OFFENSIVE GUARD

Returning players: Wyatt Bowles, K’leyone Iosua, Cole Keele, Aloali’i Maui, Elia Migao, Sione (Tavo) Motu’apuaka

2023 players not returning: Wade Meacham (graduation), Jackson Owens (medical retirement)

2024 post-spring ball attrition: Sione Nomani (transferred to San Jose State)

2023 total production lost: 21 games 5 starts 389 snaps 13.0 knockdowns

2023 total production returning: 31 games, 22 starts 1,711 snaps 82.0 knockdowns

2023 total production transferring in (transfer portal/junior college: 23 games 11 starts

New Faces in 2024:

George Maile 6’3″ 305 (247 4*) – Baylor University – (3 years to play 3)
2023 (RsFr.) Stats: 11 games played
2022 (Fr.) Stats: Redshirted at Baylor University
Offers from: Arizona State, byu, California, Hawaii, San Diego St, Texas St, Texas Tech, Washington St
Original offers from: Baylor, boise st, byu, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Oregon St, TCU, Tennessee, UCLA, USC, utah, Utah State
Primary Recruiter: DJ Tialavea, Cooper Bassett
https://247sports.com/player/george-maile-46080814/
https://www.hudl.com/profile/4617385/George-Maile

Jared Pele 6’5″ 312 (247 2*) – Navarro JC, TX – (2 years to play 2)
2023 (So.) Stats: Started all 11 games on the offensive line
2022 (Fr.) Stats: Sat out the season while redshirting
2021 (RsFr.) Stats: 4 tackles 1.5 tackles-for-loss in 3 games at New Mexico Military Institute
Offers from: Bethune-Cookman, Coastal Carolina, Hawaii, Houston Christian, North Alabama, Old Dominion, Sam Houston St, Texas A&M-Commerce, Texas St
Primary Recruiter: Cooper Bassett
https://247sports.com/Player/jared-pele-46146019/
https://www.hudl.com/profile/15595054/Jared-Pele

2024 OUTLOOK

LEFT GUARD

WYATT BOWLES
After missing parts of several seasons due to disappointing injury, graduate senior Wyatt Bowles is set to make a run at the starting gig in 2024. Bowles finally began to make good on the potential that led the Aggies to covet his services coming out of high school. Last season he saw action in 11 games with 7 starts, playing 598 snaps and recording 22.0 knockdown blocks. During his 6-year career at Utah State, he has played in 39 games with 7 starts, totaling 1,556 snaps and recording 71.5 knockdown blocks.

According to 247sports coming out of Syracuse High School (UT), Bowles was rated as the 3,138th-best player nationally, the 272nd-best offensive tackle, and the 42nd-best player in Utah. He chose the Aggies over offers from Idaho State, Nevada, and a late push from Oregon State.

Bowles has shown a lot of upside during his development. However, he needs to stay healthy to get on the field and show what he can do and last season was a step in the right direction. He has a passion for the game and it translates to the field. He has good footwork and uses that to his advantage to keep opposing defenders from getting the edge on him. He is athletic and has a high football IQ and that gives him the flexibility and the understanding of the playbook to play anywhere from tackle to center.

GEORGE MAILE
George Maile is a transfer from Baylor University who will enter the 2024 season as a sophomore with three seasons of eligibility remaining. During his first season of action, Maile saw action in 12 games for the Bears in 2023 primarily on special teams. His brother Bo is a defensive tackle for the Aggies.

According to 247sports coming out of Bingham High School (UT), Maile was rated as the 391st-best player nationally, the 16th-best interior offensive lineman, and the 8th-best player in Utah. He originally held offers from Baylor, boise state, byu, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Oregon, Oregon State, TCU, Tennessee, UCLA, USC, utah, and Utah State. Once he entered the transfer portal, he chose the Aggies over offers from Arizona State, byu, California, Hawaii, San Diego State, Texas State, Texas Tech, and Washington State.

Maile is a very physical pass-blocker. He uses his strength to push opposing defenders around with ease. He plays with an aggression and tenacity that coaches love to see in a player. His broad-shouldered build helps with his solid blocking technique, staying low as he explodes out of his stance and engages at the line of scrimmage. He keeps his legs churning forward and finishes through the whistle. He has very active hands and moves well laterally to keep rushers in front of him. Most offensive linemen excel in one facet or the other as an offensive lineman, he is equally skilled in run-blocking and pass-protection. I see Maile competing for a starting spot immediately and he could develop into an NFL prospect.

JARED PELE
Junior college transfer Jared Pele will join the Aggies in June and work to get into the rotation. Pele will enter the 2024 season as a junior with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Last season Pele started all 11 games and earned first-team all-Southwest Conference honors in the process. During his two-year career for the Bulldogs and New Mexico Military Institute (NM), he has played in 14 games with 11 starts and recorded 4 tackles and 1 tackles-for-loss as a defensive lineman for the Broncos.

According to 247sports coming out of Navarro Junior College (TX), Pele was rated as the 109th-best junior college player nationally, the 9th-best junior college interior offensive lineman, and the 14th-best junior college player in Texas. He chose the Aggies over offers from Bethune-Cookman, Coastal Carolina, Hawaii, Houston Christian, North Alabama, Old Dominion, Sam Houston State, Texas A&M-Commerce, and Texas State.

