2022
The Utah Statesman
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6 Utah State’s own All-American celebrity: Logan Bonner 10 How Calvin Tyler Jr. dealt with adversity 12 USU invests in Athletics’ future 14 Byron Vaughns: USU’s defensive ‘end-ergy’ 16 Student-athletes are students first 18 Striking senior: Taylor leads the Aggie attack 20 No moment is too big for Beatriz Rodrigues 25 USU opponent preview 36 Football trading cards
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However, Bonner’s football journey didn’t start there, and it definitely hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows.
During his five seasons repping red and black, he played 24 games with a total of 3,166 passing yards, 30 touchdown passes and nine interceptions.
In the MW championship game, Bowling caught eight passes from Bonner for a career-high of 154 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 58-yarder to give the Aggies an 18-point lead.
“I knew the fans were insane, the support was great. Took a couple of visits and then I decided, ‘You know what? I’m going to play for the best coach I know,’” Bonner said.
But his past didn’t stay completely behind him. Teammate, good friend and roommate Brandon Bowling also followed Bonner to the Aggie football family to be a wide “Ireceiver.knew
About a week into Bonner’s recruiting process, the then Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson accepted his current position as USU’s head coach, a decision that made Bonner’s choice much easier.
FALL6 SPORTS PREVIEW
“We were supposed to get beat by 20. I waited my whole career for a championship. I had been wishing for it since I was ten years old,” Bonner said, describing that moment. “We posted videos of it after and you can see (our) faces — pure joy. It was a perfect moment.”
if he was going to Utah State, I was going to go,” Bowling said. “We were sort of a package deal just because we had been with each other for such a long time.”
The dynamic duo’s strong chemistry seemed to follow them all the way to Cache Valley.
And one of the first people to run onto the field in celebration was none other than Utah State’s starting quarterback and game offensive MVP himself — Logan Bonner.
Utah State’s own All-American celebrity: Logan Bonner
It’s fourth and goal with three seconds left in the 2021 Mountain West Championship game. San Diego State snaps the ball, and as the clock runs out, Utah State linebacker Justin Rice sacks the quarterback to seal Utah State’s 46-13 victory on Dec. 4, 2021, making them the champs for the first time in school history.
wasn’t up for the game though, he made the decision to pursue a master’s degree in sports administration at another university and continue to prove his talent to the world.
On Dec. 29, 2020, Bonner announced his move to the Beehive State via Twitter.
Jacee Caldwell
But after having to split time with a new quarterback following an injury in 2019, Bonner knew by game four of his last season there that it was time to Knowingleave.histime
The six-foot-one Texas native made his way to Utah State after graduating from Arkansas State with a degree in sports management.
“I don’t see them the whole year, and then they just save up money and they come to every game, so I see them for 12 weeks straight,” Bonner said. “It’s a sacrifice being this far from home, but as soon as the schedule comes out, they buy flights.”
His family is more than happy to be a part of his journey, even if it does mean constant traveling from over a thousand miles
Since becoming a quarterback, football has been around for Bonner’s entire life and consumes a lot of his day-to-day — but it still isn’t everything.
“At the end of the day, all he wants to do is win, and he will lead his team to victory,” Bowling said. But it’s not all about the Thoughnumbers.football is a huge part of
“Weaway.just
Off the field, Bonner can be found outdoors, golfing, shooting, hiking, camping, fishing or playing with his dog.
According to his parents, it’s in these moments away from the crowds and the lights that show who Bonner is underneath the helmet and pads — kind, loyal, humble and faithful.
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“I want to get to 50 plus touchdowns this year, but also, I just want to win,” Bonner said. “I came here to win, and we won a championship, and I want to do it again. My job is to put my team in the best spot to win and if we do that consistently, then those records will come automatically, so I’m not worried about it.”
His teammates don’t seem worried either.
Since both Logan and his sister played sports growing up, it isn’t new for the Bonner family to make it a priority to be at games, even if they may have had hesitations in the beginning.
ahead, the star quarterback continues to have his eye on the prizes.
don’t miss our kids’ stuff. I gave up my career to stay home with both my kids; we are very involved parents,” Logan’s mom, Linda Bonner, said. “That’s just how we are as parents. We gave up a lot to be involved with our kids and it was worth it to us—still is.”
“His coach at the time, when he was little, told us he was going to be quarterback, and I was like, ‘Woah, woah, woah, can’t he play another position?’” Linda said. “Logan was just starting, but the coach said, ‘He can handle it, I can just tell.’”
“I’ve missed three games in six years. Even through redshirt year, I just wanted him to be able to look up and see me,” his dad, Bane Bonner, said.
Being a great quarterback with great character brings great love from the local community, too.
Bonner explained that every time he goes out in public, even if it’s just to buy groceries or to see a movie with friends, it’s almost a guarantee that someone will
“The kid makes me so proud,” Linda and Bane both said. “He has never embarrassed our name, and we will always be there to support him.”
Bonner set a new bar by breaking several school records, including four touchdown passes in three straight games, four touchdown passes in six games in a season and 2.57 touchdown passes per Lookinggame.
his life and he loves to go for the gold, Bonner recognizes there are more important things in life, and his family will always come first. A value he’s learned from the support of his parents.
But on or off the field, there is no doubt that he’s loved.
Bonner ended last season with 3,628 passing yards, 36 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. He ranked first in passing touchdowns in the MW conference and seventh in the Innation.addition,
recognize and come up to him.
backupheexactlyshowChampions2021togamewinningteamhequarterback,momentshisAndBonneronnotonB.“Iseasontodeterminationconsideringsenior,hishavehisbestyet.havenoplanIfIfocusplanB,I’mworkingplanA,”said.inoneofproudestasatookafromonein2020becomingMWtoeveryonewhyneedsnoplan.
That game may be the last thing people remember about Bonner now, but he is confident it will certainly not be the last they’ll see of him.
“He has what it takes to play
This would mean a futurebrightfor the graduate
themayalthoughtoButtheybigthey’reIt’stotheyIt’soldperson,it’ssurprisedalways“Yougetwhenanoldertoo.Themenkillme.sofunny,justwanttalkallday.awesome,reallyfansandlightup.”surprisingmany,hethrivefromspotlight on the field, Bonner does his best to avoid extra peopleandgot“Football,everywhereattentionelse.youcameraslotsofwatching
FALL8 SPORTS PREVIEW
But with the dream of going to the NFL once his clock runs out on repping his Aggie jersey, a dream that almost everyone believes he will achieve, Bonner’s fame will only grow.
and yeah, I’m animated. I yell, I scream because I love what I do,” Bonner said. “But outside of that, I’m hat down. I’m very quiet, I’m very low key. There’s a lot of times that you probably wouldn’t even know I was there.”
A statement that didn’t shock his family at all.
“When I’m by myself, I get it probably every other time I go out; people will stop me. But when I’m with my teammates, it’s every single time,” Bonner said.
at that level,” Bowling said. “I believe if he has another great season, there is no doubt he can accomplish that.”
