The Utah Statesman 2021 USU Football Preview

Football Preview 2021

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CONTENTS 8

BLAKE ANDERSON

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OFFENSIVE PREVIEW

MANAGING EDITOR

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DEFENSIVE PREVIEW

DARCY RITCHIE

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NIL IMPACTS

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ALL-AMERICAN LESSONS

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MENTAL HEALTH

PARKER BALLANTYNE

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BEHIND THE SCENES

WILLIAM BULTEZ

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MARCHING TO THE BEAT

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10 QUESTIONS

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AGGGIES IN THE NFL

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AGGIE LEGENDS

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OPPONENT PREVIEWS

SPORTS MANAGER JACOB NIELSON STATESMAN WRITERS NATHAN DUNN JACEE CALDWELL EMILY WHITE PHOTO MANAGER BAILEY RIGBY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER JOSEPH F MYERS DESIGNERS SAVY KNAPP TYSON ALLES SADIE BUHMAN SALES TEAM JACOB HORTON KATIE VARGA NICK BAER EMMA BAUMAN

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“I think we’re going to win games people don’t expect us to win.” ~ Blake Anderson

Football Preview 2021

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‘God First, Family Second, Football Third’ How a decision Anderson made 14 years ago is changing Utah State football

By Jacob Nielson THE UTAH STATESMAN

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itting on a sofa in his office on the second floor of the Jim and Carol Laub Athletics-Academics Complex with his back facing Merlin Olsen Field, Utah State head coach Blake Anderson leaned forward, looked me directly in the eye and shared something he regrets.

“I think I did things really poorly, the first half of my career,” he admitted. “I was the first one in the office and the last one to leave.”

Anderson, who began coaching in 1993, did things this way for over a decade. At Eastern New Mexico, Trinity Valley Community College or Middle Tennessee, you could either find him in his office studying the game or at clinics and camps recruiting. Committing all his time to try and outwork everyone else.

In the workplace, this had its benefits. Anderson climbed his way from a graduate assistant at a division two school to a co-offensive coordinator at an FBS school in a span of nine years. But in his personal life, working nonstop had its consequences.

“To be honest, with my family, my wife and kids, it took a toll on us,” he said. “It literally almost ruined my family.”

This forced Anderson to step away from coaching in 2005. After two seasons away from the game, reprioritizing his life, he decided to come back. He took a job as offensive coordinator at Louisiana in 2007.

His return came with a vow to his family. He was going to be different. He promised his wife and kids he would “put God first, family second and football third.”

Fast forward 14 years, Anderson’s career has dramatically changed. He’s a head coach and has been for nearly eight years.

He’s won a lot of games, mostly at Arkansas State, where he made six bowl games and won two Sun Belt championships. He’s now a head coach in the Mountain West.

In his personal life, things are considerably different as well. One by one his kids grew up and moved out of the house. Then, tragedy.

In 2019, Anderson lost his wife and “best friend” Wendy, after a three-year battle with cancer. Additionally, his father passed away the same year. In an effort to go forward with life, he moved out to Utah, remarried and adopted the daughters of his new wife, Brittany.

Through it all, the pledge he made to his family over a decade ago has become fortified. It’s ingrained in his DNA, preached to his coaching staff and players and is the lifeblood of his football program. Faith, family and football.

In his first nine months in Logan, Anderson has made sure this mentality has rubbed off on the new coaching staff he put together.

His expectation is that

his coaches will go to their children’s sporting events or musical productions, even if that means leaving the office early one day.

At organized team dinners, which are hosted by different coaches, Anderson has his team gather in a circle and hold hands while he gives a blessing on the food and a prayer for his team and their families.

To get acclimated to Utah, he took his coaching staff to Beaver Mountain ski resort several Saturdays last winter to spend a day on the slopes. He also gathered his staff for a daily noon pick-up basketball game at the Wayne Estes center during the off-season.

The night before Easter he became the Easter bunny, going to the houses of his coaches with young children, and putting “stick bunnies” in the front lawns.

“I try to make sure to keep those things front and center,” Anderson said. “Clearly losing my wife, losing my dad — he just reminded me how important relationships really are — so I encouraged these guys to do their work, be efficient, do a great job of preparing but, but don’t be afraid to spend time on relationships.”

Outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator Nick Paremski, who has worked under Anderson for five years, affirmed that Anderson lives up to his words.

“I’ll tell him hey, my sons got a baseball game or whatever and he’ll say, go, nothing that needs to be done can’t wait till tomorrow, come in an hour earlier tomorrow,” Paremski said. “Our wives love him because he’s not keeping us at the office 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

This kind-hearted behavior by the head coach is “untraditional” in the football industry, according to running back coach Chuckie Keeton. But the chance to maintain balance in life has made the move back to Logan “a smooth transition” for him, while ultimately making him better at his job.

“I look at it as you only get that time off whenever you’re efficient with how you’re working and so it’s somewhat of an incentive to work better with our days,” Keeton said. “And it’s really tough to be 100% focused on football if your life away from football is a little bit awkward, tough, or whatever it may be.”

Anderson’s philosophy hasn’t just blessed the lives of his staff, but it’s gotten the word out: He’s a guy you want to work for. That ethos has helped him bring in new staff to Utah State that boasts an impressive amount of experience.

One of those hires is his new defensive coordinator, Ephraim Banda.

Before coming to Logan, Banda was a co-defensive coordinator at ACC blueblood Miami, where he’d been coaching since 2016.

Working under Miami head coach and longtime boss Manny Diaz, Banda PHOTOS BY Bailey Rigby

Continued on next page

Blake Anderson continued... was in a good situation. He was an excellent recruiter, bringing in the top safety in the nation in 2019 and 2020. And he coached up an elite defense.

In his first season as co-defensive coordinator in 2019, the Hurricanes held offenses to 309.8 yards per game, which was No. 13 nationally, and in 2020, Miami finished No. 4 in the ACC in total defense.

“I wasn’t going to leave for anything,” he said.

But in late 2020, when he got a phone call from Anderson offering him the position at Utah State, he listened. Because according to Banda, the world of college football coaching is “a small world” and despite never working for him before, he knew Anderson would be a great boss.

“You know, there are four or five coaches out there that you just hear stories about, that are just awesome human beings that you want to work for and he’s one of those guys,” Banda said. “Blake Anderson is like on the Mountain Rushmore of coaches you want to work for.”

Knowing he would be joining the staff of a tenured head coach who “didn’t just promote family, but lived it” was the biggest factor that convinced Banda and his wife, Crystal, to bring their family out to Utah.

Another coach who joined Anderson in Utah is the new wide receiver coach and passing coordinator, Kyle Cefalo.

Hired by Anderson to be a graduate assistant at Arkansas State when he was 23 years old, then to his first position job at 27, all but one of Cefalo’s seasons as a coach have been under Anderson.

For Cefalo, the opportunity to continue the journey with Anderson, who he considers to be the most competitive person he knows, was a no-brainer. Throughout his seven years under him, Anderson has shown nothing but trust and transparency, giving him the freedom to make decisions and lead his guys. This has given Cefalo the confidence to develop as a coach and made him incredibly loyal to Anderson.

“I don’t ever want to let him down,” Cefalo said. “So I want to do the best job that I can, I want to work as hard as I can, you know, not only for myself, only for the team, but for him personally.”

Along the way, Cefalo has gone through the highs and lows with Anderson, giving him a chance to connect with him on a deeper level than “him just being my boss.”

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When Wendy was originally diagnosed with cancer, Cefalo was right by Anderson’s side. He was there when she beat it the first time. And he was there when cancer returned, and Wendy ultimately passed.

“Unfortunately, I’ve probably seen him at his lowest,” Cefalo said.

“Things like that, you don’t want to go through them, but it’s the people around you who help you get through them. And he would ask me questions that I wouldn’t have an answer to...I’d just go and sit with him.”

PHOTO BY Jacob Nielson These experiences shaped Cefalo and have shaped Anderson. Surrounding yourself with people who have seen you at your worst, yet will still go through anything with you, is what family is about.

And when it’s coaches of a college football team who carry a bond like that, showing there’s more to it than just coaching football, it’s something that can become infections.

“I think the players see a group of coaches that genuinely enjoys being around one another,” said Cefalo. “I think they pick up on that.”

This is the culture that is being established at Utah State.

Family first. A major upgrade from last season, when some players felt as if some members of the staff didn’t care.

“I think this group of guys that we have, as a coaching staff, are definitely all genuine. I can tell that they all want to be here and they all want to win,” said senior wide receiver Savon Scarver. “So you know, it’s nice to have people behind you that want the same things as you do and are going to push you to be better than what you are at that same time.”

For Anderson, it feels good to have built something that has “affected more people around me in a positive way.” Putting God first, family second and football third began as a way to keep his family together but has turned into something which has strengthened an entire program.

Anderson’s won more football games doing things this way and believes he will continue to win football this way as he begins his tenure at Utah State.

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OFFENSIVE

By Jacob Nielson THE UTAH STATESMAN

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he Utah State offense, which averaged 15.5 points per game and 275.8 yards of offense per game last season, looks to substantially increase its efficiency and productivity.

In order to accomplish that, the new coaching staff has drastically changed the style of offense which the Aggies will run and have added a few talented players in skill positions which will bolster the offense.

Six transfers have joined the side, complementing the nine returning starters and 11 additional lettermen. And they all better be ready to run.

“You’re going to see a very up tempo, play fast, play exciting type of play,” said wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Kyle Cefalo. “Our type of offense has the ability to stretch the ball down the field vertically and can run sideline to sideline.”

The goal is to emulate the offense Blake Anderson had established at Arkansas State. Last year, the Red Wolves averaged 79.9 plays per game last season — ninth most in FBS football.

And it paid dividends. They averaged 32.91 points per game and 489.7 yards of offense per game last season.

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In efforts to maintain, if not improve his style of play at Utah State, head coach Blake Anderson hired Antony Tucker to be his offensive coordinator. Tucker was the co-offensive coordinator at UCF last season, and the Golden Knights were the fastest team in college football last year, averaging 88.0 plays per game. They also averaged an impressive 42.20 points per game, and 568.1 yards of total offense last year.

Tucker worked under Anderson at Arkansas State as a wide receiver and running back coach from 2013 to 2015 and therefore they both have similar ideologies on how to orchestrate a fast-tempo offense.

“Offensively, we’re going to be aggressive in what we’re doing,” said Tucker. “Coach Anderson is aggressively aggressive by nature and always has been. And so, he and I have a great chemistry with what we’re trying to accomplish on offense systematically and things like that.”

