LOGAN, Utah -

USU Football Game Notes

Weber State Game Notes

Mountain West Notes

UTAH STATE PLAYS FIRST GAME IN RENOVATED MAVERIK STADIUM
Aggies begin 49th season in iconic stadium against Weber State.

WEBER STATE (0-0) vs. UTAH STATE (0-0)
THURSDAY, SEPT. 1, 2016 • 6:05 P.M. (MT) • LOGAN, UTAH • MAVERIK STADIUM (25,100)

GAME 1 INFORMATION
TV: None

STREAMING: Campus Insiders/MWN/Twitter
• Play-by-Play: Ari Wolfe
• Analyst: Darius Walker
• Online: UtahStateAggies.com/videos

RADIO: AGGIE SPORTS NETWORK
• Play-by-Play: Al Lewis
• Analyst: Craig Hislop
• Local: KVNU 610 AM
• Online: 610kvnu.com / Tunein.com

SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: UtahState.Statbroadcast.com

KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State will open the 2016 season at home for just the 14th time since 1959 as it hosts Weber State. USU is 13-1 all-time against the Wildcats, including an 8-1 home record, which included a 70-6 win in the last meeting between the two teams on Sept. 14, 2013, in Logan. The only win for WSU in the series was on Nov. 11, 1978, in Logan, 44-25. Overall, USU is 79-17-6 (.804) all-time against current members of the Big Sky Conference.

• Utah State has won 23 of its last 26 home games, including 12 of its last 15 against non-conference competition.

• Under head coach Matt Wells, USU is 15-3 at home, including a 4-2 non-conference record. All-time, Utah State is 38-14-1 (.726) at home in season openers and 135-99 (.577) in Maverik Stadium.

• Utah State has won each of its last nine games against Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools dating back to the 2000 season when it lost at home to Idaho State, 27-24. All nine of those wins have been against Big Sky Conference opponents.

• Utah State has won nine of its last 14 games played during the month of September, including seven straight at home, and is 0-2 all-time in games played on Sept. 1. USU is 16-32-4 all-time in games played on Thursday, including a 5-3 home record.

• Utah State has 37 players on its roster from the state of Utah, while Weber State has 40 players on its roster from the Beehive State.

UTAH STATE BEGINNING 119TH SEASON OF AGGIE FOOTBALL
• Utah State begins its 119th season of football this week as it hosts Weber State on Thursday, Sept. 1, at 6:05 p.m. (MT). The game will not be televised, but it will be streamed live on Campus Insiders, the Mountain West Network and on Twitter with Ari Wolfe (play-by-play) and Darius Walker (analyst) on the call. Live audio and video of the game is available on www.UtahStateAggies.com. USU, which is 531-524-31 (.503) in its previous 118 seasons, has 10 nationally televised games on ESPN, CBS Sports Network and the Pac-12 Network in 2016.

FIRST-EVER COLLEGE FOOTBALL GAME ON TWITTER
• Utah State's season-opener against Weber State will be the first-ever college football game streamed live on Twitter.

STRIPE THE STADIUM
• For the first time in program history, Utah State will be `Striping the Stadium' when it hosts Weber State in its 2016 season and home opener. All fans sitting in even sections of the stadium are encouraged to wear white, while fans sitting in odd sections should wear navy blue.

UTAH STATE ATHLETICS TO INDUCT 14TH HALL OF FAME CLASS
• Utah State Athletics will induct its 14th Hall of Fame Class this weekend, which includes DeAnna Earsley-Bowers, one of just seven Aggie softball All-Americans; Tom Forzani, an All-American and school-record holding wide receiver; Jim Helton, a three-time track & field All-American; Jim Hough, an All-American offensive lineman; Phil Johnson, a legendary NBA coach and former Aggie men's basketball player; Dave Manning, an All-American offensive lineman; Steve Mothersell, a former Aggie football player and life-long contributor of Aggie Athletics; and Rod Tueller, one of the most successful head coaches and administrators in school history. This year's class will be introduced at halftime of the Weber State game.

UTAH STATE STARTING 2016 SEASON AT HOME FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW
• Utah State will open the 2016 season at home for the second-straight year and for just the 14th time since the 1959 campaign. In fact, it is the first time since 1950 and 1951 that USU has started its season at home in consecutive years.

UTAH STATE PLAYING SIX HOME GAMES ONCE AGAIN IN 2016
• Utah State's 2016 schedule marks the seventh-straight season, the eighth time in the last nine years, and the ninth time in the last 20 years that it will play six home games. Overall, the Aggies have had six home games on the slate just 13 times: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1978, 1952.

UTAH STATE HAS NINE BOWL TEAMS ON ITS 2016 SCHEDULE
• Utah State's 2016 schedule features nine teams who played in bowl games a year ago as USC played in the Holiday Bowl (L, 23-21 vs. Wisconsin); Arkansas State played in the New Orleans Bowl (L, 47-28 vs. Louisiana Tech); Air Force played in the Armed Forces Bowl (L, 55-36 vs. California); Boise State played in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (W, 55-7 vs. Northern Illinois); Colorado State played in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl (L, 28-23 vs. Nevada); San Diego State played in the Hawaii Bowl (W, 42-7 vs. Cincinnati); New Mexico played in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl (L, 45-37 vs. Arizona); Nevada played in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl (W, 28-23 vs. Colorado State); and BYU played in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl (L, 35-28 vs. Utah).