“He’s a different person on the field,” Linda said. “I had to get to know that person.”
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Keeton has tried to preach that what Tyler has overcome should help fuel him against the challenges he now faces.
That prior relationship meant they had established trust. On top of that, Tyler could relate to Keeton, as they both suffered similar knee injuries.
That’s where Utah State came in. Tyler arrived and was coached by a familiar face from Oregon State, USU’s running backs coach and former Aggie quarterback, Chuckie Keeton. When Tyler had made his recruiting visit to Corvallis, Oregon, Keeton was the graduate assistant assigned to drive Tyler and his family around.
How Calvin Tyler Jr. dealt with adversity
and that he can bank on to say, ‘Man, I ran across a tough situation, and I beat it,’” Keeton said. “Really, anything else that gets thrown his way, he should be able to not just confront but should be able to succeed against whatever situation comes his way.”
“I just needed a fresh start,” Tyler said during a Utah State Q&A session last September.
Jake Ellis
“Those should all be kind of milestones that he’s passed up
“I already had that relationship, so once I came here, I already knew what type of guy he was,” Tyler said. “It was just him, in like a bigger position.”
FALL10 SPORTS PREVIEW
“It made me realize I’m not above nobody, and anything can be taken from you, anytime,” Tyler said. “That was a very humbling experience for me. And once I got on my feet, I felt like I couldn’t be defeated (any) more. I hit the bottom of the bottom. So once that happened, that really humbled me, and I was hungry.”
getting hurt and missing (those) couple of games,
“Byranking.me
The season-ending injury stopped Tyler in his tracks and forced him to reassess.
It’s clear from Tyler’s performance that he has overcome the problems he faced as a Beaver. Last season, he led the team with 884 rushing yards on 196 carries and 7 rushing touchdowns. Tyler finished the season as 62nd in the nation for rushing yards, even though he missed two games after breaking a bone in his hand against UNLV. If Tyler had kept his pace in the games he missed, he would have finished with over 1,000 yards, which would have been good enough for a top-50 finish in the national
In 2018, things were looking up for running back Calvin Tyler Jr. As a true freshman at Power Five school Oregon State the year before, Tyler appeared in eight games and carried the ball three times for the Beavers. He even had a 10-yard rush against the mighty USC Trojans. When two senior running backs graduated, Tyler had the experience under his belt to move up the depth chart and make a more significant impact. That was, until he tore his ACL.
The 2018 season also brought running back Jermar Jefferson into the Oregon State program from the transfer portal. He became the Beavers’ lead back over the next two seasons, and Tyler decided it was time for a change.
But the main focus beyond any individual accolade is another Mountain West championship. The entire team is locked in on doing what they can to repeat, but for players like Edwards and Tyler, who are both graduate seniors, the championship is also their final chance to play college
As for what he can do on the field, Tyler’s main goal is to “win championships,” but he also has his future to think of. He wants to put up the production his team needs and prove he can be an NFL running back.
no guarantee, his teammates and coaches believe he is capable of reaching that peak.
“I think it’s possible,” Keeton said.
When Tyler did come back last season, it took him some time to get back into form. But he put together two games with over 100 rushing yards against Wyoming and in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. Tyler’s bowl performance was especially meaningful to him because it came over his former squad, Oregon State.
want to just end this year off with a bang,” Edwards said. “It’s our last one, so we’re really trying to lead these guys to another championship, another great year, so we can be sent off with a good season.”
Left tackle Alfred Edwards saw the potential Tyler had when he was not injured last season and thought Tyler’s last few games of the season were where “he was running really hard.”
that kind of made me fall back and wait, because I was leading the conference at one point,” Tyler said. “But it’s all God’s plan at the end of the day. And I know, (I’m) going to stay healthy this year, and just prove a lot of other people wrong.”
It’s clear that Tyler’s leadership is rubbing off on the room. Running back John Gentry called Tyler a “great leader,” a “big brother” to the running backs and “one of the realest people” he has met in a while.
“I want to get the recognition and just prove that I’m one of the best backs in the nation, and hopefully get drafted,” Tyler
(lose) faith, especially with college football.”
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“He makes sure that we understand what’s going on,” Gentry said. “He doesn’t leave anybody out of anything.”
“It was a great feeling beating them guys and just showing that I could have (done) that there,” Tyler said. “I knew we (were) going to win that game from the start.”
not the only one that thinks Tyler could have a huge season this year. Tyler has received national attention after being named a preseason candidate for the 2022 Doak Walker Award, which is given to the nation’s top running back every year.
“I believe that he’s going to build off of that,” Edwards said. “It’s our second year in this offense and last year, we were just getting started. So we really want to run the rock this
“I expect Calvin to do way more than what he did last year,” Gentry said.
For Tyler, that leadership opportunity means using his experiences to push his teammates.
“In our room, we like to talk and share our stories,” Tyler said. “Them knowing my story and knowing not to give up. All it takes is hard work and dedication. It’s just grinding, just believing in yourself. That’s the main thing. Just believing in yourself. Because it’s easy to give up and
Whilesaid.itis
Edwardsyear.”is
“Wefootball.really
The previous turf was used for 10 years, which is near the full life expectancy of an artificial field.
The Aggies analyzed the risks, but Cefalo and Hartwell said the turf companies explained the benefits to them.
the recent success of the team is not surprising, and you should be expecting more of it.
how vibrant the colors stick out
Seven years ago, Utah State University announced that Romney Stadium would be renamed Maverik Stadium. Now, the most recent change for the stadium is a new turf surface for Merlin Olsen
think there was anything wrong with the last turf, but when I got on this new turf — man, you can feel a difference,” senior running back Calvin Tyler Jr. said with a laugh. “It’s softer, and it doesn’t catch as easily as the older one. We will — hopefully — witness less injuries because it doesn’t catch as easily. It feels like grass, but it’s turf.” The coaches love the new turf just as much as their “Everyoneplayers.notices
when you first see it. The dark blue, green, (white) lines, it really does just look awesome,” said Kyle Cefalo, the Aggies’ wide receivers coach. “They did a phenomenal job on it.”
While fans may notice the new look of the turf, it’s the new feel that caught the attention of the
“To make it look a little bit cleaner, we looked at several iterations of designs,” Hartwell said. “We had some graphics that looked the exact same as the previous turf, but this new one was just a little bit more crisp and concise. It reflected our brand and our image better, keeping it simple.”
“With a lot of research and development with the turf companies, every new iteration they come out with is a little more soft and has more give to it. When you replace it, it’s always going to be better,” Hartwell said.
turf features a similar design to the last iteration. The field features a block U-State logo at the 50-yard line, green synthetic grass and a navy outline on the white numbers and text around both endzones. The most notable changes are the darker shade of navy used and the design of the north endzone. It no longer features the classic “Aggies” wording with bulls on either side. Both end zones now say “Utah State.”
