Oct. 4, 2004
LOGAN, Utah -
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Game #6 vs. North Texas
Sat., Oct. 9, 6:05 p.m. (Mountain)Romney Stadium (30,257)Logan, Utah
Radio: 610 AM (Logan) 94.5 FM (Logan) 98.3 FM (Salt Lake City) 106.3 FM (Ogden/SLC) 104.7 FM (Utah County/SLC) 105.5 FM (Randolph) www.UtahStateAggies.com
TV: None
Tickets: 1-888-U-STATE-1 (435) 797-0305 www.UtahStateAggies.com
USU SID: Mike Strauss (435) 797-1361UNT SID: Eric Capper (940) 565-2476
Utah State (2-3, 1-1 Sun Belt)Date Opponent Time/Res.Sept. 4 at Alabama L 17-48Sept. 11 IDAHO* W 14-7Sept. 18 UTAH (#15) (KJZZ-TV) L 6-48Sept. 25 at UNLV (UPN-TV) W 31-21Oct. 2 at Troy* (KJZZ-TV) L 21-49Oct. 9 NO. TEXAS* (HC) 6:05 p.m.Oct. 16 at Clemson 11 a.m.Oct. 23 ByeOct. 30 at Middle Tenn.* 1 p.m.Nov. 6 at UL-Monroe* 5:30 p.m.Nov. 11 at Ark. St.* (KJZZ) 5:05 p.m.Nov. 20 NEW MEXICO ST.* 1:05 p.m.* - Sun Belt Conference game.All times are Mountain.
North Texas (1-4, 1-0 Sun Belt)Date Opponent ResultsSept. 4 at Texas L 0-65Sept. 11 FLA. ATLANTIC L 13-20Sept. 18 at Colorado L 21-52Sept. 25 at Baylor L 14-37Oct. 2 MIDDLE TENN.* W 30-21Oct. 9 at Utah State*Oct. 23 N.M. STATE*Oct. 30 UL-MONROE*Nov. 5 UL-Lafayette*Nov. 13 IDAHO*Nov. 18 at Arkansas State*
Media Information
Weekly Press Conference Mondays - 11:30 a.m. at Copper Mill Restaurant (Dennehy and two players)
Sun Belt Conference Teleconference Call Mondays - 10:20-10:27 (MT) Dennehy (719) 457-2645
Sun Belt Conference Video Feed Wednesdays: 1:30-1:45 p.m. (MT) Satellite: Galaxy 3 (C-band analog), Transponder: C-2 Downlink: 3740 mhz, Audio: 6.2-6.8 Trouble #: (225) 336-2268 or 2269
Interviews All Utah State player and coach interview requests should be made through Mike Strauss at least one day in advance. Player interviews should be completed no later than Wednesday on game week. Coach Dennehy is usually available weekdays between 10 a.m. and noon mountain time.
USU On The Air • Game Broadcasts Play-by-Play - Al Lewis Analyst - Craig Hislop • Mick Dennehy Radio Show Thursdays, 6 p.m. (610 KVNU) • Aggie Weekly Radio Show Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m. (610 KVNU)
USU On The Web www.UtahStateAggies.com
Athletic Media Relations Director: Mike Strauss (football contact) W: (435) 797-1361 H: (435) 755-0597 Cell: (435) 770-3131 Fax: (435) 797-2615 e-mail: mike.strauss@usu.edu Associate: Doug Hoffman W: (435) 797-3714 Assistant: Todd Johnson W: (435) 797-2066
Weekly Press Release Utah State's weekly press release will be available on USU's website each Sunday afternoon by 4 p.m.
QUICKLY -- Utah State (2-3, 1-1 Sun Belt) will play its lone home game in a stretch where the Aggies are playing six of seven games on the road when it hosts North Texas (1-4, 1-0) on Saturday, Oct. 9 at 6:05 p.m... USU is 1-1 in this stretch with a win at UNLV and a loss at Troy... It is USU's 75th annual homecoming game and the Aggies are 47-25-2 (.649) all-time when the alumns return to Logan... USU is 1-1 at home this season... USU's 28-point loss at Troy last Saturday marked its largest Sun Belt Conference loss (previous was 10-point (37-27) loss at North Texas last year... North Texas enters Saturday's game with a 19-game conference winning streak... After starting Sun Belt Conference play last year by winning three of its first four league games, the Aggies are 1-5 in league play since then.
