ONLINE: UTAHSTATEAGGIES.COM
UtahStateAggies.com offers the most complete and comprehensive coverage of the Aggies on gamed.
AGGIES BOWL ELIGIBILITY FOR FIFTH-STRAIGHT YEAR
With its 31-27 win against Nevada last weekend, Utah State is bowl eligible for the fifth-straight year. USU has played in four-straight bowls and won each of its last three, both of which are school records.
AGGIES HOST BYU IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE
• Utah State concludes the regular season this week, hosting in-state rival BYU. USU won last year's meeting in Provo, 35-20, snapping a 17-game road losing streak that dated back to 1978. BYU won the last meeting in Logan in 2013, 31-14, snapping a nine-game home winning streak for the Aggies. Overall, USU has won seven of its last eight home games against in-state opponents dating back to 2009, with its only loss coming to BYU in 2013.
• Utah State and BYU spent 37 years as conference foes as members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference from 1922-37 and the Mountain States/Skyline Conference from 1938-61. As conference foes, USU was 21-13-3 (.608) against BYU.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR SATURDAY
• With a win against BYU, Utah State will tie the 2012 and 2014 teams for most home wins (6) in a single-season, and record just the sixth undefeated home season in the 48-year history of Maverik Stadium, along with the 1968 (4-0), 1972 (5-0), 1982 (4-0), 2012 (6-0) and 2014 (6-0) teams. Overall, USU has had 30 teams record undefeated home seasons in school history.
• Utah State has won 14 straight home games, which is the third-longest home winning streak in school history. The school record is 17 straight home wins from 1959-63, while the 1905-08 teams won 15 straight home games. That 14-game home winning streak is also the third-longest active streak in the nation behind Florida State (21) and Clemson (16).
• Utah State has won 23 of its last 25 home games, and is 15-2 at home under head coach Matt Wells, including a 4-1 non-conference record. In all, Utah State has won 12 of its last 14 non-conference home games. All-time, USU is 135-98 (.579) at Maverik Stadium.
• Utah State ranks ninth nationally in pass defense, allowing 171.0 yards per game, while BYU ranks 21st nationally in pass offense, averaging 295.9 yards per game.
• Utah State has won 16 of its last 19 games played during the month of November, including 10 straight at home, dating back to 2011.
• The last time Utah State lost a home game was on Oct. 12, 2013, to Boise State, 34-23, snapping its school-record 13-game conference winning streak.
UTAH STATE CONCLUDES REGULAR SEASON AT HOME AGAINST BYU
Utah State (6-5, 5-3 MW) concludes its regular season this weekend at home against in-state rival BYU (8-3) on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 1:30 p.m. The game will be nationally televised by CBS Sports Network (Comcast Ch. 269/753HD, Dish Network Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221) with Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Adam Archuleta (analyst) and Cassie Gallo (reporter) on the call. Live audio of the game is also available on www.UtahStateAggies.com. USU, which is 531-522-31 (.504) in its 118th season, has eight nationally televised games in 2015.
UTAH STATE ON SENIOR DAY
Prior to its home finale against BYU, Utah State will honor its 21 seniors (LB Jarom Baldomero, SS Marwin Evans, LB Kyler Fackrell, LB LT Filiaga, OG Taani Fisilau, CB Tyler Floyd, LS Salanoa Galea'i, LB Torrey Green, LB La'Bradford Harold, CB Bryant Hayes, CB Deshane Hines, LS Mark Hutchinson, QB Chuckie Keeton, NG David Moala, DE Jordan Nielsen, LB Michael Okonkwo, WR Devonte Robinson, WR Hunter Sharp, WR Brandon Swindall, DE John Taylor and OG Ben Wysocki) in a pre-game ceremony. USU is 68-37-3 (.644) all-time on Senior Day and this year's senior class is the second-winningest in school history with 36 victories, and can tie last year's senior class for the school record with 37 wins with a victory against BYU. Overall, USU has won its last four games on Senior Day.
AGGIES FINISHING REGULAR SEASON WITH BACK-TO-BACK HOME GAMES
Utah State will finish the regular season with back-to-back home games for the first time since 2013 when it defeated Colorado State (13-0) and Wyoming (35-7). Overall, it is just the 13th time in program history that USU is finishing the regular season with consecutive home games (1901, 1903, 1905, 1906, 1909, 1916, 1944, 1972, 1978, 1996, 1998, 2013, 2015).
UTAH STATE BOWL HISTORY
Utah State has a 4-6 bowl record all-time as it lost to San Jose State, 20-0, in the 1946 Raisin Bowl (Fresno, Calif.); lost to Pacific, 35-21, in the 1947 Grape Bowl (Lodi, Calif.); lost to New Mexico State, 20-13, in the 1960 Sun Bowl (El Paso, Texas); lost to Baylor, 24-9, in the 1961 Gotham Bowl (New York City); defeated Ball State, 42-33, in the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl II; lost to Cincinnati, 35-19, in the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl; lost to Ohio, 24-23, in the 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl; defeated Toledo, 41-15, in the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, defeated No. 24 Northern Illinois, 21-14, in the 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl; and defeated UTEP, 21-6, in the 2014 Gildan New Mexico Bowl.
A LOOK AT UTAH STATE
Utah State is 6-5 on the season and 5-3 in Mountain West play following its 31-27 home win against Nevada last weekend. Offensively, USU is led by sophomore QB Kent Myers, who is 107-of-179 (.598) passing for 1,470 yards (183.8 ypg) with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. Junior RB Devante Mays leads the team in rushing with 788 yards on 134 carries (5.9 ypc/71.6 ypg) with nine touchdowns, and senior WR Hunter Sharp has a team-best 53 receptions for 646 yards (12.2 ypr/71.8 ypg) with seven touchdowns. Defensively, junior LB Nick Vigil leads the team with 131 tackles, which includes 3.0 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss, while senior LB Kyler Fackrell has 73 tackles, which includes 4.0 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss. As a team, Utah State is averaging 29.8 points and 364.1 yards of total offense (199.3-passing, 164.8-rushing) and allowing 24.8 points and 334.7 yards of total offense (171.0-passing, 163.7-rushing).
UTAH STATE CONCLUDES THIRD SEASON IN MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
Utah State concluded its third season in the Mountain West last weekend with its 31-27 come-from-behind home win against Nevada. With the win, USU improved to 5-3 in league play and will finish second in the Mountain Division for the second straight year as it went 6-2 in conference play a year ago and won the division in 2013 with a 7-1 record. All-time, Utah State is 18-6 (.750) in Mountain West play and has won 29 of its last 35 league games dating back to 2011. At home, USU is 11-1 in Mountain West play and has won its last 11 conference home games and 16 of its last 17 conference home games overall.
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
With its 31-27 win against Nevada last weekend, Utah State is now 145-168-8 (.464) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 38-24-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 33-37-2 record vs. Colorado State, a 15-7 record vs. UNLV, a 16-20-1 record vs. San José State, an 11-17-1 record vs. Fresno State, a 10-12 record vs. New Mexico, an 8-6 record vs. Hawai'i, a 6-17 record vs. Nevada, a 5-15 record vs. Boise State, a 2-2 record vs. Air Force, and a 1-11 record vs. San Diego State.
DID YOU KNOW?
Entering the 2015 season, Utah State was one of just four FBS programs to win at least 30 games and record three bowl victories in the past three years joining Clemson, Michigan State and Oregon.
A QUICK LOOK AT BYU
BYU is 8-3 on the season following its 52-10 home win against Fresno State last weekend. The Cougars are led by freshman QB Tanner Mangum, who is 226-of-360 passing for 2,778 yards (252.5 ypg) with 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Junior RB Algernon Brown leads the team in rushing with 629 yards on 106 carries (5.9 ypc/69.9 ypg) with 10 touchdowns, and senior WR Mitch Matthews has caught 46 passes for 571 yards (12.4 ypr/51.9 ypg) with nine touchdowns. Defensively, senior SS Michael Wadsworth has a team-best 69 tackles, which includes 2.5 tackles for loss, while junior LB Harvey Langi has 56 tackles, which includes 4.5 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss. As a team, BYU is averaging 32.6 points and 434.4 yards of total offense per game (295.9-passing, 138.5-rushing) and allowing 21.3 points and 350.2 yards of total offense (210.0-passing, 140.2-rushing). BYU returns 16 starters (O-9, D-7) and 47 lettermen (O-23, D-23, S-1) from last year's team that went 8-5 and lost to Memphis, 55-48, in double overtime in the Miami Beach Bowl. The Cougars are coached by Bronco Mendenhall, who is 98-42 in his 11th season at BYU.
AGGIES AND COUGARS SERIES HISTORY
Utah State trails in the all-time series against BYU, 35-46-3, but holds an 18-16-2 advantage at home. The first game played in the series was on Oct. 7, 1922, in Provo with USU winning, 42-3. USU won the last meeting between the two teams, 35-20, on Oct. 3, 2014, in Provo, snapping a 17-game road losing streak that dated back to 1978. BYU won the last game played in Logan, 31-14, on Oct. 4, 2013, and the last time USU defeated BYU at home was on Oct. 1, 2010, 31-16. The last time Utah State won consecutive games in the series was when it won four-straight games against BYU from 1971-74.
