Following weeks of diligent work in the transfer portal, along with the months of recruiting the led to the early signing class, Utah State football as led by head coach Bronco Mendenhall, presented its 53-man 2026 signing class Wednesday morning to the public.
The Aggies have signed a total of 21 players out of high school — 16 added in the early signing period and an additional four by Wednesday’s national signing day (USU did have 17 signings initially, but running back Jackson Regan is no longer coming to Logan, seemingly by the choice of Utah State).
Utah State Football 2026 High School Signing Class
*Player was signed after the early signing period
^Player will serve a two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
| Name | Pos. | HT | WT | Hometown | High School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantz Chargualaf* | OL | 6’2″ | 290 | Ewa Beach, HI | James Campbell |
| Jesse King*^ | DL | 6’4″ | 240 | Orem, UT | Timpanogos |
| Ifo Pili Jr.*^ | DL | 6’5″ | 225 | West Valley, UT | Granger |
| Kaina Watson* | WR | 6’1″ | 175 | Las Vegas, NV | Bishop Gorman |
| Luke Baker | OL | 6-8 | 270 | North Logan, UT | Green Canyon |
| Tiki Bell | DL | 6-4 | 310 | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada | Episcopal (Va.) |
| Dontae Dyson | CB | 6-1 | 170 | Layton, UT | Northridge |
| Brody Flores | OLB | 6-3 | 210 | Aurora, CO | Grandview |
| Brady Goodman | QB | 6-4 | 215 | Mesa, AZ | Mountain View |
| Easton Hammond | OL | 6-3 | 275 | Millville, UT | Ridgeline |
| Matekitonga Havea^ | OL | 6-6 | 315 | Lehi, UT | Lehi |
| O’Shea Jackson-Webb | CB | 6-0 | 170 | Clovis, CA | Clovis East |
| Kaleb Maryland | QB | 6-0 | 195 | Houston, TX | North Shore |
| Cade McCall | WR | 6-0 | 180 | Katy, TX | Katy |
| John McClellan | LB | 6-2 | 215 | Rohnert Park, CA | Rancho Cotate |
| Preston McDaniel | TE | 6-4 | 225 | Idaho Falls, ID | Thunder Ridge |
| Lucas Neidig | OL | 6-7 | 270 | South Jordan, UT | Bingham |
| Jude Nelson | TE | 6-4 | 225 | Long Beach, CA | Millikan |
| Tripp Palmer^ | OLB | 6-4 | 200 | Blanding, UT | San Juan |
| Viliami Tapa’atoutai | LB | 6-3 | 200 | Woods Cross, UT | Woods Cross |
Additionally, Mendenhall has added 32 players out of the NCAA transfer portal. Of those players coming via the portal, 16 are from power conference schools, eight are from fellow Group of Six conferences with eight coming from FCS or Division II. For the first time in several years, the Aggies have not recruited any players from junior colleges.
Utah State Incoming Transfers 2026
Snaps played data will only be available for Division 1 transfers
| Name | Pos. | HT | WT | Years of Eligibility | Previous School | 2025 Snaps Played | 2025 Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kian Afrookhteh | K | 5’8″ | 195 | 1 | Coastal Carolina | 54 | 15/19 FGs (44 Long), 32/32 PAT |
| Antonio Bluiett | CB | 6’1″ | 200 | 1 | North Dakota | 520 | 29 Tackles, 2.0 TFL, 1.0 Sack, 3 INT, 6 PD |
| Grady Brosterhous | QB | 6’3″ | 220 | 1 | Virginia | 0 | N/A |
| Asher Cunningham | LB | 6’2″ | 235 | 2 | Elon | 739 | 84 Tackles, 7.5 TFL, 5.0 Sacks, 2 INT, 1 FF |
| BJ Diakite | OLB | 6’4″ | 250 | 1 | North Alabama | 128 | 5 Tackles |
| Markie Grant | CB | 5’11” | 180 | 3 | Wyoming | 316 | 27 Tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PD |
| Rex Haynes | WR | 6’4″ | 204 | 1 | Arizona | 13 | N/A |
| McCae Hillstead | QB | 5’10” | 195 | 2 | BYU (Utah State) | 27 | 4/5 completions, 33 yards |
| Jeremiah Holmes | OLB | 6’3″ | 240 | 2 | The Citadel | 577 | 36 Tackles, 4.5 TFL, 3.5 Sacks, 2 INT, 1 FR |
| Adonis Jackson | EDGE | 6’4″ | 250 | 2 | Mississippi Valley State | 403 | 37 Tackles, 6.5 TFL, 2.0 Sacks |
| James Jennette | OLB | 6’4″ | 230 | 1 | Virginia Tech | 61 | 9 Tackles, 1.0 TFL, 0.5 Sacks |
| LJ Johnson Jr. | WR | 5’11” | 180 | 3 | Texas State | 3 | N/A |
| David Kabongo | S | 5’10” | 190 | 3 | Oklahoma State | 121 | 12 Tackles, 1 FR |