ON THE AIR -- All Utah State football games are carried on the Aggie Radio Network with "Tornado" Al"ley" Lewis calling the play-by-play and Craig "Texas Two-Step" Hislop providing analysis. Saturday's game will not be televised.
HOMECOMING -- Utah State will play its 75th homecoming game against North Texas with kickoff at 6:05 p.m. A list of the day's activities will be put on the website later this week at www.UtahStateAggies.com.
LAST TIME OUT -- Wide receiver Kevin Robinson tied a Utah State school record with a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown and quarterback Travis Cox completed 16 of 33 attempts for a season high 222 yards, but a 35-0 halftime deficit was too much for Utah State to overcome as it fell 49-21 to Troy in Sun Belt Conference on Oct. 2. Troy opened the game scoring on its first two possessions as well as six of the first seven times it touched the ball and would march to a 35-0 halftime lead. USU didn't convert on its only scoring opportunity of the first half, as Justin Hamblin missed a 37-yard field goal. The Aggies finally got on the board in the third quarter as Cox found Raymond Hicks for a 42-yard touchdown reception with 4:36 left in the quarter. USU's 342 yards were its most through five games, while the 358 yards allowed were the second fewest up to this point... Cox became the first quarterback to lead USU in rushing in a game since 1994... SS Antonio Taylor made his first collegiate start and responded by recording a career-high 14 tackles... Four Aggies made their first career starts including Taylor, CB Jarrett Bush, LB D.J. Brookter and TB Tyrone McKinney... LB Jared Johnstun recorded his first career interception.
UP NEXT -- Utah State will return to the road when it plays a non-conference game at Clemson on Oct. 16 at 11 a.m. mountain time. The Aggies will not play another home game until hosting New Mexico State in the season finale on Nov. 20.
TOUGH SCHEDULES -- Since the inception of the Sun Belt Conference ahead of the 2001 season, current members of the league have played a total of 46 games against ranked opponents. Utah State is tied with Troy for the most games against top 25 teams in that time span as both have played eight ranked teams. Here is a look at the rest of the league: New Mexico State (7), Arkansas State, Idaho and North Texas (5), UL-Monroe and Middle Tennessee (3) and UL-Lafayette (2).
COACH Mick Dennehy -- Utah State is in its fifth year under head coach Mick Dennehy (Montana, 1973), who was hired on Dec. 3, 1999. He compiled a 39-12 record (76.5 percent) in four years at Montana. His five wins in his first year at Utah State tied for the best mark by a first-year Aggie coach since Phil Krueger won seven games in 1973 (Dennehy is the seventh coach since then). In 2001 he guided the Aggies in their first Independent schedule since 1977. The Aggies played four top-25 teams and five bowl teams in 2001. Realizing the improvement USU was making on and off the field, Dennehy was rewarded with a two-year contract extension on Nov. 30, 2001 which will keep him in Logan through 2005. In 2002, Dennehy's team faced four bowl teams en route to a 4-7 mark. Last year the Aggies met two ranked teams in the preseason and started conference play 3-1 before losing its last three league games by a total of just 21 points. Prior to assuming the head coaching role at Montana, he served as the school's offensive coordinator for five seasons, producing one of the nation's top offenses. In Dennehy's nine years overall at Montana, the Grizzlies ranked in the top four in the country in passing offense every year and in the top five in scoring and total offense in five of his last seven seasons. Before going to Montana, Dennehy revived the program at Western Montana, which had dropped football in 1987. In three years he improved the team from a 1-6 record to a 5-3 mark.