AGGIES ONE OF THE BEST IN THE WEST OVER THE PAST FIVE SEASONS
• Utah State has won 41 of its last 60 games (.683) to rank as the third-most wins in the West behind Oregon (51) and Boise State (45) over the last five seasons.

WHAT'S RETURNING IN 2016
• Utah State returns 12 starters (O-9, D-3) and 38 letterwinners (O-20, D-15, S-3) from last year's team that finished tied for second place in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 5-3 record, and played in its school-record fifth-straight bowl game. Highlighting Utah State's returners in 2016 are six players who earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors a year ago in senior offensive linemen Austin Albrecht, Jake Simonich and Austin Stephens, senior punt returner Andrew Rodriguez, junior cornerback Jalen Davis and junior quarterback Kent Myers. Along with the players mentioned above, Utah State also returns five other starters on offense in senior tight end Wyatt Houston, senior running back Devante Mays, junior running back LaJuan Hunt and junior wide receiver Braelon Roberts, along with Rodriguez at wide receiver. USU also returns two other starters on defense in senior defensive end Ricky Ali'ifua and senior free safety Devin Centers, to go along with three specialists returning in senior kicker Jake Thompson, senior placekicker Brock Warren and sophomore punter Aaron Dalton.

WHAT UTAH STATE MUST REPLACE FROM 2015
• Utah State must replace six players who earned various all-Mountain West honors in 2015, including LB Kyler Fackrell and LB Nick Vigil, who both earned first-team honors, WR Hunter Sharp, who was named to the second team, and NG David Moala, junior offensive lineman Tyshon Mosley and DE Jordan Nielsen, who were all named to the honorable mention team. Fackrell also earned fourth-team All-American honors from Phil Steele's Magazine. Other offensive starters lost include OL Taani Fisilau, QB Chuckie Keeton, WR Devonte Robinson and OL Ben Wysocki. Other defensive starters lost include SS Marwin Evans, LB LT Filiaga, CB Tyler Floyd and CB Deshane Hines.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State returns three starters along its offensive line in senior OT Austin Albrecht, senior OT Jake Simonich and senior OC Austin Stephens, as all three players earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors in 2015. In fact, both Simonich and Stephens also earned honorable mention all-conference honors as sophomores in 2014. In all, these three offensive linemen have combined to play in 94 games during their Aggie careers, with a combined 70 career starts. Furthermore, USU returns three other offensive linemen who have collegiate experience at USU in junior Jarom Ioane (13 games played), senior Jude Hockel (5 games played), junior Brandon Taukeiaho (3 games played), sophomore Cody Boyer (3 games played) and sophomore KJ Uluave (2 games played).

UTAH STATE COACHING CHANGES FOR 2016
• Utah State's coaching staff had an FBS-high six changes during the off-season as fourth-year head coach Matt Wells hired Mike Canales as an assistant head coach working with the running backs and tight ends, Frank Maile as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach, Stacy Collins as the special teams coordinator, Julius Brown as the cornerbacks coach, Steve Farmer as the offensive line coach, and David Kotulski as the linebackers coach. Coaches who left the USU program following the 2015 season include associate head coach/offensive line coach Mark Weber, who went to Fresno State, assistant head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel, who went to Missouri, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kevin Clune, who went to Oregon State, special teams coordinator/running backs coach Dave Ungerer, who went to Fresno State, safeties coach Joe Lorig, who went to Memphis, and defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe, who went to Washington. Other programs with six coaching changes this year include Fresno State and Western Kentucky.

UTAH STATE ONLY PROGRAM WITH NEW COORDINATORS THREE YEARS IN A ROW
• Utah State is the only FBS program to have new offensive and defensive coordinators for the third straight season under the same head coach. In 2014, Kevin McGiven was the offensive coordinator, while Todd Orlando was the defensive coordinator. In 2015, Josh Heupel was the offensive coordinator and Kevin Clune was the defensive coordinator. And in 2016, Jovon Bouknight and Luke Wells are co-offensive coordinators, while Frank Maile and Kendrick Shaver are co-defensive coordinators. McGiven and Orlando left USU after the 2014 season for similar positions at Oregon State and Houston, respectively, while Heupel and Clune left USU following the 2015 season for similar positions at Missouri and Oregon State, respectively.

UTAH STATE PUTTING EXTRA EMPHASIS ON SPECIAL TEAMS IN 2016
• Utah State is putting an extra emphasis on special teams in 2016 as fourth-year head coach Matt Wells hired Stacy Collins as the programs special teams coordinator. Collins, who spent the previous four years as the head coach at South Dakota School of Mines, is one of just 10 assistants at the FBS level who only coach special teams, along with Boston College, Florida International, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, San Diego State, Washington State, Western Michigan and Wisconsin.

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, along with Tony Knap (1963-66), while his 61.0 winning percentage (25-16) ranks sixth all-time with a minimum of 15 games coached. 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.

MORE ON UTAH STATE'S HEAD COACH
• Matt Wells, the 2013 Mountain West Coach of the Year, is one of just 18 coaches to lead his alma mater. He is also 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.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State is one of just 14 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs to have at least three alumni/former letterwinners on its current full-time staff in head coach Matt Wells, assistant head coach/running backs/tight ends coach Mike Canales, and assistant head coach/co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Frank Maile. BYU leads the nation with nine former alumni/letterwinners on its current staff, followed by Air Force (7), Boise State (5), Hawai'i (4), Wisconsin (4), Auburn (3), Ball State (3), Clemson (3), Iowa (3), Massachusetts (3), Missouri (3), Troy (3), Utah (3) and Utah State (3). The USU record for alumni on its staff is six during the 1984 season, and its three this season is the most since 1985 when four former Aggies were on the coaching staff.

ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
• Along with all of its success on the field, Utah State has also excelled in the classroom as it had 19 football players earn academic all-Mountain West honors in 2015. Over the past seven years, USU has had 147 players earn academic all-league honors and 154 players have graduated from USU.

• Entering the 2016 season, Utah State has five players who have already received degrees in senior WR Andrew Rodriguez (interdisciplinary studies), redshirt senior NG Travis Seefeldt (management information systems), senior OT Jake Simonich (sociology), senior OC Austin Stephens (interdisciplinary studies), and senior PK Brock Warren (family, consumer and human development).

• Utah State's football team earned recognition from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) in 2015 as it was one of 65 institutions to receive the Academic Achievement Award for graduating 75 percent or more of their student-athletes. USU has a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 86 percent to rank second in the Mountain West behind Air Force (88). The Aggies rank first among the other football programs in the Beehive State, ahead of Utah (69), BYU (56), Weber State (48) and Southern Utah (52).

SCOUTING WEBER STATE
• Weber State, which is picked to finish sixth in the Big Sky Conference, returns 44 letterwinners and 16 starters (O-9, D-7) off last year's team that finished 6-5 overall and 5-3 in the Big Sky, finishing tied for fourth. WSU returns eight all-conference players in senior linebacker Tre'von Johnson, junior linebacker Emmett Tela, junior running back Eric Wilkes, and senior offensive lineman Cameron Young, who all earned second-team honors, while junior cornerback Taron Johnson, junior tight end Tui Satuala, senior offensive lineman Calvin Steyn and senior fullback Cory Thomson were all named to the honorable mention team. Wilkes led the Wildcats in rushing last year with 662 yards on 153 carries (4.3 ypc), while Tela had a team-best 72 tackles. Weber State is coached by Jay Hill, who is 8-15 overall and 7-9 in Big Sky play in two years as a collegiate head coach for the Wildcats.

AGGIES AND WILDCATS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State and Weber State will be meeting for the 15th time this week, with USU holding a 13-1 advantage, including an 8-1 home record. Overall, USU has won the last seven games in the series and WSU's only win (44-25) was in Logan on Nov. 11, 1978.

UTAH STATE CONNECTIONS WITH WEBER STATE
• Weber State senior CB Dre Snowden spent two seasons (2012, 2013) at Utah State and appeared in two games in 2013, including recording two tackles against Weber State. WSU defensive tackles coach Kite Afeaki spent the 2012 season at USU as an administrative assistant, while WSU wide receivers coach Kelly Bills spent the 2015 season at USU as a graduate assistant.

UTAH STATE AGAINST THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE
• Utah State is 79-17-6 (.804) all-time against current members of the Big Sky Conference with a 25-7 record against Montana, a 22-6-6 record against Montana State, a 15-2 record against Idaho State, a 13-1 record against Weber State, a 4-0 record against Southern Utah and an 0-1 record against Eastern Washington. The last time USU faced a Big Sky school was on Sept. 3, 2015, when it defeated Southern Utah at home, 12-9.

WELLS AGAINST THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE
• Utah State's Matt Wells is 3-0 all-time against the Big Sky Conference as a head coach following USU's 12-9 home win against Southern Utah last season. USU also recorded a 40-20 home win against Idaho State in 2014 and a 70-6 home win against Weber State in 2013.

FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
• Utah State amassed its current school record of 684 yards of total offense in a 56-43 win against Weber State on Nov. 17, 2001, which included 441 passing yards to rank as the fifth-most in school history. In fact, three of the top 15 offensive Aggie outings have come against the Wildcats as they racked up 635 yards in 2011 and 587 in 2013 to rank seventh and 15th all-time, respectively. USU also rushed for 440 yards against WSU in 2011 and 342 yards in 1976 to rank fourth and 20th all-time, respectively. WSU's 34 passing yards and 138 total yards in 2013 are the 14th and 21st fewest allowed by USU in a single game, respectively, and the Wildcats' 12 rushing yards in 1981 are the 19th fewest. USU's 70 points scored against WSU in 2013 are the sixth-most, while the 64-point win against WSU in 2013 (70-6) is the seventh-largest in school history.

• Kevin Curtis' 252 receiving yards against Weber State on Nov. 17, 2001, are the second-most in school history, while Jose Fuentes' 437 passing yards in that same game are the fourth-most, and Emmett White's 233 rushing yards in that game rank as the 12th-most. Chuckie Keeton's five touchdown passes against WSU in 2013 is tied for the most in a single-game in school history, and Rick Parros' 208 rushing yards against WSU in 1979 rank tied for 19th all-time. Jimmy Bryant's 91-yard kickoff return against WSU in 1978 is the 13th-longest at USU, while Eric McPherson's 90-yard kickoff return in 1980 is tied for the 14th-longest.

