OGDEN -- Weber State coach Ron McBride has always had a special interest in the offensive line.
Having played there at San Jose State and began his coaching career as an assistant over the offensive line, McBride often gravitates to the O-line during Wildcat practices. So this year's recruiting class must have been fun for the coach to assemble.
Six of the 19 players who signed with the Wildcats on Wednesday are offensive linemen.
"Our top priority was getting quality players along the offensive line," said McBride, who begins his sixth season at Weber State. "Last year we concentrated on getting good young players on defensive line and a couple of those players were major contributors last fall. This year we focused on the offensive line, so now we have a good balance among our sophomores and freshmen. We've established a solid foundation, now we are building upon it."
The 2010 signing class for the Wildcats includes 10 high school players from Utah, Utah which includes 2009 Standard-Examiner All-Area MVP Tanner Hinds, a running back from Davis High School.
"You can never sign enough running backs and we signed four really talented players this year," McBride said. "We lost Trevyn Smith, Bo Bolen and Justin White, so we needed to restock the shelf this season. We need at least two of those four to step in and play right away."
Utah prep players joining Hinds include Caden Andersen (WR/Rich), Helam Heimuli (DE/Bountiful), Josh Kealamakia (K-P/Syracuse), Alema Key (RB/Springville), Cash Knight (OL/ Park City), Alex Knowles (WR/Mountain Crest), James Taylor (LB/Bear River), Tyson Tia Tia (OL/Timpview) and Erik Walker (WR/Park City).
McBride and his staff continued with their recruiting success in Hawaii, signing four Island prep stars. They include Shaydon Kehano (WR/Castle), Kela Marciel (CB/'Iolani), Vetesin Sauni (DT/Kahuku), and Jiniki Timoteo (OL/Leilehua) all on the island of Oahu.
The 'Cats plucked two players from Nevada in running back David Knowles from Reno, and Xavian Johnson, a defensive cornerback from Las Vegas. Running back Haini Moimoi, from Mahtomedi High School in Maplewood, Minn., will join his cousin Key on the WSU roster. The Wildcats also added offensive lineman Shelton Robinson out of Highland High School in Pocatello, Idaho.
For the fourth straight year, the 'Cats will have a prep player from Oklahoma on the roster with the signing of Alex Land, an offensive lineman from Edmond.
The only junior college player to sign is Joel Turrubiates, a 6-foot-7, 340-pound offensive lineman out of Bakersfield (Calif.) JC.
"It wasn't a big class, but it is a quality class," said McBride. "Now that we are in our sixth year, we are the cycle of getting LDS missionaries back into our program, so that will help us out as well."
Several other local products will walk-on at Utah schools, like Bonneville's receiver/punter Sage Stireman at Weber State.
Stireman's Laker teammate, linebacker Connor Stephens, signed a letter of intent at Southern Utah University, one of seven Top of Utah athletes headed to Cedar City.
The other signees in coach Ed Lamb's recruiting class are Northridge offensive lineman Steve Clark, Davis defensive end Josh Kariya, Morgan offensive lineman Chase Davis, Woods Cross tight end/defensive end Mark Evans, and former Layton Christian receiver Justin Brown, who played last season at Mesa (Ariz.) Community College. Former Weber High linebacker Tyler Osborne will also suit up at SUU following a successful career at Snow College.
Former Snow receiver DeJay Lester, a former Layton Christian Academy standout, signed Wednesday at Wyoming. Davis High tight end Landon Horne signed with Snow College, with others likely to follow suit.
Utah State coach Gary Andersen was pleased with the recruiting class, including his own son, but felt the Aggies are m.
"I think what we have done is put ourselves in a position to be able to fight in-state," Andersen said. "I think we can compete in this state at a very high level and we have had some success in the state."
Weber State
High school signees
Caden Andersen WR 6-3, 195 Rich HS
Malone Fiso DT 6-0, 265 Laie, Ha.
Helam Heimuli DE 6-3, 230 Bountiful HS
Tanner Hinds RB 5-9, 200 Davis HS
Xavian Johnson CB 6-0, 175 Las Vegas, Nev.
Josh Kealamakia K/P 6-1, 195 Syracuse HS
Shaydon Kehano WR 5-11, 175 Kaneohe, Ha.
Alema Key RB 6-0, 210 Springville HS
Cash Knight OL 6-3, 275 Park City HS
Alex Knowles WR 5-8, 170 Mountain Crest HS
David Knowles RB 5-8, 190 Reno, Nev.
