July 24, 2006
2006 WAC Football Media Day Notes Boise, Idaho July 26, 2006
2006 Utah State Football Dates
Mon., Aug. 7 Newcomers ReportTue., Aug. 8 Veterans ReportWed., Aug. 9 First PracticeFri., Aug. 11 USU Media DayMon., Aug. 28 First Weekly Press ConferenceSat., Sept. 2 Season Opener at Wyoming, 2:30 p.m.Sat., Sept. 16 Home Opener vs. Utah, 6:05 p.m.
USU Note-able
• USU is entering its second year in the WAC after tying for sixth with a 2-6 conference record last season (3-8 overall).
• USU head coach Brent Guy is in his second year at the school after previously serving as an assistant with the Aggies from 1992-94.
• USU is returning 32 letterwinners, including 15 of offense and 16 on defense.
• USU is returning 13 starters, including seven on offense and five on defense.
• USU played 20 freshmen in 2005, a number which ranked 11th in the country last season. USU's 12 freshmen who started at least one game ranked third in the country behind only Western Michigan (17) and Cincinnati (13).
• USU has just two seniors listed on its defensive two-deep with DT Kerry Shepherd, who has never lettered and S Terrance Washington. Only two other seniors are listed on the defensive side of the ball, including LB Ryan Taylor, who has lettered three years and CB Elijah Bonner, who is a redshirt and has yet to play in an Aggie uniform.
• USU has seven sophomores projected as starters on defense heading into the season, including all three linebackers.
• USU lists just three seniors as possible starters on offense, including OC Brent DeLadurantey, who did not letter last year, OT Justin Schlimgen, who is trying to return after missing last year due to injury, and honors candidate, WR Tony Pennyman.
• USU returns its leading rusher, passer, receiver and tackler for the first time since 1991.
• USU returns 25 players who started at least one game last season, including 15 on offense and 10 on defense.
• USU held a ground-breaking ceremony for its new north end zone complex on July 7. The building, which will house home and visitor lockerrooms, coaches offices, team meeting areas, an equipment room and a sports medicine area, is scheduled to be completed prior to the 2007 season. The current building is expected to be torn down immediately after the 2006 season.
• USU will have new Nike jerseys this year with "Aggies" on the back instead of players' names.
• USU made several off-season position changes, including the following:
Jimmy Bohm from tight end to fullback
Ryan Bohm from running back to fullback
Lynwood Johnson from fullback to running back
Kerry Shepherd from defensive end to defensive tackle
Jake Hutton from outside linebacker to middle linebacker
Chris Forbes from running back to safety
Eric Sobolewski from quarterback/wide receiver to safety
• USU had a couple of jersey number changes prior to this season:
Preston Robinson from 80 to 5
Drew Pearson from 12 to 8
Ryan Tonnemacher from 67 to 56
Brent DeLadurantey from 62 to 75
• USU has four players with the last name Taylor on the team and all four are on the defensive side of the ball. The group includes LB Ryan Taylor and S Antonio Taylor as well as twin brothers S Caleb Taylor and CB Joshua Taylor.
Idaho Connections
• USU head coach Brent Guy was an assistant at Boise State from 1998-2000 when the Broncos posted back-to-back Big West Championships and Humanitarian Bowl victories in 1999 and 2000.
• Safeties coach Jeff Copp was an all-conference defensive end at Boise State while playing from 1998-2000.
• Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Mark Johnson was the defensive line coach at BSU in 1998-99.
• Cornerbacks coach John Rushing was a graduate assistant at Boise State in 1998-99 working with the secondary.
• Aggie players from the Gem state include LB Chanler Buck (Blackfoot), S Adrian Bybee (Pocatello), LB Jake Hutton (Pocatello), and LB Clay Swan (Jerome). Hutton was a third-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News last year after becoming the first USU freshman to ever lead the team in tackles with 87.
What A Duo
The combination of Tony Pennyman and Kevin Robinson has been a very productive one on offense and on special teams in the past two years. The two topped the WAC in all-purpose yards last year as Pennyman averaged 146.00 yards per game to lead the league and Robinson was second at 138.18 per game. Here is a look at the two wide receivers and return men:
Tony Pennyman, Sr.
• Second-team all-WAC return honors (2005)
• Averaged 29.3 yards per kickoff return to lead the WAC and rank fifth in the NCAA last year. He had two returns for scores.
• Had 43 receptions for 598 yards in 2004 and 63 for 741 last season.
Kevin Robinson, Jr.
• Has returned three punts and one kickoff for touchdowns in the last two years.
• Had 44 catches for 602 yards in 2004 and added 43 receptions for 661 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago.
• Has caught at least two passes in 17 consecutive games.
Returning Starters
Offense (7)
RG Pace Jorgensen (6-5, 318, Jr., 2L)... Started all 11 games at right guard.
RT Malik Cin (6-4, 305, Sr., 3L)... Started the final five games of the year at right tackle... Battled injuries and illness during the beginning of the season.
WR Tony Pennyman (5-9, 164, Sr., 2L)... Led USU with 63 catches for 741 yards... Led WAC in all-purpose yards and was second-team league return specialist.
WR Kevin Robinson (6-0, 185, Jr., 2L)... Had 43 catches for 661 yards and eight touchdowns... Has caught at least two passes in 17 straight games.
FB Lynwood Johnson (6-1, 228, So.)... Started four games, rushing for 54 yards.
TB Ryan Bohm (5-11, 207, So., 1L)... Third freshman to ever lead USU in rushing as he had 340 yards on 92 carries... Ran for 94 yards at Alabama.
QB Leon Jackson (6-1, 196, Jr, 2L)... Threw for 1,547 yards and rushed for 328 yards to tie for USU quarterback rushing record in just nine games... Missed last two games with shoulder injury.
