzer and Timpview wideout Kyle Van Leeuwen. On Friday, East's WR/DB A.J. Iloa announced his commitment as well.
Herriman's Harris LaChance, Bingham's Daniel Langi, and East's Preston Curtis and John Fakahafua are expected to join after serving LDS Church missions.
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
List of Utah State's reported commitments according to Scout.com
• Alfred Edwards OT 6-7, 275 Redlands Senior HS (Calif.)
Three-star OT chose USU after being committed to Nevada
• Eltoro Allen RB 5-10, 195 Riverside City College
Rushed for over 1,000 yards last year
• Carson Terrell TE 6-5, 225 Lehi HS
Three-star in-state product picked Aggies over UCLA and Oregon State
• Savon Scarver WR 6-0, 180 Centennial HS (Nev.)
Three-star WR had 946 receiving yards and eight TD's his senior year
• Louy Compton OLB 6-3, 220 Ellsworth Community College (Kan.)
Accumulated 60 tackles in 12 games a year ago
• Nami Tuitu'u OG 6-3, 270 Mesa HS (Ariz.)
Had 66 tackles his senior season
• Suliasi Tamaivena ILB 6-0, 238 Mt. San Antonio (Calif.)
Former Washington State LB had 81 tackles in 11 games
• Roman Andrus OT 6-3,279 Snow College
Former BYU defensive lineman from El Dorado Hills, Calif.
• Robert Castaneda OT 6-5, 310 Ellsworth Community College (Kan.)
Teammate of Louy Compton at Ellsworth CC
• Zahodri Jackson CB 5-10, 165 Riverview HS (Fla.)
Chose USU over Boise State, Iowa, South Florida
• Heneli Avendano C 6-3 274 Jordan HS
Local product chose USU over SUU and University of Idaho
• Josh Sterzer DE 6-4, 225 Taylorsville HS
Warrior DE racked up 72 tackles and 11 sacks
• Kyle Van Leeuwen WR 5-10, 180 Timpview HS
Older brothers Zach and Travis starred at USU
• Jonathan Hagee K Plainfield HS (Ind.)
Reportedly had kicking offer at Ball State
• Ismael Vaifoou OLB 6-3,200 Highland HS
Versatile local product had 38 tackles with Rams
• Jarrod Green S 6-0, 165 Cosumnes Oaks HS (Calif.)
Had 53 tackles and two INT's senior year
• Jamaal Evans QB ATH 6-3, 205 Centennial HS (Nev.)
Senior signal-caller had over 2,700 yards of offense
• Henry Colombi QB 6-3, 190 Chaminde Madonna Prep (Fla.)
Accounted for over 5,800 yards and 58 touchdowns in his high school career
• A.J. Iloa WR 6-3, 200 East HS
104 tackles, three INT's on Leopard defense in 2016
——
Harris LaChance DE Herriman HS
Daniel Langi ILB Bingham HS
Preston Curtis WR East HS
John Fakahafua ATH East HS