USU out of Fehoko race, lands Miami LB

With Utah State and Hawaii linebacker V.J. Fehoko deciding to go separate ways — a source at Utah State told the Deseret News Monday night that coach Gary Andersen told Fehoko that the Aggies needed an answer before it was too late to fill the spot with another targeted player — the Aggies have received a verbal commitment from Miami Jackson High linebacker Tavaris McMillan.

“They needed to make sure they got a good linebacker with this class with that offer,” the source said. “They felt like if V.J. wasn’t ready to commit it was time to move on.”

In a sense, Utah State decided to take a sure fire double instead of swinging for the fences in hopes for a home run.

Andersen, the source said, met with McMillan, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder, last week on a recruiting trip to the south where he first met with fellow Jackson High player Rashad Stewart.

Trying to draw comparisons, the source at USU said McMillan “reminds me of a young Stevenson Sylvester.”

Here’s a Youtube clip of McMillan in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEIDPG7BAII

The commitment, the source said, leaves the Aggies with one or two spots left to fill. But unless a ‘difference maker’ becomes unexpectedly available, those roster spots will likely be left for late-qualifying junior college players — most likely a tight end and then a defensive end.

Another twist to the ever dynamic world of recruiting was a late offer from Hawaii to USU commit Elvis Matagi, the source said.

“Hawaii came in late on him and made an offer,” the source said. “But we talked with him and he’s still with us. He’s strong with us.”