Year School Overall Pct. Conf. Pct. Notes1988 West. Montana 1-6 .143 1-5/5th .167 Revived Program1989 West. Montana 4-4 .500 2-4/4th .3331990 West. Montana 5-3 .625 3-3/3rd .5001996 Montana 14-1 .933 8-0/1st 1.000 Nat'l Runners-up1997 Montana 8-4 .667 6-2/2nd .750 0-1 in playoffs1998 Montana 8-4 .667 6-2/1st .750 Big Sky Champ.1999 Montana 9-3 .750 7-1/1st .875 Big Sky Champ.2000 Utah State 5-6 .455 4-1/2nd .800 1 win from bowl2001 Utah State 4-7 .364 N/A N/A Played 4 top 252002 Utah State 4-7 .364 N/A N/A 4 '01 bowl opp.2003 Utah State 3-9 .250 3-4/t4th .429 1st yr. in Sun Belt2004 Utah State 2-3 .400 1-1 .500 1-0 in Sun BeltWestern Montana (3 yrs.) 10-13 .435 6-12 .333 Revived ProgramMontana (4 years) 39-12 .765 27-5 .844 Four playoffsUtah State (5 years) 18-32 .360 8-6 .571 50th career winTotals (12 years) 67-57 .540 41-23 .641 3-4 in playoffs
SEASON CAPTAINS -- For the second straight season, Utah State has selected season captains. QB Travis Cox (#4) will represent the offense, LB Robert Watts (#30) will represent the defense and CB/KOR Jerome Dennis (#20) will represent the special teams units. Each week the USU coaches will select a game captain to join the regular season captains.
Game - Captains Alabama - OL Ronald Tupea and CB Cornelius Lamb Idaho - WR Kevin Robinson Utah - DT Ronald Tupea UNLV - None Selected Troy - P Ben Chaet North Texas - TBA Clemson - TBA Middle Tennessee - TBA UL-Monroe - TBA Arkansas State - TBA New Mexico State - TBA
USU'S 2004 SUN BELT CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK SELECTIONS Sept. 27 - LB Robert Watts (defense) vs. UNLV Sept. 27 - P Ben Chaet (special teams) vs. UNLV
USU-UNT SERIES -- Utah State leads the all-time series by a 4-2 count, including a 2-0 mark in games played at Logan. North Texas stopped USU's three-game win streak in the series with a 37-27 win at Denton last year. Four of the six games have been decided by one score or less with the exceptions being a 34-7 USU win at Denton in 1999 and last year's 10-point UNT win at Denton. The last three games in the series have been played in Denton as the first game of the series (1996) and the third game (1998) were played in Logan.
USU-UNT NOTE-ABLE -- USU lists several players on its roster from the state of Texas including FS Andre Bala (Houston-Willowridge HS), WR Rob Myers (Houston-Bellaive HS), DT Michael Gates (Arlington-Sam Houston HS), and DT Ben Childs (Spring-Klein HS)... Bala and Gates are starters, while Myers and Childs are redshirting this year.
USU-UNT LAST YEAR -- David Fiefia rushed for 83 yards and had a career-high nine receptions for 37 more yards as Utah State lost 37-27 at North Texas on Oct. 18. The teams lit up the scoreboard in the first half as UNT led 21-14 after one quarter and 34-21 at halftime. USU then outscored the Mean Green 6-3 in the second half. North Texas scored touchdowns on its first two possessions as well as five touchdowns on its first six possessions. UNT's first five touchdowns came on drives of just one, 46, 35, 47 and nine yards. After the opening drive of the second half (which UNT went 82 yards), USU limited UNT to just 54 yards on six possessions the rest of the game. USU scored its first defensive touchdown of the year on a 37-yard fumble return by then defensive tackle John Chick (now a linebacker). Fiefia's nine receptions were the most by a non-wide receiver since 1994. The first seven touchdowns of the game were scored by players whose last name began with the letter "C". P Ben Chaet hit a 70-yard punt, the 11th longest in school history. WR Raymond Hicks recorded his first career touchdown on a 43-yard reception, which was also his career long.
LAST TIME AT LOGAN -- Utah State opened Big West play with a victory for the fourth time in six years using a strong second half to beat North Texas 17-12 on Oct. 14, 2000 at Denton, Texas. Emmett White rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns, while Jose Fuentes threw for 170 yards and Chris Stallworth caught nine passes for 62 yards. On the day, USU allowed North Texas just 141 yards of total offense, including just 41 yards in the second half. After trailing 6-3 at halftime, USU produced 14 points and 207 yards in the second half. USU limited North texas to 0-of-13 on third-down conversions. UNT's only points came on special teams with two Jason Ball field goals and a 19-yard blocked punt return by Don McGee.