In many high-paced offenses, such as ones in the Big 12, the general assumption is you’re going to throw the football at a high rate and almost disregard the running attack. But make no mistake: Both position groups will have a crucial role to play in the Aggie’s system.

“I think you’ll see a really good balance,” said Cefalo, who worked at Arkansas State with Coach Anderson. “We don’t want to be known as a passing team; we don’t want to be known as a

PREVIEW

PHOTO BY Joseph F Myers

running team. We want to be known as a really good offense.”

The Aggie offense won’t be “pigeon held” to doing one thing, according to Cefalo. If they’re playing a team with a weak secondary, they’ll throw the ball more, and they’ll run it more if an opposing defensive front isn’t very physical. And if a running back or wide receiver is playing well, they’ll find a way to get them the ball.

“We got to play to our strengths,” Cefalo said. “And it ultimately just gives us any chance and all chances to win the game and to be successful.”

Another focus on the offense — which falls in line with Tucker’s desire to be aggressive — is to be physical.

A major role of the running backs is to protect the quarterback in the passing game. A role of the wide receivers is to block the linebackers and secondary in the run game. And the offensive line, obviously, has to orchestrate both the pass and run game with their blocking.

Junior offensive lineman, Jacob South, is now on his fourth offensive coordinator at Utah State. He admits the new offense is similar to the one under head coach Matt Wells and offensive coordinator David Yost in 2018 but prefers the current system.

“What I like about Coach Tucker right now is, this is his offense,” South said. “He knows what works best. And so he’s been helping us. And I feel like all positions — offensive line,

quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers — we all have a really good understanding of the playbook and what he wants us to do.”

The play book is more in depth than any of the playbook’s South has learned from his previous offensive coordinators, but he thinks it’s more helpful.

“There’s a lot more options to be able to adjust what defenses are doing,” he said.

So, this is what is being implemented in Logan. A fast, balanced, aggressive and complex offense. With all its different components, adjusting to it hasn’t been easy during fall camp.

After the second public scrimmage on Aug. 24, Coach Anderson called the offense “sloppy.” They struggled to get in a rhythm necessary to go fast, and each unit made mistakes executing.

But the expectation within the program is they’ll be ready to play. There are enough playmakers on the offense, and they’ve all worked hard throughout the summer to be prepared to play at a high level.

“Our strength coaches, they did such a good job of getting our guys into shape and getting them stronger, getting them faster, and getting them into condition,” Cefalo said.

Here’s a glance at the offensive personnel which will make an Continued on next page Football Preview 2021

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impact on the gridiron this fall.

Quarterbacks Transfers: Junior Logan Bonner, Arkansas State Utah State has had productive quarterbacks in recent seasons, such as Kent Myers and current NFL quarterback Jordan Love. But that was hardly the case to begin 2020.

Last season Jason Shelley started for the Aggies but struggled to get anything going and was eventually released from the team due to off-field matters. Andrew Peasley took over for the final two games, despite the circumstances, played well. He led Utah State to their lone win of the season against New Mexico, when he threw 14-of-21 for 239 yards with three touchdowns and rushed 11 times for 118 yards.

Peasley, who had had a great spring and summer of training, has put himself in a position to compete for the starting spot on Sept. 4 at Washington State.

“One thing I did notice about Peasley all summer is he was in front of everyone,” said Anderson. “He was in front of every sprint. He’s here extra and he’s done everything he can to have a great quarterback battle in fall camp.”

But in order to do that, he must beat out Arkansas State junior transfer Logan Bonner.

Throughout fall camp, the coaching staff emphasized it was an open quarterback battle between the two. Both split first team reps and had their moments throughout camp.

“I think they’re both really good quarterbacks. Like whoever ends up winning the job we’re gonna be amazing hands,” said South. “But I mean, I think Logan’s more of like a pocket passer type, but he can still kind of scramble and stuff. But Peasley is obviously more of a running quarterback like we saw in the New Mexico game.”

Between the two, Bonner has more experience starting in college football games. He was a two-year starter at Arkansas State, starting the first four games

of 2019 before a season-ending injury. In 2020, he started all 11 games for the Red Wolves, throwing for 1,863 yards and 18 touchdowns. He believes he would make a solid ‘QB1’ for the Aggies.

“I mean, I’ve had a lot of starts on my belt, being a two-year starter and playing in big games against Alabama, Georgia, and beating Kansas State,” Bonner said.

“So, I think that it would be really good for me to bring some experience to the

camp.

Legas has shown flashes of promise throughout fall camp, including a perfect 51-yard pass he threw to receiver Kyle Van Leeuwen during the second public scrimmage.

The other two quarterbacks in the room are sophomore’s Josh Calvin and Garrett Larson.

“You know, we got five guys in that room,” Tucker said. “We got some young guys that are developing and have taken some steps. And we have some guys that are a little bit more experienced.”

At the Aug. 28 print deadline of this magazine, Statesman Sports predicts Bonner will be the starting quarterback to begin the season.

Wide Receivers/ Tight Ends

Freshmen: WR NyNy Davis, Etowah PHOTO BY Bailey Rigby High, Attala, Ala. WR D’Andre Randolf, table and just let guys know, it’s just Alta High football.”

WR Otto Tia, Northridge High Bonner had a few different options WR Franky Jacobson, Woods Cross High when he decided to move on from ArTE Parker Buchanan, Box Elder High kansas State. Obviously, his head coach TE Jackson Rigby, Davis High taking the job at Utah State played a major role in helping him come here. But Transfers: another connection was a deciding factor.

R-FR Jamie Nance, Nebraska Myers, who played quarterback at Utah Ranging from 5’8 senior Deven ThompState from 2014 to 2017, is from the kins to 6’6 junior Justin Mcgriff, there is same town as Bonner, Rowlett, Texas, and a versatile group of wide receivers and the two are close friends. tight ends at Utah State this season.

“My buddy [Myers] played quarterback There are three returning starters at here, before Jordan,” Bonner said. “So the wide receiver position — Thompwe grew up together. And I talked to him kins, Mcgriff and senior Derek Wright. about it a lot. And so he encouraged me Senior starting tight end Carson Terrell to come up here.” also returns. Other returners which have Bonner was injured throughout the a chance to see the field include senior spring and summer and has to catch up to receivers Savon Scarver, senior Jordan Peasley in terms of fitness and health. But Nathan and Josh Calvin, junior WR Tim he’s performed well during fall camp. In Patrick Jr. and sophomore WR Kyle Van the second public scrimmage, Bonner was Leeuwen.

14 of 25 passing for 194 yards and two At tight end, sophomore Josh Sterzer touchdowns. Peasley was 7 of 14 for 38 and Jack Drews also return. Sophomore yards passing in the same scrimmage.

TE Broc Lane unfortunately suffered a Another quarterback to keep an eye out season-ending injury in fall camp. for is Cooper Legas. The sophomore and Utah State also brought in senior WR Orem native is the clear third stringer, Continued on next page getting plenty of playing time in fall

Brandon Bowling from Arkansas State, redshirt freshman Jamie Nance from Nebraska and incoming freshman NyNy Davis, all of which have an opportunity to play this season.

“We have so many athletes in our receiver room,” said Bowling. “Savon [Scarver], DT [Thompkins], McGriff, I mean, the entire room is loaded with talent. I think you’ll see a lot of us playing this year, a group of probably nine of us will probably play throughout the whole year.”

Bowling himself is a part of that talent.

Catching 82 passes for 878 yards and nine touchdowns in his time at Arkansas State, he’s developed an ability to get open and make big plays when his team needs it the most.

Cefalo, who has had the opportunity of being his wide receivers coach his entire career, thinks he’s an invaluable addition to the team.

“He’s so very reliable, very trustworthy,” Cefalo said. “He’s just a really good football player, and an incredible person.

So I couldn’t be happier that he’s here with us.”

Another player Cefalo is grateful to have is Thompkins.

Leading the Aggies passing attack with 20 catches for 214 yards last year, Thompkins entered his name into the portal but ended up staying. And the new coaching staff is sure happy he did.

Thompkins has flexed his ability all throughout spring and fall camp and has a chance at being Utah State’s premier receiver this season.

“You know, his athleticism and explosiveness stand out immediately,” Cefalo said. “And maybe I didn’t realize how good of a football player he really is, but he’s more than just a fast kid. He’s got great body control. He’s got incredible hands. And he has the ability at any mo-

ment when the ball touches his hands to take it as far as he needs to.”

In addition to Thompkins, making waves in fall camp is Van Leeuwen. The sophomore out of Timpview redshirted the 2019 season and appeared in just two games in 2020. But after a phenomenal off-season, he just may be one of the Aggies best playmakers this season.

During the Aug. 24 scrimmage, Van Leeuwen caught four passes for 81 yards, including three touchdown catches.

“Just every time he’s out there, he ends up making the plays,” said Cefalo. He’s still young, and he still has some time, but I’m really, really impressed with him.

You know, his ability to make plays, he’s got some of the best ball skills that I’ve ever ever been around.”

Add Mcgriff, the powerful wide out who Cefalo said “has a ton of ability” and Wright, who is “incredibly sure handed”

and “dominates on the perimeter,” and Scarver and Nathan which both have a ton of experience, the wide receiving core is arguably the deepest part of the Aggie offense.

Running Backs Transfers: Junior Calvin Tyler Jr., Oregon State The running back group is “as important as anyone in our system” according to Tucker and has talent capable of rushing

and protecting the quarterback effectively.

The group lost last year’s starter, Jaylin Warren, who transferred to Oklahoma State, but brings back everyone else.

Sophomore John Gentry, senior Devontae Henry-Cole and sophomore Elelyon Noa all have chances at getting serious playing time.

And with the addition Calvin Tyler Jr., who transferred from Oregon State, the running back room is crowded. But according to Henry-Cole, that’s a good thing.

“It’s gonna be a fast offense,” Henry-Cole said. “We’re gonna have a rotation so I’m not really worried about depth or anything. I know I’m going to get some playing time. But we have different types of running backs, you know, different types of run style and everything. So that’s going to be good for the offense.”

Anderson shared a similar sentiment.

“We’re probably playing a little bit more by committee (at running back), just because of the amount of reps that we would like to get if we can move the ball, the amount of wear and tear it takes on a guy’s body,” said Anderson.

“Each one of them kind of has a little bit of a unique skill set I can see is playing a lot of guys at the position and even wide out to some degree to keep guys fresh and keep their legs for us.”

