Deseret News | Utah St. football: Aggies grab another in-state recruit

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Utah St. football: Aggies grab another in-state recruit

In State Kids | 10:47 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

USU has always tried to get the out of state kids and it has not worked out too well. I like the new approach. I hope it pays off. I think it will. Utah High School produce alot of good kids. I do think that USU will still need to get some speed from outside Utah. But I am betting USU will be in the top half of the WAC by 2011.

Colt Fan | 11:05 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Congrats Taani! You've done a great job opening up holes for Nadan, and providing protection for Crosby. Go get them this week against Alta! We will need to play a good game, but we've got it in us!

smart approach.. | 11:15 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Focus on in-state kids and polynesians.. plenty of quality players to go around.

Always thought that was the approach Utah St should take. I think Anderson gets it (the last few coaches seem like total morons).

I hope the new strategy works.

Comments continue below

and until then | 11:23 a.m. Nov. 4, 2009

We wait

Congrats! | 12:17 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Well done Taani Fisilau. Utah State is heading in the right direction and you picked the right school. What an exciting time to watch USU turn it's program around.

Digger fan, now Aggie fan!

Mrs. Thomas | 12:33 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Congrats Taani! I grew up in Logan and it's amazing. Its a true college town and comes with a community who support and love those AGGIES. Best wishes!

Aggie Grad | 2:16 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Well done, recruit some more from local schools, instead of importing the dregs from California, and bailing them out on weekends, to play.
I always decline the fundraisers, citing the corrupt, broken football program at USU. Maybe that will change now...

@Aggie Grad | 3:18 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

@Aggie Grad: You can go ahead and claim a broken football program, but you'll have to provide some evidence of "corruption". Ineptitude, yes. Corruption, no.

Tyler | 4:38 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Way to go Tanni. I coached Tanni for 3 years in little league. He was by far the hardest worker on the team and is willing to do whatever it takes to get on the field. I'm really proud of him being able to land a D-1 scholarship.

Tanni's former teamate's from little league like Ricky Heimuli and Sosaia Takai at Brighton, and Trevor Brown at Timpview were all a hard-working bunch and fun kids to coach.

Tanni knows I'm a BYU fan, but with what Anderson is doing up at Utah State, I'll always be rooting for them unless they play BYU.

Obviously Undereducated | 4:56 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Yes, Aggie Grad (assuming you really are one and not some yBu interloper), spill. You make a claim of corruption, you better be ready to back it up. "Mule Muffins!" and Colonel Sherman T. Potter used to say.

Cow Cow | 5:43 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Thats my boy Tanni, good luck

Good luck | 11:09 p.m. Nov. 4, 2009

Malie masi'i do us proud

Aggie Watcher | 9:00 a.m. Nov. 5, 2009

Great to see some lineman committing to the Aggies. Keep it up coach A and staff. Go get a win at Hawaii this weekend.

Commitments | 9:41 a.m. Nov. 5, 2009

I hate to rain on the parade buy I'm skeptical that these recruits will actually turn USU around. What I see is a bunch of lightly recruited kids whose only chance at playing with FBS program is USU. It doesn't matter where USU gets their talent because USU will always be last on everybody's list. Just like USU is the last on the list in FBS rankings.

TonganUte | 9:48 a.m. Nov. 5, 2009

Coach A always recruited Poly kids even while he was at SUU and Utah.....Thats what he likes down in the trenches, big bodies that are very agile....Good pick up Coach A....

re: commitments | 11:13 a.m. Nov. 5, 2009

I certainly wouldn't say "lightly recruited kids", most have several offers, and are expecting more come the end of the season. Anderson has to start somewhere, and why not with instate kids? And why aren't you more supportive of that? Sad.

Speed | 1:41 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

USU better keep recruiting California because there does not exist enough speed in state to build a great program. Model your recruiting much like Boise State and you will be successful. True there is better High School players in Utah vs Idaho but there is also BYU and the U to compete with. With that all said Utah has great O-Line Players, Interior D Lineman, Middle Backers, Safety's,TE's and QB's. But for the most part head out of state for RB, WR, DB and OLB

Re: Speed | 2:59 p.m. Nov. 5, 2009

You may be right and that appears to be what USU is doing. Here are the home states and positions for our current commits:

Ut OL
Ut OL
Ut DE/TE
Ut TE
Ut QB
Ut WR/S/LS
Ut CB/S (JC)
Ut ILB
Ut ILB
HI QB
FL CB

plyxply | 1:15 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

the best lineman in Region 4 was #50 from Jordan. He handled Heimuli in the play-in game and should be playing somewhere in the state. 64 from PG got worked by him as well, and I've heard this kid from Jordan may end up in Laramie. USU needs to get this kid, he's the real deal.

re: plyxply | 3:52 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

USU just simply won't get any kids who are the real deal. With all resect tThe "real deals" have their targets elsewhere.

utahutesfanatic | 4:28 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

The detractors from USU that say they will never get goods players at USU are wrong. Good coaches build good programs with bad players that they inherited and that is what Gary Anderson is doing. His team has been competitive in almost every game this year and next year they will finish around 6-6 even with less talent. The more wins he gets every year the better players he will be able to recruit. This will be an 8-4 team in four years with better speed, strength, and mentality. Some of you are so bitter it is insane; if you have nothing nice to say then say nothing at all.

GeoAg | 5:37 p.m. Nov. 6, 2009

This will be an 8-4 team next year. Book it!

utahutesfanatic | 9:58 p.m. Nov. 8, 2009

I hope so!

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