CONFERENCE GAMES -- In the Mick Dennehy era, Utah State is 8-5 in conference games, including 1-0 this season (beat Idaho). The Aggies are 6-1 in home conference games including a loss to Troy last year that counted as a league game in Dennehy's tenure.
ROAD STRETCH -- This year Utah State plays just four home games all season and is already half way through the home season as of Sept. 18. USU's last two home games are Oct. 9 vs. North Texas and Nov. 20 vs. New Mexico State. The Aggies are in a stretch of playing six of seven games on the road. Similar long road stretches for the Aggies include five of six during 1996, five of six in 1986, and an identical six of seven to start the 1972 season.
AGGIE SPECIAL TEAMS AMONG NATION'S LEADERS -- Entering last week, USU ranked third in the nation in net punting with a 42.83 average. However, a bad snap and three punts of less than 25 yards at Troy dropped that mark to 39.97 and USU fell to 13th in the country. However, thanks to a great week returning punts, the Aggies moved into third in the country in punt returns. USU has 11 returns for 230 yards and an average of 20.91 per return. Central Michigan leads the nation with a 25.00 average on just five returns, while Oklahoma State is second with a 21.36 average on 14 returns.
FIRST HALF BLUES -- Through five games, USU has had a difficult time getting untracked in the first half as the Aggies have been outscored 114-29 in the first 30 minutes this year. USU has outscored its opponent 60-59 in the second half.
FRESHMEN IMPACT -- Through five games Utah State has played 19 freshmen, including nine true freshmen. Here is a look (those who have started games marked with *): Offense -- *TE Jimmy Bohm, OT Casey Crookston, TE Will Fausel, *TB Chris Forbes, QB Leon Jackson III, OL Steve Jacson, *OG Pace Jorgensen, *OT E.J. Reid, *WR Kevin Robinson, WR Brandon Schneider. Defense -- LB Josh Anderson, S Tyler Ashton, LB Spencer Bailey, DT Scott Barrett, DT Frank Maile, FS Vaughn Mansfield, CB Toriano Taulougo, *SS Antonio Taylor. Special Teams -- Aaron Webb
SPREADING THE WEALTH -- This season USU has had 13 different players with a reception. USU enters the North Texas game with a streak of 10 consecutive games that at least seven different players have recorded receptions in a single game. Of the 13 players with a catch this year, four have at least 12 catches, five have a touchdown catch and seven have recorded at least one reception of 20 or more yards.
COX IN TOP 10 ON USU PASSING LIST -- Utah State QB Travis Cox, who has made 17 consecutive starts, enters the week with 3,752 career passing yards. He has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 15 of his 16 starts.
USU Career Passing Yardage List Other USU Career Marks6. Matt Sauk 5,385 (needs 1,633) 7th Completions (325)7. Ron Lopez 4182 (needs 431) 8th Attempts (577)8. Patrick Mullins 3759 (needs 8) 8th Touchdown Passes (26)9. Travis Cox 3752 2nd Percentage (.563)
COX ON THE RUN -- Last Saturday against Troy, QB Travis Cox was credited with 19 rushes for 43 yards. He became the first Aggie quarterback to lead the team in rushing in a game since 1994 (Matt Wells, 29 yards vs. BYU). His 19 attempts are the most by an Aggie quarterback at least as far back as 1992, while his 43 yards are the most by an USU quarterback since Jeff Crosbie ran for 77 yards at Nevada in 1999.
ROBINSON SECOND IN NCAA IN PUNT RETURNS -- USU freshman Kevin Robinson, who made quite a splash in his first three games at USU by leading the country's freshmen in receiving yards and receptions through three weeks, has now moved into second in the country in punt returns after his efforts at Troy last Saturday. Robinson returned four punts for 132 yards, including a school-record tying 90-yard return for a score. His other three returns were for 10, 13 and 19 yards. He is currently averaging 30.00 yards on his seven returns to rank behind only Devin Hester of Miami, who has averaged 33.67 yards on six returns. Prior to the Troy game, Robinson had an 11-yard return vs. Idaho, 21 vs. Utah and 46 vs. UNLV.