Due to the strong play of the defensive PHOTO BY Bailey Rigby front in fall camp, no running backs have put up eye-popping performances in fall camp, but some have solidified themselves.

Arguably standing out the most is 5-foot-10, 190-pound sophomore John Gentry. The Houston, Texas, native, who had just seven carries his freshman year, has been taking the majority of reps with the “first team” in practice and has performed well.

While there won’t be a “feature back” on Continued on next page

the team, Gentry may best fit the mold, as he can rush aggressively downfield while proving capable of catching passes out of the backfield.

Henry-Cole, who is 5-foot-8 and 195 pounds, has plenty of versatility and leadership and will get his share of carries.

Tucker has mentioned him as a guy he feels “really good about.” He played well in both public scrimmages, rushing for 44 yards on 11 carries in the first one and 34 yards on 12 carries in the second.

Calvin Tyler Jr., a 5-foot-8, 210-pound junior transfer from Oregon State, played in 14 games and rushed for 124 yards on 30 carries for the Beavers. Similar to Henry-Cole, he brings Pac-12 experience to the Aggies roster.

“Calvin’s more of a power runner, like a big back,” said South. “He’ll run somebody over.”

Noa has had the longest run of fall camp, breaking loose for a “would be” touchdown in 11 on 11’s. He played well in the second public scrimmage, rushing for 39 yards on ten carries.

Establishing an effective ground game will be crucial for the USU offense to succeed this season. And there’s plenty of capable backs. If the offensive line can create holes to run through, they should manage to get the job done.

plenty of talent in its starting five.

It returns four starters from last season, including senior Demytrick Ali’ifua, senior Alfred Edwards, junior Jacob South and sophomore Falepule Alo. Other returners include senior Chandler Dolphin, who is expected to start at center, junior Wade Meacham, and sophomore Jackson Owens.

Quazell White from TCU and Maisen Knight from Liberty have also transferred into the program. Highly touted freshman Elia Migao, who joined the team in August, also has a chance to play.

It’s a core with plenty of experience.

Ali’fua and Edwards are two guys that have chances at receiving All-MW honors this season, while White has legitimate Big-12 exposure. But here’s the issue: The depth and health of the unit is “a serious concern” according to Anderson.

Knight and Alo were both injured for portions of fall camp, and the two deep

Offensive Line Transfers: Sophomore Calvin Knapp, Iowa Western CC Senior Maisen Knight, Liberty Junior Quazzel White, TCU If the fast-paced offense wants to succeed, it’s going to start with the big boys up front. The offensive line position has

hasn’t looked promising.

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Throughout fall camp, the entire unit has struggled to get much push in the run game, and pocket protection for the quarterbacks has been inconsistent.

Something to keep in mind is the defense often shines early in the year, and it can take some time for an offensive line

to establish themselves. Also, the Utah State defensive front appears to be the strength of the team this season.

“I feel good about those guys,” Tucker said about the offensive line. “I mean, I don’t know what’s going to be weak or not what’s gonna be weak. We haven’t played anybody yet.”

South believes his squad is ultra-talented and isn’t concerned about their ability to compete. In fact, his sights aren’t set on the unit being sufficient. He thinks they can excell and has a plan to do it.

“As an offensive line a goal that we have is to try to have a 1000-yard rusher this year,” said South. “I think that’s definitely an attainable goal because the offense we run with, the quarterbacks that we have can really spread the field and everything which opens up the middle of the field.

And we’ve got really dangerous running backs.”

If they can accomplish their goal, the Utah State offense has a chance to flourish this season. Establishing the run game will force defenses to protect the box, which will open things up for the talented Aggie receivers and the passing game.

But much of what the offensive line accomplishes this season hinges on it’s health.

Because if it’s current startPHOTO BY Bailey Rigby ers go down, there’s not a lot of confidence within the coaching staff they’ll be able to block effectively.

Defensive Preview

By Jacob Nielson THE UTAH STATESMAN

T

he Utah State defense, which gave up 35.17 points per game and 485.3 yards of offense per game last season, enters 2021 led by a new defensive coordinator, Ephraim Banda, and is determined to enhance their defensive tenacity.

The general expectation is they’ll improve — mostly because of the personnel which has been assembled for the season.

The new coaching staff retained nine defensive starters from last season while bringing in nine new transfers on the defensive side, the majority of which will receive significant playing time.

With so many players entering the system, the returning Aggie players from last season — some of which risk losing their starting jobs — could be reproved with the new coaching staff for bringing in new blood and be unwelcoming towards the new guys.

But the opposite is true. The returners seem bolstered by the prospect of the defense improving while embracing the increased competition.

“We’ve got a lot of great competition. And it only makes us all better,” said senior defensive end and returning starter Nick Heninger. “The best teams I’ve been on have had the best depth and the best buy in. I’m excited. Got some great depth and great guys with great attitudes. A bunch of guys who will help build the culture in a positive way.”

The new student-athletes fitting nicely into the program was no coincidence.

“We were looking for the right type of kid, we weren’t gonna just take a kid just because he was really good,” Banda said.

“We were very, very selective in the type of kids we brought in.

They were the right kids, good kids.”

Who the new transfers are and what they bring to the team will be highlighted in the positional previews. But before that, let’s break down how the defense will look like philosophically and schematically this season. Banda, who was the co-defensive coordinator at Miami before joining the Aggie staff, has identified four main pillars for how his team is going to play defense.

The first pillar is a focus on “shoulder level tackling.” Pioneered by Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks, it is a tackling style much like tackling in rugby. Traditionally, football players are taught to utilize their helmets as weapons and lead with their heads to make a tackle. That results in more injuries.

Instead, Banda wants his team to lead with their shoulder, which prevents a lot of injuries while increasing your chances of tackling the defender. The Aggie defense reps shoulder-level tackling in practice every day.

Schematically, the Aggies will be a “four-three based team” — four defensive linemen PHOTO BY Joseph F Myers in front and three linebackers in the back. But it comes with a caveat. To adjust to all the dynamic offenses seen in college football, one of the linebackers will play a position called “striker” which is more of a hybrid type role, where they have to play “in the box, and in space and in man” according to Banda. The player most likely to get reps at the striker position Continued on next page Football Preview 2021

17

this season is senior Cash Gilliam.

“It’s very exciting because it’s kind of something I used to do back when I played safety,” Gilliam said. “It’s kind of like a unicorn position, you get to do a lot of different things, and make a lot of different things happen to help the defense.”

The third pillar of Banda’s defense is “multiplicity.” Expect to see the Aggie defense throw several different looks at an offense throughout a game, loading guys up in the box one down, and spreading them out in space another. Don’t put it past Banda to call plays with just three defensive linemen, backed by four linebackers.

“We’re gonna give you a four-down front and a threedown front,” Banda said.

“And you’re gonna have to practice both. And the more that you have to practice, the less that you get good at practicing against those things … At the end of the day, our goal is to be really hard to call plays against.”

“We love the new defense,” said senior safety Shaq Bond.

“We’re not just running one certain thing; we got a variety of different packages.

The final pillar Banda laid out is “aggressiveness.” Being aggressive is something every football team wants to be but for Utah State, aggressiveness isn’t just a mentality, but a specific strategy.

Aggressiveness in the Utah State secondary means playing a lot of man coverage, pressing receivers at the line of scrimmage and keeping offenses from making easy throws. Up front, aggressiveness means applying pressure and having a lot of movement. Banda wants to throw a variety of blitz packages at the offensive line and make it difficult for them to make reads.

“We’re not just going to react to what the offense does,” said outside linebacker coach and special team coordinator Nick

Paremski. “We want to dictate the game, try to create negative yardage plays, try to create turnovers.”

Playing an aggressive style, with a plethora of defensive formations, requires an attentive defense, as well as lots of depth.

“We’re ready to play ball on the dark side — we called the dark side,” said junior Byron Vaughns, a transfer from

backers and secondary — the personnel of each and what to expect from each side this fall.

Defensive Line Statesman projected starters: DE Nick Heninger DE Bryon Vaughns DT Phillip Paea DT Marcus Moore Freshman: DE Bo Maile, Bingham High School DE Holden Tennant, Bingham High School DT Seni Tuiaki, East High School DT Johnson Hansen, East High School DE Enoka Migao, Chaparral High, Temecula Calf.

Transfers: DE junior Patrcik Joyner Jr., Miami DE junior Byron Vaughns, Texas DE freshman Darius McFarland, BYU DT junior Phillip Paea, Michigan DT junior Aurion Peoples, College of the Canyons Off-season recruiting turned the Aggie defensive front from one of the weakest positions on the team to possibly the most dominant.

Utah State added five defensive ends — junior Byron Vaughns; junior Patrick Joyner and freshman Darious Mcfarland from the transfer portal; and freshmen Enoka Migao, Bo Maile and Holden Tennant out of high school.

PHOTO BY Bailey Rigby They also added four defensive tackles — junior Phillip Paea and Texas. “We got to be physical, and I junior Aurion Peoples from the transfer noticed that we have a lot of physical portal, and Seni Tuiaki and Johnson guys on the team and that’s why we have Hansen out of East High School in Salt depth, so we can rotate, everybody can Lake City. Georgia Tech transfer Jahaziel keep hitting and the offense can keep Lee was going to be another big addition getting hit.” at defensive tackle but left the program Here’s a glance at the three parts of the to be closer to his mother in Louisiana, “dark side” — the defensive line, lineContinued on next page

who is ill.

Two USU starters returned: seniors Nick Heninger (DE) and Marcus Moore (DT), as well as some lettermen including senior Jaylin Bannerman (DE) and juniors Hale Motuapuaka (DT) and James Hansen (DT).

Arguably the most notable addition is Vaughns. The junior turned heads during spring ball, and many are speaking highly of him. Hungry to prove his worth after his time as a Longhorn didn’t work out, he’s ready to “bring some energy and intensity” to the defensive front.

“He’s as good as he wants to be in terms of his ceiling,” Banda said. “He’s an elite pass rusher, he plays extremely hard, and he still has some years of eligibility left with a lot of his growth still to reach so we’re excited to get him in.”

Vaughns injured his left foot during fall camp and was wearing a boot for part of fall camp, but should be healthy by game one at Washington State.

Another major pick up is Joyner. Banda recruited the former fourstar linebacker out of high school in Homestead, Florida and was at Miami for three seasons. The 6’2”, 230-pound junior played in four games last season for the Hurricanes and has turned into a defensive end.

