Nov. 27, 2014
LOGAN, Utah -
Utah State defensive coordinator and safeties coach Todd Orlando has been named a nominee for the 2014 Broyles Award, as it was announced by the Rotary Club of Little Rock Wednesday.
Orlando is one of 40 coaches nationwide to be nominated for the award. Among the nominees are two other Mountain West assistant coaches in Boise State offensive coordinator Mike Sanford and Colorado State offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin. Additionally, Utah defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki and BYU defensive coordinator Nick Howell are on the nominee list.
Orlando was also one of 40 coaches nominated for the Broyles Award in 2013.
The Broyles Award honors the top assistant college football coach in America and was established in 1996 to honor legendary Arkansas Head Coach Frank Broyles. Coach Broyles had a track record of producing some of the most successful assistant coaches in college football history.
The award will be presented Tuesday, Dec. 9 at the Marriott Hotel in Little Rock, Ark.
Under Orlando's direction, the Utah State defense ranks among the top 35 teams in the nation in 13 different statistical categories, including ranking 10th in the nation in scoring defense, despite losing four starting linebackers to season ending injuries during the year.
Defensively, Utah State is allowing just 18.3 points per game to lead the Mountain West and rank 10th nationally. USU also ranks first in the MW and fifth in the nation in sacks (3.58 spg), first in the MW and 17th nationally in rushing defense (116.5 ypg), first in the MW and 21st nationally in passing efficiency defense (109.7), third in the MW and 32nd in the nation in total defense (351.0 ypg), and ninth in the MW and 71st nationally in passing defense (234.5 ypg).
Utah State's defense also ranks first in the Mountain West and tied for fifth nationally with its 28 forced turnovers, first in the MW and fifth nationally with its 18 interceptions, first in the MW and tied for sixth in the nation in turnover margin (1.00 pg), and fifth in the MW and 36th nationally with its 10 fumble recoveries.
Furthermore, Utah State ranks first in the Mountain West and fourth in the nation with an average of 8.4 tackles for loss per game, tied for first in the MW and tied for seventh nationally with its four defensive touchdowns, 17th in the nation in three-and-outs as it is averaging 5.08 per game, and second in the MW and 30th in the nation in opponents third down conversations at 35.7 percent (70-196).
Utah State (9-3, 6-1 MW) concludes its regular season and Mountain West play this weekend at No. 25 Boise State (9-2, 6-1 MW) on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 8:15 p.m., in a game that will be nationally televised on ESPN2. USU is 4-14 all-time against the Broncos, including a 2-7 record on the road.
Utah State enters its contest against the Broncos having won five-straight games and seven of its last eight games overall. USU has also won 13 of its last 14 conference road games and is 13-2 all-time in Mountain West play.
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