(WR Jalen Royals – USA Today Sports)
Key Players Returning:
RB Robert Brigs Jr.,, WR Jalen Royals, OC Faleoule Alo, OG Wyatt Bowles, OG Aloal’I’l Maui, OT Teague Andersen, OT Cole Motes, DE Cian Slone, DE Blaine Spires, LB Max Alford, LB Logan Pili, CB Avante Dickerson, CB JD Drew, NB Jaiden Francois, FS Ike Larsen, PK Elliott Nimrod, PT Stephen Kotsanlee, and PT Ryan Marks.
Key Players Departing:
QB Cooper Legas, RB Davon Booth (Mississippi State transfer), WR/PR Micah Davis, WR Terrell Vaughn, DE Paul Fitzgerald (Utah transfer) DT Hale Motu’upuaka., LB Anthony Switzer (Arkansas transfer), LB MJ Tafisi, CB Michael Anyanwu, FS Devin Dye (Kansas transfer), and KR Terrell Vaughn.
(QB Bryson Barnes – Getty Images)
Top 10 Recruits:
3 Star Recruits: DE Martin Dean (El Dorado, Kansas), QB Bryson Barnes (Utah transfer), LB Tanner Williams (Santa Ana, California), DT Braydon Bailey (Huntington Beach, California), OL George Miale (Baylor transfer), RB Herschel Turner (Concord, California), TE Grayson Brousseau (Lehi, Utah), DS Jordan Vincent (New Mexico State transfer), DT Gabriel Iniguez (New Mexico State transfer), and CB Davon Graham II (Oklahoma transfer).
2023 Results:
G01 @ #25 Iowa L 14-24
G02 IDAHO STATE W 78-28
G03 @ Air Force L 21-39
G04 JAMES MADISON L 38-45
G05 @ UCONN W 34-33
G06 COLORADO STATE W 44-24
G07 FRESNO STATE L 32-27
G08 @ San Jose State L 21-49
G09 @ San Diego State W (2OT) 32-24
G10 NEVADA W 41-24
G11 BOISE STATE L 0-45
G12 @ New Mexico W (2OT) 44-41
BOWL vs. Georgia State L 22-45
Team Info:
2023 Overall: 6-7 (3rd in Mountain)
Home: 3-3
Away: 3-3
Neutral: 0-1
MWC: 4-4
Non-MWC: 2-3
Head Coach: Blake Anderson
Utah State: 23-17
Career: 74-54
Bowls: 3-5
(FS Ike Larsen – AP Photo)
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: None
Rushing: Robert Briggs (80 car., 420 yards, 5.3 avg.,6 TD)
Receiving: Jalen Royals (71 rec., 1080 yards, 15.2 avg., 15 TD)
TD’s Scored: Jalen Royals (15)
Sacks: Blaine Spires (5)
Tackles: Ike Larsen (103)
Interceptions: Ike Larsen (4)
Pass Deflections: Avante Dickerson/JD Drew/Ike Larsen (6)
Tackles For Loss: Blaine Spires (8.5)
Forced Fumbles: Jaiden Francois/Ike Larsen/Blaine Spires (1)
Kick Returns: Robert Briggs (1 ret., 50 yards, 50.0 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: Rpbert Briggs (28 ret., 250 yards, 8.9 avg., 0 TD)
Kicking: Elliott Nimrod (11-14 fg/fga., 79%, 41-43 xp/xpa., 74 pts.)
Punting: Ryan Marks (38 punts,1642 yards, 43.2 avg., 12 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 7 Spencer Petras (GR/TR)
RB: 3 Rahsul Faison (SR/TR)
WR: 1 Jalen Royals (SR/TR)
WR: 9 Colby Bowman (GR/TR)
WR: 14 Jack Hestera (RS JR/TR)
TE: 87 Broc Lane (GR)
LT: 56 Cole Motes (RS SR)
LG: 60 Wyatt Bowles (GR)
OC: 52 Faleoule Alo (SR)
RG: 65 Tavo Motu’apuaka (RS SO)
RT: 54 Teague Andersen (RS SO)
KR: 2 Robert Briggs Jr. (JR)
PK: 89 Elliott Nimrod (SR/TR)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 98 Cian Slone (SR/TR)
NT: 48 Seni Tutaki (RS JR)
DT: 10 Gabriel Iniquez Jr. (RS JR/TR)
DE: 11 Blaine Spires (RS SR/TR)
LB: 33 Max Alford (RS SO)
LB: 1 Jon Ross Maye (GR/TR)
NB: 10 Jaiden Francois (GR/TR)
CB: 17 Avante Dickerson (RS JR/TR)
CB: 4 DJ Graham II (JR/TR)
FS: 6 Ike Larsen (RS JR)
SS: 24 Jordan Vincent (SR/TR)
PR: 0 Robert Greeman IV (JR/TR)
PT: 63 Stephen Kotsanlee (SR)
(RB Rahsul Faison – KSL Sports)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: B
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: C
Secondary: B
Special Teams:
Kick Returns: A
Punt Returns: B
Kickers: B
Punters: B
Schedule:
08/31 ROBERT MORRIS COLONIALS | First meeting between schools.
09/07 @ USC Trojans | Utah State trails the series 0-6. The Aggies lost (7-45) the last meeting between schools in 2016.
09/14 UTAH UTES | Utah State trails the series 30-79-4. The Aggies lost (14-24) the last meeting between schools in 2015.
09/21 @ Temple Owls | First meeting between schools.
10/05 @ Boise State Broncos | Utah State trails the series 5-23. The Aggies are 1-9 since 2014, and their last series win (52-26) was in 2015.
10/11 UNLV REBELS | Utah State leads the series 19-7. The Aggies are 4-1 since 2014, and their last series loss (24-34) was in 2022.
10/19 NEW MEXICO LOBOS | Utah State leads the series 17-13. The Aggies are 8-2 since 2014, and their last series loss (21-24) was in 2016.
10/26 @ Wyoming Cowboys | Utah State leads the series 40-28-4. The Aggies are 4-4 since 2014, and they lost (16-28) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/09 @ Washington State Cougars | The series is tied 2-2. The Aggies won (26-23) the last meeting between schools in 2021.
11/16 HAWAII RAINBOW WARRIORS | Utah State leads the series 12-6. The Aggies are 5-0 since 2014, and they won (41-34) the last meeting between schools in 2022.
11/23 SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS | Utah State trails the series 4-13. The Aggies are 3-3 since restarting the series in 2015, and their last series loss (7-38) was in 2020.
11/29 @ Colorado State Rams | Utah State trails the series 38-39-2. The Aggies are 6-3 since 2014, and their last series loss (14-27) was in 2017.
Predictions:
Home: 5-1
Away: 2-4
Neutral: 0-0
MWC: 5-3
Non-MWC: 2-2
Overall: 7-5 (5th in MWC)
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