“He’s also a really good kid I could bring into the program that would not do anything other than just promote the program and do a really good job working his butt off,” Banda said. “He’s flipped from linebacker to defensive end over his time in Miami. I’ve always felt he’d grown into the defensive end, which he has.”

An additional transfer who could start

up front is Paea, who transferred from Michigan. The two-year letterman in Ann Arbor has already graduated but has two years left of NCAA eligibility. Like Joyner and Vaughns, he’s a Power Five transfer who is looking for redemption.

In the offseason following his redshirt freshman season at Michigan, Paea broke his ankle “helping his dad carry some equipment down some stairs,” according to Banda. The injury disrupted his career trajectory at Michigan, and “things never worked out,” as he received little playing time.

After the fall camp scrimmage on Aug. 14, Blake Anderson mentioned Paea as somebody who had stood out. “Phil

has been a really good addition coming in from Michigan,” he said. “He’s a big physical body that creates in the inside gaps.”

Motuapuaka, Heninger and Moore are additional guys up front who have stood out to Anderson during fall camp. Add Bannerman and Migao — who originally committed to BYU but came to USU in August — the Aggies have at least eight guys able to contribute significantly this season, which gives them a solid twodeep lineup.

Throughout the first half of fall camp, this two-deep lineup has shown out, con-

trolling the line of scrimmage for several of the practices and containing the run game. They also found success pressuring the quarterback and getting sacks.

Led by coach Al Lapuaho, the Aggie’s defensive front should be the anchor of the team this season.

Linebackers Freshman: ILB Sione Moa, Weber High School ILB Mckay Breshears, Declo High School Transfers: ILB senior Justin Rice, Arkansas State USU has a history of strong linebacker cores, ranging from the 2013 group, which boasted Jake Doughty, Kyler Fackrell, and Nick and Zach Vigil, to the 2018 group, which had David Woodyard, Tipa Galeai and Case Christiansen.

The 2021 linebacker core looks like they will live up to its predecessors.

They return three starters in Cash Gilliam, Kevin Meitzenheimer and Aj PHOTO BY Bailey Rigby Vongphachanh and three additional lettermen in Patrick Maddox and sophomores Kaleo Neves and Kina Maile.

But the headline of the group — and possibly the entire defense — is senior linebacker Justin Rice. Transferring into the program after one season at Arkansas State, Rice is familiar with the Mountain West. He was a linebacker at Fresno State from 2016 to 2019, receiving first team All-MW honors his junior season.

Rice transferred to Arkansas State in 2020 when the Mountain West originally announced they weren’t going to have a Continued on next page

football season due to COVID-19. He entered the Red Wolves camp “fat and out of shape” and “puked his way through fall camp” according to Anderson, but still finished the season first-team all-Sun Belt honors with 76 tackles.

Fast-forward one year, Rice’s physical shape in fall camp has been a different story. “He’s in the best shape of his life right now,” Anderson said. “He truly has elevated his work ethic.”

His work has paid dividends on the practice field thus far. In the first public scrimmage of fall camp, Rice finished with six tackles, a forced fumble and fumble recovery, and an interception. His ability to tackle in the open field, sniff out plays in the backfield, and create turnovers could go a long way for the Aggie defense this fall.

“We expect him to put a lot of pressure on these quarterbacks in the defense,” Anderson said. “I expect him to play at an extremely high level and I think he’s physically put himself in a position where he can.”

Vongphachanh, who stands at 6’2” and 230 pounds, earned honorable mention MW honors last season, as he led the team with 50 tackles. If he has a big third season as an Aggies, he could receive some serious NFL buzz.

Meitzenheimer returns for his fifth season as an Aggie. He started all five games he played in last season and recorded 37 tackles. His experience and physicality will make him a key member of the linebacker core in his final season.

Gilliam originally wasn’t planning on being an Aggie this season due to family matters but found a way to come back.

“I want to thank my sister because she moved to Ohio to help take care of my mom who’s battling dementia,” he said.

“So that’s the reason I got to come back.”

In his final season, expect him to leave everything out on the field.

Secondary Freshman: S Ike Larsen, Sky View High CB Shawn Gates, Akron, OH Transfers: CB senior Kyle Mayberry, Kansas S junior Hunter Reynolds, Michigan S junior Monte McGary, Troy The Utah State secondary’s mix of veteran leadership and new additions provides a level of talent that’s been lacking in recent seasons.

The Aggies return their starting safeties, junior Dominic Tatum and senior Shaq Bond, as well as their starting cornerbacks, Cam Lampkin and Zahodri

Jackson. The new coaching staff has also added junior safeties Hunter Reynolds from Michigan and Monte’ McGary from Troy, and senior cornerback Kyle Mayberry from Kansas.

After adding returners in junior safety Ajani Carter, senior safety Andre Grayson, sophomore safety Luke Marion, senior cornerback Xavion Steele and sophomore Crew Wakley, as well as incoming freshman Shawn Gates, it’s a crowded defensive backfield.

“We got a nice depth especially adding new guys,” Bond said.

At the safety position, Bond is solidifying himself in his captain role and leader of the secondary. He’s had several pass breakups and interceptions throughout fall camp. Expect him to begin the season as the starting strong safety.

Standing out at fall camp was Reynolds,

who notched a team-high seven tackles in the first public scrimmage.

“He’s made a play pretty much every day defensively,” Anderson said. “You know that you see his maturity and just his skill set maintains his calmness out there.”

Reynolds’s performance in fall camp is no surprise. He has some serious Big 10 playing experience, appearing in all six games for Michigan last season and finishing with 16 tackles.

Tatum and Grayson have also had productive fall camps. Along with Reynolds, Tatum had a team-high seven tackles in the first spring scrimmage, and Grayson has had several interceptions throughout the month.

McGary was brought in by cornerback coach Ray Brown, who had coached him at Troy.

At the second public scrimmage, he had a team-high three pass breakups.

In the cornerback room, Mayberry was a major acquisition.

Like McGary, he had a personal connection with the new coaching staff.

“He was a guy that Blake Anderson was PHOTO BY Bailey Rigby recruiting before [at Arkansas State],” Banda said. “He wound up picking Kansas late in the process and out of high school.

He played a lot of football there in the Big 12.”

Mayberry started 12 games for the Jayhawks in his four years in Lawrence and should get playing time in Logan.

Lampkin and Jackson have both notched interceptions throughout fall camp and will be neck and neck for a starting role.

Overall, it’s a secondary with an upgrade in speed and depth. Facing great quarterbacks throughout the season including San José State’s Nick Starkel, BYU’s Jaren Hall and Boise State’s Hank Bachmeier, the groups’ discipline and durability will be put to the test.

‘The Opportunities are Endless’ NIL Opens Doors for Student-athletes Hartwell was quick to admit that his athletic department doesn’t have all the answers right now regarding the NIL rules, and unaddressed issues are expected to come. But USU ollege sports as we know them has dramatically said they’re committed to “do what’s best for our student-athchanged over the summer, and its changes have an letes.” immediate impact on student-athletes across the USU Athletics sent out a letter to its student-athletes on country.

June 30 announcing a new development program called The NCAA board of directors approved a policy on June A-Game which will include mandatory meetings that discuss 30 — which “personal went into brand deeffect on July velopment, 1 — permitting financial student-athletes literacy, the ability to establishing monetize their a business/ name, image brand, time and likeness, or management, NIL. NCAA rules, The unpreceand USU dented decision policies.”

— which was Additionalrecommended ly, the letter for adoption detailed that by the Divithe universision I Council ty will have a on June 28 name, image — came in and likeness anticipation of form that all 11 state implestudent-athmenting their letes are reown NIL laws quired to fill on July 1. out and send PHOTO BY Joseph F Myers Student-athto the compliletes can now ance office for pursue any opportunity permitted within their university pa- approval before they enter a deal to receive income. rameters that will provide them financial compensation based According to Hartwell, there will be restrictions regardon their name, image or likeness — such as signing endorse- ing certain products student-athletes can endorse. Alcohol, ment deals, hosting camps or building a personal brand. tobacco, gambling and adult entertainment deals will not be The NCAA iterated that pay for play and utilizing the NIL approved by the university. Student-athletes are also prohibitrules for recruiting benefits is prohibited but left it up to indi- ed from representing the university while advertising. vidual universities to decide for themselves how to interpret “If we had a student-athlete who wanted to endorse a local and enforce these rules. restaurant or a local car dealership or something like that, as Statesman Sports spoke with Utah State Athletic Director of right now they could do it as an individual,” Hartwell said.

John Hartwell on July 1 to see how USU athletics is respond- “They can’t do it wearing a Utah State uniform or anything ing to the change. with the university’s logo on there.”

“The opportunities for [student-athletes] to be able to monStudent-athletes are expected to follow “fair market value” etize to make income from their name, image and likeness is — putting in the proper work for the money they receive — not a bad thing, it’s a good thing,” Hartwell said. “But from according to Hartwell. The university itself will not reach out an educational standpoint [we need] to make sure that our with companies to provide sponsorship to the student-athstudent-athletes understand some of the parameters.”

Continued on next page

By Jacob Nielson THE UTAH STATESMAN

C

letes.

Hartwell insisted that these rules and regulations are consistent with what universities across the country are implementing.

Impact two months later As of two weeks before the start of the 2021 football season, the new NIL rules appear to have only impacted a few Utah State student-athletes.

Senior basketball forward Justin Bean signed the most noteworthy deal with Taco Time on July 29. Bean, who shares a name with Taco Time’s most popular item — the crisp bean burrito — will appear in commercials for the Utah-owned chain restaurant throughout the season.

When he announced the deal in late July, it was the highest deal a student-athlete in the state of Utah had made yet, according to the Deseret News.

As for members of the football team, several players have joined agencies to help promote their brand, but no notable deals have been announced.

“I’m not sure that we got out of it exactly what we thought it might do,” said head coach Blake Anderson. “I know we’ve had a handful of guys that have tapped into it. I don’t know anything very significant, nothing that’s life-changing.”

With so much change within Aggie football within the past years, companies may be tentative to sign certain players.

Once the season begins and guys start to stand out, don’t be surprised to see football players sign deals with Cache Valley companies.

While Anderson is in full support of his players pursuing financial opportunities, he’s happy the new changes haven’t caused much of a distraction within his team.

“I think they’ll just concentrate on being the best player, best student they can be,” he said. “Those opportunities will present themselves based off of the job that they do on the field and in the classroom.”

