National signing day: list of local recruits

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1. Jordan Atkinson, Linebacker, 6-3, 235, Martinez, Calif., Diablo Valley JC
Led Diablo Valley with 70 tackles in 10 games in 2008 ... ranked second on the team with six sacks, helping Diablo Valley rank No. 5 in sacks in the Northern California Football Association ... a consistent threat to get to the quarterback, Atkinson also recorded five sacks as a freshman in 2007 while leading the team with five quarterback hurries ... also ranked second on the team in 2008 with nine tackles for loss, along with three pass breakups and one fumble recovery ... grandfather, Chick Atkinson, was BYU's head coach from 1949-55 and his father, Dave (1971-73), is still the Cougars' record holder for career interceptions (20), interceptions in season (9, tied) and interceptions in a game (3, tied).

2. Remington Peck, Tight End, 6-5, 222, South Jordan, Utah, Bingham HS
Served as team captain as a senior while earning first-team All-State honors ... made 27 receptions for 389 yards (14.4 yard per catch) in 2008 ... also rushed the ball twice for 31 yards (15.5 yards per carry) ... scored in six different games to rank second on the team with 6 touchdown receptions ... caught four passes for a season-high 109 yards and one touchdown against Jordan ... ranked No. 4 in the state with 14 sacks, including a season-high 3 sacks vs. Northridge ... totaled 65 tackles as a defensive end, including a season-high 12 tackles against Jordan ... recovered 1 fumble ... helped Bingham win 5A Region 3 title with 5-0 mark and earn a No. 3 ranking (MaxPreps) among all state classifications with an 11-3 overall record ... coached by Dave Peck.

3. Fono Vakalahi, Offensive Line, 6-4, 320, Bryan, Texas, Bryan HS
A physically dominating presence who has played multiple positions on the offensive line ... moved from left tackle to center for his senior season ... rated No. 20 center prospect in the nation by Rivals.com ... also recruited by Baylor, Arizona State, Virginia Tech, Hawai'i and Texas A&M.

4. Terry Alletto, Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 280, Parker, Colo., Ponderosa HS
First-team All-State ... invited to participate in the Hawaiian Prep Classic all-star event featuring more than 100 of the nation's best seniors ... rated No. 8 offensive center nationally and No. 5 Colorado prep prospect by Rivals.com ... can bench 300 pounds and squat 440 pounds ... helped Ponderosa offense produce 24.3 points per game in 2008 ... team finished 4-4 in Colorado's 5A Southern league and 4-6 overall in 2008 ... brothers Nick and Dan are members of the BYU football team ... coached by Randy Huff.

5. Craig Bills, Defensive Back, 6-2, 202, Provo, Utah, Timpview HS
Deseret News 2008 Mr. Football recipient as Utah's top player in 4A ... three-time first-team All-State selection ... 2008 All-Valley Football Team MVP ... three-year starter at safety for Timpview, helping the Thunderbirds complete back-to-back perfect seasons and 36 consecutive victories and three straight 4A state championships ... rated by Rivals.com as No. 10 safety in the nation, No. 2 hardest-hitting safety nationally and No. 3 overall prospect in Utah in 2008 ... leader of Thunderbird defense that held opponents to 12 points per game in 2008 ... had 43 solo tackles among 59 total tackles and four interceptions as a senior ... as a junior returned two of his three interceptions for touchdowns ... totaled six interceptions as a sophomore along with 10 pass deflections and 84 tackles ... defensive backs MVP of the 2008 NIKE Camp in Provo ... older brothers K.C. and Kelly were both former members of the BYU football team and brother Kevan will return to play for the Cougars following his LDS mission ... coached by Louis Wong.

6. Mitch Mathews, Wide Receiver, 6-5, 195, Beaverton, Ore., Southridge HS Recorded 26 catches for 475 yards and seven touchdowns in only five games after returning from a broken leg early in his senior season ... was an All-Metro wide receiver with 42 receptions for 586 yards and 6 touchdowns as a junior ... also an excellent baseball player who represented Oregon on the Junior Olympic 16-Under Baseball Team ... was a second-team All-State first baseman as a junior and honorable mention All-State outfielder as a sophomore ... older brother Marcus previously signed with BYU and is returning from an LDS mission.

7. Tui Crichton, Offensive Line, 6-4, 290, Provo, Utah Timpview HS Three-year starter who missed senior season due to torn labrum (shoulder) ... earned first-team All-State accolades as a junior ... great technician on offensive line who helped Timpview win back-to-back 4A state titles as a sophomore and junior ... helped Thunderbirds achieve undefeated season during junior year ... also recruited by Utah, Colorado, LSU, Arizona State and Hawai'i ... coached by Louis Wong.

8. Brad Wilcox, Offensive Line, 6-7, 265, Edmond, Okla. North HS An athletic offensive lineman with great height and excellent mobility ... an outstanding pass protector with a huge wingspan ... athletic when pulling and trapping and quick off the ball ... team captain ... rated as No. 39 offensive tackle in the nation by ESPN.com ... team offensive player of the year ... first-team all-district ... all-state honorable mention ... also lettered in wrestling and lacrosse ... also recruited by Oregon State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Tulsa, Washington, New Mexico, Boise State and Kansas State ... plans to serve an LDS mission before enrolling at BYU.

9. Ryan Mulitalo, Offensive Line, 6-4, 290, West Valley City, Utah, Hunter HS Experience playing on both the offensive and defensive lines ... played primarily on defense early in his prep career before concentrating more on playing offensive line ... first-team all- region ... helped anchor line at Hunter ... also recruited by Washington, Arizona State and Boise State ... coached by Dustin Pearce.

10. Anthony Heimuli, Running Back, 5-11, 225, Orem, Utah, Mountain View HS Earned second-team All-State honors and was a Daily Herald Elite 11 selection in 2008 ... rushed for 1,234 yards and 12 touchdowns while averaging 8.9 yards per carry ... added 120 yards and one touchdown on eight receptions ... a powerful runner who ran for more than 200 yards in three games and totaled six outings over 100 yards in 2008 ... contributed 40 tackles and six sacks on defense ... led Mountain View as a junior with 781 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging nine yards per carry.

11. Cody Hoffman, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 200, Crescent City, Calif., Del Norte HS Receiver with excellent size ... caught 50 passes for more than 1,000 yards as a senior ... recorded seven 100-yard receiving games for Del Norte in 2008 ... named to the All-Humboldy-Del Norte Conference team three consecutive times ... caught nine passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-28 win over rival Fortuna in October 2008 ... contributed to the Warriors' league titles his sophomore and juniors years ... coached by Lewis Nova.

