Utah State picks up four in-state prep commi..

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Utah State had a busy, busy day yesterday.

Four in-state players in the class of 2013 announced their commitment to the Aggies yesterday: East defensive back Zach Swenson, Logan defensive lineman Jacoby Wildman, Gunnison Valley linebacker Braden Harris, and Hunter linebacker Ian Togiai. The Tribune's Tony Jones first reported the commitments yesterday, and coaches have confirmed the decisions.

A little more about each:

Zach Swenson: The 6-foot-1 defensive back and receiver helped East reach the Class 4A finals last season. He recorded 27 tackles, an interception and had seven receptions for 88 yards.

Jacoby Wildman: The 6-foot-2 lineman was a stalwart for the Grizzlies on defense last season as Logan won a 4A title. He finished the season with 85 total tackles, 6.5 sacks and an interception.

Braden Harris: A 6-foot-3 linebacker for the Bulldogs, Harris was the silver lining in a less-than-stellar season for the team. He had 88 tackles and three sacks. He will be the first-ever Division I football scholarship player out of Gunnison Valley.

Ian Togiai: The 6-foot-2 linebacker was one of the reasons Hunter was able to come back from a dismal start and make the playoffs. He recorded 3.5 sacks last season.

Utah State still has many offers out to locals, and appears to be competing for some standouts once again.

Other items:

• BYU has received a commitment from defensive tackle Meti "Merrill" Taliauli from East High school, coach Brandon Matich confirmed. The 6-foot-1, 300-pound rising senior only had one offer, but interest from Utah and Boise State. As a junior, he recorded 27 tackles and two sacks. He should help BYU rebuild a defensive line after a handful of seniors graduate next year.

• In basketball, Orem 2014 forward Dalton Nixon has a new scholarship offer from Utah. The 6-foot-7 forward is only 15 but has some big game: He averaged 12.5 points per game for the 4A champs, and made The Tribune's first team all-state in basketball. He plays for Utah Pump-N-Run club team, but has been recovering from a wrist injury. BYU, Stanford and Creighton are apparent suitors, but have not yet made offers.

— Kyle Goon

kgoon@sltrib.com

Twitter: @kylegoon

Utah State picks up four in-state prep commits, more recruiting news