MORE ON THE AGGIES AND COUGARS SERIES HISTORY
Utah State's 35 wins against BYU are the second-most in school history behind USU's 38 wins against Wyoming. The USU-BYU series is the second-most played in school history as this weekend's 85th meeting trails only USU's 112 games played against Utah.
TOP AGGIE PERFORMERS AGAINST BYU
Rushing Yards: Roy Shivers (1965), 180 yards on 21 carries
Passing Yards: Anthony Calvillo (1993), 472 yards on 31-of-57 passing
Receiving Yards: Aaron Jones (1999), 195 yards on 10 receptions
BATTLE FOR THE OLD WAGON WHEEL
Utah State and BYU will be playing for possession of `The Old Wagon Wheel,' the traveling trophy between the two schools, this weekend. The Old Wagon Wheel became part of the rivalry in 1948. Since its inception, BYU holds a 38-23 advantage in the series and USU currently holds possession of the traveling trophy after its 35-20 win in Provo last year.
UTAH STATE AND BYU SERIES MOVING FORWARD
Future games currently scheduled between Utah State and BYU include meetings in Provo on Nov. 26, 2016, and Oct. 5, 2018, along with games in Logan on Sept. 29, 2017, and Nov. 2, 2019, in addition to this weekend's game.
UTAH STATE VERSUS FBS INDEPENDENTS
Utah State is 36-46-3 all-time against current Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Independents with a 35-46-3 record against BYU and a 1-0 record against Army.
Matt Wells VERSUS BYU
Utah State head coach Matt Wells is 1-1 all-time against BYU as a head coach, and has faced the Cougars six times as an assistant, including twice while at Utah State, as well as three times as an assistant at New Mexico and once as an assistant at Tulsa.
UTAH STATE AND BYU CONNECTIONS
Utah State assistant head coach and offensive line coach Mark Weber spent six seasons (2007-12) as BYU's offensive line coach, helping the Cougars to six bowl games and a conference championship in 2007. Weber was also on staff at Oregon State with BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall during the 1989-90 seasons. USU defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kevin Clune was on staff at Utah in 2001 with BYU defensive line coach Steve Kaufusi. USU special assistant to the head coach Dave Kragthorpe spent 10 years (1970-79) as the offensive line coach and offensive coordinator at BYU. USU director of player personnel Reed Hornung was a three-year letterwinner at long snapper at BYU (2010-12) and graduated from BYU in 2013. USU offensive administrative assistant Kelly Bills spent five years on staff at BYU (2008-12) as both an offensive quality control coach and offensive graduate assistant. Bills played two seasons at BYU (2006-07) at quarterback and graduated from BYU in 2010.
DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State is playing BYU in its regular-season finale for just the third time in program history, also doing so in 1984 and 1990. The last time USU finished its regular season at home against a non-conference opponent was in 2000 against Idaho State.
MORE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BYU
Utah State junior SS Dallin Leavitt began his collegiate career at BYU playing in 2013 and 2014. BYU's stadium namesake, LaVell Edwards, is a 1952 Utah State alum, and was a three-year letterman for the Aggies from 1949-51, collecting unanimous all-Skyline Six Conference honors in 1950 at linebacker. Edwards was inducted into USU's Athletics' Hall of Fame in 2011. Utah State University President Stan Albrecht worked at BYU for 18 years (1974-92), including three years as Academic Vice President and Associate Provost. BYU inside linebacker coach Paul Tidwell's hometown is Logan and he played fullback at USU from 1974-76. BYU special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach Kelly Poppinga was a USU linebacker from 2003-04. BYU WR Travis Frey is a Utah State transfer. BYU's director of football performance Frank Wintrich was a strength coach at Utah State for two years (2004-05).
PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BYU
Utah State junior OT Austin Albrecht and freshman OL Tyler Saltmarsh both attended Alta High School in Sandy, Utah, as did BYU RB Tola'I Ho Ching, LB Ryan Jensen and LB Rhett Sandlin. USU freshman WR Hudson Conrad and BYU DB Zayne Anderson both attended Stansbury High School in Stansbury Park, Utah. USU junior LB Brock Carmen, redshirt junior DE Edmund Faimalo and senior DE John Taylor all attended Riverside (Calif.) CC, as did BYU WR Devon Blackmon. USU redshirt freshman LB Dillon Filiaga and BYU QB Taysom Hill both attended Highland High School in Pocatello, Idaho. USU senior LB LT Filiaga, junior TE Chris Copier and sophomore OL Brandon Taukeiaho all attended Bingham High School in South Jordan, Utah, as did BYU OL Tuni Kanuch, DL Moses Kaumatule, LB Harvey Langi, DL Remington Peck, LB Manoa Pikula and DL Kesni Tausinga. Copier's uncle, Doug Jolley, played football at BYU. LT Filiaga and BYU LB Harvey Langi both transferred to their current schools from Utah. LT Filiaga's cousins, Harvey Unga and Russell Tialavea, both played football at BYU. Dillon Filiaga and LT Filiaga's cousin, Iona Pritchard, played football at BYU. USU sophomore LB Alex Huerta, sophomore S Gaje Ferguson and freshman CB Taylor Niederhauser all attended Mountain Crest High School in Hyrum, Utah, as did BYU WR Moroni Laulu-Pututau. USU sophomore S Gaje Ferguson, junior TE Chris Copier and junior TE Landon Horne all attended Snow College, as did BYU DB Eric Takenaka. USU sophomore OL Jarome Ione and BYU OL Darren Denucci both attended Bountiful (Utah) High School. USU sophomore OG Tyshon Mosley and freshman WR Mason Gajkowski attended Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah, as did BYU QB McCoy Hill and OL Kyle Johnson. USU redshirt freshman QB DJ Nelson's older brother, Riley Nelson, played football at both Utah State and BYU. USU freshman TE Dax Raymond and redshrit freshman WR Zach Van Leeuwen both attended Timpview HS in Provo, Utah, as did BYU DB Chris Badger, OL Figgs Hofheins, DL Bronson Kaufusi, LB Creed Richardson and WR Rickey Shumway. Raymond's father, Ronn, was on BYU's track and field team. USU sophomore WR Braelon Roberts and BYU DB Micah Simon both attended Bishop Dunne High School in Dallas, Texas. USU redshirt junior WR Andrew Rodriguez and BYU OL Tejan Koroma both attended Allen (Texas) High School. USU junior DE Siua Taufa and BYU DB Grant Jones both attended Ygnacio Valley High School in Concord, Calif. USU sophomore DE Ian Togiai and BYU OL Ului Lapuaho both attended Hunter High School in West Valley City, Utah. Ului Lapuaho is the brother of former USU NG Al Lapuaho. USU sophomore FS Myron Turner and BYU WR Akile Davis both attended DeSoto (Texas) High School. USU freshman DE Christopher `Unga's brother, Devin, played football at BYU. USU junior LB Nick Vigil and BYU DB Jordan Preator both attended Fremont High School in Plain City, Utah.
STATS FOR AGGIES WITH MULTIPLE GAMES VS. BYU
The following is a look at what current Utah State players have done against BYU in at least two games played. Redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton is 39-of-73 passing for 350 yards with three touchdowns and one interception, to go along with 62 yards rushing on 19 carries (3.3 ypc), in three games. Senior DE Jordan Nielsen has eight tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, in three games. Senior NG Travis Seefeldt has one tackle and one fumble recovery in three games. Senior LB Michael Okonkwo has one tackle in three games. Senior LB Kyler Fackrell has 23 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and one interception that he returned eight yards in two games. Senior LB Torrey Green has 1.0 sacks and one interception in two games. Junior LB Nick Vigil has 17 tackles, including 0.5 sacks, and one quarterback hurry, to go along with 57 yards rushing and a touchdown on 16 carries (3.6 ypc), in two games. Junior FS Devin Centers has two tackles, two pass breakups, a blocked punt and one interception that he returned for 34 yards in two games. Junior DE Ricky Ali'ifua has five tackles in two games. Junior RB Kennedy Williams has six carries for 37 yards (6.2 ypc) and one kickoff return for 21 yards in two games. Junior PK Jake Thompson has nine kickoffs for 579 yards (64.3 ypk) and six touchbacks, and is 0-for-1 on field goal attempts, in two games.
HOMEGROWN PLAYERS
Utah State has 40 players in its program from the state of Utah, while BYU has 42 players on its roster from the Beehive State.
MISCELLANEOUS NUMBERS
Utah State is 3-2-2 all-time in known games played on Nov. 28. Under head coach Matt Wells, USU is 8-4 in day games, including a 1-3 record this season and 17-10 in games played on Saturday, including a 3-3 record this year.
LAST MEETING VS. BYU
PROVO, Utah - Sophomore QB Darell Garretson threw three touchdown passes in the first-half, and Utah State's defense forced four turnovers for the third time in its last four games, as the Aggies posted its first win at BYU in 36 years with a 35-20 victory on Oct. 3, 2014 in a nationally televised game on ESPN.
Utah State (3-2) also improved to 4-51 all-time against ranked opponents, including wins in three of its last four matchups. Overall, No. 18 BYU (4-1) is the highest ranked opponent USU has ever defeated bettering its 48-41 overtime win at No. 19 Louisiana Tech in 2012.