MORE ON ROBINSON -- As mentioned, Kevin Robinson started his Aggie career very strong catching 17 passes in his first three games for 234 yards. Those marks were both tops among the nation's freshmen. However, in the last two games Robinson has just one catch for eight yards (against UNLV). Despite that, he still owns USU's third-best freshman receiving yardage season.
USU Best Freshman Receiving Seasons USU Best Freshman Rushing Seasons1. David Fiefia 334 2000 1. Abu Wilson 795 19922. Chris Stallworth 289 2000 2. Demario Brown 700 19963. KEVIN ROBINSON 242 2004 3. Tim Tagaloa 395 19854. Rod Moore 240 1988 Chris Forbes 111 2004
TAYLOR COMING UP BIG -- SS Antonio Taylor, another Aggie freshman, has come up big for the Aggies in the last two games. In USU's win at UNLV, he posted a team-high 12 tackles, two interceptions and forced a fumble. Against Troy on Saturday, he made his first collegiate start and recorded another team-high 14 tackles, including two for loss. He ranks third on the team with 31 tackles (Jared Johnstun leads with 35).
OFFENSIVE NOTES -- USU has put together its best two rushing games of the year in the last two contests with 114 yards vs.UNLV and 99 vs. Troy... The Aggies threw for 243 yards against Troy on Saturday, its second most passing yards this season... USU's 342 total yards vs. Troy were a season-best. USU entered the game having run less than 60 plays in three of the last four games, but ran 79 on Saturday, its most since running 89 against Arizona State in the third game of last year... After not committing a turnover against UNLV two weeks ago, the Aggies had three miscues at Troy... After scoring a combined 37 points in the first three games, USU has netted 52 points in its last two games... Of USU's 11 touchdowns this season, six have been scored by freshmen and seven different players have reached the endzone... Seven of USU's nine offensive touchdowns have come on passing plays, with five of those from outside the Red Zone... USU has had three of its thrown interceptions returned for touchdowns this season, the most since allowing three such returns in 1995.
DEFENSIVE NOTES -- USU allowed Troy just 358 total yards, for the Aggies' second-best defensive yardage total of the year (Idaho had just 234)... However, Troy's 49 points were the most allowed by USU since UL-Monroe beat the Aggies 51-48 in double-overtime in 2002. The last time an opponent scored more than 49 points against USU in regulation was Boise State (63) in 2002... After forcing just three turnovers in the first three games combined, the Aggies have forced eight in the last two games... USU has recorded an interception in each of the last four games... USU has produced at least one player with double-figure tackle totals in every game this season as well as in eight straight games dating back to last year... The opponents' average starting field position in USU's two wins was inside its own 25 yard line (Idaho - 23 yard line, UNLV - 24), while in the Aggies' three losses, the opponents have averaged starting outside their own 30 (Alabama - 32 yard line, Utah - 33, Troy - 42)... Troy recorded just nine plays of 10 or more yards against USU Saturday (the opponents had averaged more than 15 such plays in the first four games)... USU has four different players with at least 30 tackles this season with three of those players being first-year starters (LB Jared Johnstun - 35, SS Antonio Taylor - 31 and FS Andre Bala - 30) (LB Robert Watts, a three-year starter is second with 32).
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES -- P/PK Ben Chaet, who was 10th in the nation in punting with a 44.3 average heading into last week's Troy game, was injured while punting on the run after a bad snap, which resulted in a minus-15-yard punt. His average has dropped to 41.96 to rank 33rd in the country... Chaet had hit all four of his field goal attempts this year, including a career-long 44-yarder at Alabama... In his absence, Justin Hamblin missed a 37-yard attempt at Troy, while Leon Jackson III punted five times for 37.8 average, which included punts of 57, 50, and 49 yards as well as 22 and 11 yards... USU opponents have returned just 12 of USU's 30 punts this season for just 40 yards as the Aggies rank 13th in the nation in net punting... The Aggies, who are third in punt returns, 13th in net punting are also 41st in kickoff returns with a 21.59 average.