NIL concerns With most schools in charge of their own NIL rules and the NCAA not releasing a plan to regulate it, there is a legitimate concern the new privileges could be abused by schools by utilizing a “pay-for-play” module and promising recruits certain deals and finan-

cial privileges to convince them to come to a school.

“Because the parameters are pretty broad right now and there is opportunity for boosters to be involved, I do worry about schools across the country and potentially with some of our competitors,” Hartwell said. “[The rules] have to be closely monitored because you don’t want donors enticing student-athletes.”

BYU is one place this may have already happened. The energy bar company Built Bar announced a partnership with BYU football on Aug. 9, sponsoring every member of the roster. Most notably, they will give walk-on players money for tuition, indirectly giving the Cougars an unlimited amount of scholarships.

In return, players will wear a Built Bar decal on their helmets during practice and walk-ons will be required to attend Built Bar events.

BYU claims this follows all NCAA regulations including fair-market value, although it seems doubtful. The reality is, with the NCAA not controlling things and the state of Utah not having in-state legislation regarding NIL, what the Cougars are doing is acceptable because nobody is going to regulate them. Even though putting walk-ons on scholarship gives them a serious competitive advantage.

During the Eye on College Basketball Podcast on July 1, CBS analyst Gary Parrish said, “The only thing the NCAA said is they don’t want it to be a recruiting tool, well too bad. It is going to be a recruiting tool.”

Hartwell believes that the solution to governing the NIL rules is for federal legislation to be passed. USU has been in communication with Utah senators Mike Lee and Mitt Romney and has stressed the importance of getting federal legislation through.

“I do think the sooner we can get uniform policy procedure legislation at a federal level the better, so you don’t have one offs and different iterations depending on what state you’re in,” Hartwell said.

“I think we will all be better off when that comes. It’s not going to be tomorrow or the next day when Congress is going to be able to do something on this but I do think it’s got enough people’s attention in Washington.”

PHOTO BY William Bultez

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USU Student Media

‘Growing Doesn’t Come without Failure’: Lessons from an Academic All-American

By William Bultez THE UTAH STATESMAN

Heninger began his college career at the University of Utah studying business administration. There, in 2019, he completn May 5, Nicholas Heninger won the Joe E. Whitesides ed 58 credits by testing out of 16 credits of Tagalog classes — award — given to Utah State University’s best acathanks to his fluency in the language — and completing two demically performing student-athletes. Two months back-to-back semesters of 21 credits. later, Heninger became an academic All-American. He is only It’s thanks to Gary Andersen that Heninger transferred to the eighth USU football player to do so. And these are only the USU in the fall of 2019. He finished up an MBA degree with a latest of awards to make it to the grad student’s trophy case. specialization in data analytics in 2020 and has now started in Waqa Damuni, an assistant athletics director, said Heninger USU’s unmanned aerial systems program. was the first person to come to mind to nominate for awards Although Gary Andersen has left USU football, Heninger is and “makes our job easier” in choosing student-athletes for looking forward to working with Blake Anderson. award season.

“He connects well with the “He’s a strong student, players, even though he’s a great player and great head coach,” Heninger said. kid,” Damuni said.

“It’s a challenge because it’s But not only has more about coaching the Heninger seen success in coaches.” the classroom, he backs Heninger has worked it up on the field too. under several coaching Despite only playing in six changes now, playing on games in the 2020 season, four different defenses. He the defensive end recordadmitted the lack of consised 42 total tackles, three tency can be difficult but he sacks and three forced said he has enjoyed it. fumbles.

His diligence in the classThe USU football mantra room, and having played for “The more successful you multiple defenses in his caare on the field, the more reer, has made him quite the successful you can be in asset on the field, according the classroom” clearly to Anderson. holds true for Heninger.

“He’s like having a coach But he said he owes his on the field, Anderson said. work ethic to his parents “I mean, he’s just super “instilling a belief in me mature, he’s kind of the old so I would believe in myman in the group, although self” and his high school he doesn’t look like it. But football coach, Bingham he just carries himself that High’s Dave Peck, who way in, which is a calming, PHOTOS BY Bailey Rigby has a calming aspect about always told him “good is not good enough.” it. He’s super, super intelliPeck taught him how to strive for greatness and that “to be gent both on and off the field.” great, all aspects of your life have to be at a high level.”

Heninger hopes his football IQ will prepare him for the NFL, Heninger also learned valuable lessons about failure. where he said players have to learn new defenses quickly.

“Growing doesn’t come without failure,” he said. “I’ve failed Although he maintains hopes for the NFL, the newly married a lot.” man said his academic studies have prepared him for his longBut the lesson paid off. term plan.

Damuni describes Heninger as always taking initiative and “They call it NFL: not for long,” Heninger said. balancing his academic and athletic lives to be the best he can He said he keeps an entrepreneurial mindset to prepare him possibly be. He also has seen Heninger being a good example for a life without football. to the younger student-athletes at USU, showing them being “Whenever I’m at, I want to build a culture,” he said. “Culture successful in your sport is also possible while striving for acamakes a great team and affects all aspects of your life.” demic success.

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O

Football Preview 2021

Balancing Football, Life and Most Importantly, Mental Health

By Jacee Caldwell THE UTAH STATESMAN

O

ne of the most popular sports in the United States is the beloved game of football. It’s something that can create traditions, connect people and generate inspiration.

However, for players, football is something that takes skill, hard work, desire and a lot of dedication.

The average NFL player spends about five hours a day doing some sort of practice.

That practice could be drills, cardio, studying film, researching other teams or even taking ice baths to heal their bodies.

And with all this time spent focusing on their performance on the field, football becomes these players’ entire world. Even their diets revolve around the game.

As for college football, those players also spend a lot of their time putting in earnest effort to prove their worth on the field. According to USU’s football players, they spend an average of 20-25 hours a week on football.

And as you can imagine, with all of this focus on football can come a lot of stress and anxiety, and can get overwhelming and draining.

This is where mental health becomes an important factor for athletes.

In 2019, the NFL enacted a joint behavioral health agreement with NFLPA, that expanded available mental health resources and mandated the development of team-specific mental health emergency action plans.

This initiative also requires that all teams must have a Behavioral Health Team Clinician on staff at all times and provides mandatory mental health education for all players and personnel.

And although college football teams have yet to enact an 26

USU Student Media

initiative like that, the NCAA has made it clear that there are many available mental health resources.

The NCAA also has web-based educational modules for players and coaches designed to normalize mental health and college athletes who may struggle with it.

As for Utah State, the Aggies are fortunate enough to have their own mental performance coach as a part of the sports medicine staff.

USU is also lucky enough to have people like Dr. Rich Gordin, who is not only a professor but a former Olympic sports consultant with many years of experience in athletics.

Dr. Gordin stated that his main role as a sports consultant is to help each athlete perform their best in sports and life while also providing life skills that promote resilience.

Especially with COVID-19 times just starting to end, the need for a mental health PHOTO BY Bailey Rigby coach and other available resources for all sports is a priority.

USU football player, Cooper Jones, stated that he believes mental health is one of the top concerns in sports and that every team should have a mental performance coach.

“No matter what level you’re playing at, it’s really hard. Every person at some point is going to experience some lows, so I think having someone there would be huge.”

Patrick Maddox, another USU football player, also opened up and talked about his own struggles. “Playing football has taken a toll on my mental health. Last year I was in a place I didn’t think I could recover from. I was falling apart mentally,” he said, “My injuries and staff change ultimately led to that not happening.”

Maddox came from Linfield College, where he had a tough time managing relationships and finding purpose, until he ultimately found sanctuary at Utah State, not only for football, but also for his mental health when he was finally able to build Continued on next page

friendships with his teammates.

Jones and Maddox both praised the new football coaches at USU for their efforts in creating personal relationships with individual players and allowing them to have mental health breaks.

Jones stated, “We go through a lot and I think especially with these new coaches, it feels like they really care about us which helps us a ton.”

The game of football, which originated in 1869 from combining soccer and rugby, is also more heavily focused on mental health challenges, compared to other sports, for multiple reasons.

According to American Psychological Association, one reason is it’s common for football players, at the collegiate or professional level, to experience head injuries.

Because of this, they can develop a brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy. This disease can cause depression, confusion, aggression and in extreme cases, dementia.

The second reason is more subtle yet still important. Dwight Hollier, vice president over the “Total Wellness” initiative explained to the American Psychological Association that it is referred to as the “extra macho” stigma.

“When you grow up in an environment where you’re constantly being told to suck it up, push through, brush it off, that becomes who you are and how you interact with the world.

It can be detrimental when you’re faced with challenges you can’t handle yourself.”

Another reason is explained by Maddox from his own first hand experience.

“We play a competitive sport and many mental health issues with players come from self doubt or anxiousness about their situation because everyone is trying to become a starter and play.”

Ultimately, mental health is something that will always play a crucial role in sports and is something that needs to take priority, now more than ever.

Dr. Gordin also acknowledged this point when he stated that balancing life for student athletes has become harder within the past 15 months because of the pandemic and racial unrest.

“Sport in these days is a year-round affair.”

It’s also important to remember that mental health and mental illness are two different things. We all have mental health and can also be educated on how to balance it.

Jones shared that some of the ways that he maintains good mental health while still working hard to play his best on the field includes eating right, staying hydrated, ensuring a good support system and taking the time to vent and talk to people you trust.

Football is a way of life for most of these players and sometimes people tend to forget how much weight that is for athletes and especially college students.

But just like life in general, if you work hard, balance a healthy routine and make sure to save time for yourself, you can keep your mental health in check.

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BTS of Behind the Scenes: USU athletics’ award-winning video operations

PHOTOS BY Bailey Rigby and Joseph F Myers

department. He’s a football guy — playing the sport in college at Ricks College and Idaho State University. After his playing career, he began working as a video coordinator and a coach at San Jose State and Idaho State. He started in his current ehind every great football team is a great video team providing footage for coaches and content for the fans. position at USU 16 years ago.

The extent of his video experience before being hired at ISU The video operations in the Utah State University’s was playing around with his dad’s camcorder, but he enjoyed athletic department is no different. the challenge of figuring things out on the job.

The Utah State video team has three different areas they “What drew me into this job in the first place is the challenge service: coach’s film, creative content and live streaming. They of it, learning how to adapt,” Garren said. do full video productions for seven sports: “With what we do, we’re in an environment football, volleyball, gymnastics, basketball, that’s always challenging and changing. track and field, cross country, tennis and And so you got to roll with the punches, you softball. know, find out what’s going to be successful Their work is invaluable, according to for the players.” head football coach, Blake Anderson.