Utah State finished the night with a season-high 457 yards of offense as Garretson was 19-of-25 passing for a season-high 321 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Sophomore LB Nick Vigil led the Aggies' rushing attack as he carried the ball 16 times for 57 yards, and scored his first career touchdown on a 1-yard run in the third quarter, all of which are career-highs. Senior RB Joe Hill added 54 rushing yards as he tied his career-high with 18 carries and USU finished the night with 136 rushing yards on 46 carries.
BYU scored on its first possession of the game as Taysom Hill scored on an 11-yard run just 1:16 into the game as the Cougars drove 75 yards in just five plays. Hill, who was injured in the second quarter and did not return, was 8-of-11 passing for 99 yards with one touchdown and carried the ball seven times for 35 yards with another score.
On its opening possession of the game, Utah State drove the ball to the BYU 24-yard line before Garretson fumbled the snap and the Cougars recovered it at their own 36. USU eventually tied the score at 7-all late in the first quarter as Garretson connected with junior WR Devonte Robinson for a 7-yard touchdown to cap a 10-play, 85-yard drive.
BYU regained the lead early in the second quarter on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Hill to Mitch Mathews to make the score 14-7.
From there it was all Utah State, as the Aggies scored three second quarter touchdowns to take a 28-14 lead into the locker room. USU's first score of the second quarter came on a 5-yard run by Garretson to cap a 13-play, 88-yard drive that took 8:20 off the clock, its longest of the season in plays, yards and time of possession. Junior NG Travis Seefeldt then recovered a fumble on BYU's first offensive play of its next series and Garretson connected with Robinson again, this time for 22-yards out on its first play of the drive, to give the Aggies its first lead of the night at 21-14 with 4:27 to play in the half.
On its next drive, Utah State took possession of the ball on its own 13-yard line and drove 87 yards in just three plays, highlighted by a 72-yard touchdown pass from Garretson to junior WR Hunter Sharp. Sharp finished the night with five receptions for a career-high 173 yards for his third-straight 100-yard receiving game, marking the first time since 2002 that an Aggie has accomplished the feat.
BYU closed the gap to 28-17 in the third quarter on a 41-yard field goal only to see USU drive 76-yards in six plays and score another touchdown on a 1-yard run by Nick Vigil to push its lead to 35-17 late in the period.
BYU added a 24-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to cut its deficit to 35-20, but could get no closer.
Nick Vigil led the Aggie defense with nine total tackles, while freshman CB Jalen Davis had a career-high six tackles and senior SS Frankie Sutera had five tackles and intercepted his third pass of the season and fourth of his career. Sophomore FS Devin Centers and junior LB Torrey Green also added interceptions for USU.
LAST MEETING VS. BYU IN LOGAN
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State lost to Brigham Young, 31-14, on Friday, Oct. 4, 2013 at a chilly, sold-out Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium.
The Aggies (3-3) totaled 397 yards of total offense with 186 rushing and 211 passing, while the Cougars (3-2) collected 438 yards of total offense with 278 through the air and 160 on the ground.
Junior QB Craig Harrison was 18-of-41 passing for 185 yards with one touchdown, coming on in place of fellow junior QB Chuckie Keeton in the first quarter after Keeton went down with a knee injury and never returned. Keeton was 4-of-10 passing for 26 yards and a touchdown, adding three rushes for 17 yards before the injury.
Senior RB Joey DeMartino rushed for 80 yards on 16 carries, while Harrison rushed for 38 yards on six carries and freshman RB Kennedy Williams rushed for 37 yards on six rushes.
The senior duo of WR Travis Reynolds and TE D.J. Tialavea each had four receptions, with Reynolds totaling 47 yards and Tialavea tallying 21 yards. Junior TE Keegan Andersen matched Reynolds with 47 yards on three catches.
Senior LB Jake Doughty registered a team-high 14 tackles, while sophomore LB Kyler Fackrell tallied 13 stops. Doughty logged 2.5 tackles for loss, while Fackrell recorded a pair of tackles for loss. Junior LB Zach Vigil notched 11 tackles and senior SS Maurice Alexander forced a first-quarter fumble to set up USU's first touchdown of the night.
The Cougars were led by Taysom Hill's 17-of-31 passing for 278 yards with three touchdowns, all to Mitch Mathews, who finished with five catches for 112 yards. Jamaal Williams totaled 79 yards rushing on 14 carries. Uani `Unga led BYU's defense with a game-high 16 stops, while Robertson Daniel added 10 tackles.
BYU started its scoring on the first play from scrimmage, as Kyle Van Noy jumped in the middle of a Keeton pass and snared it and returned it 17 yards to the end zone for an early 7-0 Cougar lead.
The Aggie defense generated a score two series later, with Alexander forcing a Hill fumble after a scamper and junior FS Brian Suite recovered at the BYU 10. Three plays later Keeton threw a 7-yard pass to senior WR Travis Van Leeuwen, and sophomore PK Nick Diaz hit the extra point to tie the score at 7-7 with 10:48 on the first quarter clock.
On the Cougars' next possession, Hill led the charge with a 14-play, 67-yard drive ending with a Justin Sorensen 27-yard field goal with 7:04 to go in the first frame.
BYU added to its lead with a 30-yard touchdown toss from Hill to Mathews, the first of their three touchdown connections on the night, for a 17-7 Cougar lead at the 10:30 mark of the second quarter, which remained the score into halftime.
Hill and Mathews connected with two more touchdowns in the third quarter, first on a 6-yarder with 12:06 to go and again on a 43-yard strike with 5:52 on the third quarter clock for a 31-7 Cougar lead and capping BYU's scoring.
The Aggies added an 8-yard touchdown from Harrison to junior WR Ronald Butler with 1:34 left in the game to conclude the scoring at 31-14.
AGGIES RALLY FOR 31-27 HOME WIN AGAINST NEVADA
• Utah State rallied from a 27-7 third-quarter deficit by scoring the final 24 points in a come-from-behind 31-27 Mountain West home win against Nevada last weekend to become bowl eligible for the fifth-straight season, which is a school record. The 20-point deficit overcome by Utah State is its largest since rallying for a 35-31 win at Hawai'i in 2011 after trailing by 21 points (28-7) at halftime.
• Nevada took its largest lead of the game just 50 seconds into the third quarter following a 60-yard touchdown run. The extra point, however, was blocked by senior NG David Moala making the score 27-7 with 14:10 to play in the third. During the first 30:50 of the game, Nevada ran 36 plays for 218 yards (6.1 yards per play), including 28 rushes for 174 yards (6.2 ypp). During the final 29:10 of the game, Nevada ran 36 plays for just 46 yards (1.6 ypp).
• For Utah State, it had just 78 yards of offense in the first half on 29 plays (2.7 ypp), before producing 235 yards on 42 plays (5.6 ypp) in the second half.
UTAH STATE AVOIDS FIRST THREE-GAME LOSING STREAK SINCE 2010
With its 31-27 win against Nevada, Utah State avoided its first three-game losing streak since the 2010 season. Overall, USU is 3-2 on the season and 11-3 under head coach Matt Wells following a loss and has only lost back-to-back games three times in its last 59 outings.
AGGIES HAVE BIG DAY RETURNING KICKOFFS AGAINST NEVADA
Utah State had one of its best days in recent history returning kickoffs in its 31-27 Mountain West home win against Nevada last weekend. Overall, USU returned four kickoffs for 222 yards (55.5 ypr) with one touchdown as senior WR Hunter Sharp returned one kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, junior RB Kennedy Williams returned two kickoffs for 98 yards, and junior TE Wyatt Houston returned one kickoff for 28 yards. Those 222 kickoff return yards against Nevada are the fourth-most for USU since 2000, trailing the school-record 272 kickoff return yards against BYU in 2001 on nine returns, the 258 kickoff return yards at Hawai'i in 2007 on eight returns, and the 254 kickoff return yards against Nevada in 2005 on five returns.
UTAH STATE FORCES TWO FUMBLES AGAINST NEVADA
• After forcing just one turnover in its previous four games, Utah State recovered two fumbles against Nevada, both in the final seven minutes of the game. The first fumble recovery was in the end zone by senior LB Kyler Fackrell to bring the Aggies all the way back from a 27-7 deficit and give the home team a 28-27 advantage. The second fumble recovery was by junior LB Nick Vigil on the final play of the game as the Wolf Pack was trying to lateral the ball.
• During a four-game stretch during the middle of the season, Utah State forced a total of 18 turnovers with three takeaways against Washington and Colorado State, and four against Fresno State, to go along with its school-record-tying eight takeaways against Boise State.
• Utah State has forced 21 turnovers this season, at least one turnover in 40 of its last 48 games and 98 turnovers in its last 48 games. Overall, USU has forced at least three turnovers in 11 of its last 24 games.
• Utah State has intercepted 45 passes in its last 35 games, including multiple interceptions in 14 of those 35 games, and has at least one interception in 21 of its last 31 games.