USU invests in Athletics’ future
Nathan Dunn
“Iplayers.didn’t
TheField.new
FALL12 SPORTS PREVIEW
There has been a large debate in football about the use of artificial turf versus grass playing fields. The National Football League Players Association released a study that said “players have a 28% higher rate of non-contact lower extremity injuries when playing on an artificial turf.” The study also found a “32% increase of non-contact knee injuries and a 69% higher rate of non-contact foot and ankle injuries on turf.”
“I know there’s a lot of studies behind it, but the turf companies communicate with coaches and the athletes,” Cefalo said. “It’s supposed to be more forgiving on the athletes’ legs.”
After winning a championship, being rewarded with new facilities and a new field can help with recruiting, which is essential to success in college Cefalofootball.said
John Hartwell, Utah State’s athletics director, said the simplification was intentional.
“The current facility stays booked from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., six days a week,” Hartwell said.
Creating a safe and exciting venue for the athletes was at the top of Hartwell’s priority list, and the design plans for the new facility seem to achieve Continuingthat.
men’s golf and other USU teams.
“Utah State has always had success. It’s proven you can have success here,” Cefalo said. “We can build off it, but we have a brand new team this year. You appreciate the past, but you have to be willing to treat every year as its own. We are really excited about where we are at.”
The complex will improve on the current 80-yard indoor field that only has one endzone by adding a full-size football field. The field will have run-off space for athletes to slow down, which the current building Additionally,lacks.the
One of the biggest benefits of the new facility will be scheduling, which is a challenge for the many teams that use the current training center.
“We’re still in the final planning phase of the new facility; few tweaks and fundraising for it. But recruiting means so much — not just to the Mountain West Conference, also the entire country — but specifically to the Mountain West,” Hartwell said.
But the new complex is not just about keeping up with the Joneses. The facility will bolster not only the football team but also the women’s soccer,
Merlin Olsen Field is not the only place to get a makeover, however. Utah State is planning a new, state-of-the-art, full-length indoor practice facility.
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support for student-athletes through facility updates will make sure Utah State’s programs are in a position to compete every year. However, Tyler thinks there is an advantage bigger than the new updates.
The nearly 110,000 square-foot facility will be located directly next to the existing Stan Laub Indoor Training Center.
“It will play a little bit to an advantage, but the real advantage is playing in Logan,” Tyler said. “Especially when you’ve got the HURD and all the fans. I like this atmosphere out here, I love it.”
complex will have indoor training facilities for golf, such as simulators and a putting green, which will allow the golf team to prepare for their season in spite of Logan’s winter weather. The larger footprint of the building will also allow for a full-size soccer field, locker rooms and offices for the soccer program.
Hartwell announced in late April that Tom and Patty Willis donated $1 million to the athletics department to build the new facility. Utah State released design concepts and announced that the project will cost $30 million.
Hartwell mentioned that other programs in the conference have added new facilities to their campuses. Last year’s Mountain West Conference runner-up, San Diego State, will move into their new stadium this coming season. Colorado State opened its new stadium in 2017, and Wyoming welcomed a new training facility three years ago.
energy is more than just physical; you can see it in his demeanor and actions as well. It’s what he calls Forhustle.Vaughns,
It’s no mistake that Vaughns has that effect on his teammates. He makes a conscious choice to be a leader for the team.
Vaughns has been able to nurture that bond with his teammates not only through games and practices but also by hanging out off the field. Often, that means living up to the spirit of Cache Valley by fishing, hiking, shooting, golfing and exploring. These activities are a natural fit for the Texan, who joked he and others had been invited to join the PGA Tour but decided to stay for Aggie football.
being a hustler is admirable — it’s actually a red flag to him if you aren’t one. He lives up to that ideal by grinding out side projects in addition to his schoolwork and his football career. One of his side gigs has been running training camps with a “great business partner,” fellow defensive end Daniel Grzesiak.
Even though Vaughns may have given up his chance for millions in the golf world, it’s safe to say he is starting to turn heads on the football field. In fact, last season, the sophomore was in the top three on the team in several key defensive stats.
FALL14 SPORTS PREVIEW
“My goal is to be a good team leader this year — where people can come talk to me about any situation, there’s no arguing on the field, there’s like a strong bond between everybody on the team, and we all have each other’s back,” Vaughns said.
Byron Vaughns: USU’s defensive ‘end-ergy’
“It feels good knowing I was the player of the game, but it was a bigger celebration knowing that we’d dominated a team that we were supposed to be the underdogs to,” Vaughns said after crediting the defensive line for helping
You can see Vaughn’s energy in action when he darts across the gridiron to make open-field tackles or spins off of a left tackle to stop a scrambling quarterback for a sack — as he did in the 2021 Mountain West Conference Championship
Energetic is how many would describe Utah State defensive end Byron Vaughns.
Jake Ellis
Butgame.Vaughns’s
“I could definitely see myself being a personal trainer and having my own gym,” Vaughns said.
Another aspect of Vaughns’s energy is that it spreads among his “Histeammates.attitudeis contagious,” said Alex Devine, the Aggies’ defensive line coach. “When he’s into it and going and has a great attitude, it really affects all of us in the room.”
“He just brings the energy all the time,” defensive end Addison Trupp said.
“Business is doing better than what we expected,” Vaughns said. “It’s also fun being in the community and being able to see the people that are in the stands.”
He totaled 4 sacks, placing him second on the team, and 10.5 tackles for loss — third on the team — during his first season in Aggie blue. He was also tied for the most pass breakups with 6. During the Mountain West Championship game, Vaughns totaled 5 tackles, with 1 sack and 2 tackles for loss, making him the game’s defensive MVP.
He has enjoyed training people so much that he is even considering doing it as a full-time career.
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Thoughapproach.each
a “family.” One way they have navigated all of their varying perspectives is by rotating the role of captain.
player in the room has a different approach to football and leadership, Devine said the group is close, like
“I know at the end of the day (if I’m) my best me, guys (will) accept me when I’m having a bad day or a good day,” Vaughns said.
While that production was significant, the Aggies will need all their defensive ends to take a step up this season to replace lost production.
So while it may not be one player that will exactly replace Heninger’s leadership and production, Vaughns and the defensive ends will be there leading each other in their own way.
Vaughns is one of the players tasked with filling the shoes of defensive end and team captain Nick Heninger, who graduated last spring. Last season, Heninger led the team in sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles on his way to collecting defensive MVP honors at the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. When people ask him if he can take that place, Vaughns said he does not feel that “pressure” and that he focuses on being his best self.
Because players like Heninger are hard to replace individually, the defensive ends have taken a group
“All the older guys are trying to take that leadership role,” defensive end Patrick Joyner Jr. said. “All of us work hard, so whenever one of us (is) speaking to the team, everybody’s going to listen.”
him reach that milestone.
Cindy Falslev, the assistant mentor/tutor coordinator, said many student-athletes are homesick when they first arrive at Utah State. Many go from being at the top of their school to
These community service projects include USU’s Juneteenth event and an annual trunk-or-treat held for the Cache Valley community in the parking lot of Maverik Stadium.