As director of the video operations for 16 “Things don’t work without that crew,” he years, Garren has seen firsthand the growth said. “I mean, obviously their names don’t that video has made, from VHS tapes to come up a lot. And they’re not on the front DVDs to completely digital, but he has also page of the paper or anything like that. But seen the growth USU athletics has made. when you consider basically everything Garren was involved with construction that we do is videotaped, and we evaluate projects such as the West Stadium Center it, reevaluated a million times. You know, and the Jim & Carol Laub Athletics-Academif they’re not on their job, and they don’t ics Complex, where the video operations are do an efficient, effective job, then we don’t now housed. operate effectively.”

“Those to me are very exciting to look back The man that makes it all happen is at, aside from the wins on the field, and the award-winning video coordinator, Bill success of the athletes, which is great, and Garren.

Garren that’s what we’re here for,” Garren said. “It’s Garren is in year 16 as the assistant athletic director for video operations for the Utah State athletics Continued on next page

By Darcy Ritchie THE UTAH STATESMAN

B

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USU Student Media

PHOTOS BY Joseph F Myers

really cool to see us grow as a university and as an athletic department.”

Garren has won the title of “Video Coordinator of the Year” from the Collegiate Sports Video Association a total of seven times in both the Mountain West Conference and the Western Athletic Conference.

He attributes these wins to his staff, especially his staff of student videographers.

The video team includes 20 or more student assistants who help with filming, editing, creating content and live streaming. There are typically seven students working at the football practices — five on the field filming and two inside editing film as the team practices.

“We work with a lot of students,” Garren said. “We have hundreds and hundreds of students that have filtered through here for years. Some of them stayed five years or more, some of them stayed a year. They’ve all contributed to the success of this program.”

But you can’t win Video Coordinator of the Year without a standout video coordinator.

“Bill does a great job of not only managing everything here, by just going the extra mile and making sure everyone is taken care of, knows their job,” said Jayden Sanders, the assistant director of video operations. “And I think that’s why we’re so successful is because he helps people understand why it’s important, why we do what we’re doing and how it matters.”

Aggie Marching Band: “We’ve got some superstars”

By Emily White THE UTAH STATESMAN

U

tah State’s Aggie Marching Band performs at every home football game in the rain, snow or sun.

Director of athletic bands, Lane Weaver, arranges all the music for the marching band and creates their drill choreography. While Weaver admits creating drills doesn’t come naturally to him, sometimes it “swirls around and kind of creates itself.”

Creating these drills can take up to 30 hours for Weaver, but he says he’s happy to do it for the band.

“We have less rehearsal time than any college band I know,” Weaver said. “We’ve got some superstars.”

Among those superstars is USU senior Connor King, who is majoring in mechanical engineering — not music. King’s love for marching band and the trumpet came from his desire to refine his talents.

“There’s just always this push to be better,” he said. “You’re there for a purpose and you’re there to improve.”

Confident in the band’s abilities, Weaver often elects to have different performances for each home game. So, marching band students are required to memorize six different drill routines along with the new music, arranged by Weaver.

“We use a lot of different memorization techniques within the band,” said Andrew Williams, one of three drum majors in the marching band.

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Williams conducts the band during performances and helps students learn the routines during rehearsals. “Oftentimes, it’ll take us two or three weeks to really get performances down,” Williams said.

But, to King and Williams, being in the Aggie Marching Band is well worth two or three 90-minute rehearsals a week.

“We obviously have a lot of fun playing,” Williams said, “but we can’t perform without an audience. Everything we do is for the students.”

With a group of over 100 people working together for hours a week, the band has become an important part of the lives of several students.

“There are some people who need the band more than the band needs them, and I will never turn them away,” Weaver said. “The thing that I value more than the music, more than the performances, more than the ‘good jobs’ and the accolades, is the chance to provide a community where people can belong.”

After quarantining during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it’s refreshing to have the chance to rebuild that community. “We’re so used to doing this two-dimensional thing now with the pandemic,” Weaver said, “But life is meant to be lived in three dimensions and music is meant to be done in three dimensions.”

Aggie Marching Band is more than just a halftime show. It’s a community of hard-working students with incredible PHOTOS BY Bailey Rigby memorization skills who believe that we will win.

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10 Questions with the Aggies Deven Thompkins Do you have a nickname? What is it?

DT What is your favorite song?

Rap Star by polo G What is your go to post game snack?

Skittles What is your favorite NFL team?

Pittsburgh Steelers Favorite restaurant in Logan?

Angie’s Which teammate is the funniest?

Justin McGriff Where do you see yourself in five years?

Being a superstar in the NFL and in the process of creating a beautiful life for my children Something interesting people don’t know about you I love studying the history of ancient cultures across the world.

What is you major?

Anthropology What was the last TV show you binge-watched?

Jujitsu Kaisen

Stephen Kotsanlee Do you have a nickname? What is it?

Aussie What is your favorite song?

Down Under - Men at Work What is your go to post game snack?

Tim Tams What is your favorite NFL team?

Seattle Seahawks Favorite restaurant in Logan?

Angie’s Which teammate is the funniest?

Justin McGriff Where do you see yourself in five years?

Running a small-town bar Something interesting people don’t know about you I was actually born in Thailand and my last name is Thai What is you major?

Kinesiology What was the last TV show you binge-watched?

Peaky Blinders

AJ Vongphachanh Do you have a nickname? What is it?

AJ is my nickname, my real name is Aeaknaloung What is your favorite song?

Freestyle - Rod Wave What is your go to post game snack?

Buffalo Wild Wings What is your favorite NFL team?

Seahawks Favorite restaurant in Logan?

Angie’s Which teammate is the funniest?

John Gentry Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully playing football still Something interesting people don’t know about you My parents are both 5’5” What is your major?

International business What was the last TV show you binge-watched?

Snowfall

Cooper Jones Do you have a nickname? What is it?

COOOOOOP What is your favorite song?

Die for you What is your go to post game snack?

Chick-fil-A What is your favorite NFL team?

Dallas Cowboys Favorite restaurant in Logan?

La Tormenta Which teammate is the funniest?

John Gentry Where do you see yourself in five years?

Living a great life doing what I love Something interesting people don’t know about you Love golfing What is your major?

Business marketing What was the last TV show you binge-watched?

Manifest

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Byron Vaughns Do you have a nickname? What is it?

BV or Big B What is your favorite song?

G Herbo What is your go to post game snack?

Whatever I can get my hands on What is your favorite NFL team?

Don’t have one…

Whoever gives me a chance Favorite restaurant in Logan?

Angie’s Which teammate is the funniest?

John Gentry Where do you see yourself in five years?

League with a few restaurants and shoe stores with some fye…Not footlocker Jordans Something interesting people don’t know about you I’m actually a nice person and like listening to people talk.

What is your major?

Business What was the last TV show you binge-watched?

How to get away with Murder Dominic Tatum Do you have a nickname? What is it?

Dom What is your favorite song?

Every chance I get by DJ Khaled What is your go to post game snack?

Skittles What is your favorite NFL team?

San Francisco 49ers Favorite restaurant in Logan?

Kabuki Which teammate is the funniest?

Tim Patrick Where do you see yourself in five years?

In the NFL Something interesting people don’t know about you I been skiing since I was 8 What is you major?

Psychology with a minor in business What was the last TV show you binge-watched?

Snowfall Football Preview 2021

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Aggies in the NFL Jalen Davis, Cornerback, Cincinnati Bengals After time with the Dolphins and the Cardinals, Jalen Davis is establishing a home in Cincinnati, playing his second year with the Bengals. The Bengals defense was ranked No. 21 overall in 2020, and they are looking to jump up again this year. Davis is currently projected No. 3 on the depth chart behind Darius Phillips and former first round pick Eli Apple. Davis saw playing time in six games last season, recording four total tackles and three solo tackles. Davis could see playing time on special teams this upcoming season.

Nick Vigil, Linebacker, Minnesota Vikings

Keep an eye on Rodgers. If he requests a trade or retires, it’s JLove time in Green Bay. Bobby Wagner, Linebacker, Seattle Seahawks Bobby Wagner is recognized as one of the top five linebackers in the NFL today and arguably a top three linebacker in the last 15 years.

In 2020 he had 138 tackles, 81 solo, three sacks and a fumble recovery.

The 33-year-old is in the second year of his three-year $54 million extension with the Seahawks and remains a leader of Seattle’s defense.

One of Utah State’s best former talents, Nick Vigil, signed a one-year $1.75 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings in the offseason. Last year, he was with the Chargers, where he recorded 50 tackles and 29 solo.

Wagner has garnered several accolades in his time in the NFL, including six-time First-team All-Pro, one time second-team All-Pro, seven-time pro-bowler, two-time NFL tackle leader and Super Bowl Champion.

2019 was arguably Vigil’s best year in the NFL, when he recorded a team second best 111 tackles, as well as a sack, interception and two fumble recoveries with the Bengals.

Kyler Fackrell signed a one-year $1.5 million contract with the Chargers after spending time with the Giants last season, where he posted 34 tackles, 23 solo, four sacks and a 46 yard pick-six.

In Minnesota, Vigil will be fighting for a starting position behind Anthony Barr. He told Pro Football Talk at NBC Sports, “It is hard once you go from a starting role to being more of a backup, but I got a lot of playing time last year, played a lot of different spots for the Chargers and had a good, productive year when I got my chances. We’ve got a new, fresh start here, and we’ll see what happens.”

Jordan Love, Quarterback, Green Bay Packers Jordan Love has been in the middle of a lot of drama over this summer. It was rumored Aaron Rodgers wanted out of Green Bay, which would have thrown Love into the starting role in his second year in the NFL. Rodgers ended up returning, but Love still may be the future of Packer football.

Love showed well starting the first game of preseason for the Packers, going 12-of-17 for 122 yards in one half of action. But during the game, he hurt his shoulder, which forced him to miss the second preseason game. He should be healthy by the start of the season.

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Kyler Fackrell, Linebacker, Los Angeles Chargers

“It was the conversation that I had with [Charger head coach] Brandon Staley,” Fackrell told why he signed with the Chargers. “Learning his passion for football and for defense and it was kind of the energy that he brings.”

Fackrell will be a backup to Defensive Player of the Year candidate Joey Bosa and serve as a veteran on the Chargers young defensive line.

Darwin Thompson, Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs Darwin Thompson is entering the third year of his rookie contract. He’s been in two Super Bowls and earned a ring.