USU NOTE-ABLE -- USU is 4-1 in known games on Oct. 9... USU, which lost to Utah in its last home game, is looking to avoid back-to-back home losses, which last occurred in September of 2001 when Wyoming and Oregon won at Logan in consecutive weeks... Four different Aggies made their first season starts at Troy last Saturday, including TB Tyrone McKinney, LB D.J. Brookter, CB Jarrett Bush, and FS Antonio Taylor... That brings the number of players that have started games for USU this year to 34... A win against North Texas would stop the Mean Green's 19-game Sun Belt Conference winning streak as well as give USU a 3-3 record, its best six-game mark since 1983 (3-3).
STARTER NOTEABLE (2004 starts/career starts) Offense LT - Donald Penn (5/26)... Started nine games at right tackle as a freshman and all 12 at left tackle as a sophomore... Has started 26 consecutive games. LG - Victor Eti (5/5)... Made first career start at Alabama... Played enough as a backup to earn a letter last year... Was an offensive tackle as a freshman and then played guard as a sophomore in JC. OC - Elliott Tupea (5/15)... Started at tackle last year, but moved to guard in the preseason and then center right before the year started due to Malik Cin's injury... Made his first start at center against Alabama... Started the first four games at tackle last season before giving way to Brenen Burningham for two games... Returned to start the final six contests. RG - Pace Jorgensen (4/4)... Redshirt freshman made first start against Idaho in second game after seeing playing time in opener at Alabama. RT - Justin Schlimgen (3/3)... Started the season opener before suffering an injury... Returned to start in each of the last two games. TE - Patrick McNutt (3/7)... After not catching a pass in the first two games, he has pulled in four balls in the last three games combined (one vs. Utah and Troy and two vs. UNLV)... Entered the year with one career catch. FB - Trent Nate (1/4)... Started against UNLV... Does not have any offensive statistics this year... A three-year lettermen, who has seen a lot of action as a reserve and on special teams. WR - Kevin Robinson (2/2)... Led the nation's freshmen in receptions and yards after four games, but has just one catch in the last two games combined... The freshman made his career debut by catching five passes for 58 yards and USU's first touchdown of the year (35-yard reception) against Alabama... Joined TB Chris Forbes as freshman starters in the season opener... The brother of Aggie secondary coach John Rushing. WR - Raymond Hicks (4/11)... Coming off season best five receptions for 59 yards performance at Troy... Had five catches in first three games combined, but has seven in last two outings. WR - Rod McNeal (2/2)... Led USU with 85 yards on five receptions against Troy on Saturday... Twice has had five receptions in a game (five vs. Utah)... Has run a 10.28 100-meters (Olympic qualifying is 10.20). WR Tony Pennyman (4/5)... Has been USU's most consistent receiver as he had five catches in each of the first two games, four in games three and four and three against Troy on Saturday... Against UNLV he had 119 yards on four catches, including a 79-yard touchdown. QB - Travis Cox (5/17)... Had a season-best 222 passing yards, while leading the team in rushing with 43 yards at Troy on Saturday... Has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 16 of his 17 career starts... Threw just seven interceptions in his first three seasons (12 starts, 432 attempts), but has thrown nine pickoffs in five starts, 145 attempts this year... Reached the 3,000 career passing yardage mark against Idaho... Second-team all-Sun Belt Conference last year... USU's co-offensive player of the year with TE Chris Cooley, who is now with the Washington Redskins... Started all 12 games last season and led the Sun Belt Conference in passing (232.6) and total offense (237.0)... Threw for 2,791 yards and 18 touchdowns to just seven interceptions in first season as a starter. TB Tyrone McKinney (1/1)... Made his first collegiate start against Troy on Saturday and responded with 28 yards on six carries... Missed the first three games of the year due to an injury suffered in preseason. Defense LT - Ronald Tupea (5/35)... Has started a team-high 35 consecutive games and a team-best 35 games overall... Has made four tackles in each of the last two games... Had a season best six stops against Idaho in game two... Recorded a PBU against Troy on Saturday... Second-team all-Sun Belt Conference in 2003... Also USU's outstanding defensive lineman... A three-year starter. NG - Brent Pollock (3/4)... Has started the last three games... Recorded a career-high seven tackles against Troy on Saturday. RT - Michael Gates (5/8)... Did not record a tackle against Troy... Made nine stops in the three games combined before then... Started the first three games a year ago due to John Chick's injury.