FALL16 SPORTS PREVIEW
to be holistic: mentally, physically, academically,” Smith said. “Our student athletes are also engaging with the community for different community service projects.”
“It gives them a direction, and it helps them go from being in high school to going to college. We teach them that difference,” Falslev said. “The other thing we teach them is, what does life look like after college, after your sport? Because a lot of them are thinking they’re going to go pro, but the percent of going pro is very slim, right? So we help them look at what it was like to be in high school, what it looks like to be in college and what it looks like to be out of Tutorscollege.”are
SAAS also collaborates with other on-campus groups to foster student-athlete success, including the Disability Resource Center and Counseling and Psychological
“We’reServices.trying
Another great thing about the mentor program, Falslev said, is it helps student-athletes during difficult transition periods.
“We’re doing the necessary steps to make sure our student athletes have the best package possible to make them flourish,” Smith said. “We’re proud of that.”
SAAS is made up of five academic coordinators who oversee the academic development of the 16 men’s and women’s varsity teams at Utah State, along with a learning specialist to accommodate at-risk student-athletes and a staff of tutors and mentors.
Each year, the student-athletes have a different focus in SAAS. As freshmen, they participate in an athlete-specific Connections course, which helps them get an understanding of the university. They are also required to meet with a mentor, who helps the student learn important college skills, such as navigating Canvas and taking exams.
Darcy Ritchie
In a student-athlete’s second year, SAAS focuses on leadership, and in their third year, on career readiness. The department provides the student-athletes with guest speakers and workshops on topics such as resume-building, social media marketing and interviewing.
Justice Smith, the associate athletic director for academic services, defined SAAS as a comprehensive program that balances educational and athletic success.
Student-athletes are students first, then athletes. This is the belief of Student-Athlete Academic Services, the department that oversees the academic and personal development of student-athletes at Utah State University.
“They get to know somebody beside someone that’s in a sport,” Falslev said. “They’re able to come and just be themselves without the pressure of the sport.”
Student-Athletes are students first
Smith credits this success to the camaraderie between coaches, SAAS staff and student-athletes. As a former student-athlete himself, he understands the need for this support system.
After that year, the department will decide if the studentathlete will continue to have a mentor, or if they’ll become an “independent learner.”
feeling like a nobody. The mentor program gives them a safe space — and a new friend.
also available to help student-athletes who need extra help with specific courses. The tutors are all current students, and Falslev, who worked as a tutor for SAAS when she attended Utah State, said it’s a fun and challenging opportunity. Interested students can apply on Handshake.
In their final year, the goal is graduating. Utah State Athletics boasts a 93% graduation rate — which leads the Mountain West Conference — and 40 straight semesters of the average student-athlete GPA being 3.0 or higher. During the 2021-22 academic year, USU had 74 student-athletes earn a place on the Academic All-Mountain West team.
“We basically want our student athletes to compete as aggressively in the classroom as they do athletically,” he said.
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“In high school, my team made the playoffs, but we lost the semifinals. I’ve never won a championship,” Taylor said. “Our goal as a team this season is to win the Mountain West championship.”
After being projected to finish seventh in the preseason Mountain West poll in 2021, the Aggies made it to the semi-final, where they fell 2-1 in overtime to New Mexico, who went on to win the championship.
FALL18 SPORTS PREVIEW
“I always liked having a friend on the team. It makes it even more enjoyable. Having someone to talk to so
“They came out my freshman year of high school. And then into my sophomore year is when I committed,”
Whileatmosphere.”Taylor
was busy scoring goals for the Aggies, her sister was busy defending the box. Rachel Noel, Sara’s twin sister, was a goalie for the Aggies from 2018-2021.
That goal is realistic for the Aggies this season, considering the unexpected success of last season.
Taylor was recruited for collegiate soccer at a young age. During her first year of high school soccer, she was getting scouted by recruiters.
Nathan Dunn
Scoring goals and assisting her teammates is nothing new to Taylor. In three full seasons at Utah State, Taylor has scored 12 goals, six in 2021, with seven assists in 52 career games. Starting in all 22 games last season, Taylor is destined to bring even more power to the Aggies in 2022, and she has her sights set high.
“My main goal is to score goals,” Taylor said with a laugh. “This coming season, I want to score 10 goals, but also assist my teammates with 10 assists.”
Striking senior: Taylor leads the Aggie attack
Taylor said. “I loved the campus, the university, the team was awesome — it was just a really cool place. I love Logan and it just kind of felt like it’s a good fit for me in what I was looking for in the college
As she checked in at the 56th minute, junior forward Sara Taylor prepared to lead her team in a scoreless, tied game against Marquette on Sept. 5, 2021. Just one minute after checking into the game, Taylor received a cross and sent it into a wide-open goal to put the Aggies up 1-0. Two overtimes and 48 minutes later, Taylor sent a ball from the corner to her teammate, forward Sammie Murdock, who scored the gamewinning goal to give the Aggies their fifth win of the year, 2-1.
Due to the redshirt, Taylor is on the roster for the 2022 season as one of eight seniors on the team. That gives her a responsibility to be a veteran leader.
Sara Noel before marrying her husband Jake Taylor in February 2020, and Rachel played on the same high school team at Woods Cross High School.
“I want to be known for being a good teammate, always being there for your teammates, a team player that makes the team better, and just a nice person,” Taylor said.
One of the extra things Taylor gives her team is good luck. She likes to joke about how superstitious she is, even on the road, and what she does to make sure she can perform her best.
Taylor and the Aggies start conference play on Sept. 22 at Nevada and open up the home schedule on Sept. 25 against UNLV.
Whether it is the pumpkin pancakes that help her perform her best or not, Martins is happy to help Taylor keep her pregame routine.
“It’s certainly working for her,” Martins said. “We’ll make sure she gets her pancakes.”
“When we started unofficial practices without coaches, we needed to lead and set the example of being early and the intensity that we bring to each session,” Taylor said on the importance of leading the new athletes. “Recovering, taking care of yourself after practices, I think is a really big focus that we’re trying to continue to improve (with) the team culture and make sure that everyone’s ready when preseason comes.”
“My main sport was soccer. I also played basketball for the school teams, never competitive, so it was mainly soccer,” Taylor said.
“I had to redshirt my sophomore year because I have really bad ankles,” Taylor said. “I sprained my ankle a couple of times during the fall, so I had to sit out the season, which was hard, but it ended up being good in the long run.”
I could ask her stuff that I could work on, because she can see everything when she is back under the goal,” Taylor said. “It was so nice to kind of have that friend on the Taylor,team.”formerly
Taylor also competed in basketball and ran track, but she never lost focus on soccer.
With strong veteran leadership and exciting new
“I’m very superstitious. I have a lucky scrunchie that I wear every game. I usually do a blue one, but I think I’m going to mix it up this year and change how I do my hair, so hopefully that goes well,” Taylor said, laughing. “But before every game, I make pumpkin pancakes and eat them. Even when we’re on the road. I bought a mini pancake griddle, and I’ll make them in my hotel room and eat them before the games.”
