Byron Vaughns: USU’s defensive ‘end-ergy’

Jake Ellis

Energetic is how many would describe Utah State defensive end Byron Vaughns.

“He just brings the energy all the time,” defensive end Addison Trupp said.

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 game.

But Vaughns’s energy is more than just physical; you can see it in his demeanor and actions as well. It’s what he calls hustle.

For Vaughns, 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.

“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 has enjoyed training people so much that he is even considering doing it as a full-time career.

“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 teammates.

“His attitude is 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.”

It’s no mistake that Vaughns has that effect on his teammates. He makes a conscious choice to be a leader for the team.

“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. 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.

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.

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.

“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

While that production was significant, the Aggies will need all their defensive ends to take a step up this season to replace lost production.

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.

“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.

Because players like Heninger are hard to replace individually, the defensive ends have taken a group approach.

Though each player in the room has a different approach to football and leadership, Devine said the group is close, like “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.”

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.