Alex Land OL 6-4, 295 Edmond, Okla.
Kela Marciel DB 5-10, 175 Kailua, Ha.
Shelton Robinson OL 6-3, 265 Pocatello, Idaho
Veteson Sauni DT 6-0, 280 Laie, Ha.
James Taylor LB 6-3, 185 Bear River HS
Tyson Tia Tia OL 6-2, 265 Timpview HS
Jiniki Timoteo OL 6-3, 300 Waipahu, Ha.
Erik Walker WR 5-10, 170 Park City HS
JC transfers
Joel Turrubiates OL 6-7, 340 Bakersfield (Calif.) JC
Utah State
High school signees
Travis Reynolds WR 6-0, 165 Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.
Keegan Andersen WR/S 6-2, 195 Juan Diego HS
Trevor Brown QB 6-5, 210 Timpview HS
Nick Diaz PK 5-9, 180 Redondo Beach, Calif.
Jason Fanaika DE/TE 6-4, 240 Pleasant Grove HS
Taani Fisilau OL 6-3, 315 Cottonwood HS
Chris Fox LB 6-4, 220 Scottsdale, Ariz.
Alex Hart QB 6-2, 185 Jordan HS
Parker Hausknecht LB 6-0, 205 Alta HS
Jeremy Higgins QB 6-1, 195 Hawaii Kai, Ha.
Joe Hill RB 5-11, 180 Fullerton, Calif.
Shaan Johnson WR 6-2, 180 Cerritos, Calif.
Elvis Kamana-Matagi DL 6-2, 275 Maui, Ha.
Nevin Lawson CB 5-11, 180 Lauderhill, Fla.
Jordunn Mattinson TE 6-5, 240 Spanish Fork HS
Tavaris McMillian LB 6-1, 205 Miami, Fla.
Nate Needham LB 6-3, 220 Pine View HS
Rashard Stewart CB 5-11, 170 Miami, Fla.
Brian Suite S 6-3, 185 Makiki, Ha.
Brandon Taukeiaho OL 6-4, 315 Bingham HS
Bryce Walker OL 6-8, 295 Pleasant Grove HS
JC transfers
Alfred Bowden DB 6-0, 185 Phoenix (Ariz.) CC
Evan Huahulu DT 6-2, 335 So. Methodist
Gavin Jones DB 6-3, 185 Snow CC
Jeremy LaPan OL 6-7, 310 Santa Ana (Calif.) CC
Xavier Martin WR/KR 5-10, 200 Grossmont (Calif.) JC
Brooks Abel OL 6-6, 310 College of Siskiyous
Dontel Watkins WR/KR 6-3, 200 Butler (Kan.) CC
Utah
High school signees
Dres Anderson WR 6-1, 157 Riverside, Calif.
Brian Blechen QB 6-2, 203 Moorpark, Calif.
Zach Bolton OL 6-2, 271 Houston, Texas
Princeton Collins RB 5-11, 198 Austin, Texas
V.J. Fehoko LB 6-0, 222 Honolulu, Ha.
Wykie Freeman DB 5-11, 158 Pasadena, Texas
Jacoby Hale LB 6-0, 192 Beaumont, Texas
Mike Honeycutt DB 5-10, 180 Lone Peak HS
Joe Kruger DE 6-7, 245 Pleasant Grove HS
Ofa Latu LB 6-1, 210 Timpview HS
Damian Payne DB 6-0, 200 Houston, Texas
Lucky Radley RB 5-9, 187 Woodland Hills, Calif.
Terrell Reese WR 6-0, 198 Chappell Hill, Texas
Kenneth Scott WR 6-3, 192 Fontana, Calif.
Tyler Shreve QB 6-3, 218 Highland, Calif.
Joseph Smith DB 5-9, 179 Corona, Calif.
Sefa Tanoai TE/DE 6-3, 275 Pleasant Grove HS
Westlee Tonga TE 6-4, 235 Spring, Texas
Sione Tupouata DL 6-4, 260 Oakland, Calif.
