July 2, 2008

LOGAN, Utah - Seven Utah State football players were recognized with Athlon Sports College Football Preview preseason all-Western Athletic Conference honors.

Athlon Sports College Football Preview is embarking on its 42nd year of previewing college football and the publication is on newsstands or is available online at www.athlonsports.com, featuring a preseason All-American team in addition to preseason all-conference teams.

Utah State had five players named to the preseason all-WAC list with one player being recognized as one of the conference's rising stars and another tabbed to the top 20 newcomers list.

Senior linebacker Jake Hutton was named to the first-team all-WAC list, while senior tight end Rob Myers and classmate defensive lineman Ben Calderwood were on the second-team list. Junior linebacker Paul Igboeli and senior safety De'von Hall were on the third-team. Hall is shifting to safety this season after starting at linebacker last year. Redshirt-freshman Stanley Morrison was tabbed to the Rising Star list while incoming freshman Exavier Johnson was on the top 20 newcomers list.

Hutton, a native of Pocatello, Idaho (Pocatello HS), garnered his second preseason first-team all-WAC honor as he also earned recognition from Phil Steele's College Preview. Last season Hutton earned second-team all-WAC honors last year after he led USU and ranked eighth in the WAC as well as tied for 71st in the NCAA with 102 tackles, including 58 solo stops. The 58 solo tackles ranked tied for fifth in the league. His 58 solo tackles were also the most for an Aggie since Jesse Busta had 64 in 2002. Hutton registered a USU single-game season-best 16 stops at New Mexico State.

Igboeli (pronounced Ig-bo-lee), a Grand Prairie, Texas (South Grand Prairie HS) native, also earned preseason second-team all-WAC honors from Phil Steele's College Preview. In 2007, Igboeli was second on the team and 13th in the WAC with 95 tackles, including 51 solo stops, which ranked among the top 15 in league. He was tied for second on the team with eight tackles for loss and also tallied three pass break-ups and one fumble recovery. Igboeli posted two of USU's top five tackle outings on the year with 15 at New Mexico State and 12 at Fresno State.

Also earning his second preseason honor was Myers, a native of Houston, Texas (Bellaire HS), who led the nation's tight ends in yards per catch average with 15.2 ypc after catching 21 passes for 320 yards on the season. He tallied three touchdowns on the season including two at New Mexico State as part of his career-best 117 yards on four catches with a career-long 37-yard reception and was named the John Mackey National Tight End of the Week on Nov. 21, 2007 for his performance.

Calderwood, a local product from Smithfield, Utah (Sky View HS), was also honored with Phil Steele's College Preview honors. Last season he tied for the lead among USU defensive linemen and ranked tied for eighth on the team with 41 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 on sacks, as well as one fumble recovery. Calderwood also made a season-best 10 stops against Nevada.

A native of Denison, Texas (Denison HS), Morrison had a big spring, including two touchdown catches in the spring game, part of his four catches for 58 yards outing. Morrison redshirted last season, but was named offensive scout team MVP leading up to the Hawai'i and Louisiana Tech games.

Johnson, who signed with USU in February from Van Nuys, Calif. (Birmingham HS), had 988 yards passing with three TD's and 211 yards rushing with one TD as a senior in leading Birmingham to a 13-1 mark and the CIF city section title. Johnson also earned first-team all-West Valley League honors and was a three-time all-city honoree as well as a three-time LA Daily News all-area selection.

Three of Utah State's 2008 opponents were in Athlon's Top 25 preseason poll: No. 14 BYU (Oct. 3), No. 19 Oregon (Sept. 6) and No. 25 Fresno State (Oct. 25).

USU was picked eighth in the publication's preseason WAC poll.

Utah State returns 17 starters (six offense, nine defense and two special teams) among 39 lettermen. The Aggies open the 2008 season on Aug. 30 at UNLV. USU's home opener is Sept. 13 against in-state rival Utah.

Aggie football tickets are available in person through the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, online 24 hours a day at www.UtahStateAggies.com and clicking on "tickets" in left column, or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.