Dec. 4, 2008

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State linebacker Jake Hutton has been granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA and the Western Athletic Conference for a medical hardship and will return to the Aggies' squad for the 2009 season.

Hutton, who played as a true freshman in 2005, had his 2006 season was cut short with a foot injury, one that he has played through since.

"I am excited. I plan on having surgery on my foot to fix my foot problems in the next week. So my whole plan is that I want to get healthy, and if I do get healthy, and then I am going to definitely be a different player than I have been. I have had to deal with my foot the last few years, so hopefully we will fix it, and hopefully it works. And if it does, you're going to see a different player on the field," Hutton said.

Hutton, a native of Pocatello, Idaho (Highland HS), earned second-team all-WAC honors this season after finishing second in the WAC and 26th in the NCAA in tackles with 110 total (9.2 per game). His 110 stops led USU as well as ranking second on the team with eight tackles for loss and tying for the team lead with two forced fumbles. Hutton's 110 tackles is the most for an Aggie individual since Robert Watts tallied 118 stops in 2003.

It was Hutton's second career all-WAC honor as he garnered second-team recognition last season.

Hutton is currently No. 9 on USU's career tackles list with 328 tackles, averaging 99.7 tackles per season in his three complete years. He needs 118 tackles to catch Aggie career tackles record holder Del Lyles' 446 stops from 1988-91. David Gill is No. 2 with 425 from 1993-96.

Additionally, Hutton has 20 career tackles for loss, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one interception.

Utah State finished the season with a 3-9 overall and 3-5 WAC record, marking the first time since 2005 that the Aggies have three wins in a season. USU won three WAC games in a season for the first time in the Aggies' four seasons in the league. It is also the first time since 2003 that USU won three conference games and just the third time in the 2000's.

Career Tackles  Years   No.(Since 1979)1.  Del Lyles   1988-91 4462.  David Gill  1993-96 4253.  Jesse Busta   1999-2002   3924.  Brent Passey 1997-2000   3865.  Kevin Bouwman   1987-90 3726.  Pat McKenna 1979-82 3597.  Johndale Carty  1995-98 3478.  Jermaine Younger    1990-93 3379.  Jake Hutton   2005-pres    (110) 32810. Al Smith    1984-86 327(Number in parenthesis = `08 stats)