(Photo Credit: Sam Warne)
Key Players Returning:
QB Cooper Legas, WR Terrell Vaughn, OG Wade Meacham, DT Hale Motu’upuaka, LB Max Alford, LB MJ Tafisi, CB Michael Anyanwu, FS Ike Larsen, KR Terrell Vaughn, PR Cooper Jones and PT Stephen Kotsanlee.
Key Players Departing:
RB Calvin Tyler, WR Brian Cobbs, WR Justin McGriff, OC Chandler Dolphin, OG Jackson Owens, OT Alfred Edwards, OT Jacob South, DE Daniel Grzesiak, DE Byron Vaughns, DT Tavian Coleman, LB Patrick Joyner Jr., LB AJ Vongphachanh, CB Ajani Carter, NB Kaleo Neves, DS Gurvam Hall Jr., DS Hunter Reynolds and PK Connor Coles.
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: WR Colby Bowman (Stanford transfer), CB Malone Mataele (Utah transfer), DS Chase Davis (Little Elm, Texas), LB Gavin Barthiel (Washington State transfer), OT Taliafi Taala (Sandy, Utah), OT Jr Sia (Herriman, Utah), DS Chase Davis (Little Elm, Texas), CB Simeon Harris (Colorado transfer), OT Ralph Frias (Arizona State transfer), WR Grant Page (Colorado transfer) and QB McCae Hillstead (Lehi, Utah).
2022 Results:
G01 UCONN W 31-20
G02 @ #1 Alabama L 0-55
G03 WEBER STATE L 7-35
G04 UNLV L 24-34
G05 @ #19 BYU L 26-38
G06 AIR FORCE W 34-27
G07 @ Colorado State W 17-13
G08 @ Wyoming L 14-28
G09 NEW MEXICO W 27-10
G10 @ Hawaii W 41-34
G11 SAN JOSE STATE W 35-31
G12 @ Boise State L 23-42
BOWL vs. Memphis L 10-38
Team Info:
2022 Overall: 6-7 (3rd in Mountain)
Home: 4-2
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-1
MWC: 5-3
Non-MWC: 1-4
Head Coach: Blake Anderson
Utah State: 18-11
Career: 71-52
Bowls: 3-5
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Cooper Legas (135-221, 1499 yards, 61.1%, 6.8 avg., 11 TD, 10 INT)
Rushing: Robert Briggs (74 car., 353 yards, 4.8 avg., 1 TD)
Receiving: Terrell Vaughn (56 rec., 624 yards, 11.1 avg., 5 TD)
TD’s Scored: Terrell Vaughn (7)
Sacks: Hael Motu’apuaka (5)
Tackles: MJ Tafisi (69)
Interceptions: Ike Larsen (4)
Pass Deflections: Michael Anyanwu (11)
Tackles For Loss: MJ Tafisi (9)
Forced Fumbles: None
Kick Returns: Terrell Vaughn (19 ret., 503 yards, 26.5 avg., 1 TD)
Punt Returns: Cooper Jones (20 ret., 131 yards, 6.6 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: None
Punting: Stephen Kotsanlee (65 punts, 2810 yards, 43.2 avg., 24 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 5 Cooper Legas (RS SR)
RB: 22 Robert Briggs (SO)
WR: 1 Jalen Royals (JR/TR)
WR: 15 Otto Tia (RS SO)
WR: 00 Terrell Vaughn (SR/TR)
TE: 83 Josh Sterzer (SR)
LT: 77 Ralph Frias III (RS SR/TR)
LG: 79 Wade Meacham (GR)
OC: 52 Faleoule Alo (SR)
RG: 65 Tavo Motu’apuaka (RS FR)
RT: 56 Cole Maotes (RS JR)
KR: 00 Terrell Vaughn (SR/TR)
PK: 59 William Testa (JR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 45 Enoka Migao (RS SO)
NT: 8 Hale Motu’uauaka (RS SR)
DT: 48 Seni Tutaki (RS SO)
DE: 32 Paul Fitzgerald (RS FR)
LB: 33 Max Alford (SO)
LB: 2 MJ Tafisi Jr. (RS SR/TR)
LB: 1 Anthony Switzer (SR/TR)
CB: 18 Jordan Drew (RS FR)
CB: 22 Michael Anyanwu (RS SR)
FS: 6 Ike Larsen (RS SO)
SS: 3 Javar Strong (JR/TR)
PR: 4 Micah Davis (RS JR/TR)
PT: 63 Stephen Kotsanlee (SR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams:
Kick Returns: A
Punt Returns: C
Kickers: C
Punters: B
Schedule:
09/02 @ Iowa Hawkeyes | Utah State trails the series 0-2. The Aggies lost (7-48) the last meeting between schools in 2002.
09/09 IDAHO STATE BENGALS | Utah State leads the series 18-2. The Aggies won (51-13) the last meeting between schools in 2017.
09/15 @ Air Force Falcons | Utah State trails the series 5-6. The Aggies are 5-5 since 2013 and their last series loss (7-35) was in 2020.
09/23 JAMES MADISON DUKES | First meeting between schools.
09/30 @ UCONN Huskies | Utah State leads the series 2-0. Last season’s 31-20 win was the first meeting between schools since 2001.
10/07 COLORADO STATE RAMS | Utah State trails the series 37-39-2. The Aggies are 6-3 since 2013 and their last series loss (14-27) was in 2017.
10/13 FRESNO STATE BULLDOGS | Utah State trails the series 13-18-1. The Aggies lost (16-35) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
10/21 @ San Jose State Spartans | The series is tied 20-20-1. The Aggies are 6-0 since 2013 and their last series loss (7-30) dates back to 2008.
11/04 @ San Diego State Aztecs | Utah State trails the series 4-13. The Aggies won (46-13) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/11 NEVADA WOLF PACK | Utah State trails the series 7-19. The Aggies lost (9-34) the last meeting between schools in 2020.
11/18 BOISE SATE BRONCOS | Utah State trails the series 5-22. The Aggies are 1-9 since 2013 and their last series win (52-26) was in 2015.
11/24 @ New Mexico Lobos | Utah State leads the series 16-13. The Aggies are 8-2 since 2013 and their last series loss (21-24) was in 2016,
Predictions:
Home: 4-2
Away: 1-5
Neutral: 0-0
MWC: 3-5
Non-MWC: 2-2
Overall: 5-7 (9th in MWC)
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