| Chapman Lewis | S | 6’1″ | 185 | 2 | Texas Tech | 6 | N/A |
| Kasen Long | DT | 6’6″ | 270 | 3 | Texas Tech | 5 | 1 Tackle |
| Kadin Lynch | OL | 6’4″ | 300 | 2 | William & Mary | 778 | N/A |
| Ronnie Mageo | DT | 6’5″ | 295 | 1 | Baylor | 48 | 2 Tackles |
| Tyler Masdea | FB | 6’0″ | 290 | 1 | Shippensburg | N/A | 17 Tackles, 3.0 TFL, 1.5 Sack, 1 FF |
| Marcus McKenzie | CB | 5’11” | 185 | 2 | BYU | 8 | 1 Tackle |
| Jordan Pendleton | EDGE | 6’3″ | 240 | 1 | St. Thomas | 534 | 47 Tackles, 12.0 TFLs, 7.5 Sacks, 3 FF, 1 FR |
| John Randle Jr. | OL | 6’4″ | 290 | 3 | Purdue | 23 | N/A |
| Collin Remenowsky | FB | 6’1″ | 255 | 1 | Ashland | N/A | 11 rush, 43 yards 1 TD | 1 rec, 19 yards, 1 TD |
| Javon Robinson | WR | 5’8″ | 155 | 1 | Georgia State | 616 | 58 Rec, 595 yards, 4 TD |
| Steven Sannieniola | S | 6’2″ | 205 | 2 | Troy | 0 | N/A |
| Kye Stokes | S | 6’1″ | 194 | 1 | Cincinnati | 125 | 2 Tackles |
| Harrison Taggart | LB | 6’1″ | 235 | 1 | Cal | 220 | 38 Tackles, 2.0 TFL |
| Ta’Avili Tuitama | DT | 6’2″ | 305 | 1 | New Mexico State | 511 | 19 Tackles, 4.0 TFL, 2.0 Sacks |
| Sesi Vailahi | RB | 5’9 | 206 | 2 | Oklahoma State | 124 | 42 rush, 152 yards, 2 TD | 8 Rec, 54 Yards |
| Matthew “Chewy” Wade | OL | 6’5″ | 305 | 3 | Oklahoma State | 4 | N/A |
| Seth Wilfred | OL | 6’5″ | 339 | 1 | Auburn | 0 | N/A |
| Eli Wood | WR | 6’1″ | 209 | 1 | Virginia | 251 | 16 rec, 205 yards, 2 TD |
| Quincy Wright | DT | 6’2″ | 315 | 1 | Arkansas State | 8 | N/A |
The lack of junior college recruits was a deliberate move by Mendenhall based on their assessment of how likely a player is to pan out in their system.
“Just in assessing junior college players, in my last two years between New Mexico and Utah State, and then weighing them against what I thought we were getting — either through FCS, other levels of Division 1, 2 football — yeah, I made a clear choice this year where I thought the predictive model was higher for players coming into our program — not only performance, but fit — from four-year schools, rather than two-year schools,” Mendenhall said. “And so that was an intentional choice. That doesn’t mean you won’t see us take a junior college player. But when possible, we’re emphasizing the other first.”
Video of today’s signing day press conference with Utah State Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall and Director of Player Personnel Evan Butts.Mendenhall had a lot to say at the start (roughly 8.5 minutes) about the calendar, the ins and outs of managing contacting players, arraigning… pic.twitter.com/DlgxdJzg4O
— Jason Walker (@jwalker_sports) February 4, 2026
Here’s a look at a few more themes from Utah State’s 2026 national signing day and press conference.
The new tight ends/fullbacks, AKA “Rhinos” and a physical run game
Utah State is going in a new direction with its tight end position now that longtime impact players like Broc Lane and Josh Sterzer have graduated and left a bit of a hole. The Aggies are expecting to return a couple of players from last year’s TE group, Kache Kaio and Chase Tuatagaloa (sophomore Kyle Lively is leaving to go on an LDS mission). There are also two incoming freshmen tight ends, Preston McDaniel and Jude Nelson.
While there’s nothing wrong with the potential for any of those players at tight end, they do all lack in experience, with Kaio being the only player to receive any snaps in 2025 (and it was just 129). The Aggies had to fill some big shoes and were looking for experience. But they didn’t find it in the form of your prototypical 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end. Instead, Mendenhall went out and got some big bodies to play a position USU is calling the “rhino.” Front and center in that new position group is the 6-foot-1, 255-pound Collin Remenowsky and Tyler Masdea, a 6-foot, 290-pound converted defensive tackle.
