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AGGIES HOST TENNESSEE TECH THURSDAY NIGHT IN FIRST-EVER MEETING
Game will be second of five Utah State contests aired exclusively on Facebook.
 
TENNESSEE TECH (0-2) vs. UTAH STATE (1-1)
Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018 • 6:06 p.m. (MT) • Logan, Utah • Maverik Stadium (25,100)
 
GAME 3 INFORMATION
STREAMING: Facebook (Stadium)
• Play-by-Play: Ari Wolf
• Analyst: Darius Walker
• Reporter: Kristen Balboni
• Sidelines (Social): Paige Zamora
• Internet: Facebook.com/StadiumCollegeFootball
 
RADIO: AGGIE SPORTS NETWORK
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard
• Analyst: Kevin White
• Online: 1280thezone.com / Tunein.com
 
SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: UtahState.Statbroadcast.com
 
AGGIE RADIO NETWORK
• Every Utah State football game can be heard live on the Aggie Radio Network. Scott Garrard serves as the play-by-play announcer, while former USU quarterback Kevin White (1988-89) will provide color analysis. Games can also be heard on the Internet (www.UtahStateAggies.com) by clicking on the 'Listen Live' link, as well as on the TuneIn App.
• Salt Lake City: KZNS (1280 AM/97.5 FM)
• Logan: KBLU-LP (92.3 FM)
• Cache Valley: KACH (1340 AM/105.5 FM)
• Montpelier, ID: KVSI (1450 AM/101.7 FM)
• Price: KRPX (95.3 FM)
• Green River: KRPX (102.7 FM)
• Moab: KRPX (100.3 FM)
• Orangeville: KRPX (95.9 FM)
 
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State has won each of its last 11 games against Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools dating back to the 2000 season. All 11 of those wins have been against Big Sky Conference opponents. All-time, USU is 81-17-6 (.808) against FCS opponents. It is the first-ever meeting between the Aggies and Golden Eagles.
 
• Utah State is 1-0 at home inside Maverik Stadium this season and is 30-9 in its last 39 home games, which includes a 22-9 record under head coach Matt Wells. USU has won five-straight non-conference home games and is 17-3 in its last 20 non-conference home games, including a 9-2 record under Wells. All-time, Utah State is 142-105 (.575) in Maverik Stadium.
 
• Utah State is 8-1 (.889) under Wells in games that are played on a short week (games played less than seven days after its previous game).
 
• Utah State will be looking to start a season 2-1 for the fourth time in six years under Wells, and for the fifth time in the past seven seasons.
 
• Utah State returns 18 starters (O-9, D-9) and 47 letterwinners (O-19, D-26, S-2) from last season, which is the third-most in the nation behind Florida (19) and Michigan State (19). When you add in its two returning specialists, USU's 20 returning starters is tied for the third-most in the nation behind Baylor (22) and Michigan State (22), and tied with Florida (20), Michigan (20) and UAB (20).
 
• Utah State has won 15 of its last 25 games played during the month of September, including 12 straight at home, and is 3-5 all-time in games played on Sept. 13.
 
• Utah State has 36 players in its program from the Beehive State, while Tennessee Tech has 63 players on its roster from the Volunteer State.
 
• Utah State had 10 players on its depth chart that did not play last weekend against New Mexico State for various reasons, including junior LB Justus Te'i and sophomore CB Ja'Marcus Ingram, who both missed the game due to the death of their fathers.
 
UTAH STATE HOSTS TENNESSEE TECH THURSDAY NIGHT
• Utah State hosts Tennessee Tech on Thursday, Sept. 13, at 6 p.m. in its second of three-straight home games. The game will be aired exclusively on Facebook with Ari Wolf (play-by-play), Darius Walker (analyst), Kristen Balboni (reporter) and Paige Zamora (sidelines-social media) on the call. Facebook is a platform that has more than 100 million video views daily. Live audio of the game is available on www.UtahStateAggies.com.
 
UTAH STATE ATHLETICS TO INDUCT 16TH HALL OF FAME CLASS
• Utah State Athletics will induct its 16th Hall of Fame Class this weekend, which includes  Tony Brown, an All-American basketball player; Erin Cartwright-Davis, an All-American volleyball player; Charlie Denson, a former Aggie football player and life-long contributor of USU Athletics; Greg Kragen, one of the best Aggie football players along the defensive line in school history; Kevin Nixon, one of the best point guards in Aggie basketball history; and Kendal Smith, an All-American football player. This year's class will be introduced at halftime of the Tennessee Tech game.
 