STUD - Kelly Poppinga (5/5)... After recording 11 tackles in the first two games of the year, he has had nine stops in the last three games combined... Recovered a fumble against Troy on Saturday to go along with his three tackles... Made first career start and responded with three tackles in season opener against Alabama. SAM - Jared Johnstun (5/6)... Matched his career high with eight tackles against Troy on Saturday, while also recording his first career interception... Has made at least six tackles in every game and leads the team in tackles this year... Recorded a sack on Idaho's final play of the game to seal that victory. MAC - Robert Watts (5/30)... Registered 10 tackles at Troy on Saturday, while also breaking up one pass.... Had a season-best 12 tackles against Idaho... 22 of his 32 tackles came in those two games, as he did not record more than four stops in the other three games... Against UNLV he recorded two interceptions, one of which he returned 90 yards for a touchdown... Second-team all-Sun Belt Conference in 2003... USU's outstanding linebacker... Earned team's Golden Helmet award as hardest hitter... Served as a team captain... Led USU with 118 tackles... Had five games with at least 10 tackles, including a season-high 17 against Troy State. WILL - D.J. Brookter (1/1)... Made his first collegiate start at Troy on Saturday and recorded four tackles... Had a career-best six stops the week before at UNLV. LC - Jerome Dennis (4/9)... Had two tackles at Troy on Saturday... Three times this season he has made at least six tackles in a game, including a season-best nine against Idaho... Started the first three games of last season before a blood clot was found in his shoulder stopping his season... Returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown against BYU in 2002. SS Joe Lindsay (5/5)... Registered seven tackles against Troy on Saturday... Made his first collegiate start and responded with four tackles against Alabama... Recorded a sack among his career-best eight tackles against Idaho. FS - Antonio Taylor (1/1)... Made his first collegiate start at Troy on Saturday and responded with a career-high 14 tackles... The week before at UNLV he made 12 stops and had two interceptions. RC - Cornelius Lamb (4/11)... Had a season-low two tackles at Troy on Saturday, but did recover a fumble... Had seven tackles the week before vs. UNLV... Recorded an interception, one PBU and a career-best nine tackles against Idaho.
Special Teams P/PK - Ben Chaet... Was injured on his first punt attempt at Troy on Saturday and his status is not known yet for this week... Was named the Sun Belt Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts against UNLV when he averaged 45.3 yards on six punts with two 50-plus yard boots and two inside the 20, while also making three-of-three field goal attempts... Currently ranks 33rd in the nation in punting average (was 10th before a minus-15-yard attempt against Troy)... Has been a perfect four-of-four on field goal attempts this year with a career-long 44-yarder in the opener against Alabama. PK Justin Hamblin... Missed his first field goal attempt of the year (37 yards) against Troy last Saturday... Has handled kickoff chores during the year with just one field goal attempt and three extra-point attempts... Was one of four in field goal attempts and 20 of 21 in PATs last season. P Leon Jackson III... USU's backup quarterback punted five times against Troy on Saturday with punts of 11, 50, 57, 22, and 49 yards... Also completed a 16-yard pass on a fake punt... Also serves as the holder on field goal and PATs.
Other FS Terrance Washington (Injured) -- Was USU's leading tackler with 13 stops, his fourth straight double-digit tackle game, against Alabama... Also recorded his first career sack against the Tide... Made five stops against Idaho... Second-team Freshman All-American by College Football News last year... Second-team all-Sun Belt Conference... USU's outstanding freshman... His 93 tackles were third on the team and he led the Aggies with five interceptions... He ranked among the top 10 freshmen in the country in tackles per game and was second among the nation's first-year players in interceptions (29th overall).