“I mean, how has she not helped? She’s a leader who is always willing to go out and do extra things with them, but also someone who leads by example,” Martins said. “She gives a lot to the program.”
“It was fun because she played goalie, so we would go to the park and I would shoot on her,” Taylor said. “It worked out because it was practice for both of us.”
19
Being a three-sport athlete causes wear and tear on the body, a setback she faced at the beginning of her collegiate career.
Manny Martins, entering his second year as head coach for the Aggies, said that Taylor has helped the team more than you would think.
In high school, Taylor scored 21 goals and helped lead Woods Cross to a region title in 2017, receiving allstate honors twice.
transfers, the Aggies are expected to have a big season. In order to achieve that, Taylor does her best to build and strengthen bonds with her teammates.
It’s a big goal, but something the team always says is, “No moment is too big for Bia.”
Chloe Hirst, the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Utah State Volleyball, said Rodrigues doesn’t break under pressure because she played on a high-level international team before coming to Utah State.
“Everyone thought that we were going to be at the bottom with no chance,” Rodrigues said. “So we just told everyone that we are coming, and we are not a team that’s going to give up.”
She believes the success of the volleyball team will continue this season.
“We were down. We were frazzled. We were frustrated,” Hirst said. “Bia comes in and just rattles off eight serves in a row, and that’s exactly what we’re talking about: that no moment is too big for Bia. Just zero fears, zero hesitation.”
In addition to Rodrigues’ confidence under pressure, Hirst is also impressed by her consistency.
FALL20 SPORTS PREVIEW
“It’s a big benefit to our team, like she’s played in these big moments before with her club team in Portugal,” Hirst said. “We always say, ‘No moment is really too big for Bia,’ just because she’s been there before. That’s just something huge that she really brings to our team.”
No moment is too big for Beatriz Rodrigues
“Everythingroster. was kind of magical for me because it was my first year in the states,” Rodrigues said. “I had a lot of new friendships, trying to find the way that you guys play in the U.S. because it’s a little bit different. I feel like everything was kind of special in that way.”
Hirst shared an example from a preseason game where Rodrigues, after being out for three weeks with an injury, was called into a game against Colorado State.
“I don’t want to say for sure, but I would say that we’re probably going to be better,” she said, “even better than last year.”
“She’s consistent as far as the fire and the competitive spirit that she brings,” Hirst said. “No matter what, she wants to win, and she tries to always figure out a way
Rodrigues, a setter, always wanted to play volleyball in the United States after graduating high school, but because she started college in Portugal, she thought she wouldn’t be able to.
Rodrigues said she thinks the success was due to the many experienced players joining the team that season, as well as the new coach, Rob Nielson, who was hired as head coach in January 2020.
An extra special moment for Rodrigues was when Utah State Volleyball won the Mountain West regular season championship — especially because nobody thought it would happen. The team was predicted to finish ninth in the Mountain West Conference in the 2021 season.
Darcy Ritchie
“I was like, ‘OK, my dream of coming to the U.S. is not going to happen anymore,’” Rodrigues said. “I basically was not expecting any kind of opportunity to come here, and then eventually, my coaches contacted me.”
In 2021, she moved from Lisbon to Logan as one of nine new players signed to the 2021 Utah State Volleyball
When she was younger, Beatriz Rodrigues wanted to play soccer. Unfortunately for her, her home country of Portugal doesn’t have soccer teams for girls older than 12, so instead, she decided to start playing volleyball when she was 7 years old.
In addition to winning the regular season conference title, the 2021 team had the most wins in a season since 2010 and the second-best hitting percentage in the volleyball program’s history.
The goal for the whole team, according to Rodrigues, is to go as far as they can. After winning the conference in 2021, Utah State lost its semifinal matchup against Boise State in the Mountain West Championship tournament.
“As a team, my goal is for sure to win the conference, then win the conference tournament and then go to the NCAA and see how far we can go,” Rodrigues said.
Rodrigues knows this year’s team will be good, with new players coming in and the team’s sights set high. With a goal of going as far as possible this season, the pressure is on for Utah State Volleyball, but no moment will be too big for Bia.
“When I was younger, I used to be the youngest on my team,” Rodrigues said. “I felt like someone older than me on my team, helping me and trying to guide me and motivate me and doing all the stuff a leader does, helped me a lot to grow.”
21 how to do it. Even if it’s maybe not her best day or not her best game, she’s just going to go compete, no matter
“Most of us are changing from a place that’s nine hours different, so we can’t even talk with our family,” Rodrigues said. “We can’t be with our family on a weekend. We can’t, so we need to lean on each other.”
Stokes said as a setter, Rodrigues does a great job stepping into a leadership role every time she is on the court. Her energy helps everyone else on the team play better.
The Mountain West Conference also recognized Rodrigues’ academic achievement, naming her to the Academic All-Mountain West team and distinguishing her as a Mountain West Scholar-Athlete in 2021.
trust your team, you’re never going to be able to do anything,” Rodrigues said. “I think that’s the thing that keeps me going with volleyball and gives me so much joy playing it.”
Rodrigues said she always likes to be in a leadership role. She wants to be an example to her teammates and wants them to know she always has their backs.
Rodrigues said the volleyball team is close, and she feels especially connected with the other foreign players.
Rodrigueswhat.”
“It’s a guarantee that I’m going to give 100% because I always give 100%,” Rodrigues said. “In my mind, if I’m doing something, I have to do it, so why would I do it with only 50%? You better do it the best way you can.”
“Sometimes we can’t hang out because she tells me she’s studying for a test or she’s doing an assignment,” Stokes said. “I just know that she’s always putting in all her
The team aspect of volleyball is a huge draw for Rodrigues. With other sports, she said, you can grab a ball and go practice with yourself. That’s not possible in “Ifvolleyball.youdon’t
And Rodrigues doesn’t just put 100% into volleyball. Her teammate and close friend, Kylee Stokes, said she works just as hard off the court, especially on her schoolwork.
“She just gets so fired up whenever she sees us kill a ball, get a really good block,” Stokes said. “She’s always so fired up and her energy is just insane, and it translates to all of us that are playing.”
effort when she’s working on school.”
hates losing, and she considers her competitive nature a strength.
23 435.797.1707catering.usu.educatering@usu.edu BOOK YOUR CATERED EVENT TODAY! Luncheons • Meetings • Conferences • Seminars • Conventions Galas • Life Celebrations • Receptions • Retreats • Trainings Grand Openings • Watch Parties • Weddings EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS. EVERY EVENT, EVERY TIME.
“Our guys have had a really good summer and prepared well. The energy we already have has been nothing but positive,” head coach Blake Anderson said. “Expectations are through the Theroof.”rest
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The home schedule this season may not be as exciting as 2021, but contains more games that the Aggies will be favored in.