LAST MEETING VS. WEBER STATE
LOGAN, Utah - Junior QB Chuckie Keeton threw five touchdown passes in the first half to tie his own school record for the second week in a row to lead Utah State (2-1, 1-0 MW) to a 70-6 Homecoming victory against Weber State (1-2) on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013, at a rain-soaked Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium and in front of a sold out crowd of 25,513. Utah State's 70 points rank as the sixth-most in school history and are its most since defeating New Mexico State, 76-0, in 1964, while its 64-point victory is the seventh-largest in school history and largest since its win against NMSU in 1964. Against the Wildcats, Utah State amassed a season-high 587 yards of total offense, its 14th-most in school history, while limiting WSU to 138 yards of total offense, which ranks 21st on the Aggies' fewest yards of total offense list. Keeton was 19-of-25 passing for 249 yards with the five touchdowns, matching the five touchdown tosses he threw at Air Force in his previous game, and the third time in his career with five touchdown passes. Senior RB Joey DeMartino led the USU rushing attack with eight carries for a career-high 105 yards with a career-best three touchdowns, while junior RB Joe Hill added 12 carries for 63 yards, and senior RB Robert Marshall had a career-high 57 yards on nine carries with one touchdown. Overall, USU had nine different players carry the ball. For the second week in a row, 10 different Aggies had a catch, led by sophomore WR JoJo Natson with five catches for 35 yards, while senior WR Travis Reynolds had a career-best 71 yards receiving on two catches, with 39 of them coming on a first-quarter touchdown catch. Senior TE D.J. Tialavea had a career-best two touchdown receptions. The Aggie defense was led by junior SS Frankie Sutera with a career-high eight tackles, while redshirt-freshman LB Nick Vigil added a career-best seven stops. In all, 13 Aggie defenders recorded career-high tackles. The scoring floodgates opened early before the rain fell, as Utah State scored touchdowns on its first seven possessions of the first half in opening up a 49-0 halftime lead. Keeton started the scoring with a 5-yard toss to Tialavea. On USU's next possession, DeMartino darted in from 11-yards out, and then Keeton hit Reynolds for a 39-yard scoring pass play for a 21-0 USU lead after the first quarter. USU's second quarter scoring started with a 4-yard pass from Keeton to sophomore LB Kyler Fackrell, then hit junior WR Ronald Butler with a 15-yard strike. DeMartino later scored on a 7-yard scamper and Tialavea capped the first half scoring with an 8-yard catch from Keeton. On USU's second possession of the second half, DeMartino scampered 60-yards to the end zone for a touchdown. The next Aggie possession lasted only one play as junior QB Craig Harrison hit junior TE Keegan Andersen for a 56-yard scoring strike for Harrison's first career touchdown toss. Marshall went in from 2-yards out for USU's final score of the game with 9:59 left in the third quarter, and the Aggies coasted to the win. Weber State's lone score came with 50 seconds left in the game as Spencer Unga scooped up a loose ball after the snap went over redshirt-freshman QB Jeff Manning's head and returned it 38 yards for the score.

UTAH STATE TO PLAY TWO IN-STATE OPPONENTS IN 2016
Utah State will play two in-state schools during the 2016 season as it hosts Weber State (9/1) to start the year and plays at BYU (11/26) to end the regular season. Overall, it is the seventh time in the past 11 years that USU has played at least two in-state schools during the same season.

AGGIES STARTING THE SEASON WITH THREE OF FIRST FOUR GAMES AT HOME
Utah State will begin the 2016 season by playing three of its first four games at home, something that has not happened at USU since the 1997 season. In fact, the 2016 season will mark just the second time since the early 1950s that USU will begin the season with three of its first four games at home. From 1901 to 1953, USU played three of its first four games at home 26 times.

AGGIES VERSUS THE STATE OF UTAH
Utah State has had much better success against in-state opponents as of late as it is 7-5 against other teams from the state of Utah during its last 12 meetings. In its previous 10 games, USU was just 1-9 against in-state competition.

UTAH STATE RECORDS SECOND-BEST ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN 2015
For the fourth-straight season, Utah State averaged over 20,000 fans during the 2015 season, marking the first time in school history it has accomplished that feat. Last year, USU averaged 21,362 fans (128,172) to rank second all-time in school history behind the 2013 season that saw an average of 23,263 fans (139,576).

UTAH STATE PERFORMS WELL WHEN IT RELIES ON ITS RUNNING GAME
Utah State has won 17 of its last 18 games when it has a 100-yard rusher and had a string of 17 straight wins snapped with its loss to Akron (23-21) in the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl as now-senior RB Devante Mays carried the ball 12 times for 124 yards. USU has also won 19 of its last 20 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game.

AGGIES ON THURSDAYS
Utah State will be playing a Thursday game to start the season for the second-straight year as it posted a 12-9 home win against Southern Utah on Sept. 3, 2015. Matt Wells' first game as USU's head coach against Utah (L, 30-26) on Aug. 29, 2013, was also on a Thursday. Other recent Thursday games for USU include its 21-14 win against No. 24 Northern Illinois in the 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and its 34-3 home win against Southern Utah on Aug. 30, 2012. All-time, USU is 16-32-4 in games played on Thursday, including a 5-3 home record.

DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State is starting a season against a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team for just the fifth-time ever in the modern era as it defeated Southern Utah (12-9) in 2015, defeated Southern Utah (34-3) in 2012, defeated Idaho State (10-0) in Osaka, Japan, in 1978, and defeated Weber State (10-3) in 1973. All-time, USU is 216-76-12 (.730) against current FCS schools and has won 13 of its last 14 such games, including each of its last nine.