12. Thomas Bryson, Defensive End, 6-5, 230, Layton, Utah, Layton HS Earned first-team All-State honors as a tight end and defensive end in 2008 ... named Region 1 MVP ... helped Layton win 5A Region 1 with a 6-1 record while earning a No. 6 ranking (MaxPreps) among all state classifications with a 9-3 overall record ... made a team-high 36 receptions for Region-best 544 yards (15.1 yards per reception) and four touchdowns, including a long catch of 59 yards ... also carried the ball four times for 53 yards (13.3 yards per carry) ... recorded a Region-high 13.5 sacks in 2008 to rank No. 5 in the state ... totaling 33 tackles as a defensive end ... also lettered in basketball, wrestling and soccer ... also recruited by Idaho, Washington State and Stanford ... coached by Jim Batchelor.

13. Peni Maka'afi, Running Back, 5-10, 215, Layton, Utah, Northridge HS Played running back and linebacker at Northridge High School ... a strong runner and good blocker and pass catcher out of the backfield ... caught 45-yard touchdown pass vs. Davis in 2008 ... ran for 890 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior, averaging 8.6 yards per carry... also totaled more than 400 receiving yards as a junior ... recruited by Utah, Utah State, Oregon State, UCLA and Boise State ... coached by Erik Thompson.

14. Trevor Bateman, Defensive Back, 5-11, 185, Palm Desert, Calif., Palm Desert HS Helped Palm Desert to a 9-3 overall record in 2008 ... a savvy competitor with good athleticism and coveted foot-quickness at the corner position ... has a nose for the football and is dangerous in the open field after an interception with good speed, quickness and vision ... can jam and turn and run with faster receivers on vertical routes with good man technique ... runs 4.45 40, can bench 300 pounds and has 37-inch vertical ... also played running back and receiver ... recorded 25 catches for 320 yards and five touchdowns in 2007 ... racked up 70 tackles and four interceptions as a junior ... also recruited by Arizona and UNLV ... coached by Pat Blackburn.

15. Richard Wilson, Tight End, 6-3, 222, Spanish Fork, Utah, Spanish Fork HS First-team All-State tight end and Daily Herald Elite 11 selection in 2008 ... rated the No. 4 tight end prospect in the nation by ESPN.com ... runs good routes, has good hands and can catch the ball away from his frame ... had 43 catches for 845 yards and 11 touchdown receptions as a senior ... ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns ... recorded 30 tackles and three sacks ... had 46 catches for 700 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior ... named tight end MVP at BYU camp ... rated the No. 5 overall prospect in Utah by Rivals.com ... also lettered in basketball and track ... also recruited by Utah, Miami, Tennessee, UCLA and LSU.

16. Brett Thompson, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 210, El Dorado Hills, Calif., Oak Ridge HS Standout receiver hails from the same high school as BYU's all-time receiving leader Austin Collie ... dependable possession receiver who switched to running back during his senior season ... totaled 694 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 6.9 yards per carry in 2008 ... scored six touchdowns in one game ... recorded two runs of 70 or more yards ... made 26 receptions for 242 yards and three touchdowns, including a long gain of 66 yards ... as a junior, had 35 receptions for 570 yards and six touchdowns ... had 53 catches for 894 yards and 11 touchdowns to earn all-state honors as a sophomore ... also lettered in basketball and volleyball ... also recruited by California, Nebraska, Air Force, and UNLV.

17. Brian Logan, Defensive Back, 5-9, 195, Fremont, Calif., Foothill College Two-year starter for Foothill College ... an excellent cover corner who is extremely versatile ... can play the run by shedding blocks and deliver punishing hits ... also contributed as a kick returner with good open field instincts ... runs the 40 in 4.4 seconds and has a 36-inch vertical leap ... recorded 39 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception and six pass breakups in 2008 ... the only freshman and only corner back to earn all-conference defensive back honors in 2007 ... prepped at Washington High School in Fremont, Calif.

18. Kyle Van Noy, Linebacker, 6-4, 209, Reno, Nev., McQueen HS First-team All-State ... Rated the No. 11 weakside linebacker in the nation by scout.com and the No. 4 overall prospect from the state of Nevada by Rivals.com ... playing linebacker and receiver, helped lead his team to a perfect 14-0 record and 4A state title in 2008 ... caught 35 passes for 731 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushed the ball 10 times for 121 yards ... defensively, had 79 tackles (55 solos), 10 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 14 sacks and one interception for a score ... as a junior had 69 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, seven sacks, seven fumbles caused and two interceptions while totaling 805 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns on offense ... was an all-conference and all-area selection as a sophomore and was also an all-league performer in track (4x100, 4x200 and 4x400) ... also recruited by Arizona State, UCLA, Boise State, Cal and Colorado.

19. Adam Hine, Running Back, 6-1, 175, Santa Clara, Utah, Snow Canyon HS Earned first-team All-State honors in 2008 ... totaled 1314 yards on 224 carries in 2008, including a season-high 259 yards against Las Vegas HS ... recorded 13 rushing touchdowns ... as quarterback, passed for 486 yards, completing 49-of-120 attempts for two touchdowns ... rushed for 240 yards and four touchdowns against Hurricane as a junior ... also lettered in track ... named All-State honorable mention in 2007 ... also recruited by Stanford and Utah.

20. Lee Aguirre, Defensive Back, 5-9, 200, El Monte, Calif., Fullerton College Helped lead Fullerton College to a 10-2 record during the 2008 season, including a 6-0 conference record ... led the team with 10 interceptions on the season, including two versus the College of the Canyons ... recorded 36 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups and one blocked kick in 2008 ... named to the All-America first team defense by the California Community College Football Coaches Association ... earned Southern Conference Football Association defensive player of the week after helping win the Southern California championship ... intercepted seven passes and earned second team All-America honors in 2007 ... 17 total interceptions over his career at Fullerton set a new program record ... led the Eagles to the then Division VII semifinals and was named Mid Valley News Most Valuable Player as a quarterback at South El Monte HS in 2006.