USU Opponent Preview
In three of their six scheduled home games, Utah State will host UConn, UNLV and New Mexico, who have been at the bottom end of FBS programs record-wise in the last few seasons. New Mexico has not won a road game since 2018. The Aggies also host FCS opponent and in-state foe Weber State. With four of the first five home games being historically below-average opponents, the home record should improve this season.
of this magazine has highlighted the Aggies, but now it’s time to get to know the opposition. The following is a preview of the remaining opponents this season.
After winning the Mountain West Conference Championship for the first time in its history, the Utah State football program will look to become the second team in 10 years to win back-to-back Mountain West titles.
The Aggies had the best road record in college football last season, going 7-0. However, the road schedule this season is far more daunting. It includes one of the top teams in college football, the Alabama Crimson Tide, and tough rivalry games in hostile environments at BYU, Boise State and Wyoming.
Nathan Dunn
Despite being a great road team last season, Utah State has struggled at home in recent years. They have gone 8-8 at Maverick Stadium since 2019. Last season, the Aggies went 3-3 with lone wins over North Dakota, Colorado State and Hawaii. All three losses of the Aggies’ 11-3 record came at home and were 14-plus point deficits.
Notably, the home wins have been close games. In Utah State’s home-opener last season against FCS North Dakota, they were down 7-21 at the end of the first quarter before coming back to beat the Fighting Hawks 48-24. Later in the season, the Aggies narrowly beat Colorado State 26-24 due to a coaching error from the Rams that led to a missed field goal.
FALL26 SPORTS PREVIEW
The Aggies and Wildcats kick off at Maverik Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. Listen to the game live on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Wildcats have some work to do. They’ve lost two of their best players — Conner Mortensen to the NFL and George Tarlas to Boise State — leaving a gaping hole on the defensive line. On the bright side, cornerback Eddie Heckard is expected to take a large leap this coming season as he leads a strong Wildcat secondary. Heckard forced 3 fumbles and 7 pass breakups and had one interception last year for Weber State.
WEBER WILDCATSSTATE
A matchup against Weber State is one of two in-state games for the Aggies in 2022. After a 6-5 season in 2021, sophomore Bronson Barron returns as the Wildcats’ quarterback. Last season, Barron threw for 1,520 yards, 8 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, with a 60% completion rate. The Wildcats also bring back their two most efficient running backs, Dontae McMillan and Josh Davis. Davis, who will be a senior, has seen his numbers decrease every year due to injuries. After a 1,362-yard freshman season and an 11-touchdown, 1,130-yard sophomore season, he has yet to surpass 400 yards in the last two seasons. McMillan has picked up the slack, tallying 850 rushing yards on 149 attempts, which is good for 5.7 yards per carry in the last two seasons. With nine career rushing touchdowns, McMillan will be one of the main focal points of the young Wildcat offense. Weber State’s passing game will likely take a step back due to the departure of leading wideout Rashid Shaheed, as he signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.
Last season, the Aggies defeated the Rebels at Allegiant Stadium 28-24 on a go-ahead rushing touchdown from Elelyon Noa with 35 seconds left.
27
REBELSUNLV
The Rebels will visit Logan, where the Aggies have defeated them six straight times, on Sept. 24, with kickoff at 5 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network. Listen to the game live on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM.
Defensively, the Rebels are expected to be better. Despite leading tackler Jacoby Windmon transferring to Michigan State, the defense, made up of 12 seniors, should be strong. The Rebels will also return linebacker Austin Ajiake, who recorded a career-high 18 tackles against the Aggies last season.
In the last two seasons, the Rebels have gone an eyeopening 2-16. Last season, things were looking up for the Rebels with transfer quarterback and former four-star recruit, Tate Martell, but he would go on to only suit up in two games before medically retiring from football this offseason. Instead, this season the Rebels will again be relying on sophomore quarterback Cameron Friel. Friel had a solid first year with the Rebels last season, throwing for 1,608 yards, 6 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Another big hit to the Rebels is the loss of running back Charles Williams, who graduated. Over six seasons with the Rebels from 2016-2021, Williams totaled over 4200 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns, and he led the conference in yards last season. In contrast, the projected starting running back for 2022 is Chad Magyar, who only saw 13 carries last season.
The Cougars have finished with 10+ wins in the last two years, finishing 10-3 last season. They defeated Utah in the Holy War for the first time in 13 years and beat five Pac-12 opponents. This year, they are ranked at No. 2 for returning production, boasting a 97% rate in defense and bringing back 88% of their total production across the
change for BYU since last season is the loss of running back Tyler Allgeier to the Atlanta Falcons. He led the country with 23 rushing touchdowns and was third in rushing yards with 1,606. Along with Allgeier, the Cougars also need to replace starting center James Empey and wide receiver Neil Pau’u. Despite the losses, they return second-year quarterback Jaren Hall and, well, everyone else. Hall threw for 2,583 yards with 20 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in 10 games last year.
The Aggies and Cougars kick it off in Provo on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. on ESPN. Listen to the game live on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM.
COUGARSBYU
Theboard.biggest
FALL28 SPORTS PREVIEW
After a surprising loss to UAB in the Independence Bowl, the Cougars are entering their last season of independence before entering the Big 12. For the Aggies, this year’s trip to Provo has some extra weight to it. Because BYU canceled all scheduled future games with Utah State, it will be the last meeting between the rivals for the foreseeable future, meaning the Old Wagon Wheel will have a temporary home. The Cougars have won the last two matchups against the Aggies after the Aggies won two in a row in 2017 and 2018. Utah State has won three of the last seven.
AIR FALCONSFORCE
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Returning both their leading passer and their top five rushers from last season, the Falcons’ triple-option offense will be in full effect in 2022. Haaziq Daniels, starting quarterback and captain of the offense, threw for 1,184 yards last season, with 7 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. The Falcons led the nation in rushing yards last season with 4,267, almost 600 yards ahead of the next team. They were second in the country in rushing touchdowns with 44, two behind their rivals at West Point.
The Falcons and Aggies kickoff on Oct. 8 at Maverik Stadium. Listen to the game live on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM.
After an impressive 10-3 2021 season for the Falcons, they are looking to run it back in 2022. Tying with the Aggies for first place in the Mountain Division last season, they are projected to finish second this season with 10 first-place votes, just behind Boise State’s 14 first-place votes.
The Aggies beat the Falcons in a shootout last year, which ended up being the tie-breaking win that delivered the Aggies the division crown. However, Utah State has only beat Air Force two times since 2015. The Aggies look to make it two in a row in the most anticipated home game of the 2022 season.
The most fascinating unit of the Air Force team is the offensive line. College football analyst Phil Steele ranked Air Force’s offensive line as No. 16 in the country this year. With an average weight of 284 lbs. and an average height of 6-foot-3, the Air Force starting offensive line unit is the key to their rushing game success.
Brian Roberts, the leading rusher for Air Force, ran for 1,356 yards on 299 attempts and 13 touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 205 lb. running back is projected to take the reins again as the starting running back this season.