AGGIES TIE SCHOOL RECORD FOR SIX-WIN SEASONS
• Utah State's six wins in 2015 marked the 34th time in 118 years of Aggie football that the program won at least six games in a single season. Furthermore, USU has won at least six games in each of the past five seasons, which is tied with the 1971-75 teams for the longest streak in school history.

• Utah State also won five conference games for the fifth-straight season in 2015, which is a school record. Overall, it is just the 15th time in program history that USU has won at least five conference games as the Aggies have been associated with a conference for 80 seasons.

UTAH STATE PLAYS IN FIFTH-STRAIGHT BOWL GAME IN 2015
• Utah State played in its fifth-straight bowl game for the first time in school history in 2015, and its 11th bowl all-time, as it faced Akron in the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. USU is 4-7 all-time in its 11 bowl game appearances.

UTAH STATE BOWL HISTORY
• Utah State has a 4-7 bowl record all-time as it lost to San José 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; defeated UTEP, 21-6, in the 2014 Gildan New Mexico Bowl; and lost to Akron, 23-21, in the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

UTAH STATE ENTERING FOURTH SEASON IN MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is entering its fourth year as a member of the Mountain West and has been a Division I-A/Bowl Championship Series football playing school in each of its 119 seasons of competition. USU joined the Mountain States/Skyline Conference in 1938 until 1961. USU then played as a football independent from 1962-77 when the Aggies became members of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association in 1978. The PCAA changed its name to the Big West Conference in 1988. Following the 2000 season when the Big West no longer sponsored football, USU spent two years as an independent (2001-02) and two years in the Sun Belt Conference (2003-04), before joining the Western Athletic Conference for eight seasons from 2005-12.

UTAH STATE VERSUS THE MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE
• Utah State is 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, a 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?
• Utah State is 6-5 all-time in overtime, 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. USU's last overtime game was a 21-14 loss at Arkansas State on Sept. 20, 2014.

AGGIE TEAM NOTABLES HEADING INTO THE 2016 SEASON
• Utah State's 25 seniors on its 2016 roster are its most since it also had 25 seniors during the 1991 season.

• Utah State returns four offensive players who earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors a year ago in senior OT Austin Albrecht, senior OT Jake Simonich, senior OC Austin Stephens and junior QB Kent Myers.

• Utah State returns two defenders who have earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors as senior FS Devin Centers was recognized in 2014, while junior CB Jalen Davis was honored in 2015. In 2014, Davis was named a True Freshman All-American by 247Sports.

• Utah State returns one player on its active roster who started at QB and led his team to a bowl victory (2014 Gildan New Mexico Bowl) in junior Kent Myers.

• Utah State has produced a 24-7 record with a backup quarterback over the past five years with Matt Wells on staff as Wells was the quarterbacks coach in 2011, offensive coordinator in 2012 and has been USU's head coach the past three seasons.

• Utah State returns its leading rusher from each of the past two seasons in senior RB Devante Mays, who rushed for 966 yards in 2015 and junior LaJuan Hunt, who rushed for 540 yards in 2014. In fact, USU returns 90.5 percent of its rushing yards (1,943 of 2,146), 86.4 percent of its rushing touchdowns (19 of 22) and 84.8 percent of its rushing attempts (408 of 481) from the 2015 season.

MYERS NAMED HONORABLE MENTION NATIONAL PERFORMER FROM COLLEGE FOOTBALL PERFORMANCE AWARDS IN 2015
• Utah State junior QB Kent Myers tied his career high with four total touchdowns in Utah State's 58-27 home win against Wyoming on Oct. 30, 2015, earning honorable mention national performer honors from College Football Performance Awards.

• 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 (10/16/15) with three touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown, and in a 41-7 home win against San José State (11/21/14) with three rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown.

MYERS NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAINST COLORADO STATE IN 2015
• Utah State junior QB Kent Myers was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, Oct. 5, 2015, 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 (17 carries) set by Chuckie Keeton against Louisiana Tech 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 were the most by a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterback last year. It was 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. He was also 12-of-21 passing for 137 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions against the Rams, including a 42-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Sharp.

RODRIGUEZ NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAINST SOUTHERN UTAH IN 2015
• Utah State 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 returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown at Wichita State in 1950. Robinson held the previous Maverik Stadium record with an 87-yard return 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.

MAYS RANKS SEVENTH ALL-TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN RUSHING AVERAGE
• Senior RB Devante Mays rushed for 966 yards on 165 carries with nine touchdowns as a junior and that average of 5.9 yards per carry ranks tied for seventh all-time in school history, along with Robert Turbin (2007-09, 2011). The school record is 7.1 yards per carry set by Michael Smith (2009-11). As for last season, Mays' 5.9 yards per carry average ranks ninth all-time in school history. The single-season school record for yards per carry is 8.4 set by Tom Larscheid in 1960.

• Mays had three 100-yard rushing games and three multi-touchdown games as a junior as he had a team-best nine rushing touchdowns. Mays also had a team-best 11 explosive runs on the season, including three that went for touchdowns. In all, Mays had 23 rushes of at least 10 yards and had double-digit rushing attempts in nine of his last 10 games, including eight straight.