AGGIES BLOCK ANOTHER EXTRA POINT IN NEVADA GAME
Utah State blocked its second extra point of the season and third in its last 13 games last weekend against Nevada as senior NG David Moala blocked the extra point following Nevada's fourth touchdown of the game, keeping the score at 27-7. USU's two other blocked extra points in its last 13 games have been returned for two-point conversions as senior LB Torrey Green returned a blocked PAT by Moala against Southern Utah in the first game of the 2015 season, while sophomore CB Jalen Davis returned a blocked PAT by senior NG Travis Seefeldt at Boise State in last year's regular-season finale.
UTAH STATE VERY SUCCESSFUL WHEN IT RUNS THE BALL
Utah State has won 20 straight games with a 100-yard rusher, including a 3-0 record this year, 24 of its last 25 games when it rushes at least 40 times, including a 5-0 record this year, and 21 straight games when it rushes for 200 yards, including a 4-0 record this year.
UTAH STATE TRENDS
Utah State is ... under head coach Matt Wells: 5-0 this year and 18-0 all-time when scoring at least 30 points; 3-0 this year and 12-0 all-time with a 100-yard rusher; 5-2 this year and 22-5 all-time when it out-gains its opponent; 4-2 this year and 21-7 all-time with 300-plus yards of offense; and 4-0 this year and 16-4 all-time when it controls the time of possession.
TEAM NOTABLES FROM THE NEVADA GAME
Nevada's 53 passing yards are a season-low for an Aggie opponent and the fewest allowed by Utah State since Weber State passed for just 34 yards in 2013... Nevada's 25-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter is the first non-offensive score against Utah State this season... Utah State's last two wins against Nevada (2015, 2011) gave the team six wins to become bowl eligible each time.
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS
• Utah State's defense currently ranks among the top 40 in the nation in eight categories, including ranking second in the Mountain West and ninth nationally in passing defense (171.0 ypg). The Aggies also rank fourth in the MW and 21st nationally in total defense (334.7 ypg), fourth in the MW and tied for 54th in the nation in scoring defense (24.8 ppg), fourth in the MW and 56th in the nation in rushing defense (163.7 ypg), fifth in the MW and 39th in the nation in pass efficiency defense (117.7), and tied for fifth in the MW and tied for 61st in the nation in sacks (2.1 pg).
• Offensively, Utah State ranks tied for third in the Mountain West and tied for 20th nationally in sacks allowed (1.3 pg), tied for fourth in the MW and tied for 60th nationally in scoring (29.8 ppg), fifth in the MW and 73rd nationally in completion percentage (.578), fifth in the MW and 93rd in the nation in passing (199.3 ypg), seventh in the MW and 72nd nationally in passing efficiency (128.8), ninth in the MW and 72nd nationally in rushing (164.8 ypg), and ninth in the MW and 97th in the nation in total offense (364.1 ypg).
• On special teams, Utah State ranks second in the Mountain West and sixth nationally in kickoff returns (27.4 ypr), fourth in the MW and 50th in the nation in punt returns (9.2 ypr), and eighth in the MW and 69th in the nation in net punting (37.4 ypk). USU has also blocked two extra points and two punts to rank first in the MW and tied for fifth nationally with its four blocked kicks.
UTAH STATE RANKS FOURTH NATIONALLY IN FUMBLES RECOVERED
With its two fumble recoveries against Nevada last weekend, Utah State now ranks fourth in the nation with its 12 fumble recoveries, while ranking 26th nationally with its 21 turnovers forced. USU also ranks third in the MW and 29th nationally in opponent's third down conversions (.343), fourth in the MW and 32nd nationally in first downs allowed (17.9 pg), sixth in the MW and 53rd nationally in tackles for loss (6.5 pg), sixth in the MW and 59th nationally in turnover margin (+0.18), and seventh in the MW and 68th nationally with its nine passes intercepted. USU also ranks tied for ninth in the nation in forcing three-and-outs with 5.10 per game.
UTAH STATE RANKS 14TH NATIONALLY WITH ITS THREE DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
With its defensive touchdown last weekend against Nevada, Utah State has now scored three defensive touchdowns this year, to rank first in the Mountain West and 14th in the nation. Over its last 32 games, USU has now scored 11 defensive touchdowns.
FACKRELL LEADS THE NATION IN FUMBLES RECOVERED
Senior LB Kyler Fackrell has recovered five fumbles this season to lead the nation and also ranks tied for third in the Mountain West in tackles for loss (1.23 pg), and 21st in the MW in tackles (6.6 pg).
VIGIL RANKS THIRD NATIONALLY IN TACKLES
Junior LB Nick Vigil ranks first in the Mountain West and third nationally in tackles (11.9 pg), and tied for third in the MW and tied for 19th nationally with two fumble recoveries.
MAYS RANKS 35TH NATIONALLY IN RUSHING YARDS PER CARRY
Junior RB Devante Mays ranks second in the Mountain West and 35th nationally with his 5.9 yards per carry average, and fourth in the MW and 49th nationally with his nine rushing touchdowns.
OTHER AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS
Junior WR Andrew Rodriguez ranks tied first in the Mountain West and tied for ninth nationally with his one punt return for touchdown, and first in the MW and 23rd nationally in punt returns (10.0 pg). Senior WR Hunter Sharp ranks tied for second in the MW and tied for ninth nationally with his one kickoff return for touchdown, third in the MW and 37th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with seven, third in the MW and 36th in the nation in receptions (5.9 pg), third in the MW and 53td nationally in receiving (71.3 ypg), and eighth in the MW in all-purpose yards (98.6 ypg). Sophomore QB Kent Myers ranks fifth in the MW and 61st nationally in passing touchdowns with 14. Senior NG David Moala ranks tied for first in the MW and tied for fifth nationally with his two blocked kicks, and second in the MW in fumbles forced with two. Senior DE Jordan Nielsen ranks tied for third in the MW and tied for 19th in the nation with two fumble recoveries. Junior FS Devin Centers ranks tied for sixth in the MW and tied for 70th nationally in interceptions with three. Sophomore CB Jalen Davis ranks tied for fifth in the MW in passes defended (0.91 pg). Redshirt freshman FS Jontrell Rocquemore ranks tied first in the MW and tied for ninth nationally with his one punt return for touchdown. Senior WR Devonte Robinson ranks third in the MW and 54th in the nation in yards per reception (16.3 ypr). Senior LB LT Filiaga ranks tied for 31st in the MW in tackles (6.1 pg). Senior SS Marwin Evans ranks 47th in the MW in tackles (4.9 pg). Junior PK Brock Warren ranks fifth in the MW and 66th nationally in field goal percentage (.727), sixth in the MW in field goals made with eight, ninth in the MW in extra point percentage (.946), and 10th in the MW in scoring (5.4 ppg). Junior PK Jake Thompson ranks 10th in the MW in field goals made with three. And redshirt freshman P Aaron Dalton ranks ninth in the MW and 61st nationally in punting (41.3 ypk).
DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State had just three penalties for 30 yards last weekend against Nevada and has committed just 10 penalties for 84 yards in its last four games for an average of 2.5 penalties per game.
FACKRELL NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAIN
• Senior LB Kyler Fackrell was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday, Nov. 23 as he helped Utah State to a 31-27 come-from-behind Mountain West home win against Nevada. Overall, it is the third time in his career that Fackrell has been named MW Defensive Player of the Week and it is the fifth time he has been honored by a conference office.
• Against Nevada, Fackrell cored his second career defensive touchdown as he recovered a fumble in the end zone in the fourth quarter to complete Utah State's rally from down 27-7 to give the home team a 28-27 lead en route to its 31-27 victory. Fackrell's other defensive touchdown was in 2013 as he returned an interception 99 yards against Hawai'i. The linebacker also has one offensive touchdown in his career as he caught a 4-yard pass against Weber State in 2013.
• Along with his touchdown against Nevada, Fackrell also had 10 tackles, including 0.5 for loss, to go along with two quarterback hurries against the Wolf Pack. Overall, it was Fackrell's third double-digit tackle outing of the season and the ninth of his career.
• On the season, Fackrell leads the team with his 13.5 tackles for loss and is tied for the team lead with his 4.0 sacks, while ranking second with his 73 total tackles. He also ranks first on the team with 12 quarterback hurries and five fumble recoveries, while tying for first with two forced fumbles. For his career, he now has 244 tackles, which includes 12.0 sacks and 34.5 tackles for loss, while adding five forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries.
VIGIL RECORDS 13 TACKLES AGAINST NEVADA
• Junior LB Nick Vigil recorded his seventh double-digit tackle game this year and the 13th of his career last weekend against Nevada with his 13 tackles. It was also his fifth double-digit tackle game in his last six outings. Overall, Vigil has led the Aggies in tackles 10 times in 11 games this year.
• Two weeks ago at Air Force, Vigil recorded a career-high 20 tackles, which are tied for the third-most in a single-game this year at the FBS level.
• On the season, Vigil ranks second on the team with his 12.5 tackles for loss and tied for third with his 3.0 sacks, while ranking first overall with 131 total tackles. He also ranks tied for first on the team with his two forced fumbles and tied for second with his two fumble recoveries. For his career, he now has 311 tackles, which includes 15.5 sacks and 37.5 tackles for loss, while adding seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
FACKRELL AND VIGIL UNSTOPPABLE IN MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY
• Utah State's linebacker duo of senior Kyler Fackrell and junior Nick Vigil have taken their play to another level since beginning Mountain West play. Over the past eight games, the duo has combined for 154 tackles, including 5.0 sacks and 18.0 tackles for loss, while adding three forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and 12 quarterback hurries.