UTAH STATE RECORDS FIFTH-BEST ATTENDANCE IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN 2017
• For the sixth-straight season, Utah State averaged over 19,000 fans in 2017, marking the first time in school history it has accomplished that feat. During the 2017 season, USU averaged 20,108 fans (120,650) to rank fifth all-time in school history.
 
UTAH STATE WITH SIX HOME GAMES ONCE AGAIN IN 2018
• Utah State's 2018 schedule marks the ninth-straight season, the 10th time in the last 11 years, and the 11th time in the last 22 years that it will play six home games. Overall, the Aggies have had six home games on the slate just 15 times: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1978, 1952.
 
UTAH STATE HAS FIVE BOWL TEAMS ON ITS 2018 SCHEDULE
• Utah State's 2018 schedule features five teams that played in bowl games a year ago as Michigan State played in the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl (W, 42-17 vs. Washington State); New Mexico State played in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl (W, 26-20 OT vs. Utah State); Wyoming played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (W, 37-14 vs. Central Michigan); Colorado State played in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl (L, 31-28 vs. Marshall); and Boise State played in the Las Vegas Bowl (W, 38-28 vs. Oregon).
 
PRESEASON PREDICTIONS FOR UTAH STATE
• According to College Football Home, Utah State is predicted to be the second-most improved team in the nation in 2018, behind only Florida. Furthermore, USU's special teams are predicted to be the fourth-best units in the nation this fall, behind only Utah, Stanford and TCU.
 
• According to West Coast College Football, Utah State has the fourth-best chance at winning the Mountain West championship in 2018, behind Boise State, San Diego State and Fresno State.
 
THOMPSON ONE OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S MOST FREAKISH ATHLETES
• According to NFL.com, Utah State junior RB Darwin Thompson is listed as the 17th-most 'Freak-ish Athlete' in college football heading into the 2018 season. Some of the reasoning behind this ranking comes from his performances in the weight room as he has squatted 560 pounds, including seven reps at 515 pounds. Furthermore, Thompson has logged a vertical jump of 40 inches.
 
RAYMOND RANKS AS SIXTH-BEST TIGHT END IN THE NATION
• According to College Football Focus, Utah State junior Dax Raymond is ranked as the sixth-best tight end in the nation heading into the 2018 season, behind Noah Fant (Iowa), Caleb Wilson (UCLA), Albert Okwuegbunam (Missouri), Hunter Bryant (Washington) and Kaden Smith (Stanford).
 
LOVE PROJECTED AS ONE OF THE TOP BREAKOUT QUARTERBACKS IN 2018
• According to Athlon Sports, Utah State sophomore Jordan Love is ranked 25th in the nation among quarterbacks that will have a breakout season in 2018. Other Mountain West quarterbacks to make this list include UNLV's Armani Rogers (20) and Nevada's Ty Gangi (15).
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has won 23 of its last 28 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 1-0 record this year, and 27 of its last 30 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game, including a 1-0 record this year. USU has also won 41 of its last 44 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 1-1 record this season.
 
• Utah State has three non-offensive touchdowns in its first two games of the 2018 season. At No. 11 Michigan State, senior S Gaje Ferguson returned an interception 40 yards for the score. And against New Mexico State, sophomore WR Savon Scarver returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and senior CB Deante Fortenberry returned an interception 75 yards for the score. Last year, USU scored seven non-offensive touchdowns with three interception returns, two fumble returns, one blocked punt return and one kickoff return for a touchdown. 
 
A LOOK AT UTAH STATE
• Utah State is 1-1 on the season following its 60-13 home win against New Mexico State last weekend. USU began the year with a 38-31 loss at No. 11 Michigan State. Offensively, USU is led by sophomore QB Jordan Love, who is 43-of-71 (.606) passing for 478 yards (239.0 ypg) with one touchdown and three interceptions. Junior RB Gerold Bright leads the team in rushing with 132 yards on 16 carries (8.2 ypc/66.0 ypg) with one touchdown, and junior TE Dax Raymond has a team-best eight receptions for 85 yards (10.6 ypr/42.5 ypg). Defensively, sophomore LB David Woodward leads the team with 29 tackles, which includes 1.0 tackles for loss, while senior LB Chase Christiansen has 17 tackles, which includes 0.5 tackles for loss. As a team, Utah State is averaging 45.5 points and 395.0 yards of total offense (245.5 passing, 149.5 rushing), and allowing 25.5 points and 366.0 yards of total offense (229.0 passing, 137.0 rushing).
 