MYERS THIRD ALL-TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
• Junior QB Kent Myers is 200-of-318 (.629) passing for 2,459 yards with 21 touchdowns and just six interceptions in his career, and that completion percentage ranks tied for second all-time in school history, along with Chuckie Keeton (2011-15), and trailing Darell Garretson, who completed 63.1 percent of his passes. Furthermore, Myers completed 121-of-199 (.608) passes for 1,593 yards with 16 touchdowns and just three interceptions last season, and that completion percentage ranks fifth all-time at USU for a single season. The single season school record of 69.4 percent was set by Keeton in 2012.

• Myers, who is 10-4 as Utah State's starter, was named the Offensive MVP of the 2014 Gildan New Mexico Bowl as he rushed for 70 yards on 15 carries, including a 48-yard touchdown, and was 5-of-12 passing for 68 yards.

• Myers ranked fourth in the Mountain West in 2015 with his 16 passing touchdowns (1.79 pg). Overall, he led the team in completions (121), attempts (199), passing yards (1,593) and touchdown passes (16), all of which are career highs. He also set a career high in passing efficiency (151.56). Against Air Force (11/14), Myers set single-game career highs with 25 completions, 47 attempts, 364 passing yards and four touchdowns.

• Myers set a school single-game rushing record for a quarterback with his 191 yards against Colorado State (10/3) as he was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week. Overall, he ranked second on the team during the season with his 356 rushing yards and his 39.6 rushing yards per game, while ranking third on the team with three rushing touchdowns.

WARREN ENTERS SINGLE-SEASON TOP 10 IN EXTRA POINTS
Senior PK Brock Warren was 39-of-41 on extra points last season to rank tied for fifth in school history for a single season in extra points made with Brad Bohn (1997), and fifth in school history for a single season in extra points attempted. Josh Thompson holds the record for both extra points made (57) and attempted (58) in a season, as both were set in 2011. Warren also ranks tied for eighth all-time in school history with a career extra point percentage of 95.1, along with Steve Steinke (1977-80). The school record was set by Willie Beecher (1981-84) and Russ Moody (1988-89) as both players were perfect on extra points in their careers.

RODRIGUEZ RANKS NINTH IN CAREER PUNT RETURN AVERAGE
Senior WR Andrew Rodriguez returned 26 punts for 258 yards last season and that average of 9.9 yards per return ranks sixth all-time in school history. Tom Larscheid (1959-61) holds the school record with 18.8 yards per punt return.

WILLIAMS RANKS THIRD IN CAREER KICKOFF RETURN AVERAGE
Senior WR Kennedy Williams has returned 27 kickoffs for 714 yards in his career and that average of 26.4 yards per kickoff return ranks third all-time in school history behind Overton Curtis (1957-58), who averaged 31.0 yards per kickoff return and Altie Taylor (1966-68), who averaged 29.3 yards per kickoff return. Williams returned 12 kickoffs for 367 yards last year and that average of 30.6 yards per kickoff return ranks second all-time at USU for a single season, trailing only Taylor, who averaged 31.9 yards per kickoff return during the 1967 season.

LOOKING BACK AT UTAH STATE'S 2015 SEASON
• Utah State ended its 2015 season with a 6-7 record and finished tied for second in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 5-3 mark. USU concluded its season with a 23-21 loss to Akron in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Offensively, USU was led by sophomore QB Kent Myers, who was 121-of-199 (.608) passing for 1,593 yards (177.0 ypg) with 16 touchdowns and three interceptions. Junior RB Devante Mays led the team in rushing with 966 yards on 165 carries (5.9 ypc/74.3 ypg) with nine touchdowns, and senior WR Hunter Sharp had a team-best 71 receptions for 835 yards (11.8 ypr/75.9 ypg) with nine touchdowns. Defensively, junior LB Nick Vigil led the team with 144 tackles, which included 3.0 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss, while senior LB Kyler Fackrell had 82 tackles, which included 4.0 sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss. As a team, Utah State averaged 29.0 points and 370.6 yards of total offense (205.5 passing, 165.1 rushing), and allowed 26.7 points and 332.5 yards of total offense (180.5 passing, 151.9 rushing).

UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS IN 2015
• Utah State's defense finished the 2015 season ranked among the top 45 in the nation in 10 categories, including ranking third in the Mountain West and 17th nationally in total defense (332.5 ypg). The Aggies also ranked fourth in the MW and 12th nationally in passing defense (180.5 ypg), fourth in the MW and 47th in the nation in rushing defense (151.9 ypg), fourth in the MW and 61st in the nation in scoring defense (26.7 ppg), fifth in the MW and 48th in the nation in pass efficiency defense (121.8), and sixth in the MW and 67th in the nation in sacks (2.1 pg).

• Utah State scored three defensive touchdowns last year to rank second in the Mountain West and 25th in the nation. Over its last 34 games, USU has scored 11 defensive touchdowns.

• Offensively, Utah State ranked fifth in the Mountain West and 42nd nationally in sacks allowed (1.6 pg), fifth in the MW and 77th nationally in completion percentage (.568), fifth in the MW and 88th in the nation in passing (205.2 ypg), sixth in the MW and 64th nationally in scoring (29.0 ppg), seventh in the MW and 77th nationally in passing efficiency (124.6), ninth in the MW and 93rd in the nation in total offense (370.2 ypg), and 10th in the MW and 71st nationally in rushing (165.1 ypg).