Pele is going to earn his money in the run game. He uses his lower body to engage into his blocks and drive back opposing defensive linemen to open up gaping holes. He displays a lot of strength that often proves to be too great for opposing defensive linemen. He has the agility and footwork to match defenders step for step and does a good job staying in front on them after the snap. He has the ability to play guard and tackle but I think Pele will fit best at guard for the Aggies.

COLE KEELE
Adding depth to the position is preferred walk-on redshirt freshman Cole Keele. As a senior at Morgan High (UT) in 2022, he started all 13 games on the offensive line earning a first-team all-state selection. He started in all 50 games during his four-year high school career for the Trojans.

Keele chose the Aggies over an offer from Black Hills State, and preferred walk-on offers from New Mexico State, utah, and Weber State.

Keele has earned a reputation as a tough, nasty player, who loves to get physical in the trenches. He is a strong player, who can get his hands inside on an opposing defensive player and drive him wherever he wants to take him. He has a solid lower body and that allows him to keep a strong anchor in pass protection. He is mobile and has good enough footwork that trap blocking will always be an option when he is in the game. He plays through the whistle and isn’t afraid to put opposing players on their backs.

RIGHT GUARD

TAVO MOTU’APUAKA
Sophomore Sione “Tavo” Motu’apuaka would like to stay healthy this upcoming season so that he can continue on his breakout path. Last season was his first season of competition and he struggled through an injury to play in and start just 7 games while logging 397 snaps and 12.0 knockdown blocks. Tavo is the brother of former Aggie defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka.

According to 247sports coming out of Mililani High School (HI), Motu’apuaka was rated as the 1,231st-best player nationally, the 120th-best offensive tackle, and the 6th-best player in Hawaii. He chose the Aggies over offers from Hawaii, San Diego State, UNLV, utah, and Washington State. He was originally committed to the university of utah but as the early signing period neared he chose to flip his commitment to the Aggies.

Motu’apuaka is a very physical player who delivers menacing hits on opposing defenders who attempt to get by him. He explodes out of his stance once the ball is snapped and immediately gets into position to execute his assignment. He does a good job maintaining a low center of gravity. He is a good athlete and very mobile for a player of his size. He is versatile enough to play at multiple spots along the line.

ALOALI’I MAUI
Junior Aloali’i Maui will be battling for reps not only at both guard spots but at center as well. Last season he saw action in 12 games with 8 starts, playing 714 snaps and recording 48.0 knockdown blocks. During his 2-year career at Utah State and for the Broncos he has played in 24 games with 20 starts.

Following his true freshman season at the New Mexico Military Institute (NM), the Aggies were the first school to offer Maui and he quickly accepted the opportunity.

Maui has plenty of strength and he uses that to stand opposing pass rushers straight up and keep them there. He does have the nastiness to finish his blocks with a vicious pancake block. He is also clever enough to use an opposing defender’s weight against him and push him sideways or straight into the ground. He has a high football IQ which easily allowed him to transition to center last season. He can play both right and left guard as well as center.

ELIA MIGAO
Competing to move up the depth chart is junior Elia Migao. Last season he saw action in 2 games playing in just 2 snaps. During his 2-year career at Utah State Migao has seen action in 14 games. His twin brother Enoka is a defensive lineman for the Aggies.

According to 247sports coming out of Chaparral High School (CA), Migao was rated as the 818th-best player nationally, the 53rd-best interior offensive lineman, and the 70th-best player in California. He held offers from Arizona, Arizona State, byu, Colorado, Michigan State, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, Sacramento State, and Washington State.

Migao is deceptively nimble and he moves well on pulls and on screens where most kids his size trip over their own feet. He has above-average athleticism and an extremely strong lower body. His footwork is beyond what most kids his age possess. He can maintain a consistent pad level at the line of scrimmage. He is good at keeping his hands inside and once he is engaged with a defender his typically dominant and finishes his blocking assignment. He has the chance to play sooner rather than later leaning on his strength and ability to finish.

K’LEYONE IOSUA
Adding depth to the position is redshirt freshman preferred walk-on K’Leyone Iosua. As a senior at Skyridge High (UT) in 2021, he was a starter on the offensive line in all 13 games. Between Skyridge and Crescent Valley High (OR), he saw action in 45 games and was a starter in 32 of them.

Iosua chose the Aggies over offers from Black Hills State, Eastern New Mexico, Fort Hays State, and Highland Community College (KS).
Iosua does a good job of playing assignment football. He identifies the opposing player that is his mark and engages immediately. He keeps a solid base while fighting to get into the backfield. He uses his leverage well to stand up an opposing offensive player. He uses his size well in the run game and is very aggressive on the field.

PROJECTED 2024 PRESEASON DEPTH CHART

LEFT GUARD
60 Wyatt Bowles (6-5, 305, Gr-Sr., 3L, 3*)
72 George Maile (6-3, 305, So., TR, 4*)
00 Jared Pele (6-3, 310, Jr., JC, 2*)
78 Cole Keele (6-3, 300, RsFr., RS, NR)

RIGHT GUARD
65 Sione (Tavo) Motu’apuaka (6-5, 335, So., 1L, 3*)
62 Aloali’i Maui (6-1, 305, Jr, 1L, NR)
73 Elia Migao (6-2, 320, Jr., 1L, 3*)
61 K’leyone Iosua (6-3, 300, RsFr., RS, NR)

Coming up on Friday: Offensive Tackle