21. Jray Galea'i, Defensive Back, 6-0, 185, Laie, Hawaii, Kahuku HS Versatile defensive back has experience playing both safety and corner back ... moved to corner as a senior and earned first-team All-State honors ... rated No. 4 overall prospect from state of Hawai'i by Rivals.com and the No. 23 safety in the nation by Scout.com ... a fierce hitter in the secondary ... received honorable mention all-state honors as a junior quarterback ... played his sophomore season at Timpview High School in Provo, Utah, as a member of the Thunderbirds' 2006 4A state championship team ... two-sport athlete also plays on the Kahuku basketball team ... also recruited by Hawai'i ... coached by Reggie Torres.

Utah recruits

1. James Aiono, Defensive End, 6-3, 273, Jr., West Valley City, Utah, Snow College Rated the No. 1 junior college recruit in the nation in 2008 by Rivals.com ... 2008 first-team All-American for Snow College ... Western States Football League 2008 Defensive MVP and first-team all-conference defensive lineman ... 2007 second-team All-American and first-team all-WSFL ... led Snow to the WSFL title both years ... initially signed out of high school with the Utes in 2007 ... first-team all-state and all-region as a senior at Murray High School (Utah) in 2006 ... won four letters in football ... rated the fourth-best prospect in the state by Scout.com coming out of high school ... son of Ta'aloga and Ali'itasi Aiono ... youngest of five children ... last name is pronounced eye-oh-no ... full name is James Pelenise Aiono ... born Jan. 23, 1989 in Anaheim, Calif.

2. Conroy Black, Defensive Back, 6-0, 176, Jr., Miramar, Fla., Fullerton CC Fullerton College team captain had 17 solo tackles, returned an interception for a touchdown and had three pass breakups in 2008 ... Fullerton was the Southern California Football Association (SCFA) champion ... Fullerton won the National Bowl and made it to the SoCal Championship semi-finals ... also all-conference in track ... ran the 100-meters in 10.3-seconds and was clocked at 21.1 seconds in the 200 meters ... prepped at Everglades High (Fla.), where he was second team all-state by the Sun-Sentinel and the Miami Herald ... 13 interceptions in three years, including five in both his sophomore and junior seasons ... Everglades was the 6A District II champ in 2005 ... also lettered in track ...son of Kenneth Black and Rosalind Maxwell ... mother and father were born in Jamaica, where his father currently resides ... three brothers and a sister ... born Oct. 31, 1988.

3. Beau Burton, Running Back, 5-9, 195, Fr., Scottsdale, Ariz., Saguaro HS Northeast Valley, East Valley Tribune, Fever and 24-7 Offensive Player of the Year ... two-time all-region and all-city running back ... Scout.com first-team all-state ... rushed for 2,417 yards as a senior ... 4,717 career rushing yards ... 53 career touchdowns ... averaged 9.66 yards per carry in his four years at Saguaro High (Ariz.) ... Saguaro won the 2006, '07 and '08 state and region championships ... son of Daniel Burton and Lisa Kern ... father played football at Arizona State ... full name is Beau Jordan Burton ... born Aug. 3, 1991.

4. Eric Dago, Defensive End, 6-2, 211, Fr., Houston, Texas, Westside HS All-district ... Houston area top 100 players ... Westside High (Texas) Defensive MVP ... team captain ... played in Space City Classic, Baya Classic and Honolulu all-star games ... 73 tackles, seven sacks and a fumble recovery as a senior in 2008 ... Westside was the district champ in 2007 and 2008 ... lettered three years in football and two years in basketball ... son of Cris Orzabal and Deadra Dago Orzabal ... both parents went to Texas A&M ... one sister and one brother ... enjoys hunting, fishing and reading ... last name is pronounced Day-go ... full name is Eric Georgio Ian Dago ... born Feb. 24, 1990.

5. Colby Goodwin, Tight End, 6-5, 202, Fr., Houston, Texas, CY-Fair HS Two-time first-team 5A all-district ... CY-Fair High (Texas) team captain ... lettered three years in football and two years in basketball ... son of John Goodwin and Deborah Diane Graves-Goodwin ... two sisters ... enjoys snowboarding ... born Jan. 16, 1991.

6. Latu Heimuli, Defensive Line, 6-3, 296, Fr., Salt Lake City, Highland HS All-state, all-region and region defensive MVP in 2008 ... 60 tackles, 12 TFL and eight sacks as a senior ... lettered three years in football and basketball at Highland High School (Utah) ... Highland was the Utah state runner-up in 2006 and Region 6 champion in 2006 and 2007 ... son of Tohi and Kaho Heimuli ... one brother and two sisters ... honor roll ... likes playing tennis ... name is pronounced La-too Hey-moo-lee ... full name is Okusitino Latu Heimuli ... born May 27, 1991.

7. Vyncent Jones, Offensive Line, 6-3, 291, Fr., Sandy, Utah, Jordan HS First-team all-state in 2006 and 2007 ... honorable mention all-state in 2005 ... first-team all-region three years ... voted by his Jordan High (Utah) teammates as the Gold Dot Man of the Year ... team captain ... academic all-region ... Honor Society member has a 3.95 GPA ... son of Wayne and Jodell Jones ... father played at Utah from 1978-81 ... father played for the Minnesota Vikings in 1987 and also played for the L.A. Express of the USFL ... mother is a pipefitter/plumber ... enjoys guitar--acoustic, bass and electric ... hopes to pursue a degree in astronomy and physics ... full name is Vyncent Wayne Jones ... born Sept. 18, 1990.

8. Jarrad Stewart, Wide Receiver, 5-9, 182, Fr., Houston, Texas, Pearland HS 2008 all-Texas second team and all-VYPE first team ... 2008 district and county defensive MVP ... 2008 Houston Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Year ... 2007 and 2008 first-team all-district ... 2006 district Newcomer of the Year ... 13 career interceptions ... lettered four times in football and twice in track at Pearland High (Texas) ... 2007 Principal's Award ... 2007 Pearland Geography Student of the Year ... son of Donald Jiles and Tiffany Milo ... three brothers ... full name is Jarrad Christopher Stewart ... born Dec. 7, 1990.

9. Jeremiah Tofaeono, Defensive Tackle, 6-3, 311, Fr., Las Vegas, Nev., Cheyenne HS First-team all-state and all-conference offensive and defensive lineman ... won three letters in football at Cheyenne High (Nevada) ... son of Ailao and Doris Tofaeono ... three brothers and three sisters ... brother Ailao Eliapo plays for San Jose State ... also related to Ute defensive tackle Kenape Eliapo ... other football-playing relatives include Matt Toeaina, a defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears since 2007, and Simi Toeaina (Oregon) ... last name is pronounced To-fy-o-no ... full name is Jeremiah Eneliko Tofaeono ... born Mar. 5, 1991 in East Palo Alto, Calif.