• Utah State's 2,146 rushing yards in 2015 marked the seventh straight season it has rushed for at least 2,000 yards. Prior to its current streak, USU went 33 years without rushing for 2,000 yards.

• Utah State had a school-record 18 players score touchdowns last year, breaking the previous record of 17 set in 2014, while 11 players forced fumbles, the most since 1999.

• On special teams, Utah State ranked second in the Mountain West and 10th nationally in kickoff returns (25.6 ypr), sixth in the MW and 49th in the nation in punt returns (9.8 ypr), and sixth in the MW and 52nd in the nation in net punting (37.9 ypk). USU has also blocked two punts to rank first in the MW and 11th nationally, while its four total blocks ranked first in the MW and seventh in the nation.

• Utah State averaged 25.6 yards on 33 kickoff returns last year, which tied the school record set in 2007. USU also returned 44 punts for 429 yards (9.8 ypr) last year, which tied with the 1998 team for the most punt returns in a single season. Overall, USU ranked 10th nationally in kickoff returns and 49th in punt returns last season.

UTAH STATE RANKED 11TH NATIONALLY IN FUMBLES RECOVERED IN 2015
• Utah State ranked first in the Mountain West and 11th in the nation with its 12 fumble recoveries last season, and ranked fourth in the MW and 43rd nationally with its 22 turnovers forced. USU also ranked third in the MW and 21st nationally in opponent third down conversions (.338), third in the MW and 22nd nationally in first downs allowed (17.6 pg), sixth in the MW and 50th nationally in tackles for loss (6.6 pg), sixth in the MW and 84th nationally in turnover margin (-0.15), and seventh in the MW and 78th nationally with its nine passes intercepted. USU also ranked sixth in the nation in forcing three-and-outs with 5.38 per game.

• Utah State has forced at least one turnover in 41 of its last 50 games and 99 turnovers in its last 50 games, while recording 46 interceptions in its last 37 games, including at least one pick in 22 of its last 37 games and multiple interceptions in 14 of those 37 games. Overall, USU has forced three or more turnovers in 11 of its last 26 games.

RETURNING AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS IN 2015
• Senior WR Andrew Rodriguez ranked tied for second in the Mountain West and tied for 13th nationally with his one punt return for touchdown (0.08 pg), and second in the MW and 30th nationally in punt returns (9.8 ypr) last season. Junior QB Kent Myers ranked fourth in the MW and 57th nationally in touchdown passes with 15 (1.79 pg). Senior RB Devante Mays ranked third in the MW and 39th nationally in rushing yards per carry (5.9 ypc), seventh in the MW and 74th nationally with his nine rushing touchdowns (0.69 pg), and 10th in the MW and 79th in the nation in rushing (74.3 ypg). Senior FS Devin Centers ranked tied for 10th in the MW and tied for 76th nationally with three interceptions (0.20 pg). Junior CB Jalen Davis ranked ninth in the MW in passes defended (0.85 pg), and tied for 10th in the MW and tied for 76th nationally with three interceptions (0.20 pg). Sophomore FS Jontrell Rocquemore ranked tied for second in the MW and tied for 13th nationally with his one punt return for touchdown (0.08 pg). Senior PK Brock Warren ranked seventh in the MW in extra point percentage (.951) and eighth in the MW in field goals made with eight (0.62 pg). And sophomore P Aaron Dalton ranked ninth in the MW and 61st nationally in punting (41.3 ypk).

AGGIES CURRENTLY IN THE NFL AND CFL
Utah State currently has 17 players on NFL rosters and has had 10 players drafted into the NFL in the past six years. Former Aggies currently in the NFL include: SS Maurice Alexander (Los Angeles), CB Will Davis (Baltimore), S Marwin Evans (Green Bay), LB Kyler Fackrell (Green Bay), CB Tay Glover-Wright (Indianapolis), WR Chuck Jacobs (Baltimore), OC Tyler Larsen (Carolina), CB Nevin Lawson (Detroit), NG David Moala (Denver), OT Donald Penn (Oakland), LS Patrick Scales (Chicago), TE D.J. Tialavea (Atlanta), RB Robert Turbin (Indianapolis), LB Nick Vigil (Cincinnati), LB Zach Vigil (Miami), LB Bobby Wagner (Seattle) and RB Kerwynn Williams (Arizona). The three former Aggies currently in the Canadian Football League are DE John Chick (Hamilton), LB Chris Randle (Winnipeg) and DE Connor Williams (Ottawa).

CURRENT AGGIES WITH NFL TIES
• Utah State has four players on its current roster with fathers who played in the NFL in senior FS Devin Centers (Larry Centers), junior WR Jaren Colsten-Green (Willie Green), redshirt freshman LB Mason Tobeck (Robbie Tobeck) and freshman WR Rayshad Lewis (Ray Lewis). Furthermore, the grandfather of redshirt freshman WR Hudson Conrad (Bobby Joe Conrad) played in the NFL, as well, and the brother of senior WR Kennedy Williams (Kerwynn Williams) is currently in the NFL.

• Larry Centers (FB) spent 14 seasons in the NFL with the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals (1990-98), Washington Redskins (1999-2000), Buffalo Bills (2001-02) and New England Patriots (2003).

• Willie Green (WR) spent eight seasons in the NFL with the Detroit Lions (1991-93), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1994), Carolina Panthers (1995-96) and Denver Broncos (1997-98).