Defense (5)
DT E.J. Reid (6-1, 297, Jr., 2L)... Made 25 tackles, including 3.5 for loss in first year on defensive side of the ball (played on offensive line as a freshman).
LB Devon Hall (6-3, 209, So., 1L)... Started six games and had 44 tackles.
LB Jake Hutton (6-0, 220, So., 1L)... Walkon led the team with 87 tackles, becoming the first freshman to lead team... Third-team Freshman All-America by The Sporting News... Was third among NCAA freshmen with 7.9 tackles per game.
S Antonio Taylor (6-1, 205, Jr., 2L)... Third on team with 65 tackles.
CB Marquise Charles (5-8, 169, So., 1L)... Started first six games until injury knocked him out of the lineup... Had 30 tackles in eight games as he returned for final two.
Special Teams (1)
P/PK Justin Hamblin (5-11, 141, Sr., 3L)... Handled punting and kicking chores, averaging 37.2 yards per punt and making six of 14 field goal attempts, including a 50-yarder at Hawai'i.
Starters Lost
Offense (4)
LT Donald Penn (6-3, 313, Sr., 4L)... Four-year starter played in Hula Bowl... Was a second-team all-WAC selection.
LG Ryan DeQuillettes (6-3, 280, Sr., 4L)... Started on offensive line after spending first three years on defensive line.
OC Nick George (6-2, 257, Sr., 4L)... Started at center after backing up at tight end for three years.
TE Jason Stephens (6-5, 254, Jr., (3L)... Had eight catches for 111 yards and one touchdown.
Defense (5)
DT Brian Soi (6-3, 298, So., 1L)... Hon. Mention Freshman All-America by The Sporting News... Made 31 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss with 4.5 sacks.
DE Jarom Fano (6-1, 260, Sr., 4L)... Played inside and outside and had 28 tackles.
DE John Chick (6-4, 257, Sr., 4L)... Was fifth in NCAA in sacks with 12.5... Earned first-team all-WAC honors... Had 48 tackles, including 19 for loss.
LB Matt Wiser (6-0, 227, Sr., 4L)... Second on team with 85 tackles.
CB Jarrett Bush (6-1, 192, Sr., 2L)... A first-team all-WAC selection after recording 50 tackles, 13 passes broken up and two interceptions.... Was sixth in NCAA in passes defended.
S Andre Bala (5-11, 190, Sr., 4L)... Recorded 49 tackles on the year.
Special Teams (0)
None
Leon Jackson III Quarterback 6-1 • 196 • Jr. •2L Long Beach, Calif. (Poly HS)
Quickly: Returns as the starting quarterback as he was the starter in the first nine games of last year before missing the last two contests due to injury... Is the only quarterback on the roster to have played last season. 2005 (So.): Started for the first time in his career and started the first nine games before suffering a shoulder injury and missing the last two games of the year... Threw for 1,547 yards while hitting 57.6 percent of his passes... His 57.6 percent mark was the sixth best percentage in a season in USU history... He and Jerod Walker each rushed for 328 yards to establish a school record for most yards rushing by a quarterback in a season... In his collegiate starting debut he was 12 of 25 for 95 yards passing, while leading the team with 87 rushing yards on 18 carries in the season opener at Utah... Threw for a career-high 372 yards on 27 of 44 passing against Louisiana Tech... Threw for more than 200 yards in three other games, including 212 vs. UNLV, 206 vs. Boise State and 200 vs. San Jose State... Threw three touchdown passes against Boise State... Threw three interceptions against Idaho, but had just three in the other eight games combined... Led the team in rushing in four different games... In addition to running for a season-best 87 yards at Utah, he gained 74 against Idaho and 57 vs. Louisiana Tech... His rushing touchdown came at Fresno State. 2004 (Fr.): Shared team award as top freshman with Emosi Fiefia... Played a big role on the team as a backup quarterback, punter and holder... As a quarterback he completed 26 of 46 passes for 404 yards, the most by an Aggie freshman since 1998... Rushed 21 times for 43 yards as well... Most extensive action came against Arkansas State when he hit 10 of 22 attempts for a season-best 168 yards and one touchdown... Stepped in as the team's punter after Ben Chaet was injured in the fifth game of the year... Averaged 42.3 yards per punt to rank 32nd in the NCAA... That figure was also the third best among the nation's freshmen... Produced 10 50-yard punts (on 40 total kicks), including a long of 67 on the year... Also dropped nine punts inside the 20-yard line. High School: Was a first-team all-CIF selection as well as the league most valuable player as a senior... Was nominated for All-America consideration as well... Threw for 3,000 yards with 35 touchdowns and just seven interceptions... Team was ranked second in the country... Played two years at Long Beach Poly after spending the previous two years at Beverley Hills High School... Was recruited by several Pac-10 schools... Also played baseball in high school. Personal: Born August 14, 1985 in Los Angeles, Calif... Son of Leon Jackson and Pamela Jones... Has one sister... Majoring in political science and would like to get a master's degree and then run for office... Hobbies include watching Family Guy reruns, spending time with family, and resting.
Passing G/GS Att. Com. Int. Pct. Yds. TD LG2004 9/0 46 26 1 56.5 404 1 462005 9/9 229 132 6 57.6 1547 8 46Totals 18/9 275 158 7 57.5 1951 9 46
Rushing Att. Yds. Avg. TD LG2004 21 43 2.0 0 172005 136 328 2.4 1 24Totals 157 371 2.3 1 24
Punting No. Yds. Avg. LG I20 TB2004 40 1694 42.3 67 9 4
Did You Know? QB Leon Jackson threw seven touchdown passes and no interceptions in four home games and just one touchdown and six interceptions in five road games last season.