10. Siosaia Tuipulotu, Defensive Tackle, 6-1, 280, Fr., Euless, Texas, Trinity HS All-state ... Dallas Morning News and Star Telegram Super Defense ... district Player of the Year ... first-team all-district two years ... Trinity High (Texas) team captain ... 83 tackles, 10 TFL, 12 sacks and seven forced fumbles as a senior in 2008 ... 78 tackles, five TFL, seven sacks and three forced fumbles in 2007 ... Trinity was the 2007 conference champion .... Son of Lomanipau and Seini Tuipulotu ... one of 10 children (four brothers and five sisters) ... enjoys playing rugby and volleyball ... name is pronounced See-o-sigh-a Too-ee-poo-lo-too ... full name is Siosaia Lauti Tuipulotu ... born Aug. 3, 1990 in American Samoa.

11. Jason Whittingham, Linebacker, 6-2, 214, Fr., Provo, Utah, Timpview HS 2008 all-state and all-valley ... lettered two years in football and two years in baseball ... Timpview High (Utah) won three state championships (2006, '07, '08) ... honor roll all four years ... son of Cary and Lynita Whittingham ... father played for BYU and the L.A. Rams (1987) ... mother also attended BYU ... twin brother Trevor ... nephew of Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham ... enjoys water sports and snowboarding ... full name is Jason Romney Whittingham ... born Oct. 30, 1990.

12. Jamal Smith, Wide Receiver, 6-2, 181, Fr., Oxnard, Calif., Oxnard HS
Three-time all-league ... all-county and county wide receiver of the year ... Oxnard High (Calif.) team captain ... 29 receptions for 689 yards (23.8 average) and 13 touchdowns ... Oxnard was four-time league champion ... also lettered in track and basketball ... 6'4" high jumper qualified for state ... academic all-league ... son of Ross and Camisca Fontes ... enjoys singing and dancing ... full name is Jamal LeMonye Smith ... nickname is Mally ... born Mar. 29, 1991.

13. Victor Spikes, Defensive Back, 6-0, 200, Fr., Beaumont, Texas, Beaumont Central HS Two-time all-district ... lettered four years in football and track at Beaumont Central High (Texas) ... Beaumont High was the district champ in 2006-07 ... on 4 x 200m relay team that set the 4A record (1:24.89) ... transferred to Thurgood Marshall High School his senior year and was not allowed to participate in varsity sports ... honor roll ... son of Minnie Thibodeaux ... one of 10 children (five boys and five girls) ... born May 31, 1990.

14. Chris Washington, Defensive Back, 6-0, 183, Fr., Layton, Utah, Northridge HS Second-team all-state ... all-region and all-area ... preseason All-American ... No. 24-ranked safety by Scout.com ... B2G Elite Camp defensive MVP ... all-tournament at Las Vegas passing tournament ... son of Tony and Connie Washington ... both parents graduated from Weber Sate ... father manages a brain injury facility ... mother ran track at Weber State ... two brothers and one sister ... full name is Christopher Lee Washington ... nickname is Chris ... born Nov. 11, 1991.

15. Terrance Cain, Quarterback, 5-11, 186, Jr., Houston, Texas, Blinn CC Enrolled at Utah in January and will participate in spring ball ... NJCAA First-team All-American ... NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year ... Southwest JC Football Conference Player of the Year ... first-team all-conference and all-region ... led the NJCAA in passing yards (3,138), completions (223) and touchdowns (29) in 2008, while ranking second in completion percentage (68.4%) and total yards (3,306) ... in 2007, he set a national junior college record for completion percentage (71.1%) ... in his two-year JC career, he passed for 5,313 yards and 51 touchdowns, while completing over 70.8 % of his pass attempts (418-of-590) ... Blinn College team captain ... played in the 2008 Heart of Texas Bowl and the 2006 Pilgrims Pride Bowl (national JC championship) ... Blinn won the 2006 and 2008 conference title ... two-time all-district player for North Shore High School (Texas) ... North Shore was the district champion from 2003-05 and won the state title in 2003 ... son of Tracey, Sr., and Rosemarie Cain-Tennison ... one brother ... full name is Terrance Reshard Cain ... born July 14, 1988.

16. Maxwell Lacy, Defensive Back, 6-2, 193, So., Pasadena, Calif., Compton College Mid-year signee will enroll at Utah for the second session of the semester and will participate in spring ball ... played one year for Compton College ... cornerback had 35 tackles, three interceptions, 15 passes defended and three forced fumbles in 2008 ... prepped at Verbum Dei High (Calif.) ... 2005-06 all-C.I.F. first team as a wide receiver and cornerback ... 2004 honorable mention all-C.I.F. receiver ... four-year letterman ... Verbum Dei won the 2006 C.I.F. championship ... son of Darryl Lacy and Karen Rogers ... one brother and one sister ... cousin Carlyle Eavis is on the Stanford women's track team ... grew up with former Ute defensive back Sean Smith ... full name is Maxwell Jordan Lacy ... born July 20, 1989.

17. Ray Magee, Wide Receiver, 6-4, 226, Jr., San Diego, Calif., Fullerton CC
Mid-year signee will enroll at Utah for the second session of the semester and will participate in spring ball ... first-team all-conference for Fullerton College as a freshman in 2007 ... Fullerton was the 2008 Southern California Football Association (SCFA) champion, won the National Bowl and made it to the SoCal Championship semi-finals ... also first-team all-conference in basketball at Fullerton ... lettered three years in football and four years in basketball at Valencia High School (Calif.) ... league co-MVP in football as a senior and in basketball as a junior ... three-time first-team all-conference football player and four-time all-league basketball player ... C.I.F. Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-C.I.F. in 2006 ... 67 receptions for 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns his senior season (set school records for receptions and touchdowns) ... played in the 2006 Orange County All-Star game ... Valencia basketball MVP all four years and team captain as a junior ... set school single-game records for scoring (40 points) and rebounding (18) ... Valencia won Empire League championships in football in 2005 and 2006, and basketball in 2005 ... son of Latoya Baldwin ... three brothers ... last name is pronounced Ma-ghee ... full name is Ray Stephen Magee ... born April 12, 1988.