• In eight Mountain West games, Fackrell has recorded 57 tackles, which includes 2.0 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss, while adding five fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and 10 quarterback hurries. Vigil has recorded 97 tackles, which includes 3.0 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss, while adding two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two quarterback hurries.
MAYS RECORDS SECOND CAREER 100-YARD RUSHING GAME IN NEVADA WIN
Junior RB Devante Mays recorded his second 100-yard rushing game of the season and his career against Nevada as he rushed for 133 yards on a career-high-tying 22 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns on runs of five and two yards. For Mays, it was his third multi-touchdown game of the season, as he now has a team-best nine rushing touchdowns. Mays also has a team-best 10 explosive runs on the season after his 35 and 32 yard runs against Nevada last weekend.
MAYS RANKS NINTH ALL-TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN RUSHING AVERAGE
Junior RB Devante Mays has rushed for 788 yards on 134 carries with nine touchdowns and that average of 5.9 yards per carry currently ranks ninth all-time in school history for a single season.
SHARP RECORDS FIRST CAREER KICKOFF RETURN FOR TOUCHDOWN
Senior WR Hunter Sharp returned his first career kickoff for a touchdown against Nevada as he returned a second-quarter kick 96 yards, which ranks tied for the sixth-longest kickoff return in school history, along with Marvin Ellis (Idaho State, 1991) and Overton Curtis (Idaho, 1958), and the longest since Kevin Robinson had a 100-yard return against Hawai'i in 2007. That return by Sharp was also the first Aggie kickoff return for a touchdown since Kerwynn Williams had a 92-yard return at Nevada in 2010. Overall, Sharp has returned just six kickoffs this season for an average of 36.7 yards per return. In his career, he has returned 12 kickoffs for 366 yards (30.5 ypr).
SHARP RANKS 13TH ALL-TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN RECEPTIONS
With his seven receptions for 51 yards against Nevada, senior WR Hunter Sharp now ranks 13th all-time in school history with 117 career receptions and 15th all-time with 1,585 receiving yards. Sharp is one of just 19 players in school history with 100 career receptions and one of 33 players with 1,000 career receiving yards. Overall, Sharp has caught at least one pass in 21 straight games, which is the longest streak by an Aggie since Travis Reynolds also caught a pass in 21 straight games during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. This season, Sharp leads the team with 53 catches for 646 yards (12.2 ypr/71.8 ypg) and seven touchdowns. For his career, Sharp has 14 touchdown receptions.
EVANS RECORDS CAREER-HIGH 11 TACKLES AGAINST NEVADA
Senior SS Marwin Evans recorded his first career double-digit tackle game as he had a career-high 11 stops against Nevada last weekend. Evans also had 2.0 tackles for loss against the Wolf Pack and now has 8.5 tackles for loss this year, which ranks fifth on the team. He also has 54 tackles this season to rank fourth on the team.
GREEN RECORDS CAREER-HIGH EIGHT TACKLES AGAINST NEVADA
• Senior LB Torrey Green recorded a career-high eight tackles last weekend against Nevada, which included 1.0 sacks. On the season, Green ranks tied for first on the team with 4.0 sacks, third with 9.5 tackles for loss, and sixth with 43 tackles.
• During his last five games, Green has recorded 29 tackles, which includes 3.0 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss, to lead the team in both categories. For his career, Green now has 7.0 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss as part of his 85 total tackles.
DALTON CONTINUES TO PUNT WELL FOR UTAH STATE
• Redshirt freshman P Aaron Dalton continues to punt the ball well for Utah State as all three of his punts against Nevada last weekend were downed inside the 20-yard line, including two that were downed inside the 10-yard line. In fact, Dalton's last punt of the game midway through the fourth quarter was downed at the 1-yard line. On the next play, USU recovered a Nevada fumble in the end zone for the winning touchdown.
• During his last three games, Dalton has punted 16 times for 741 yards (46.3 ypp) with nine of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He has also had four punts of 50-plus yards in his last three games, including a long of 63.
• On the season, Dalton has punted 62 times for 2,563 yards (41.3 ypk), and has eight punts of at least 50 yards with 22 of his punts being downed inside the 20-yard line.
MOALA BLOCKS SECOND EXTRA POINT OF THE SEASON
Senior NG David Moala blocked his second extra point of the season last weekend against Nevada, while adding three tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss. On the season, Moala leads the team with his two blocked kicks and ranks tied for third with 3.0 sacks and fourth with 9.0 tackles for loss. He is also ninth on the team and second among defensive linemen with his 37 tackles.
OTHER PLAYER NOTABLES FROM THE NEVADA GAME
Junior RB Kennedy Williams had a career-long 65 yard kickoff return... Junior TE Wyatt Houston returned his first career kickoff for 28 yards.... Sophomore DE Ian Togiai tied his career high with two tackles... Senior CB Tyler Floyd had 0.5 tackles for loss and now has 2.5 tackles for loss this year and 3.5 in his career... Junior PK Jake Thompson made his first career extra point and was 3-of-3 on extra points during the day as he is now 3-of-4 in his career on extra points, all of which have been this season... Thompson also made a 42-yard field goal in the fourth quarter as he is now 3-of-3 on field goal attempts this year and 4-of-10 in his career, including 2-of-2 from 40-49 yards this season and 2-of-5 from 40-49 yards in his career... Junior PK Brock Warren was 0-of-2 on field goal attempts from 20 and 29 yards and is now 8-of-11 this season on field goal attempts, including 4-of-6 from 20-29 yards... For his career, Warren is now 8-of-12 on field goal attempts, including 4-of-6 from 20-29 yards.
WARREN ENTERS SINGLE-SEASON TOP 10 IN EXTRA POINTS
Junior PK Brock Warren is 35-of-37 on extra points this season to rank tied for eighth in school history for a single season in extra points made with Dane Kidman (2001) and Doug Beach (1990), and also tied for eighth in school history for a single season in extra points attempted with Micah Knorr (1996) and Michael Doyle (1972).
MYERS THIRD ALL-TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
Sophomore QB Kent Myers is 186-of-298 (.624) passing for 2,336 yards with 19 touchdowns and just six interceptions in his career, and that completion percentage ranks third all-time in school history. Furthermore, Myers has completed 107-of-179 (.598) passes for 1,470 yards with 14 touchdowns and just three interceptions this season, and that completion percentage ranks seventh all-time at USU for a single season.
STAT OF THE DAY
Junior LB Nick Vigil saw his first action of the season on offense against Nevada and carried the ball four times for 12 yards. Three of those carries were on third down as he picked up two first downs, while his other carry was on fourth down, where he also picked up a first down.
NIELSEN SET TO TIE SCHOOL RECORD FOR GAMES PLAYED THIS WEEKEND
Senior DE Jordan Nielsen will play in his 53rd career game this weekend against BYU, tying former DE B.J. Larsen for the most games played in school history.
DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State has won 41 of its last 58 games (.707) to rank as the third-most wins in the West behind Oregon (50) and Boise State (43) over the last five seasons.
RECAPPING THE NEVADA GAME
LOGAN, Utah - Junior RB Devante Mays rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns, while senior LB Kyler Fackrell recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, to help Utah State rally from 20 points down in the third quarter and stun Nevada, 31-27, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on Nov. 21, 2015.
Utah State's 20-point comeback is its largest since rallying from 21 down to beat Hawai'i 35-31 on Nov. 5, 2011, as USU extended its home winning streak to 14 straight games.
Senior WR Hunter Sharp had 160 all-purpose yards, including a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, as the Aggies (6-5, 5-3 Mountain West) became bowl eligible for the fifth consecutive season. USU finished the game with 313 total yards and held the Wolf Pack to 264, including just 111 in the second half.
Redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton replaced an injured Kent Myers in the first quarter and completed 14-of-27 passes for 109 yards and one interception against the Wolf Pack (6-5, 4-3). Keeton added 52 yards on the ground on 14 carries.
Sophomore RB James Butler rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns for Nevada, which had its three-game winning streak snapped. Junior QB Tyler Stewart was 8-of-18 passing for 55 yards and had a rushing touchdown, but his fourth-quarter fumble helped Utah State take the lead for good.
A 37-yard punt by Utah State redshirt freshman P Aaron Dalton was downed at the Nevada 1-yard line by junior CB Jentz Painter. Just one play later, Stewart couldn't handle the snap in the end zone and Fackrell recovered it for a touchdown, tying the score at 27-apiece with 6:55 remaining in the game. Junior PK Jake Thompson then gave the Aggies their first lead of the night, 28-27, with the subsequent extra point. Thompson capped the wild comeback by drilling a 42-yard field goal with 35 seconds remaining.
For Fackrell, it was his nation-leading fifth fumble recovery this year and the seventh of his career. He added 10 tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, and two quarterback hurries.
For the 10th time in 11 games this season, junior LB Nick Vigil led the Aggies in tackles with 13, including 1.0 tackles for loss, one quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery. Senior SS Marwin Evans added a career-high 11 tackles.