Just six days after a 52-10 loss to Nevada on their final game of the 2021 season, Colorado State fired head coach Steve Addazio, who finished his 16-game tenure at 4-12. Most notably for Aggie fans, Addazio potentially cost Colorado State a win against at USU last season due to lack of communication. Instead of spiking it to have time to set up, the Rams rushed a field goal as the clock ran down and missed. The Aggies won that game 26-24, and the Rams didn’t win a game the rest of the season.
Now the Rams turn to Jay Norvell. Yes, the same Jay Norvell Mountain West fans are familiar with. He coached at Nevada from 2017-2021, turning a 3-9 team into a bowl team for four consecutive seasons. The Rams are hoping he does the same for them.
FALL30 SPORTS PREVIEW
STATECOLORADORAMS
This season, the Aggies will visit Fort Collins for the first time in four years. It will be the Aggies’ second time playing in Colorado State’s new Canvas Stadium, which was built in 2017. The Aggies have won three straight over Colorado State and will look to make it four on Oct. 15 at 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network. Listen to the game live on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM.
Since last season, Colorado State has lost a lot of talent on the offensive line. Their quarterback, Todd Centeio, who threw for nearly 3,000 yards on 229 completions, transferred to James Madison. Relying heavily on his legs, Centeio was second on the team in rushing with 439 yards on 131 attempts and 2 touchdowns. The Rams also lost their leading rusher, David Bailey, who rushed for 752 yards with 9 touchdowns. Despite those heavy losses, the one that may hurt the most is the Rams’ tight end, Trey McBride. He was selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals. Over one-third of Centeio’s passing yards were to McBride, who had 90 receptions for 1,121 yards, leading all tight ends in college football. While losing a lot offensively, the Rams return their three leading tacklers for 2022. Accounting for 100 total tackles in 2021 was linebacker Cam’Ron Carter. He was also third on the team in sacks with six.
Despite losing both QBs, Wyoming gained a familiar face to start next season. Former Aggie quarterback Andrew Peasley is the expected starter for Wyoming. The Cowboys will also return starting running back Titus Swen, who led Wyoming last season with 785 yards on 132 attempts with 7 Wyomingtouchdowns.also
Utah State will look to get revenge against the Cowboys when they visit War Memorial Stadium on Oct. 22. Listen to the game live on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM.
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Anothertouchdowns.bigloss
Former Cowboy-turned-Aggie Levi Williams had one of his best games of the season for the Cowboys. He was 12-15 with 242 yards, 2 touchdowns and a pick. The Cowboys rushed for 362 yards on the Aggies in the dominating win.
COWBOYSWYOMING
As mentioned, the Cowboys lost quarterback Williams to USU, but they also lost the other quarterback from their dual-QB system. Sean Chambers, who got benched after a loss to New Mexico, threw for 1,125 yards with 6 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Noticeably better, Williams won three games for the Cowboys, throwing 990 yards with 9 touchdowns and 5 picks.
Wyoming started the 2021 season going 4-0. Despite playing four low-level FBS teams and one FCS team, they showed a lot of promise. After a strong start, they only won two more regular season games, with their biggest against the Aggies at Maverik Stadium, where they won 44-17.
lost leading receiver Isaiah Neyor, who transferred to Texas after a stellar freshman season. Neyor grabbed 44 passes for 878 yards and a team-high 12
for Wyoming is star linebacker, Chad Muma. Muma was selected in the third round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL draft. Muma had 142 total tackles, which led the country last season. He also led the country in solo tackles.
The Aggies will host New Mexico on Nov. 5 at 1:30 p.m. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network. Listen to the game live on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM.
The Lobos bring back their two leading pass catchers, WR Luke Wysong and TE Trace Bruckler. They also return their two leading tacklers, Jerrick Reed and Tavian Combs. They were the stars of the defense all season, combining for 169 tackles, 3 interceptions and 11 pass deflections.
The Aggies have won five straight against the Lobos, only losing twice since 2013.
FALL32 SPORTS PREVIEW
The expected starting quarterback this season is Isaiah Chavez. He was the starter when the Lobos upset the Cowboys 14-3 on the road last season. Chavez was 10 of 11 with 112 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 49 yards on 16 carries. The Lobos return sophomore running back Nathaniel Jones, who showed promise in his limited carries last season. He rushed for 232 yards and 4 touchdowns on 49 attempts.
Last season, Utah State beat New Mexico 35-10 in a division-clinching win. Logan Bonner threw for 312 yards on only 16 completions and tied the single-game record at USU with five passing touchdowns.
NEW LOBOSMEXICO
New Mexico has had only two winning seasons in the last 14 years: 2015 and 2016. In that stretch, they are a combined 47-119 under four head coaches. Current head coach, Danny Gonzales, took over in 2020 and has shown promise in turning the program around.
Hawaii lost starting QB Chevan Cordeiro to San Jose State in the transfer portal, but they aren’t completely left out to dry. The Rainbow Warriors return Brayden Schager, who got meaningful playing time last season. As a freshman in 2021, he threw for 615 yards with 2 touchdowns in two games but had a blistering 5 interceptions in the same Thestretch.Rainbow
USU will travel to the Aloha State on Nov. 12 at 9 p.m. Listen to the game live on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM.
Warriors also return RB Dedrick Parson, who split carries last year. He had 618 yards on 117 attempts with a tied team-high 8 touchdowns.
Hawaii and Utah State had a high-scoring game last year, where the Aggies dropped 51 points and, backed by Bonner’s 361, his second-highest total last season, threw for over 400 combined yards.
The Aggies have defeated Hawaii six straight times, with five of those wins by 20 points or more.
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Losing leading tacklers Darius Musau to Big Ten-bound UCLA and Khoury Bethley to Arizona State, the returning production on an already rocky defense is slim.
Considering last season’s losing record and a 5-4 campaign in 2020, the Rainbow Warriors have struggled to have productive seasons since losing head coach Nick Rolovich to Washington State.
RAINBOWHAWAI’IWARRIORS
Following the cancellation of their bowl game against Memphis due to the coronavirus, Hawaii ended their season at 6-7. It was their first sub-500 season since 2017.
Eventackles.though
On defense, the Spartans bring back senior linebacker and captain Kyle Harmon. Harmon had 134 tackles last season, leading the Spartans and coming fourth in the nation in total
AfterLogan.losing
FALL34 SPORTS PREVIEW
SAN JOSÉ STATE SPARTANS
Fans will get the 2020 Mountain West Champions versus the 2021 champions when the San Jose State Spartans visit
The Spartan-Aggie game on Nov. 19 will be Senior Night, adding emotional fuel to the fire. Listen to the game live on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM.
standout QB Nick Starkel, the Spartans had a solid QB competition in the fall, so either option will be capable. Chevan Cordeiro transferred from Hawaii to San Jose State after throwing for 2,793 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. His counterpart, Nick Nash, filled in for Starkel during his injury last season and went 3-2 as the starter, throwing for 971 yards and 6 touchdowns last year. He also rushed for 385 yards and a touchdown.