• Utah has scored 30-plus points in each of its first two games (31, 60) for the first time since the 2011 team scored 30-plus points in each of its first three games (38, 54, 34).
 
UTAH STATE PLAYING THREE-STRAIGHT HOME GAMES
• Utah State is playing the second of three-straight home games this weekend as it hosts Tennessee Tech. USU began its three-game home stretch last weekend with a 60-13 win against New Mexico State. USU also had three-straight home games last season, but prior to that, the last time it had three-straight home games was in 1997, which is also the last time USU had three-straight home games in September.
 
SCOUTING TENNESSEE TECH
• Tennessee Tech is 0-2 on the season following its 49-10 home loss to Kennesaw State last weekend. TTU began the year with a 34-10 road loss at Chattanooga. The Golden Eagles are led by freshman QB Bailey Fisher, who is 29-of-56 (.518) passing for 296 yards (148.0 ypg) with one touchdown and three interceptions. Junior RB Andrew Goldsmith leads the team in rushing with 117 yards on 21 carries (5.6 ypc/58.5 ypg), and senior WR Josh Cunningham leads the team in receiving with seven receptions for 63 yards (9.0 ypr/31.5 ypg). Defensively, junior SS Shannon Fayne has a team-best 19 tackles, while junior LB Josh Poplar has 15 tackles, which includes 1.0 tackles for loss, to go along with one interception. As a team, Tennessee Tech is averaging 10.0 points and 337.5 yards of total offense per game (180.5 passing, 157.0 rushing), and allowing 41.5 points and 503.5 yards of total offense (322.0 rushing, 181.5 rushing). Tennessee Tech returns 15 starters (O-8, D-7) and 65 lettermen from last year's team that went 1-10 overall and 1-7 in Ohio Valley Conference play to finish ninth. The Golden Eagles had two players named to the preseason Ohio Valley all-conference team in senior DE Tim Collins and senior P Nick Madonia, who earned second-team all-OVC honors last season. Dewayne Alexander is 41-36 in his eighth season as a collegiate head coach and 0-2 in his first year as the head coach at Tennessee Tech.
 
UTAH STATE AND TENNESSEE TECH SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State and Tennessee Tech will be meeting for the first-time ever this weekend.
 
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE STATE OF TENNESSEE
• Utah State is 4-7 all-time against teams from the Volunteer State with a 3-4 record against Memphis, a 1-2 record against Middle Tennessee and an 0-1 record against Tennessee. The last time USU played a team from the state of Tennessee was in 2014 when it lost to the Volunteers 38-7 to open the season.
 
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE
• Utah State's game against Tennessee Tech on Thursday will be its first-ever meeting against a team from the Ohio Valley Conference.
 
AGGIES FROM TENNESSEE
• Utah State has two players on its roster from the state of Tennessee in junior CB DJ Williams (Smyrna/Smyrna HS) and sophomore P Zach Lee (Cleveland/Cleveland HS).
 
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND TENNESSEE TECH PLAYERS
• There are two connections between Utah State and Tennessee Tech players as USU senior RB Eltoro Allen and TTU sophomore OL Manny Avina both attended Riverside (Calif.) CC, while USU junior PK Dominik Eberle (Nuremberg) and TTU sophomore OL Philipp Tolksdorf (Norderstedt) are both from Germany.
 
AGGIES ON THURSDAY
• Utah State will be playing a Thursday game for the fourth straight year and is 18-32-4 all-time in games played on Thursday, including a 7-3 home record and a 4-1 mark under head coach Matt Wells.
 
AGGIES IN OVERTIME
• Utah State is 6-6 all-time in overtime, winning three of its last five. All-time, USU is 4-3 in single-overtime games, 2-2 in double-overtime games, and 0-1 in triple-overtime games. USU's last overtime game was a 26-20 loss against New Mexico State in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl on Dec. 29, 2017.
 
GAME 2 RECAP vs. NEW MEXICO STATE
LOGAN, Utah - Junior PK Dominik Eberle kicked six field goals and senior RB Gerold Bright rushed for a career-high 134 yards and a touchdown as Utah State opened the home portion of its schedule with a dominating 60-13 victory against New Mexico State on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.
               