Nevada took a 7-0 lead with 7:36 remaining in the first quarter when senior LB Jordan Dobrich intercepted a pass by Myers and returned it 25 yards for a touchdown.
The Wolf Pack turned another interception into points in the second quarter. Freshman LB Riley Brand picked off a pass by Keeton and returned it 14 yards to the Aggies' 21-yard line. Four plays later, Stewart scored on a 2-yard keeper to give Nevada a 14-0.
Sharp gave the Aggies some life on the ensuing kickoff as he returned it 96 yards for a touchdown, pulling Utah State within 14-7 with 8:07 left until halftime. The return is tied for the sixth-longest in school history.
The Wolf Pack took a 21-7 lead into the break following a 33-yard touchdown run by Butler.
Nevada opened up a 20-point lead just 50 seconds into the second half when Butler scored on a 60-yard touchdown run. But, Utah State senior NG David Moala blocked the extra point to leave the score at 27-7.
The Aggies answered on the ensuing possession when Mays scored on a 5-yard run to make it 27-14 with 9:05 remaining in the third.
After Utah State forced Nevada to go three-and-out, the Aggies pulled even closer on another touchdown by Mays, this time from 2 yards out.
KEETON SEES FIRST SIGNIFICANT ACTION SINCE SEPTEMBER
Redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton saw his first significant playing time since September as he played the majority of the game against Nevada last weekend, replacing an injured Kent Myers in the first quarter. Against the Wolf Pack, Keeton was 14-of-27 passing for 109 yards with one interception. He also rushed a season-high 14 times for a season-best 52 yards.
KEETON IN THE AGGIE RECORD BOOK
Redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton ranks among the top 10 in school history in the following categories:
• First all-time with a career completion percentage of 63.9 percent (638-of-998).
• First all-time with an interception percentage of 0.023 as he has thrown just 23 interceptions in 998 pass attempts.
• Tied for first all-time with 60 career touchdown passes along with Jose Fuentes (2000-2002).
• Second all-time with 7,036 passing yards. Fuentes holds the school record with 9,168 yards.
• Second all-time with 638 career completions. Fuentes holds the school record with 704.
• Second all-time with 998 career pass attempts. Fuentes holds the school record with 1,270.
• Second all-time with 8,398 yards of total offense (7,036-passing, 1,362-rushing). Fuentes holds the school record with 8,791 yards.
• 16th all-time with 1,362 career rushing yards (296 carries, 4.4 ypc). Demario Brown (1996-99) holds the school record with 4,053 yards, while Diondre Borel (2007-10) holds the school record with 1,398 yards by a quarterback. Overall, Keeton is one of just 27 players in school history to rush for 1,000 yards and just the second quarterback.
• Set single-season school records as a sophomore in 2012 for touchdown passes (27), passing yards (3,373), total offensive yards (3,992), completions (275) and completion percentage (.676), and broke his own completion percentage record as a junior (.694).
• Is the only quarterback in school history to have five touchdown passes in three games as he tied the single-game school record against both Air Force (9/7/13) and Weber State (9/14/13) during his junior season, as well as against Wyoming (10/8/11) as a freshman.
• Set a then single-game school record with an 88.0 percent completion percentage against Southern Utah (8/30/12) during his sophomore season as he was 22-of-25 passing.
• Tied the then school record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 121 yards on a career-high tying 17 carries in a 48-41 overtime win at No. 19 Louisiana Tech (11/17/12) during his sophomore season. Tony Adams set the record in 1972.
KEETON AMONG ACTIVE FBS QUARTERBACKS
In just 36 career games, redshirt senior Chuckie Keeton ranks among the top 10 FBS quarterbacks in the following categories:
• Sixth in completion percentage (.639), trailing Washington State's Luke Falk (.688), Western Kentucky's Brandon Doughty (.686), USC's Cody Kessler (.683), Bowling Green's Matt Johnson (.657) and Oregon's Vernon Adams Jr. (.645).
• Sixth among QBs with 6,000 passing yards & 1,000 rushing yards (7,036 passing/1,362 rushing), trailing Oregon's Vernon Adams Jr. (12,513 passing/1,355 rushing), TCU's Trevone Boykin (10,580 passing/2,033 rushing), Mississippi State's Dak Prescott (8,742 passing/2,411 rushing), North Carolina's Marquise Williams (7,329 passing/2,238 rushing) and Ohio State's Braxton Miller (5,295 passing/3,281 rushing).
MORE NOTABLES ON KEETON
• Utah State redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton is one of just two FBS quarterbacks to start five season openers along with Tulsa's T.J. Rubley (1987-91).
• Keeton is the second-winningest QB in school history with his 20 wins, trailing Tony Adams (1970-72), who won 22 games, and ahead of John Pappas (1966-68), who won 18 games.
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOR KEETON IN 2013
• Redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton was putting up some gaudy numbers during his junior season before missing the final eight games with a knee injury suffered against BYU on Oct. 4. Through his first five games, Keeton ranked second in the nation with 17 touchdown passes, while also ranking first in the Mountain West and second in the nation in points responsible for (22.8 pg), second in the MW and 22nd in the nation in passing efficiency (161.6), third in the MW and eighth in the nation in completions (26.4 pg), third in the MW and 11th in the nation in completion percentage (.710), third in the MW and 18th in the nation in total offense (317.2 ypg), and fourth in the MW and 25th in the nation in passing (272.4 ypg). Keeton concluded his junior campaign completing 136-of-196 passes for 1,388 yards (231.3 ypg) and 18 touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing for 241 yards on 55 carries (40.2 ypg/4.4 ypc) and two more scores. Those 18 touchdown passes rank tied for ninth all-time at USU, while his completion percentage of 69.4 percent ranks first all-time.
• In 2014, Keeton played in just two and one-half games before re-injuring his surgically repaired left knee in the first half against Wake Forest (9/13). He missed the rest of the season and received a medical redshirt from both the NCAA and Mountain West.
FACKRELL NAMED ONE OF 10 SEMIFINALISTS FOR BUTKUS AWARD
Senior LB Kyler Fackrell has been named one of 10 semifinalsts for the 31st annual Butkus Award honoring the nation's best linebacker, it was announced on Monday, Nov. 2. Joining Fackrell as a semifinalist was Kendall Beckwith (LSU), Su'a Cravens (USC), Leonard Floyd (Georgia), Deion Jones (LSU), Blake Martinez (Stanford), Raekwon McMillan (Ohio State), Antonio Morrison (Florida), Reggie Ragland (Alabama) and Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame).
FACKRELL NAMED MW DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAINST BOISE STATE
Senior LB Kyler Fackrell was named the Mountain West's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 19, following Utah State's 52-26 home win against No. 21 Boise State. Against the Broncos, Fackrell recorded 2.5 tackles for loss as part of his season-high 11 total stops, and added a career-best two fumble recoveries, to go along with one forced fumble and two quarterback hurries. Overall, it was Fackrell's first double-digit tackle outing of the season and the seventh of his career.
MYERS NAMED HONORABLE MENTION NATIONAL PERFORMER FROM CFPA
• Utah State sophomore QB Kent Myers tied his career high with four total touchdowns in Utah State's 58-27 home win against Wyoming on Oct. 30, earning honorable mention national performer honors from College Football Performance Awards. Joining Myers as receipents of this week's CFPA Award included Cincinnati's Gunner Kiel, Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield, Clemson's Deshaun Watson and Florida State's Travis Rudolph.
• Against the Cowboys, Myers tied his career high with three touchdown passes and added a 5-yard touchdown run. Against Wyoming, Myers was 14-of-17 passing for 246 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, while rushing for another 48 yards on 11 carries with one touchdown. In the first half against Wyoming, Myers was 10-of-10 passing for 171 yards with one touchdown.
• Myers also had four total touchdowns in a 52-26 home win against No. 21 Boise State earlier this season with three touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown, and in a 41-7 home win against San José State last season with three rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown. Overall, Myers has nine touchdown passes this season and 14 in his career, to go along with three rushing touchdowns this season and eight in his career. Myers also now has two career 200-yard passing games and two career multi-touchdown games passing the ball.
• In two career games against Wyoming, Myers is 27-of-33 (.818) passing for 396 yards (198.0 ypg) with three touchdowns and no interceptions, while also rushing for 73 yards on 19 carries (3.8 ypc) with one touchdown.
MYERS NAMED MW OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAINST COLORADO STATE
• Utah State sophomore QB Kent Myers was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 5 after setting a school record for rushing yards by a quarterback with a career-high 191 yards on a career-best 16 carries in Utah State's 33-18 Homecoming win against Colorado State. The previous record was 121 yards set by redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton against Louisiana Tech (17 carries) in 2012 and Tony Adams against Colorado State (12 carries) in 1972. For Myers, it was his first career 100-yard rushing game.
• Myers' 191 rushing yards are the most by a FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) quarterback this year. It is also the most rushing yards by an Aggie since Kerwynn Williams rushed for 235 yards against Toledo in the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
• Myers had four explosive runs (34, 34, 27, 26) against Colorado State as he scored his first rushing touchdown of the season and sixth of his career from 26 yards out.