The Aggies have defeated the Spartans in nine straight games dating back to 2009. Last year, USU was dominant in a 4817 win, scoring 24 unanswered points in the game — twice.
San Jose State won the conference in 2020, they lost the Arizona Bowl, their only bowl game appearance since 2015. It’s been a very up-and-down program, as they’ve only had two non-losing seasons since 2013 and went 1-11 just four seasons ago in 2018.
A big piece for the Spartan offense this season is senior wideout, Isaiah Hamilton. Hamilton had 414 yards on 31 catches with 2 touchdowns last year. The Spartans also welcomed Nevada transfer, WR Justin Lockhart, from the transfer portal. Lockhart had 470 yards on 35 receptions and 2 touchdowns for the Wolf Pack.
The Broncos have had five 10+ win seasons since 2016 and have appeared in the AP Poll in 20 straight seasons; however, they did not appear in the rankings last year in Andy Avalos’ inaugural season as head coach.
BOISE BRONCOSSTATE
Going 7-5 overall last year, Boise State was still in contention for the division title in the final regular season game, but they fell to San Diego State and dropped to third behind USU and Air Force.
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In the preseason rankings released by the Mountain West Conference, the Broncos are expected to finish first in the Mountain Division to earn a bid to the Mountain West Championship. With 14 first-place votes, the Broncos are seeking their fifth championship appearance in six years.
A rivalry like no other in the Mountain West, the Broncos and the Aggies will meet for the 27th time on Black Friday. Historically, Boise State has controlled the series for a long time, winning six straight and only falling to the Aggies once, 26-52 in 2015, since 1998.
The Aggies and Broncos will end their regular seasons on Nov. 25 at Albertsons Stadium on the “Smurf Turf.” The game is slated to kick off at 10 a.m. MST, and it will be broadcast on CBS. Listen to the game live on Aggie Radio 92.3 FM.
On the offensive side of the ball, Boise State returns starting QB Hank Bachmeier for his fourth season. Bachmeier was great last season, throwing for over 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. The Broncos also return one-half of an explosive running back duo with George Holani. While splitting carries last year, Holani racked up 569 yards on 119 attempts and a touchdown. The Broncos, however, lost their best offensive player to the NFL draft. Khalil Shakir, who had 1,117 receiving yards on 77 receptions, led the team in touchdowns with 7. His production will need to be replaced by Stefan Cobbs, who had 5 touchdowns and was second on the team in receiving yards with 421.
A: All of Justin Bieber’s “My World 2.0” album. Great album.
Q: What is your number one red flag in other people?
36
Q: If you had to play for another USU team, what team would it be?
Calvin Tyler Jr.
#5 • QB
A: Not brushing your teeth.
A: I think basketball would be the most fun, but it’d probably be the one I’d be worst at. I don’t know. Probably not the best choice, but I like basketball.
Cooper Legas
A: “bad guy” (by) Billie Eilish.
Get to know the player...
Q: What’s your favorite sports movie?
A: “Gridiron Gang.”
Q: If you had to play for another USU team, what team would it be?
Q: What is your guilty pleasure song?
Get to know the player...
A: Basketball. I’m a hooper.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure song?
Q: What is your number one red flag in other people?
#4 • RB
A: There’s a lot honestly, but something I can say on camera: I can’t do bad breath.
I don’t have one.
Q: What is your number one red flag in other people?
Hygiene. Bad breath, it’s not good.
37
Q: If you had to play for another USU team, what team would it be?
Q: What is your guilty pleasure song?
If you had to play for another USU team, what team would it be?
Q: What’s your favorite sports movie?
“Friday Night Lights.”
What is your number one red flag in other
A: “When the Game Stands Tall” or “Remember the Titans.”
#0 • DE
Patrick Joyner Jr.
A: Dishonesty.
Get to know the player...
What’s your favorite sports movie?
Basketball.Whatisyour guilty pleasure song?
Brian Cobbs • WR
Get to know the player...
A: Basketball.
A: “Stay” by The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber. That’s a good one right there.
#8
Q: What is your number one red flag in other people?
A: I can’t hoop, so not basketball. Do we have a skiing team here? If we got one of those, I’d be on the skiing team.
A: It might be a little played out now just because of the show, but “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush - from “Stranger Things.”
Q: What is your guilty pleasure song?
Q: If you had to play for another USU team, what team would it be?
A: “Coach Carter.”
Q: What’s your favorite sports movie?
Get to know the player...
A: Any old-time country songs.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure song?
Josh Sterzer
Q: What’s your favorite sports movie?
Hunter#27Reynolds•S
Q: If you had to play for another USU team, what team would it be?
Get to know the player...
38
A: Basketball.
A: “Remember the Titans.”
#83 • TE
A: People that talk too loud.
A: A lot of that old R&B.
Q: What is your number one red flag in other people?
A: “The Blind Side.”
Q: If you had to play for another USU team, what team would it be?
Q: What is your guilty pleasure song?
A: If we had one, it would be a baseball team, but nah, nothing else.
Q: What’s your favorite sports movie?
Q: What’s your favorite sports movie?
A:people?People
Alfred Edwards #72 • OL Get to
Get to know the player...
Q: What is your number one red flag in other who chew with their mouth open.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure song?
39
A: Probably somebody that’s just not smart. It’s not my thing. know the player...
AJ#10Vongphachanh•ILB
A: I don’t really have one. I’m trying to think, but I really don’t think I have one.
A: “The Longest Yard.”
Q: If you had to play for another USU team, what team would it be?
A: Basketball for sure.
Q: What is your number one red flag in other people?
FALL40 SPORTS PREVIEW
Q: What’s your favorite sports movie?
A: Track. I’m definitely going to run some track.
A: “The Blind Side.”
Hale#8Motu’apuaka•DT Get
Q: If you had to play for another USU team, what team would it be?
#11
Q: What is your guilty pleasure song?
A: If they had a boxing team, I would play for that.
A: “Summer Walker.”
Byron Vaughns • DE
Q: If you had to play for another USU team, what team would it be?
Get to know the player...
Q: What is your guilty pleasure song?
Q: What’s your favorite sports movie?
A: People who gossip. to know the player...
A: “Remember the Titans.”
A: If you’re not a hustler.
Q: What is your number one red flag in other people?
A: “Big Energy” by Latto.
#59
A: Golf team, for sure.
A: I love of bit of Ariana.
A: “Secretariat.”
Stephen Kotsanlee • P
Q: What’s your favorite sports movie?
Q: What’s your favorite sports movie?
Q: What is your guilty pleasure song?
A: “Fergalicious.”
#63
Get to know the player...
Q: What is your number one red flag in other people?
Get to know the player...
A: A lack of compassion, I guess. That’s a tough one.
Connor Coles • PK
A: “Invictus,” with Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Obviously about the South African rugby team and the social dilemmas going around the country at the time and how that kind of sport brought a whole nation together. I love that movie. I could rewatch it day in, day out.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure song?
Q: If you had to play for another USU team, what team would it be?
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