Michael Walker DB 5-9, 171 Brenham, Texas
JC transfers
James Aiono DL 6-4, 305 Snow College
John Cullen OL 6-5, 270 Fullerton (Calif.) CC
Star Lotulelei DL 6-4, 300 Snow College
Ron Tongaonevai OL 6-3, 345 Snow College
BYU
High school signees
Jordan Afo DL 6-4, 300 Cottonwood HS
Ross Apo WR 6-4, 190 Arlington, Texas
Jordan Black OL 6-7, 235 Alta HS
Algernon Brown RB 6-1, 205 Skyline HS
Tayo Fabuluje DL 6-6, 255 Arlington, Texas
Alani Fua DL/TE 6-5, 210 Westlake Village, Calif.
Kori Gaines DB 5-9, 170 Loganville, Ga.
Jacob Hannemann DB 6-1, 190 Lone Peak HS
Jake Heaps QB 6-2, 205 Issaquah, Wash.
Toloa'I Ho-Ching LB 6-0, 225 Alta HS
Jordan Johnson DB 5-10, 175 North Andover, Mass.
Tuni Kanuch OL 6-1, 285 Bingham HS
Bronson Kaufusi DL 6-6, 220 Timpview HS
Teu Kautai LB 6-1, 200 Arlington, Texas
Collin Keoshian LB 6-2, 225 Canyon Country, Calif.
AJ Moore RB 5-10, 190 Murrieta, Calif.
Manu Mulitalo OL 6-3, 305 Granger HS
Joey Owens LB 6-2, 215 Pleasant Grove HS
Drew Phillips RB 6-0, 175 Boaz, Ala.
Joshua Quezada RB 5-11, 210 La Habra, Calif.
Graham Rowley DL 6-4, 270 Waialua, Ha.
Bryan Sampson TE 6-4, 210 Pleasant Grove HS
Zac Stout LB 6-2, 220 Westlake Village, Calif.
Sae Tautu LB 6-3, 215 Lone Peak HS
Travis Tuiloma DL 6-3, 290 Topeka, Kan.
Blair Tushaus OL 6-2, 270 Scottsdale, Ariz.
Kyle Van Noy LB 6-4, 209 Reno, Nev.
Preious signees/mission returnees
Famika Anae OL 6-5, 260 Timpview HS
Tyler Beck LB 6-1, 210 Murrieta, Calif.
Austin Holt TE 6-6, 230 Bingham HS
Austen Jorgensen LB 6-3, 230 North Sanpete HS
Walter Kahaialii OL 6-3, 320 Lahaina, Ha.
James Lark QB 6-2, 219 Pine View HS
Devin Mahina TE/DE 6-6, 225 Upland, Calif.
Eathyn Manumaleuna DL 6-2, 280 Timpview HS
Marcus Mathews WR 6-4, 200 Beaverton, Ore.
Jason Munns QB 6-5, 244 Kennewick, Wash.
Jordan Smith WR 6-4, 190 Spanish Fork HS
Manaaki Vaitai OL 6-3, 300 Euless, Texas
Southern Utah
High school signees
Austin Anderson QB/LB 6-5, 205 Las Vegas, Nev.
Tyrone Blake S 5-11, 195 Las Vegas, Nev.
K.J. Boyer DL 6-2, 235 Pine View HS
Steve Clark OL 6-6, 285 Northridge HS
Andre Clay RB 5-9, 208 Las Vegas, Nev.
Chase Davis OL 6-4, 275 Morgan HS
Mark Evans TE/DE 6-4, 230 Woods Cross HS
Chad Hansen LB 6-3, 220 Murrieta, Calif.
Kouri Jones DE 6-4, 220 Converse, Texas
Josh Kariya DE 6-3, 235 Davis HS
Charles King ATH 6-2, 185 Fairbanks, Ak.
Trevor McFalls TE/DE 6-5, 225 Juan Diego HS
Nick Nissen DL 6-2, 275 Delta HS
Anthony Norris TE/WR 6-4, 215 Las Vegas, Nev.
Tannon Pederson QB 6-3, 180 Lone Peak HS
Zach Russell OL 6-5, 275 Trabucco Hills, Calif.
Mike Sharp QB 6-2, 190 Dixie HS
Connor Stephens LB 6-2, 180 Bonneville HS
Alex Topete OL 6-5, 305 South Gate, Calif.
Early signees/JC transfers
Brandon Beddes OL 6-5, 300 Snow College
Justin Brown WR 6-3, 205 Mesa (Ariz). CC
Tyler Osborne LB 6-2, 245 Snow College
Brad Sorensen QB 6-4, 224 Brigham Young
Devin Tavana OL 6-3, 330 Snow College
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