• Myers was also 12-of-21 passing for 137 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions against Colorado State, including a 42-yard touchdown pass to senior WR Hunter Sharp.
RODRIGUEZ NAMED MW SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAINST SOUTHERN UTAH
• Redshirt junior WR Andrew Rodriguez was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week following Utah State's 12-9 season-opening home win against Southern Utah on Sept. 3, 2015. Rodriguez returned a USU and Mountain West record eight punts for 136 yards against the Thunderbirds, including one 88 yards for a touchdown with 4:54 to play in the game to turn a 9-5 Aggie deficit into a 12-9 come-from-behind win. The previous school record for punt returns in a game was seven by Kelley Deist against Southern Mississippi in 1974, while the previous MW record was also seven by Scott Harding (Hawai'i) in 2014.
• That 88-yard punt return for Rodriguez is a Maverik Stadium record and the third-longest in USU history trailing Kevin Robinson, who returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown at Troy in 2004 and Dale Leatham, who also returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown at Wichita State in 1950. Robinson held the previous Maverik Stadium record as he returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown against San José State in 2005.
• Rodriguez's 88-yard punt return is also tied for the second-longest in Mountain West history trailing Dallas Davis (Colorado State), who returned a punt 89 yards against Utah in 1999 and tied with Anthony Wright (Air Force), who returned a punt 88 yards against Army in 2009.
UTAH STATE HAS NINE BOWL TEAMS ON ITS 2015 SCHEDULE
Utah State's 2015 schedule features nine teams who played in bowl games a year ago as Utah played in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl (W, 45-10 vs. Colorado State); Washington played in the TicketCity Cactus Bowl (L, 30-22 vs. Oklahoma State); Colorado State played in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl (L, 45-10 vs. Utah); Fresno State played in the Hawai'i Bowl (L, 30-6 vs. Rice); Boise State played in the Vizio Fiesta Bowl (W, 38-30 vs. Arizona); San Diego State played in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (L, 17-16 vs. Navy); Air Force played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (W, 38-24 vs. Western Michigan); Nevada played in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (L, 16-3 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette); and BYU played in the Miami Beach Bowl (L, 55-48 vs. Memphis in 2OT).
UTAH STATE'S NINE BOWL TEAMS RANK TIED FOR FIFTH-MOST NATIONALLY
Utah State's nine bowl teams from the previous year on its 2015 schedule rank tied for the fifth-most nationally. Alabama, Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Virginia all have 10 bowl teams on its schedule this year, while Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Purdue, South Carolina, Texas A&M, USC and Utah State all have nine bowl teams on its 2015 ledger.
UTAH STATE'S 2015 SCHEDULE IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST IN THE NATION
According to Phil Steele's Magazine, Utah State has the toughest schedule in the Mountain West in 2015 and the 35th-toughest schedule in the nation as its opponents were a combined 88-68 (.564) last year.
UTAH STATE COACHING CHANGES FOR 2015
Utah State's coaching staff had just two changes during the offseason as third-year head coach Matt Wells hired Josh Heupel as the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and Kevin Clune as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Heupel replaces Kevin McGiven, who was named the quarterbacks coach at Oregon State, while Clune replaces Todd Orlando, who was named the defensive coordinator at Houston.
UTAH STATE ONE OF JUST SEVEN PROGRAMS WITH NEW COORDINATORS
Utah State is one of just seven FBS programs to have new offensive and defensive coordinators for the 2015 season, despite having the same head coach as the previous year, along with Bowling Green, Central Florida, Hawai'i, New Mexico State, Utah and Vanderbilt.
WELLS' 25 WINS MOST BY ANY AGGIE COACH IN HIS FIRST THREE YEARS
Utah State head coach Matt Wells already ranks as the seventh-winningest coach in school history with his 25 wins, while his 64.1 winning percentage (25-14) ranks second all-time in school history with a minimum of 15 games coached behind John Ralston (1959-62), who won 73.3 percent of his games (31-11-1). Furthermore, Wells' 25 wins is a school-record for a coach in his first three seasons, bettering the 23 wins John Ralston produced from 1959-61.
LOOKING INSIDE UTAH STATE'S ROSTER
Utah State's 15 returning starters (O-8, D-7) in 2015 are its most since it also returned 15 starters (O-8, D-7) for the 2013 season. Furthermore, USU's 23 seniors on its 2015 roster are its most since it had 24 seniors in 2010.
FIRST TIME STARTERS
Utah State has had 13 players make their first career start this year as senior SS Marwin Evans, senior CB Tyler Floyd, senior NG David Moala, senior OL Ben Wysocki, junior DE Ricky Ali'ifua, redshirt junior WR Andrew Rodriguez and redshirt freshman WR Zach Van Leeuwen all started against Southern Utah, junior RB Devante Mays started at Utah, sophomore DE Ian Togiai started at Fresno State as a tight end, senior DE John Taylor started at San Diego State, junior TE Chris Copier and sophomore WR Braelon Roberts both started against Wyoming, and redshirt sophomore RB Tonny Lindsey started against Nevada.
TWENTY FOUR AGGIES GET FIRST DIVISION I EXPERIENCE THIS SEASON
Utah State has had 24 players play in their first-ever Division I game this year in senior CB Promise Amadi, redshirt freshman LB Chasen Andersen, redshirt freshman OL Cody Boyer, junior LB Brock Carmen, redshirt freshman LB Chase Christiansen, sophomore WR Jaren Colston-Green, junior TE Chris Copier, redshirt freshman P Aaron Dalton, redshirt junior DE Edmund Faimalo, redshirt freshman WR Tyler Fox, redshirt freshman RB Justen Hervey, sophomore QB Damion Hobbs, junior OL Jude Hockel, sophomore LB Alex Huerta, sophomore OL Jarom Ioane, redshirt freshman LB Derek Larsen, redshirt sophomore RB Tonny Lindsey, junior RB Devante Mays, freshman TE Dax Raymond, redshirt freshman FS Jontrell Rocquemore, redshirt freshman NG Gasetoto Schuster, redshirt freshman OL KJ Uluave, redshirt freshman WR Zach Van Leeuwen and redshirt freshman SS Aaron Wade.
AGGIES IN OVERTIME
With its 21-14 overtime loss at Arkansas State on Sept. 20, 2014, Utah State is now 6-5 all-time in overtime, including winning three of its last four. All-time, USU is 4-3 in single-overtime games, 2-1 in double-overtime games, and 0-1 in triple-overtime games.
AGGIE DEFENDERS ALSO PLAYING OFFENSE IN 2015
Utah State has had several defenders get to play both offense and defense this season as senior NG David Moala, junior DE Ricky Ali'ifua, junior DE Siua Taufa and sophomore DE Ian Togiai have all seen time as either fullbacks or tight ends on offense, along with playing their normal positions on defense.
AGGIE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN CONTINUE TO RECOVER FROM CAR CRASH
On June 28, 2015, Utah State had four defensive linemen, along with a former USU softball player, involved in a car crash in Cache Valley. Those four football players injured in the accident were senior NG Travis Seefeldt, senior DE John Taylor, redshirt junior DE Edmund Faimalo and redshirt freshman DE Adewale Adeoye. Taylor and Faimalo have both played in each games this season, while Adeoye continues to improve and is practicing with the team. As for Seefeldt, he will most likely miss the 2015 season and apply for a medical redshirt with the NCAA and Mountain West.
AGGIES ANNOUNCE CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP WITH MAVERIK, INC.
Utah State University and Maverik, Inc., owners of convenience stores throughout the Intermountain West, jointly announced Saturday, April 11, 2015, a long-term naming rights partnership to its football stadium, which was known as Romney Stadium. Utah State's football venue is now known as Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. The partnership with Utah State and Maverik is a multi-year agreement, which includes top-tier advertising rights and prominent signage on the exterior and interior of the stadium. Additionally, the venue will feature a Maverik concessions outlet that will sell a number of Maverik proprietary food products. Renovations to Maverik Stadium will focus on greatly improving the overall fan experience. On the west side, a new four-story premium seating and press box structure will be built to include a state-of-the-art media and game operations area, 24 luxury suites, 20 loge boxes, over 700 covered club seats and a premium club area that will also be used to host a student-athlete training table. This project will be completed in time for the 2016 season. Major concourse work will include significantly increased restrooms, upgraded concessions and an enlarged concourse for better pedestrian traffic flow. Renovations will also include new video boards on both the north and south ends of the stadium, along with a new public address system. The additional expansion of Maverik Stadium's seating capacity is also planned for the future.
AGGIES IN THE NFL
Utah State currently has eight players on NFL rosters and has had eight players drafted into the NFL in the past five years. Former Aggies currently in the NFL include: SS Maurice Alexander (St. Louis), CB Will Davis (Baltimore), WR Chuck Jacobs (Baltimore),CB Nevin Lawson (Detroit), OT Donald Penn (Oakland), RB Robert Turbin (Dallas), LB Zach Vigil (Miami), LB Bobby Wagner (Seattle) and RB Kerwynn Williams (Arizona).
AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED
Utah State has nine players on its roster who are married in junior OL Austin Albrecht, junior DE Ricky Ali'ifua, redshirt freshman LB Chase Christiansen, senior LB Kyler Fackrell, redshirt freshman LB Dillon Filiaga, senior LB LT Filiaga, sophomore OL Jarom Ionae, sophomore OL Brandon Taukeiaho and senior OL Ben Wysocki.
AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS
Utah State has 22 players on its roster who have served two-year LDS Church Missions: junior DE Ricky Ali'ifua, senior LB Jarom Baldomero, junior DE Eric Berntson, junior OL Preston Brooksby, junior CB Austin Cheney, junior TE Chris Copier, redshirt freshman LB Dillon Filiaga, senior LB LT Filiaga, senior LS Salanoa Galea'i, freshman LB Braden Harris, junior TE Landon Horne, sophomore OL Jarom Ioane, redshirt freshman LB Derek Larsen, redshirt freshman QB DJ Nelson, junior CB Jentz Painter, freshman TE Dax Raymond, junior DE Siua Taufa, sophomore OL Brandon Taukeiaho, redshirt junior LB Leki Uasike, redshirt freshman OL KJ Uluave, redshirt freshman WR Zach Van Leeuwen and freshman DE Jacoby Wildman.
AGGIES IN THE CLASSROOM
Along with all of its success on the field, Utah State has also excelled in the classroom as it had 21 football players earn academic all-Mountain West honors in 2014, which ranked second in the league, along with two Mountain West Scholar-Athletes. Over the past six years, USU has had 128 players earn academic all-league honors and 131 players have graduated from Utah State. USU also had a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 86 percent to rank second in the Mountain West during the 2014-15 academic year.
DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State is one of just five FBS schools with a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) above 80 percent, while averaging 10 wins a season from 2012-14 along with Central Florida, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame and Stanford.
AGGIES DEFENSE AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION THE LAST THREE YEARS
• Utah State's defense has been among the best in the nation the past three seasons as it has ranked among the top-25 teams each year in scoring defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense. In 2012, USU ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense (15.4 ppg), eighth nationally in passing efficiency defense (104.4) and 13th nationally in rushing defense (113.8 ypg). In 2013, USU ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense (17.1 ppg), eighth nationally in rushing defense (106.7 ypg) and 15th nationally in passing efficiency defense (113.2). And in 2014, USU ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense (19.1 ppg) 17th nationally in passing efficiency defense (111.4) and 24th nationally in rushing defense (130.7 ypg).
• Utah State is one of just three teams to rank among the top-12 nationally in scoring defense in each of the past three seasons along with Alabama and Stanford as USU allowed 15.4 points per game in 2012 and 17.1 points per game in 2013 to rank seventh nationally both seasons, and 19.7 points per game in 2014 to rank 12th nationally. During the past three seasons, USU ranks third nationally, allowing an average of just 17.44 points per game, trailing only Alabama (14.44 ppg) and Michigan State (16.93 ppg).
MORE NOTABLES ON UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE
• Utah State is one of just five defenses nationally to hold opposing offenses under five yards per play the last three years, along with Alabama, Stanford, TCU and Wisconsin. Over the past three seasons, USU's opponents have averaged just 4.55 yards per offensive play.
• Utah State has the fourth-best rushing defense nationally over the past four seasons, allowing just 3.13 yards per carry, trailing only Alabama (2.85 ypc), Michigan State (3.00 ypc) and Stanford (3.03 ypc).
• According to FootballScoop.com, Utah State's defense was ranked as the most disruptive in the Mountain West and 12th-most disruptive nationally during the 2014 season as 19.8 percent of the plays it faced resulted in either a sack, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, or a tipped or intercepted pass.
UTAH STATE DEFENSE NOTABLE
According to Lindey's Sports magazine, Utah State has the 10th-best linebacker group in the nation entering the 2015 season.
OFFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM 2014
• Utah State returns its leading rusher in sophomore RB LaJuan Hunt (540 rushing yards) and leading receiver in senior WR Hunter Sharp (939 receiving yards). The last time USU returned its leading rusher and receiver from the previous season was in 2006 when it returned sophomore FB Ryan Bohm (340 rushing yards) and senior WR Tony Pennyman (741 receiving yards).
•Sophomore RB LaJuan Hunt was the first Aggie freshman to lead the team in rushing since 2007 when Derrvin Speight gained 504 yards on 129 carries (3.9 ypc). In fact, Hunt's 540 rushing yards on 111 carries (4.9 ypc) is the most by a true freshman in school history and the third-most by a freshman all-time, trailing Abu Wilson, who rushed for 795 yards on 164 carries (4.8 ypc) in 1992, and Demario Brown, who rushed for 700 yards on 119 carries (5.9 ypc) in 1996. Hunt's best game of 2014 was at Hawai'i (11/1) as he carried the ball 34 times for 145 yards, both of which are career-highs. Those 34 carries are the most by an Aggie since Joey DeMartino had 35 carries against Colorado State in 2013 and the most by a USU freshman in school history. The 145 rushing yards are the most by an Aggie since Kerwynn Williams had 235 rushing yards against Toledo in the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and the most by a USU freshman since Abu Wilson rushed for 157 yards against New Mexico State in 1992. Furthermore, Hunt's 145 rushing yards marked the first time last season that USU had a 100-yard rusher.
WHAT UTAH STATE MUST REPLACE FROM 2014
Utah State lost nine players who earned various all-Mountain West honors in 2014, including DE B.J. Larsen, PR JoJo Natson, SS Frankie Sutera, LB Zach Vigil and OT Kevin Whimpey, who all earned first-team honors, PK Nick Diaz, who was named to the second-team, and P Jaron Bentrude, NG Elvis Kamana-Matagi and FS Brian Suite, who were all named to the honorable mention team. Vigil was also named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and earned second-team All-American honors from USA Today Sports, third-team All-American honors from Phil Steele, fourth-team All-American honors from Athlon Sports, and honorable mention All-American honors from SI.com. Other starters lost include WR Ronald Butler, TE Jefferson Court, RB Joe Hill and CB Rashard Stewart.
DID YOU KNOW?
Senior WR Hunter Sharp led the nation with his four touchdown receptions of 70-plus yards (81, 72, 75, 70) last season and is one of just two Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players in the last five years to accomplish this feat along with USC's Marqise Lee in 2012. Sharp's 81-yard touchdown reception was at Arkansas State (9/20), his 72-yard touchdown reception was at BYU (10/3), his 75-yard touchdown reception was against Air Force (10/11), and his 70-yard touchdown reception was at Hawai'i (11/1).
HEAD COACH Matt Wells
• Matt Wells has wasted little time putting his stamp on the Aggie football program in his first three seasons as head coach, as USU is 25-14 including a 18-6 Mountain West record. Those 25 wins are a school-record by a USU coach in his first 39 games. USU has also played in fourth-straight bowl games and won three-straight bowls, including two in a row under Wells.
• Wells led Utah State to 10 wins in 2014 to rank as the second-most in school history behind the 2012 team that finished with an 11-2 record.
• During the 2014 season, Wells mentored 15 players who earned 16 all-Mountain West honors, which were the most in the league and tied for the third-most in school history.
• Wells led Utah State to the inaugural Mountain West Championship game after winning the Mountain Division of the conference with a 7-1 record in 2013. He also led USU to just its third-ever bowl victory as it posted a 21-14 win against No. 24 Northern Illinois in the 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.
• Wells was named the 2013 Mountain West Coach of the Year as he set the school record for wins by a first-year head coach as the Aggies finished the 2013 season with a 9-5 record.
• During his first year as Utah State's head coach, Wells mentored 14 Aggies who earned various all-Mountain West honors, including three All-Americans as Tyler Larsen was named a second-team All-American by USA Today Sports, Nevin Lawson was named a third-team All-American by College Sports Madness, and Kyler Fackrell was named an honorable mention Sophomore All-American by College Football News.
• Wells coached a school-record four players who were invited and participated in the 2014 NFL Combine in Larsen, Lawson, Maurice Alexander and D.J. Tialavea, while a total of 11 players from the 2013 roster were invited to NFL camps, including Alexander (St. Louis Rams) and Lawson (Detroit Lions), who were both selected in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
• Overall, Wells is the second USU coach and fifth in school history to garner conference coach of the year honors along with Bruce Snyder (1978), Chuck Shelton (1991), John L. Smith (1997) and Gary Andersen (2012). Wells is also the fourth individual to earn MW Coach of the Year honors in his first season along with BYU's Gary Crowton (2001), Utah's Urban Meyer (2003) and Air Force's Troy Calhoun (2007).
• Wells, who is the 17th-youngest head coach at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level and one of just 14 coaches to lead his alma mater, is just the second Utah State graduate to be appointed its head football coach joining Chris Pella, who graduated from USU in 1965 and coached the Aggies from 1983-85.
• Prior to being named the head coach at his alma mater, Wells spent the previous two seasons as an assistant at Utah State, including serving as the team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2012. In 2011, Wells coached USU's quarterbacks and was the team's recruiting coordinator.
• During his four years at Utah State, Wells has been part of a USU program that has played in four straight bowl games for the first time in school history, and won three-straight bowl games for the first time ever, while posting a 37-17 record.
• As offensive coordinator in 2012, Utah State concluded its most successful season in school history with a school-best 11-2 record. USU also won its first outright conference championship since 1936.
