Tavaris McMillian, USU's LB recruit

I sent another inquiry to my recruiting guru associate at the Miami Herald asking about the latest high school player to commit to Utah State, linebacker Tavaris McMillian.

Here’s what he had to say:

“I thought he was another player who never received the publicity he deserved. Played in the Miami-Dade/Broward All-Star game and did quite well. A very quick, strong athlete who makes plays,” Miami Herald reporter Larry Blustein said. “Utah State has really been doing its homework on these kids.”

While some may view McMillian (note the spelling, I and others initially misspelled his last name) as a player USU had to settle for after deciding to pull out of the race for Hawaii stud V.J. Fehoko, there is some tremendous upside to the Miami player who will come to USU with a high school teammate and friend in Rashard Stewart.

At 6-foot-2, McMillian has the frame to be an impact player down the road. He’s got good closing speed from what is seen in his highlight video, and there are countless players overlooked and under-recruited in the talent-rich football factory that is Florida.

The addition of McMillian is an indication of USU coach Gary Andersen’s dedication to finding talent wherever it is — and it’s definitely in surplus in Florida.

Utah State will have six players from the Miami area after this signing class is finalized. McMillian and Stewart are joined by Nevin Lawson (DB, Piper HS in Sunrise) and Travis Reynolds (WR, Boyd Andersen HS in Lauderdale Lakes) in this year’s class. Reynolds is a mid-year enrollee who will count in the 2010 signing class. Last year Andersen signed Quinton Byrd (DB, Miami Miramar HS) and Mikhail Morgan (WR, Port Charlotte HS).