• Robbie Tobeck (OL) spent 14 seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons (1993-99) and Seattle Seahawks (2000-06).

• Ray Lewis (LB) spent 17 seasons in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens (1996-2012) and led the Ravens to two Super Bowl wins in 2000 and 2012.

• Bobby Joe Conrad (WR) spent 12 seasons in the NFL with the Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals (1958-68) and Dallas Cowboys (1969).

• Kerwynn Williams (RB) is in his fourth year in the NFL playing for the Indianapolis Colts (2013), San Diego Chargers (2013) and Arizona Cardinals (2014-present).

AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS
Utah State has 27 players on its roster who have served two-year LDS Church Missions: senior DE Ricky Ali'ifua, freshman DE Caden Andersen, senior OL Preston Brooksby, senior CB Austin Cheney, freshman DE Ritisoni Fata, sophomore LB Dillon Filiaga, senior OL Dalton Forsythe, freshman S Baron Gajkowski, redshirt freshman LB Mason Gajkowski, redshirt freshman LB Braden Harris, freshman TE Derek Hastings, senior TE Landon Horne, junior OL Jarom Ioane, redshirt freshman OL Colby Kerns, sophomore LB Derek Larsen, freshman LB Logan Lee, sophomore QB DJ Nelson, senior CB Jentz Painter, sophomore TE Dax Raymond, freshman BS Zach Swenson, senior DE Siua Taufa, junior OL Brandon Taukeiaho, senior LB Leki Uasike, freshman NG Mohelika Uasike, sophomore OL KJ Uluave, sophomore WR Zach Van Leeuwen and redshirt freshman DE Jacoby Wildman.

AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED
Utah State has 14 players on its pre-fall roster who are married in senior OL Austin Albrecht, senior DE Ricky Ali'ifua, senior CB Austin Cheney, sophomore LB Chase Christiansen, sophomore LB Dillon Filiaga, senior OL Dalton Forsythe, junior OL Jarom Ionae, sophomore LB Derek Larsen, senior CB Jentz Painter, redshirt senior NG Travis Seefeldt, junior OL Brandon Taukeiaho, sophomore OL KJ Uluave, sophomore WR Zach Van Leeuwen and senior PK Brock Warren.

MORE NOTABLES ON CURRENT AGGIES
• Senior wide receiver/kick returner Kennedy Williams was also a member of Utah State's outdoor track & field program last spring and placed seventh in the triple jump (13.97m/45-10.00) and 11th in the long jump (6.56m/21-06.25) at the Mountain West Outdoor Championships. In his first-ever collegiate meet, he finished third in the long jump with a mark of 6.73m (22-01.00) at the BYU-hosted Clarence Robison Invitational.

• Senior running back Devante Mays was listed as one of Bruce Feldman's Top 20 `Freaks' in college football for 2016 as he came in at No. 15 on the list due to his 41-inch vertical jump, 515-pound full squat and 425-pound bench press.

• When redshirt senior NG Travis Seefeldt takes the field against Weber State, it will be the first time he has suited up for the Aggies since recording five tackles in a 21-6 victory against UTEP in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 20, 2014. Seefeldt, along with a few others, were returning to Logan from an outing at Newton Reservoir in June of 2015, a popular recreational area in Cache Valley, when the Chevy Tahoe he was driving was struck on the driver's side by a semi-truck loaded with 52,000 pounds of milk. The truck pushed the Tahoe more than 75 yards before the two vehicles finally came to rest. Following the accident, Seefeldt spent over two weeks in the hospital and doctors told him he would never play football again. Senior DE Edmund Faimalo, sophomore DE Adewale Adeoye, former DE John Taylor and former USU softball player Sarah Vasquez were also injured in the crash.

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 25-16, including an 18-6 Mountain West record. Those 25 wins are a school record by a USU coach in his first 41 games. USU also played in its fifth-straight bowl game in 2015.

• In his three years as head coach, Wells has led Utah State to three wins against top 25 opponents, one more than USU had overall prior to his tenure.

• During the 2015 season, Wells mentored 12 players who earned all-Mountain West honors, which were the third-most in the conference. Wells also coached Kyler Fackrell, who was named a fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele.

• Wells coached three players who participated in the 2016 NFL Combine in Fackrell, Hunter Sharp and Nick Vigil, while 10 players from the 2015 roster were invited to NFL camps, including Vigil (Cincinnati Bengals) and Fackrell (Green Bay Packers), who were both selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

• 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, including its third-straight bowl win with a 21-6 victory against UTEP in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.

• 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 also coached two All-Americans as Zach Vigil was named a second-team All-American by USA Today Sports, while Jalen Davis was named a True Freshman All-American by 247Sports. Vigil was also named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.

• 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 went 9-5.

• Wells led Utah State to the inaugural Mountain West Championship game after winning the Mountain Division 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.

• During his first year as USU'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 participated in the 2014 NFL Combine in Larsen, Lawson, Maurice Alexander and D.J. Tialavea, while 11 players from the 2013 roster were invited to NFL camps, including Alexander (Los Angeles 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 is one of just 14 coaches to lead his alma mater and 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 five years at Utah State, Wells has been part of a USU program that has played in five straight bowl games for the first time in school history, and won three-straight bowl games for the first time ever.

• As offensive coordinator in 2012, Utah State concluded its most successful season in program history with a school-best 11-2 record. USU also won its first outright conference championship since 1936.