Thompson rushed for 97 yards on 27 carries and a touchdown in 2020 and is currently fighting for a roster spot.

Currently projected fourth on the

depth chart, he has some work to do.

He was fined for head butting an opposing player during a preseason game this season, which certainly doesn’t help his case.

Nevin Lawson, Defensive Back/Special Teams, Las Vegas Raiders Nevin Lawson signed a oneyear $1.125 million deal with the Raiders to stay for a third consecutive year. Lawson had a career year with 61 tackles, 47 solos, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery with the Raiders in 2021.

He spent the first five seasons of his career in Detroit, where he served as a primary backup, and has played the last two seasons with the Raiders. The Raiders said they hope to have Lawson as part of their bright future on defense, according to ESPN. He will sit out the first two games of the 2021-22 season due to suspension and violation of the NFL’s drug enhancement policy.

Dallin Leavitt, Defensive Back/Special Teams, Las Vegas Raiders Dallin Leavitt saw playing time in five games last season, getting ten tackles. He signed a $134,000 minimum contract to stay with the Raiders. With the Raiders drafting Texas Christian University’s Trevon Moehrig for the safety position, Leavitt probably won’t see any playing time unless he’s called for backup for an injury.

Patrick Scales, Long Snapper, Chicago Bears Patrick Scales is the Bears long snapper, entering his sixth season. He played his rookie year for Baltimore and has been in Chicago since 2015. Scales played in all 16 games since 2016. He is the only long snapper currently listed on the Bears depth chart, so nobody will be taking his job anytime soon.

Compiled by Nathan Dunn

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Legends of Aggie Football

By Parker Ballantyne THE UTAH STATESMAN

Coaches No. 6: Bruce Snyder — 1976-1982; 38-37-2 Bruce Snyder coached the Aggies for two seasons as an independent team, and then in the Pacific Coast Athletic Association. Their first four seasons in the conference, the Aggies were co-champions, champions, second and second.

No. 5: Clayton Teetzel — ­ 1909-1915; 24-18-2 As one of the first Utah State coaches, Clayton Teetzel oversaw some of the early success of the program. Teetzel was the coach of Utah State’s perfect season in 1911 when the Aggies outscored opponents 164-0. He also went 2-1 against one of Utah State’s oldest rivals, the Wyoming Cowboys.

No. 4: Matt Wells — 2013-2018; 44-34 Matt Wells coached the Aggies from 2013-2018 and was a two-time Mountain West coach of the year (2013, 2018).

Coach Wells has more bowl appearances than any other head coach in Utah State history with four. It would have been five, but he left for Texas Tech before the New Mexico Bowl in 2018. Under coach Wells, the Aggies finished outside of the top four of the Mountain West only once.

No. 3: John Ralston ­— 1959-1962; 31-11-1 Three of John Ralston’s four seasons were spent in the Skyline Conference. In those three years, the Aggies won two conference championships and went to two bowl games before going independent. In 1961, the Aggies went 9-1-1 and finished the season ranked No. 10 in the nation.

No. 2: Gary Andersen — 2009-2012, 2019-2020; 33-33 The man who built Maverik Stadium. Gary Andersen took over a decrepit program that had gone a combined 3-21 in the previous two seasons. The immediate improvements were not drastic as the Aggies won three, four and five games in his first three seasons respectively. Then, in 2011, Andersen’s Aggies turned the corner and went 7-6 — reaching their first bowl game 14 years. The next year Andersen would lead the team to a Western Athletic Conference championship and the Aggies first bowl win in 19 years. Andersen went 26-24 in his first tenure at Utah State and although his return in 2019 was

not as successful, Gary Andersen is one of the most important and successful coaches in Aggie history.

1. E.L. “Dick” Romney — 1919-1942, 1944-1948; 128–91-16 Ernest Lowell “Dick” Romney coached at Utah State for 29 seasons. He is one of the most recognizable and important figures in all of Utah State Athletics history. He was not only a football coach for 29 years but was also the head coach for basketball, baseball, and track as well as the athletic director for 31 years. He brought the Aggies their first-ever conference championship, and led Utah state to four conference titles and five second-place finishes. He also went 224-158 as the basketball coach. In 1927, Utah State’s football stadium was named after him. It would remain that way until 2015 when it was renamed Maverik Stadium. Romney is also a Hall of Fame inductee at Utah State and the National Football Foundation.

Players (offense) No. 6: Chris Cooley — 2000-2003 Hailing from Logan, Utah, Chris Cooley was inducted as a member of the USU athletics hall of fame in 2017. According to Utah State, Chris Cooley is “Regarded as the best tight end in Utah State football history.” As a senior, Cooley led all tight ends in the nation with 62 receptions for 732 yards and six touchdowns. This earned him first-team all-Sun Belt Conference honors as well as an honorable mention All-American.

Cooley was drafted into the NFL in the third round and had a nine year career including two pro bowl invitations.

No. 5: Jose Fuentes — 1999-2002 Despite leading the team during a difficult time, quarterback Jose Fuentes managed to shine. His career and accomplishments have withstood the test of time and remain top-notch after two decades. Fuentes is the all-time leader in career passing yards with 9,168 and tied with Jordan Love for career passing touchdowns with 60. He is also third in all-time total offense yards behind both Keeton and Love with a total of 8,791 yards and holds four of the ten single game passing yards records. Fuentes and the Aggies protected Romney stadium with a 3-2 record at home three years in a row from 2000-2002, including in 2001 when the independent Aggies had a four-game win streak including wins against UCF and in-state rival Weber State.

No. 4: Robert Turbin — 2007-2011 Robert “Turbo” Turbin, a three-sport athlete in high school, has cemented himself into the history books at Utah State as one of the best running backs this school has ever had. In 2009, he began to show promise, rushing for 1,296 yards and 18 touchdowns as well as setting a school record with a 96yard touchdown run against Utah. He faced a setback in 2010, missing the full season due to a knee injury. In 2011, however, he mounted one of the best comeback campaigns in Utah State history. Turbin ran for 1,517 yards, which was top ten in

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the country. He also set the single-season rushing touchdowns record for Utah State with 19. He is tied with Abu Wilson for most career rushing touchdowns with 40 and is fifth for career rushing yards with 3,315. He went on to win a Super Bowl with teammate Bobby Wagner with the Seattle Seahawks in 2014.

No. 3: Elmer “Bear” Ward — 1932-1935 Elmer “Bear” Ward’s name hangs proudly over Maverik Stadium. Ward was Utah State’s first-ever All-American in 1934. He was a two-time all-conference center. Ward is from Willard, Utah and has been inducted into both the Utah State University and State of Utah hall of fame. He went on to play for two years in the NFL and won a national championship with the Detroit Lions in 1935.

No. 2: Jordan Love — 2016-2019 One of the best quarterbacks in Utah State history, Jordan Love holds or shares nearly every record with Jose Fuentes and Chuckie Keeton. In 2018, Love led the offense to extreme heights, ending up scoring the second-most points in the country and being ranked No. 11 in total offense. Love is second in all-time passing yards at Utah State with 8,600 and is tied for second in career passing touchdowns. Love is in both first and second place in single-season passing yards, with 3,567 in 2018 and 3,402 in 2019. He threw a school-record 32 touchdowns in 2018.

No. 1: Chuckie Keeton — 2011-2015 While Jordan Love may have been a better talent, Chuckie Keeton had an equally illustrious playing career and his contributions to the program are unparalleled. When Keeton arrived on campus in 2011 the Aggies were in the WAC, when he left in 2015, they were well established as serious contenders in the Mountain West. Keeton holds the all-time school record with 62 passing touchdowns. He is also third in total career passing yards. Keeton was the leader of the team during a very transformative and successful part of its history. Much of Utah State’s success can be attributed to Keeton’s accomplishments. Without his talent and leadership, it is difficult to see where the program would be today. Keeton is currently the running backs coach at Utah State.

Players (defense) No. 6: Rulon Jones — 1976-1979 Rulon Jones was a defensive lineman at Utah State. In 1979 he was a first-team all-American and was drafted to the Denver Broncos. In 1986, he was named the AFC defensive player of the year for the Broncos.

No. 5: Alan “Madpup” McMurray — 1971-1973 As a sophomore, McMurray was an all-American with 19.5 quarterback sacks. He was also the original designer of the school’s mascot.

No. 4: Lionel Aldridge — 1960-1960 In 1962 was an honorable mention all-American. He went on to have an 11 year NFL career, winning two Super Bowls.

No. 3: The Vigil Brothers Nick, who played from 2012-2016 and Zach Vigil, who played from 2010-14, were the cornerstones of one of the best defensive campaigns in Utah State history.

Zach holds the record for most tackles for loss at Utah State and is fifth in tackles. Zach is fourth place in single-season tackles record in 2014 and Nick’s 2015 season is eighth on that same list. Nick is also third in all-time tackles. In addition, Nick cemented his legacy as an Aggie legend by suiting up as a running back and playing both sides of the ball. In 2014 he was the only player in the country to start on offense and defense. He was also the only player in the country to lead his team in tackles and rushing yards when he did it against Air Force with 57 yards and nine tackles in a win against No.18 BYU in 2014.

No. 2: Bobby Wagner — 2008-2011 Bobby Wagner is tied with Del Lyles for the school record for tackles with 446. He was named the WAC defensive player of the year in 2011 after recording 147 tackles along with four sacks and four interceptions. He was first-team all-WAC in 2009 and 2010. Wagner was drafted in the second round of the NFL draft to the Seattle Seahawks where he is in the midst of a Hall of fame career.

No. 1: Merlin Olsen — 1959-1961 Merlin Olsen, the Logan native, is the most legendary Aggie of all time. The namesake of the turf at Maverik Stadium is also an inductee of the Hall of Fame for Utah State University, College Football, and Profesional Football. A three-year letterman as a defensive tackle, Olsen was and has Merlin Olsen become a staple of not only ofAggie football but the Cache Valley community. Olson graduated in 1962 before beginning his 15 year NFL career. A member of the LA Rams’ “Fearsome Foursome,” Olson played in 14 Pro Bowls and was a five-time First-team All-Pro. A statue of Olson now stands outside the stadium.

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he first game of the Blake Anderson Era is a big one, as USU opens the year on the road against the lone Power Five team on the schedule, Washington State.

The Cougars finished the shortened 2020 season 1-3. They’ll look to regroup for another year in the daunting Pac 12 North Division.

