Cian and Teeg Slone are brothers who played football at American River College. Now they’ll play together again, this time at Utah State. 

Cian Slone, 20 years old, started playing football at 8 years old and his younger brother Teeg Slone, 19 years old, joined him a year later in Rocklin, California.

The Slone brothers agree that their time at ARC helped prepare them for playing at Utah State. 

The elder brother spoke highly of the coaching staff at ARC and credits them with his success especially with the support they offered players. He also voiced how all the players at ARC had each other’s backs.

“The whole coaching staff at ARC did a really good job of implanting values in our program that could kind of hold us accountable on and off the field,” Cian Slone said.

Cian Slone said he believes that this was important to learn at the community college level: Once you get to a university there are expectations in the way you carry yourself on and off the field.

Teeg Slone says that the position coaches, the head coach Jonathan Osterhout and the defensive coordinator Louis Baiz helped him a lot during his time at ARC.

“They were easy to talk to when you needed help and they helped set us up and believed in us and got us ready for every game,” Teeg Slone said.

Louis Baiz, assistant professor of kinesiology and assistant football coach/defensive coordinator, said that it is rewarding for him to see players he has coached, such as the Slone brothers, move on to the next level.

“Well our whole program philosophy is based on player development,” Baiz said. “How we lift, meet and travel all those things would resemble what a four year school would do.”

Not only did Teeg and Cian Slone credit the coaches with their success, but also the professors at ARC. 

“The teachers at American River, they were great,” Cian Slone said. “They answered their emails and really interacted with their students and kind of made learning a little more fun.”

Cian Slone voiced the excitement he felt when he heard his brother was going to join him in playing football at ARC and they were able to play together for one season. 

The Slone brothers both played on the defensive side of the ball at ARC with Cian Slone at defensive end and Teeg Slone at safety.

When it came to choosing a school, Utah State had mutual interest in both brothers.

“When we got the opportunity after the season to kind of choose where we wanted to go,” Cian Slone said. “Utah State offered both of us a little deal and it was a no-brainer.”

The Slone brothers shared it was important for them to continue to play college football together.

“It was my goal to go on to the next level with him as well so it means a lot,” Teeg Slone said. “I’m excited to do it and can’t wait for the season.”

Cian and Teeg Slone said the adjustment to Division I college football wasn’t too hard, but one thing that took time to adjust to was the altitude.

“It made me feel out of breath faster, but after about a week I was back to normal,” Teeg Slone said. “Our coach did a good job getting us used to it so we adjusted quickly.”

The elder brother’s biggest piece of advice to student athletes who are hoping to be noticed by a university is to remain patient. 

“At the community college level, especially in California there is a bunch of teams,” Cian Slone said. “So there is a bunch of coaches going to schools to look for guys.”

According to Cian Slone, his first year on the football team included time on special teams which left him feeling discouraged, but with support from the coaching staff he found success on the field in his second year.

“Always stay hungry and want to be the best version of yourself,” he said. “That should lead you to success at the [community] college level.”

In order for community college athletes to get a scholarship or be noticed by a Division I school, Teeg Slone says he believes it takes putting in the hard work and trusting your coaching staff. 

Cian and Teeg Slone both spoke highly of the coaches at Utah State and how they hold players accountable. 

The brothers said that once they got to Utah State their teammates were very welcoming and they appreciate how dedicated their teammates are by getting together to do drills after practice.

Baiz said that he believes the brothers will get great exposure at Utah State since they are in a competitive conference.

“They both play extremely hard, they play with a lot of energy and great effort,” Baiz said. “They have the measurables at their positions, meaning the height and weight and skillset at their positions to deserve an opportunity to play at that level.”

The Slone brothers both said they want the team to improve from last year and be the best in their conference. 

“The longer we get to play together, the better,” Cian Slone said.