18. Antoine "Shaky" Smithson, Wide Receiver, 5-11, 215, Jr., Baltimore, Md., East Los Angeles CC
Mid-year signee will enroll at Utah for the second session of the semester and will participate in spring ball ... 2007 first-team all-conference receiver ... 2008 first-team all-conference all-purpose ... 2008 first-team all-region ... led East L.A. CC in rushing (83 carries, 348 yards, 4.2 average, 4 touchdowns), receiving (58 catches, 795 yards, 3 TDs, 79.5 yards per game), punt returns (5 for 61 yards, 12.2 average), scoring (44 points) and all-purpose yards in 2008 ... also completed three passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns his sophomore season and had 14 kickoff returns for 280 yards ... seven catches for 235 yards against Glendale ... against Santa Monica, passed for 162 yards and two touchdowns, rushed for 102 yards and one score and had 117 yards receiving ... lettered in football, basketball and baseball at Frederick Douglas High School (Md.) ... first-team all-city as a quarterback and receiver in 2004 and 2005 ... 2005 all-metro first team ... TD Club All-Star team ... two-time first-team all-city basketball player ... also made the all-city second team twice ... MVP of 2005 all-star game ... first-team all-city baseball player in 2004 ... played for the 2004 state champion basketball team ... son of Tony and Lori Smithson ... two brothers and four sisters ... featured in HBO documentary "Hard Times at Douglas High," playing point guard and team captain Shaky ... full name is Antoine Lee Smithson but prefers Shaky ... born Aug. 23, 1987.

19. Jordan Wynn, Quarterback, 6-1, 175, Fr., Oceanside, Calif., Oceanside HS
Graduated in December 2008 from Oceanside High School (Calif.) and enrolled at Utah in January ... will participate in spring ball ... two-time all-state, all-San Diego Section and all-Avocado League ... passed for 3,336 yards and 32 touchdowns with a 64% completion rate as a senior in 2008 ... had three 300-yard passing games as a senior ... threw for 356 yards and four touchdowns against Mira Mesa ... 2,559 passing yards and 21 TDs (63% completion rate) as a junior ... lettered two years ... honor roll all four years ... named a prep scholar ... lived with his father ... son of Robert Wynn and Simone Place ... two brothers and one sister ... born July 5, 1990.

20. Kamaron Yancy, Defensive Back, 5-9, 187, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., Pierce College
Enrolled at Utah in January and will participate in spring ball ... all-conference selection at Pierce Junior College in 2006 has not played football for the past two seasons ... redshirted at Pierce in 2007 ... initially signed with Cal in 2008 before returning to Pierce to complete his degree ... 45 tackles, 10 pass breakups, five interceptions and a fumble recovery in 2006--his first season of organized football in three years (he worked full time after finishing high school) ... all-league corner as a senior at Fairfax High School ... played in the 2002 Cali-Florida Bowl ... also lettered in basketball ... son of Billy Yancy and Robin Irving ... father played football at Fresno State, leading the Bulldogs in passing yards in 1978, and also played in the USFL and CFL ... two brothers and two sisters ... younger brother Kellen completed his football career at the University of Houston in 2007 ... full name is Charles Kamaron Yancy ... born Sept. 7, 1984.

21. Percy Taumoelau, Offensive Line, 6-4, 313, Fr., Glendale, Utah, Cottonwood HS
First-team all-state ... two-time first-team all-region ... lettered in football at Cottonwood (Utah) ... son of Ani Taumoelau and Line Palau ... three brothers and five sisters ... cousins David Roth (Michigan State) and Pete Rolf (Ball State) both play college football ... last name is pronounced Tao-moy-lau (rhymes with ow-moy-ow) ... full name is Percy Lopati Taumoelau ... born Oct. 30, 1990.

22. Siosaia Tuipulotu, Defensive Tackle, 6-1, 280, Fr., Euless, Texas, Trinity HS
All-state ... Dallas Morning News and Star Telegram Super Defense ... district Player of the Year ... first-team all-district two years ... Trinity High (Texas) team captain ... 83 tackles, 10 TFL, 12 sacks and seven forced fumbles as a senior in 2008 ... 78 tackles, five TFL, seven sacks and three forced fumbles in 2007 ... Trinity was the 2007 conference champion .... Son of Lomanipau and Seini Tuipulotu ... one of 10 children (four brothers and five sisters) ... enjoys playing rugby and volleyball ... name is pronounced See-o-sigh-a Too-ee-poo-lo-too ... full name is Siosaia Lauti Tuipulotu ... born Aug. 3, 1990 in American Samoa.

23. Kapua Sai, Offensive Line, 6-5, 319, Fr., Kahalu'u, Hawaii, St. Louis HS
Third-team all-state as a senior ... ranked as the No. 13 offensive guard by ESPN ... all-Poly Camp Most Valuable Offensive Lineman in 2006 and 2007 ... Nike 2007 underclass All-America first team ... lettered three years in football and two years in track and field ... led St. Louis High (Hawaii) to a 32-4 record, including 12-1 marks in both 2006 and 2007, when St. Louis played in the state finals ... son of Keanu and Kina Sai ...father received his PhD from Hawaii and is a professor at Kapiolani Community College ... mother is a senior manager at Hawaiian Airlines ... one brother (Kiha) ... name is pronounced Ka-poo-a Sigh ... full name is Klayton Kapuaa Keanu Ki'ilaweau Sai ... born Dec. 21, 1990.

24. LT Filiaga, Linebacker 6-0, 230, Fr., Provo, Utah, Bingham HS
First-team all-state as a senior in 2008 ... 2008 Region MVP ... first-team all-region in 2007 and 2008 ... 2008 Nike Most Valuable Linebacker ... 2008 all-Polynesian Most Valuable Linebacker ... 99 tackles, five sacks, six pass breakups, seven hurries and three forced fumbles his senior year ... 2007 Bingham High (Utah) MVP ... lettered three years in football ... made high honor roll ... son of Tui and Tiana Filiaga ... four brothers and one sister ... cousin Thor Salanoa is a Ute defensive end ... cousins Harvey Unga and Russell Tialavea play for BYU ... cousin Brandon Manumaleuna is an eight-year NFL tight end currently playing for San Diego ... uncle Frank Manumaleuna played three years for the Kansas City Chiefs ... last name is pronounced Filly-ahn-ga ... full name is Little Tui Raymond Filiaga ... born May 25, 1991.