Their young, but promising starting quarterback Jayden de Laura, who threw for 886 yards on 129 attempts in the abbreviated season, will be battling Tennessee transfer, Jarrett Guarantano for the title of starter in game one.

Washington State finished top 60 in the 2021 recruiting and transfer period, adding notable players who could be day one starters such as wide receivers CJ Moore and De’Zhaun Stribling, as well as defensive backs Jaden Hicks, Jaylen Watson and Derrick Langford.

With the heavy recruiting at the wideout position, de Laura and or Guarantano will have many options as they look to use their high-powered offense to dominate the passing game.

QB Jayden De Laura

Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash.

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USU’s home opener will be a white out USU Student Media

34-21 loss to James Madison.

The Fighting Hawks are looking to reload for the 2021 Fall season. Tommy Schuster will likely be the starting quarterback. He threw for 1,428 yards, 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions last season. North Dakota looks to take a step up this year offensively, retaining three of their top four leading wide receivers.

Running back Otis Weah, who earned Athlon Sports Preseason All-American honors in late June, should be the star of this team. Rushing for 735 yards and 9 touchdowns, he is a player to watch out for.

The Aggies will welcome back 100% capacity fans in the home opener vs the Fighting Hawks.

LB Devon Krzanowski

all 2021 will be a quick turnaround for FCS North Dakota because they wrapped up the previous season on May 2.

Going an impressive 4-1 in the regular season, they won a first round playoff game against Missouri State before a disappointing

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Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs has a capacity of 46, 692

Entering 2021 AFA has to replace their entire offensive line, yet still retains much of its offensive firepower. Junior fullback Brad Roberts, who rushed for 461 yards and five touchdowns in 2020, is expected to continue leading the rushing attack. Junior quarterback Haaziq Daniels, who was 30-54 passes for 433 yards and rushed for a second best 297 yards last season, will continue to run the offense.

As is the case when you face a triple option team, this game will be a battle

QB Haaziq Daniels

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tah State opens conference play at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, a place they haven’t won since 2013. Air Force went a 3-3 last season (2-2 in conference), including a dominating 35-7 win over the Aggies. As a team, Air Force rushed for 1,834 yards and only passed for 502 with 16 rushing touchdowns in their six games.

in the trenches. Blake Anderson saw the wishbone offense at Arkansas State from Sun Belt schools Georgia Southern, we’ll see if he has his defense prepared to match the Falcons physicality.

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Bachmeier, who battled through injury in 2020 but averaged 230 passing yards in five games played.

His main target will be wide receiver Khalil Shakir — the Broncos biggest play making threat. The senior put up an impressive 719-yard season with 6 touchdowns in just 7 games in 2020.

Completing the three-headed monster on offense is redshirt sophomore running back George Holani, who missed most of last year with injuries, but won MW Freshman of the Year in 2019.

Their defense will be tough as well.

Fifth year linebacker Riley Whimpey returns to lead the defense, while graduate senior Shan Iwrin — who led the Broncos with six sacks last season — will anchor the defensive line.

This Bronco team should be near the top of the group of five and expects to compete for a New Year’s Six game.

USU looks to snap a five game losing skid against the Broncos Football Preview 2021

QB Hank Bachmeier

he first home game of the Aggie’s conference schedule may be its toughest test of the season. Boise State, the favorite to win the Mountain West, comes to Logan for a nationally televised morning game on CBS. Despite losing head coach Brian Harsin — who took the head coaching job at Auburn — don’t expect the Broncos to miss a beat with former Oregon offensive coordinator Andy Avalos taking the coaching reins.

The Bronco offense retains every starter from a squad that averaged 33.86 points per game last season. That includes junior quarterback Hank

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teams. They are ranked last in FBS for returning production for 2021.

But they are still expected to have talent.

A three-way battle between Jaren Hall, Baylor Romney and Jacob Conover will decide the QB next year. Most people expect Jaren Hall to win the job.

In the off-season, BYU picked up a pair of brother wide receivers — sophomore Puka Nacua from Washington and graduate transfer Samson Nacua from Washington — which should bolster the passing game.

Leading rusher Tyler Allgeier, who finished No.10 nationally in rushing touchdowns last year with 13, will lead the ground game.

This in-state rivalry is always important, but BYU took the Wagon Wheel two seasons ago in a one-sided 42-14 win over the Aggies in Logan, so USU will be hungry for revenge.

RB TylerAllgeier

n the first day of October, the Aggies take on BYU in one of the most anticipated games of the season.

Few were affected by the COVID-19 season quite like the Cougars last year, yet few performed as well. Forced to reconstruct nearly their entire schedule after most conferences decided their teams wouldn’t play non-conference games, the independent school down south went an impressive 11-1, finishing No. 11 in the AP Poll, and No. 15 in the CFP Poll.

BYU lost a lot of players this offseason — including the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, quarterback Zach Wilson, and a total of 13 players who were Jaren Hall warms up before a game at USU in 2019 either drafted or signed with pro

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fter a brutal five-game stretch to start the season, the Aggies begin the easier portion of its schedule in October against UNLV. After going 0-6 in 2020, the Rebels look to rebound this season. Losing starting QB Max Gilliam, who was second on the team in rushing,

USU Student Media

RB Charles Williams

Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas is UNLV’s new home 40

means the quarterback competition will be between junior Justin Rogers and true freshman Doug Brumfield.

Many people believe it’s Roger’s job to lose.

UNLV returns leading rusher Charles Williams who rushed for a Mountain West best 495 yards and 4 touchdowns last season. Kyle Williams and Zyell Griffin are expected to be the leading wideouts this season for the Rebels, after totaling over 540 yards combined in 2020.

USU has won 14 of the last 17 matchups vs UNLV and will look to make it six in a row in Las Vegas.

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They have some serious offensive weapons returning this season. Junior tight end Trey McBride, who is emerging as a legitimate pro prospect for the Rams, had 22

USU defeated CSU 34-24 in 2019

catches for 330 yards and 4 touchdowns last year.

The other weapon is wide receiver Dante Wright. The sophomore had over 100 yards receiving in two games last season, including 146 yards and 10 catches against Wyoming.

With the departure of starting QB Patrick O’Brien, the reins will be passed down to redshirt junior Todd Centeio, who saw some time last season — throwing for 207 yards in 36 attempts.

Preseason All-MW seniors, defensive end Manny Jones and linebacker Dequan Jackson, will lead the Ram’s defense.

The Aggies will look to extend its winning streak against Colorado state on Homecoming night.

TE Trey Lance

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olorado State has some unfinished business against the Aggies after USU players opted-out of last season’s matchup due to off-field issues.

Playing in four games last season, the Rams finished 1-3.

Its single win was in the Border War, defeating Wyoming 34-24.

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on 313 attempts and 14 touchdowns. He also led the team with 483 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns.

The Rainbow Warriors return their two leading receivers from last season, seniors Calvin Turner and Jared Smart.

Hawaii could have up to seven starting transfers on the defensive side of the ball, thanks to their success in the transfer portal. Sophomore linebacker Darius Muasau led the team in tackles last season and will look to repeat that feat in 2021, while senior defensive back Quentin Fraizer looks to emerge as the primary defender with the departure of Khoury Bethley.

Facing off the day before Halloween, the Aggies will look to extend their winning streak against the Rainbow Warriors to six.

The last time USU hosted Hawaii, in 2017, they defeated them 38-0

WR/RB Calvin Turner Jr.

awaii played nine games last season, winning five — including a 28-14 victory in their bowl game against Houston.

Hawaii’s main offensive threat this season will be dual-threat QB Chevan Cordeiro. Cordeiro had a monster 2020, throwing for over 2,000 yards

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Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces, N.M.

games in the spring, going 1-1 with a win against Dixie State. NMSU has struggled while being independent, going 6-20 in their three conference-less seasons. They’ve had just two winning seasons since 2000.

The Aggies biggest strength is their offensive line. Redshirt senior Sage Doxtater was selected No.8 in the first round of the Canadian Football League but decided to stay one more year at NMSU. Many consider him the best player on their team. They also boast graduate student Eli Johnson who transferred from Ole Miss.

There will be a two-way battle for QB between junior Jonah Johnson and redshirt freshman Weston Eget.

NMSU defeated Utah State in the 2017 Arizona Bowl in overtime, but USU returned the favor in 2018, defeating them in Logan 60-13.

WR Terreel Warner

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or the first of two trips to New Mexico in November, Utah State heads to Las Cruces to take on the Aggies.

Opting out of the fall 2020 season due to COVID-19, New Mexico State played only two

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San José State took the conference by storm in 2020, going an astonishing 7-0 in conference play, including a win over Boise State, to win the title.

The Spartans look to carry that momentum into 2021. It starts with 2020 All MW quarterback Nick Starkel, who leads the offense for the second year in a row. He passed for 2,174 yards in eight games last season.

With the returning MW Defensive Player of the Year Cade Hall and teammate Viliami Fehoko leading dominating defensive front, the defense should be formidable.

The Spartans should prove to be a stiff test for the Aggies.

QB Nick Starkel

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tah State continues its road trip by paying a visit to the Bay Area to take on the reigning MW Champions.

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The Bridger Rifle

backup running back Trey Smith and an experienced offensive line that returns every starter, new offensive coordinator Tim Polasek should have plenty to work with.

The Cowboys has been good for many years, allowing just 21 points per game and just over 4.5 yards per play last season. Returning all 11 starters on the defensive side of the ball, they should be among the top defenses in the conference this season.

Aggies will close out their 2021 home schedule vs the Cowboys in a battle for the Bridger’s Rifle.

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oming off a disappointing 2-4 season, the Cowboys are looking to ride it back.

Wyoming has had a subpar offense since the departure of Josh Allen, but they are looking to change that. This run-heavy offense is led by Xazavian Valladay, who rushed for 550 yards on 99 attempts in 2020. Add

Away 11/20 11 A.M.

State.

Due to injuries that affected the quarterback room last season, three different passers ended up playing, and passing for over 250 yards.

The starter for the upcoming season will be Kentucky transfer Terry Wilson.

The Lobos can run the ball extremely well. The team ranked top 50 in rushing success rate in all of college football last season. Returning starter Bobby Cole will look to build off his successful 2020 season, where he had 548 rushing yards with 6 touchdowns.

Aggies will finish out the regular season in New Mexico on Black Friday.

Safety Jerrick Reed

T

he Aggies will finish out the regular season in New Mexico on Black Friday.

The Lobos started 2020 by dropping their first five games, including a 14-point loss in Logan against USU, before winning their final two against Wyoming and Fresno

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