“There’s different ways that we use that position,” Mendenhall said. “We love inline tight ends, traditional tight ends. We love flex tight end body types, but we also like fullback-ish tight end-ish.”
The role of this hybrid position is pretty well summed up by the “rhino” name Mendenhall and Anae came up with for it.
“We didn’t know really what to call a half fullback, half tight end,” Mendenhall said. “I don’t remember the full story. We might have been watching the Discovery Channel or something, and we said, ‘Oh, that’s what we want. We want those guys. And they kind of knock people out of the way.'”
With the new position group comes an expected physical style in the run game. That would be welcome after the Aggies ranked 91st in the nation in short-yardage situations according to CFB Graphs. And it’s not just these rhinos that will contribute to that. Utah State also added a 205-pound running back, Sesi Vailahi, a 220-pound quarterback in Grady Brosterhous who specialized in short-yardage rushes at Virginia, and several new bodies on the offensive line.
“That is an emphasis, for sure,” USU’s Director of Player Personnel Evan Butts said. [We] wanna be more physical. Especially with the rhino position, running the football. But even the offensive line, too. Tight ends, receivers that can block. That was a huge emphasis, offensively, is to bring in guys with that mindset that align with us in terms of physicality, and, yeah, wanting to block, craving that, and moving the ball on the ground.”
Quarterback Battle
This is a topic I’ve gone over in much greater detail (like, 4,600 words greater detail) in a different long-form piece. Give it a read for the longer story. The short story is that Utah State has four players that will be doing battle for the right to be the starting quarterback in 2026 — McCae Hillstead, Grady Brosterhous, Kaleb Maryland and Brady Goodman.
What about Anthony Garcia? The current wide receiver is, after all, a converted quarterback who could theoretically step back into his old position. But that doesn’t appear to be in the cards.
“I don’t see Anthony Garcia affecting the quarterback battle,” Mendenhall said. “I see him becoming more skilled and being trained year-round as his predominant position being wide receiver.”
With the guys that will compete, new offensive coordinator Robert Anae is apparently “giddy” over the talent he has to work with.
“Put it this way, our offensive coordinator, he’s almost giddy, and that’s not characteristic for Robert,” Mendenhall said. “I heard him over talking to a colleague, and he says, ‘You can’t believe the quarterback situation I walked into.’ And he’s talking, he’s smiling and talking in a really positive way. So we really like where we are quarterback-wise right now.”
Working on the offensive line
The capability, or perhaps lack thereof, for Utah State’s offensive line was an ongoing topic and theme for the team all last year. The group ended the year ranking among the worst in pressure rate allowed, their quarterback receiving praise largely based on his ability to tank the constant hits, and the run game ranks didn’t exactly scream elite O-line either. All of these things made upgrading that unit a top priority.
Utah State retained its entire starting interior O-line, guards George Maile and Tavo Motu’apuaka along with center Jimmy Liston. The trio played _ combined snaps, accounting for _% of snaps on the interior O-line. Butts said “we feel really good about the interior part of our O-line, with the guys coming back and growing and getting better this upcoming year.”
The tackle group was in a different position heading into the portal window. Regardless of how the tackles performed in 2025, all of the top three tackles last year — Jr Sia, Trey Anderson and Jake Eichorn — left in the offseason either via graduation or the transfer portal. So the staff went out and signed four offensive linemen in the portal — Kadin Lynch (6-4, 300 lbs), John Randle Jr. (6-4, 290 lbs), Chewy Wade (6-5, 305 lbs) and Seth Wilfred (6-5, 315 lbs). According to Butts, each player will likely get a shot at playing tackle.
“I see all four of those guys getting a shot, getting a crack at the tackle spots, for sure.” Butts said. “A guy like Caden Lynch, who’s got over 2,000 snaps, career at William & Mary; he primarily played guard but I wouldn’t be surprised if we give him a shot at tackle as well. The best five are going to play.”
Lots of new help at EDGE/OLB
Last year the Aggies ranked a pretty solid 49th in the nation in sacks, but that didn’t tell the whole story. Utah State could get sacks, but lacked the ability to get consistent pressure and other numbers provide a better picture, such as USU ranking 129th in pressure rate. The coaching staff really took this need to heart and brought in five edge rushers, or 3-4 style outside linebackers as they are listed on the Aggies’ roster. Those being BJ Diakite, Jeremiah Holmes, Adonis Jackson, James Jennette and Jordan Pendleton. That quintet brings various levels of experience, but all bring size as nearly every one stands north of 6-foot-3 and weighs at least 240 pounds.
As Butts put it “football’s a physical, violent sport” and that meant getting players with size that can get the job done at the line of scrimmage.
“Getting just bigger, stronger at this point. Athletic body types that can create pressure, get after the quarterback, maybe drop in space a little bit, too. That was really important for us,” Butts said.