Utah State recruits

1. Eric Berntson, Defensive Line, 6-6, 230, FR, Smithfield, Utah, Sky View HS
Was a three-year letterwinner at Sky View HS where his head coach was Craig Anhder... As a senior, he had 20 sacks as part of 94 tackles with four pass break-ups... Earned Region 5 MVP honors as well first-team all-state accolades... Helped the Bobcats to the state quarterfinals as a sophomore and senior, and the semifinals his junior season... Was also a three-year starter on the basketball team as well as track & field, finishing fourth at state in the 300 hurdles and running a leg on the fourth-place 4x400 relay team... Born Jan. 27, 1991 in Logan, Utah... Son of Bob and Nan Berntson... Has two brothers and two sisters... Will serve LDS Church Mission before enrolling at USU.

2. Rajric Coleman, Cornerback, 6-2, 185, JR, Litchfield Park, Ariz., Agua Fria HS/Glendale CC
Will have two years of eligibility for USU, joining the Aggies from Glendale Community College, where he played for head coach Mickey Bell... Recorded 26 tackles with one interception last season, helping Gauchos to 8-2 record... Had 53 tackles with two interceptions for his career... At Agua Fria HS, he played free safety, running back and wide receiver under head coach Kelly Epley... Posted 61 tackles with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries at free safety as a senior, earning first-team all-state as well as first-team all-region accolades... At running back he had 30 carries for 182 yards with three TD's, as well as 13 catches for 267 yard with five TD's... Also a three-year letterwinner in track & field and a one-year letterwinner in basketball... Earned all-region in 100 and 200 meter dashes, helping Owls to back-to-back state championships... Born July 13, 1989 in Phoenix, Ariz... Son of Michael and Dimitria Coleman... Has one brother and one sister... Will major in criminal justice with education minor... Chose USU because of the institution's education status, the tradition and the coaching staff.

3. Sean Enesi, Defensive Line, 6-0, 288, JR, Carson, Calif., Carson HS/El Camino JC
Will have two years of eligibility for the Aggies, coming to USU from El Camino Junior College where he played offensive lineman and was a back-up on defensive line for head coach John Featherstone... At El Camino, he was teammates with fellow USU signees Kamaloni Vainikolo and Reuben Willis... Will move to defensive tackle at USU... Helped El Camino post a 10-2 record, losing in the second round of the playoffs after winning the Mission Conference title for the second-consectutive season... Earned first-team all-Central Conference honors for the Southern California Football Association both seasons... Anchored a Warrior offensive line that paved the way for El Camino to amass 4,112 yards of total offense during the regular season, including 2,860 passing yards and 1,252 rushing yards, with 38 offensive TD's... At Carson High School, he was a three-year letterwinner, playing both center and guard... Earned all-state and all-area accolades, helping Colts to three-straight league championships... Born June 12, 1989... Son of Earle and Sarah Enesi... Has two sisters and one brother... His cousin, Kenape Eliapo, is a junior defensive tackle at Utah... Other cousin, Ailao Eliapo is an offensive lineman at San Jose State... Will major is sociology... Chose USU because of the program's up and coming status as well as the coaching staff.

4. John Hendershott, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 195, JR, Pleasant Hill, Calif., De La Salle HS/Diablo Valley CC
Will have two years of eligibility at USU, joining the Aggies from Diablo Valley Community College... Earned first-team JC All-American honors after tallying 1,150 yards on 65 receptions with 18 TD's... Diablo Valley's passing attack ranked No. 2 in the state of California... He also had two kickoff returns for scores... Collected first-team Northern California Conference honors both seasons... Earned Diable's Offensive MVP award... In 2007, he garnered all-conference accolades after snaring 38 receptions for 480 yards and six TD's... At De La Salle High School, he had 47 catches for 849 yards with four TD's receiving his senior season, as well as six rushes for 74 yards, helping the Spartans to a 13-1 overall record, finishing third in the state and a No. 19 national ranking... Also had 50 tackles with six interceptions at safety... Earned second-team all-conference honors and all-metro accolades... Born August 31, 1989 in San Francisco, Calif... Son of Gary and Karen Hendershott... Has one sister... Undecided on a major... Chose USU because of the coaching staff and because the program is on the rise.

5. Tyler Larsen, Offensive Line, 6-4, 273, FR, Salt Lake City, Utah, Jordan HS
A four-year letterwinner at Jordan HS, where he played for head coach Alex Jacobsen, playing both offensive and defensive line... Earned first-team all-state and second-team all-region honors... On defense, he tallied 27 tackles, including six sacks as well as six fumble recoveries with four going for TD's as a senior... Helped the Beetdiggers to the state playoffs all four seasons, finishing his career with 96 tackles, with 16 sacks, 12 fumble recoveries, including four TD's... Also lettered in basketball as a junior, helping JHS to playoffs... Born July 8, 1991 in Salt Lake City, Utah... Son of LeRoy and Barbara Larsen... Has three brothers and two sisters... His brother, Cody, is a freshman football player at Southern Utah... Plans to major in education with business or marketing minor... Chose USU because of campus and community environment along with coaching staff.

6. Jeff Manning, Quarterback, 6-5, 180, FR, Logan, Utah, Logan HS
A two-year starter at Logan HS, where he played for head coach Mike Favero... As a senior, he amassed 4,001 yards of total offense with 53 total TD's, finishing with 3,180 yards passing, the ninth-most in state history, throwing for 42 TD's, the third-most in state history... Also had 821 rushing yards for 12 TD's... Led the Grizzlies to the 3A state title as a junior in 2007... Was named Region 11 Offensive MVP... Also garnered Salt Lake Tribune 3A MVP, first-team 3A all-State by Deseret News, first-team all-valley awards and named the Joe Montana Utah High School Quarterback of the Year... Ended his high school career with 5,460 yards and 71 touchdowns, to go along with 1,311 yards rushing and 22 more scores... His 6,771 yards of total offense ranks third all-time in state history... Born Jan. 25, 1991... Son of Paul and Virginia Manning... Will serve LDS Church Mission before enrolling at USU.

7. Travis Parrish, Linebacker, 6-3, 195, FR, Bountiful, Utah, Bountiful HS
Played linebacker and wide receiver at Bountiful HS for head coach Larry Wall... Earned first-team all-state honors as well as the region defensive MVP award... Registered 68 tackles with six sacks, as well as five interceptions and two fumble recoveries his senior season... Helpled the Braves to an 8-3 record, falling in the first round of the 4A state playoffs... Also a three-year letterwinner in basketball, earning honorable mention all-state and all-region honors, helping BHS to the state title game last season... Born July 22, 1990... Son of Norm and Kaye Parrish... Has two brothers... His father, Norm Parrish, is head men's basketball coach at Salt Lake Community College... Undecided on a major at Utah State... Chose USU because both of his grandfathers played here and he has been an Aggie fan his whole life... Will serve LDS Church Mission before enrolling at USU.

