This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Logan • Utah State's football recruiting appears to have survived massive turnover on the coaching staff.
As signing day approaches, the Aggies have at least 20 players committed to joining the program, according to various websites.
One of the recruits, cornerback-wide receiver Rayshad Lewis of Bishop Moore Catholic High School in Orlando, Fla., has a famous father. Ray Lewis is a former NFL star who played 17 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. His son Rayshad, whose Twitter handle is @ThatOtherLewis, committed to Utah State last week.
According to a story in the Orlando Sentinel, his official visit was a key to his decision.
"It went great," Lewis told the newspaper. "I was surprised that the area was that beautiful and the facilities were that nice because you would never think that something in a small town like Logan, Utah, would be that impressive. The facilities were great and the fans really love the Aggies."
Lewis, who is 5-foot-9 and weighs 165 pounds, picked Utah State over Appalachian State, Ball State, Florida Atlantic, Idaho, Old Dominion, Toledo and UMass, according to the Sentinel.
Among the other 19 players who have reportedly committed to Utah State, four are wide receivers, four are defensive backs and three are linebackers — a position losing stars Kyler Fackrell and Nick Vigil.
It's been a turbulent recruiting season at Utah State, which has lost six assistant coaches since its 23-21 loss to Akron in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 22.
Offensive coordinator Josh Heupel left after one season to take the same job at Missouri. Defensive coordinator Kevin Clune left after his first season with the Aggies for Oregon State.
In addition, offensive line/assistant head coach Mark Weber moved to Mountain West Conference rival Fresno State. So did running back coach/special teams coordinator Dave Ungerer, whose hiring by the Bulldogs has been widely reported but not officially announced.
Utah State also lost defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe to Washington of the Pac-12 and safeties coach Joe Lorig to Memphis, which plays in the non-P5 American Athletic Conference.
Head coach Matt Wells remains in Logan, of course, along with co-offfensive coordinator Luke Wells, passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach Jovon Bouknight and defensive passing game coordinator/cornerback coach Kendrick Shaver.
Wells has hired two new assistants: Frank Maile is the new assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator and David Kotulski is the defensive line coach. Both Maile and Kotulski coached at Vanderbilt last season.
Wells is expected to announce the rest of his revamped staff at the Aggies' signing day press conference on Wednesday.
Twitter: @sluhm —
Utah State recruits
Name Pos. Ht/Wgt HS/Juco
Alex Byers WR 6-3/175 Antelope Valley JC (Calif.)
Scored 18 TDs in 20 games over two seasons
Antonio Cole CB 6-1/180 NE Oklahoma A&M
All-State in Oklahoma as a high school senior
Jaren Colston-Green WR 6-2/180 Arizona Western CC
He's listed as a two-star recruit by rivals.com
Bapa Falemaka TE/DE 6-3/210 Judge Memorial HS
Also outstanding in basketball for the Bulldogs
Makiah Gilmer S 6-1/180 Juanita HS (Wash.)
Also had offers from UNLV, Idaho and others
Braxton Gunter S 5-10/176 Woods Cross HS
Wyoming, Nevada and Weber State made offers
Rayshad Lewis CB/WR 5-9/165 Bishop Moore HS (Fla.)
Son of former NFL star linebacker Ray Lewis
Jordan Love QB 6-2/179 Liberty HS (Calif.)
Threw for 1,960 yards, 21 TDs as a senior
Simian Matagi LB 6-2/205 Bingham HS
Helped make Miner defense one of the best
Bryce Mortenson TE 6-6/210 Sky View HS
Will serve a church mission before enrolling
Troy Murray DE 6-5/210 Logan HS
Flipped after committing to MWC rival Nevada
Emmett Odegard LS 6-1/235 Nassau County CC (N.Y.)
Played a season at UMass before junior college
Hartman Rector WR 6-1/186 Logan HS
Committed to the Aggies during his junior year
Craig Rucker WR 5-8/160 Edgewater HS (Fla.)
Offers from Toledo, Akron, Ball State, others
Ty Shaw OL 6-5/285 Herriman HS
Originally committed to play at Southern Utah
Ron'quavion Tarver WR 6-4/215 Fort Scott CC (Kansas)
Last year: 44 receptions, 508 yards, 3 TDs
Sean Taylor OL 6-5/280 Laney JC (Calif.)
He'll have three years to play two for the Aggies
Andru Tovi C 6-1/310 Mililani HS (Hawaii)
San Diego State also wanted three-star recruit
Victor Villarreal LB 6-5/228 El Camino JC (Calif.)
Made 14 tackles in a game vs. Saddleback
David Woodward LB 6-3/195 Olympia HS (Wash.)
Missed junior season in high school with a back injury