8. Cameron Sanders, Wide Receiver, 6-0, 160, FR, Oklahoma City, Okla., Millwood HS
A three-year letterwinner at Millwood HS for head coach Tony Henry... Was named the all-city offensive player of the year as a senior, as well as the team MVP for both offense and defense, playing both wide receiver and cornerback, as well as some quarterback... Had 1,076 yards receiving with 16 TD's in addition to 202 yards rushing with four TD's... Defensively, he tallied 41 tackles with 13 pass break-ups and three interceptions... Helped Falcons to the state 3A championship his junior season... Also a three-year letterwinner in basketball, helping MHS to district title as a junior after the Falcons won the state championship his freshman and sophomore seasons... Also a four-year letterwinner in track & field, earned second-place in the 400m and running legs on state champion 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay teams... Helped Millwood to back-to-back state championships as a sophomore and junior... Born September 17, 1990 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma... Son of Chuck and Camille Sanders... Has three brothers... Plans on majoring in business at Utah State in hopes of running his own business some day... Chose USU because of the campus and community environment, the coaching staff, facilities, academic attention as well as the program moving in a postive direction.

9. Michael Smith, Running back, 5-9, 198, JR, Tucson, Ariz., Sunnyside HS/Eastern Arizona JC
Will have two seasons of eligibility for the Aggies, coming to USU from Eastern Arizona Junior College, where he played with fellow USU signee Jamiane Olson... Last season, he earned all-Western States Football League honors after posting 131 rushes for 1,002 yards (91.1 ypg) with 11 TD's, helping the Gila Monsters to an 8-3 record... Selected to play in the Mexico Bowl all-star game... Was second in the WSFL for rushing yards and TD's, while ranking third in ypg, carries and scoring... Also earned second-team all-Arizona Community College Athletic Conference accolades... In 2007, he had 820 yards on 99 rushes with eight TD's, ranking fifth in the WSFL in rushing yards and ninth in ypg with 74.5, helping EAJC to a 9-2 record... At Sunnyside High School, he notched 1,998 yards rushing on 274 carries with 25 TD's, helping the Blue Devils to a 7-5 record his senior season... Also had seven receptions for 59 yards... Also a four-year letterwinner in track & field... Born August 9, 1988 in Tucson, Ariz... Son of Xavier and Sheril Smith... Has seven siblings... His brother Xavier Smith, Jr., is a junior running back at University of Arizona... Plans on majoring in business or accounting at Utah State... Chose USU because of its academics and the football program.

10. D.J. Tialavea, OL/DL, 6-5, 260, FR, West Jordan, Utah, West Jordan HS
Last name is pronounced Tee-al-uh-vah-uh... Was a three-year letterwinner as defensive line, offensive line and tight end at West Jordan HS for head coach Mike Morgan... Garnered all-state 5A honors as a senior, as well as region 3 defensive line MVP as a junior... Also a three-time all-region selection... Was team captain as a junior and senior... Defensively, he tallied 48 tackles, including 18 for loss with six sacks, as well as one interception return for a TD and two forced fumbles... Offensively he had 35 catches for 458 yards with five TD's... Finished his career with 153 tackles, including 50 for loss with 20 sacks, five forced fumbles, two interceptions, one for a TD... Also ended with 65 receptions with 10 TD's... A three-year letterwinner in both basketball and baseball... Born July 27, 1991 in Salt Lake City, Utah... Son of Don and Tami Tialavea... Has two sisters... Has two cousins, Russel Tialavea and Jesse Taufi, who play football at BYU... Plans on majoring in business at Utah State.

11. Travis Van Leeuwen, Wide Receiver, 6-3, 190, FR, Provo, Utah, Timpview HS
Was a three-year starter at Timpview HS where he played for head coach Louis Wong, helping lead the Thunderbirds to three-straight 4A state titles... As a senior, he had 65 receptions for 1,111 yards and 14 touchdowns... He also had two rushing TDs... Earned first-team all-state honors by both the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune... Also named to the Daily Herald "Elite Eleven" team for Utah County... Named the MVP of the Nike Camp... In his three years as a starter, Timpview went 38-1, including a 36-game winning streak... Born Nov. 4, 1990... Son of Kent and Judy Van Leeuwen.

12. Reuben Willis, Linebacker, 5-11, 230, SO, Lakewood, Calif., Mayfair HS/El Camino JC
Will have three years of eligibility for USU, joining the Aggies from El Camino Junior College for head coach John Featherstone and where he was teammates with fellow USU signees Sean Enesi and Kamaloni Vainikolo... He was third on the team with 72 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss with seven sacks, ranking second on the squad in both, as well as two pass break-ups... He collected second-team all-Central Conference honors... At Mayfair High School, he was a four-year letterwinner... Led the Monsoons with 92 tackles his senior season, along with two fumble recoveries... Helped Mayfair to a 7-4 record... As a junior in 2006, Willis notched 66 tackles, earning second-team all-state underclass honors... A three-time all-state selection... Collected Suburban League defensive back of the year honors as well as defensive MVP accolades... Born February 3, 1990 in Long Beach, Calif... Son of Frank and Anela Willis... Has two sisters... Undecided on a major at Utah State... Chose USU because he want to help turn the football program around.

13. Christian Browne-Frazier, OL - 6-4 - 305 - SO - TR - Los Angeles, Calif. (Verbum Dei HS/Compton CC)
Will have three years of eligibility at USU... Was a one-year starter at offensive tackle at Compton CC, where he was selected to play in the National All-Star Junior College All-American game... Redshirted one season at Texas Southern University... A three-year letterwinner at Verbum Dei HS, earned first-team all-Mid-Valley Division honors, helping the Eagles to a CIF Mid-Valley championship... Selected to play in the East-West MSL Sports all-star game... A National Honor Society member as well as a recipient of the Franklin D. Watkins African-American Scholar-Athlete Award... Earned Academic All-American Athlete accolades from National Scholastic Journal of America... Served as "California State Youth Ambassador" for the Young Center for Academic and Cultural Enrichment... Born Jan. 29, 1989... Son of Monique Browne and Howard Ransom... Plans on majoring in communication studies... Chose USU because of the community, the coaching staff and the facilities.

14. Chris Friesen, OL - 6-5 - 245 - FR - HS - Mansfield, Texas (Mansfield Summit HS)
Last name is pronounced Freeze-n... A two-year letterman at offensive tackle... Started all 12 games, helping Jaguars to a 4-7 mark his senior season, earning all-district honors... Was named team MVP as well as the offensive line MVP... Mansfield Summit HS had a 10-2 overall record including an 8-0 district mark his junior year... Also lettered in track and field, competing in shot put, discus and the 400 meter dash... Born September 4, 1991 in Princeton, N.J... Son of Kevin and Theresa Friesen... Has two sisters... Plans on majoring in education or pre-med.

15. Tryn Mesarch, DL - 6-5 - 245 - FR - HS - Palm Desert, Calif. (Palm Desert HS)
Name is pronounced Trinn Mess-arch... A two-year letterwinner at Palm Desert HS, playing for head coach Pat Blackburn... Earned second-team all-Desert Valley League honors as well as all-Desert Sun Football Team accolades... Totaled 63 tackles, eight for loss and six sacks his senior season... Helped Aztecs to Eastern Division finals of the Southern Section with a 9-3 overall record... Also lettered in track & field... Born September 22, 1991 in Palm Desert, Calif... Son of Jim and Susan Mesarch... Has four sisters and three brothers... Plans on majoring in chemistry or business with a music minor... Chose USU because he wants to play a part in turning program around.

16. Kamaloni Vainikolo, DL - 6-2 - 280 - JR - TR - Kihei, Hawaii (Maui HS/El Camino JC)
Will have two years of eligibility for the Aggies, coming to USU from El Camino Junior College for head coach John Featherstone and where he was teammates with fellow USU signees Sean Enesi and Reuben Willis... He played in seven games for El Camino, who posted a 9-1 record... He had 10 solo tackles, 14 assisted tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, one pass breakup and two quarterback hurries... At Maui HS he was a three-year starter and letterwinner for head coach Curtis Lee... Led the team in sacks and tackles for loss all three seasons... Earned first-team all-conference honors as a senior, in addition to being the team MVP... Born June 12, 1988 in Wailukiu, Hawaii... Son of Atunais and Tevil Vainikolo... Has eight brothers and one sister... Chose USU because of community and campus environment, playing in the WAC and the coaching staff.

17. Kane Wilson, QB - 6-4 - 215 - FR - HS - Yorba Linda, Calif. (El Dorado HS)
A three-year letterwinner at quarterback... Threw for 1,698 yards with 17 TD's and five INT's his senior season... Had 750 rushing yards with 10 TD's... Finished career with 3,900 yards passing with 38 TD's, as well as rushing for 1,200 yards with 19 TD's... Set three school records for career passing, career TD's and career rushing yards for a QB... Earned Century League MVP honors both junior and senior seasons... Also the CIF Offensive Player of the Year as a junior... Guided El Dorado HS to a 6-6 record his senior season aftera a 13-1 mark as a junior, leading the Golden Hawks to one of their three Century League championships and two CIF titles during his time there... Born June 2, 1991 in Sacramento, Calif... Son of Dave and Lori Wilson... His father, Dave Wilson, played quarterback for the New Orleans Saints (1981-88)... Has one brother, Trace, who is a redshirt freshman defensive lineman at Louisiana-Lafayette... Undecided on a major at Utah State.

18. Ricky Aliifua, DL - 6-3 - 270 - FR - HS - San Leandro, Calif. (San Leandro HS) Last name is pronounced Ah-lee-ee-foo-uh... A two-year letterwinner at San Leandro HS, posted 50 tackles his senior season, including a team-best five sacks in addition to one fumble recovery... Also had had one reception at tight end... Earned all-Hayward Area league honors as well as all-Metro and all-East Bay accolades... Led the Pirates to the playoffs after a 7-4 record, going undefeated in league action... Also a two-year letterwinner in baseball and one year in basketball, playing pitcher, third base and outfield in baseball and forward in basketball... On the San Leandro HS honor roll... Born Dec. 2, 1991 in Harbor City, La... Son of Mila and Ituala Aliifua... Has three brothers and two sisters... His brother, Eric, is a sophomore offensive tackle at Southeast Missouri... Chose USU because of its academics... Undecided on a major but leaning toward engineering.

19. Jamaine Olson, CB - 6-0 - 190 - JR - TR - Beaverton, Ore. (Jesuit HS/Eastern Arizona JC)
Will have two years of eligibility for USU, joining the Aggies from Eastern Arizona Junior College, where he played will fellow USU signee Michael Smith... Earned second-team all-regiona and second-team all-Western States Football League accolades after snaring three interceptions... Helped the Gila Monsters to an 8-3 record... Part of defense that ranked third in WSFL in total defense and scoring defense... Earned junior college Academic All-American honors... Played one season at Montana, registering 32 tackles, including one for loss, as well as six pass break-ups with two forced fumbles, helping Grizzlies to I-AA playoffs... At Jesuit HS, earned first-team all-state and first-team all-district accolades, helping Crusaders to state championship his junior and senior seasons... Also a three-year letterwinner in track & field, earning first-team all-state honors in the 4x100 meter relay team, as well as all-state in the 200m dash, helping Jesuit HS to state title... A member of the JHS honor roll.. Born February 1, 1989... Son of Rayelle Olson... Plans on majoring in biology at USU.

20. Mika Nickel, Defensive line - 6-2 - 245 - FR - HS - Kamuela, Hawaii (Hawaii Preparatory Academy)
Played defensive end, offensive line and tight end at Hawaii Preparatory Academy for head coach Lawrence Stevens... Earned honorable mention all-state honors as a senior... Ranked 12th in the state in tackles with 28 tackles including one sack... Also had one reception as tight end... Received most improved player award as a junior... Also a four-year letterwinner in baseball and basketball... Helped Hawaii Prep Academy to state playoffs as a junior, the school's first appearance in 30 years... Batted .385 and garnered the team's most valuable infielder award after posting a perfect fielding percentage... Earned academic all-conference accolades... Born February 10, 1991 in Fullerton, Calif... Son of Karl and Carole Nickel... Has three sisters... Plans to major in business... Chose USU because of academics, coaching staff and facilities.

Other recruits with local interest

Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
John Martinez, USC
Isi Sofele, Cal
Keni Kaufusi, Cal
Alo Moli, Wyoming
Asi Hosea, Washington State
Xavier Su'a Filo, UCLA

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