The 60 points scored by Utah State are the second-most in series history, as is the 47-point margin of victory, trailing only USU's 76-0 home win against NMSU in 1964
 
Eberle, who was also a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points, tied the NCAA record for most points scored by a kicker with 24. Furthermore, he became just the sixth player in NCAA history – and first in school history – to make three field goals of 50 yards or more (51, 51, 51).
               
Eberle's six field goals of 44, 32, 51, 21, 51 and 51 yards, respectively, are tied for the third-most in a game in NCAA history. The 2017 Lou Groza Award finalist also tied his own school record with the six field goal attempts, and kicked off 12 times for 754 yards (averaging 62.8 yards per kick) with nine touchbacks.
               
Bright carried the ball 14 times on the night, helping Utah State (1-1) amass 260 total yards on the ground on 46 carries. His 51-yard touchdown run with 2:36 remaining in the third quarter gave the hosts a 47-13 lead.
               
Utah State finished with 432 yards of total offense on the night. Sophomore QB Jordan Love was 14-of-27 for 159 yards and one touchdown, a 14-yard completion to senior WR Jalen Greene that gave USU a 33-10 lead at the half. Senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver was Love's favorite target on the night as he had a game-best five receptions for 41 yards.
               
Utah State nearly had a pair of 100-yard rushers for the first time since 2012 as junior RB Darwin Thompson rushed for 96 yards on six carriers, including a 68-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that upped the Aggies' advantage to 54-13.
               
For the second-consecutive week, sophomore LB David Woodward led Utah State in tackles with 13, including 1.0 sacks. Senior S Aaron Wade added a career-best 10 stops, to go along with the first two interceptions of his career. Senior LB Chase Christiansen added eight stops, while junior CB DJ Williams had six tackles, which included 1.0 sack and 3.0 tackles for loss.
               
Utah State senior DE Adewale Adeoye also recovered two fumbles and senior CB Deante Fortenberry returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown with 7:58 left in the third quarter, giving the blue-clad Aggies a 40-10 lead.
               
New Mexico State QB Matt Romero was 18-of-33 for 161 yards and one touchdown, to go along with the three interceptions. He was sacked five times on the night, which included 1.5 sacks by USU junior LB Tipa Galeai, who also forced a fumble, as did sophomore LB Maika Magalei. NMSU finished the game with just 280 yards of total offense (171-passing, 109-rushing).
               
In all, Utah State's defense had 12.0 tackles for loss to go along with its five sacks, while forcing five turnovers with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
               
Romero threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Boone to give the white-cladded Aggies their only advantage of the night, 7-6, with 4:34 to go in the first quarter.
 
The lead lasted all of 15 seconds as USU sophomore WR Savon Scarver returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to make it 13-7 in favor of the hosts. Utah State's other touchdown of the night came courtesy of senior RB Eltoro Allen, who scored on a 1-yard run with 5:46 remaining in the second quarter.
               
New Mexico State's Terrill Hanks led all tacklers in the game with 19 stops, including 3.0 tackles for loss.
 
UTAH STATE 23RD IN THE NATION IN SCORING OFFENSE
• Utah State ranks fourth in the Mountain West and 23rd in the nation in scoring with an average of 45.5 points per game. USU also ranks sixth in the MW and 58th in the nation in passing offense (245.5 ypg), sixth in the MW and 62nd in the nation in completion percentage (.613), seventh in the MW and 82nd in the nation in total offense (395.0 ypg), eighth in the MW and 86th in the nation in rushing offense (149.5 ypg), ninth in the MW and 91st in the nation in sacks allowed (2.5 ppg), and 10th in the MW in passing efficiency (112.7).   
 
AGGIE DEFENSE RANKS EIGHTH NATIONALLY IN SACKS
• Utah State leads the Mountain West and ranks eighth in the nation with its 4.0 sacks per game, and is second in the MW and 33rd in the nation in tackles for loss (7.50 pg). USU also ranks fourth in the MW and 62nd in the nation in passing efficiency defense (119.1), fourth in the MW and 80th in the nation in passing defense (229.0 ypg), fifth in the MW and 68th in the nation in total defense (366.0 ypg), fifth in the MW and 77th in the nation in scoring defense (25.5 ppg), and seventh in the MW and 76th in the nation in rushing defense (137.0 ypg).
 
AGGIES RANK SECOND IN THE NATION WITH SEVEN FORCED TURNOVERS
• Utah State has forced seven turnovers (4 interceptions, 3 fumble) this year in two games to rank second in the nation behind Fresno State (8) and tied with Arkansas, Buffalo, and Virginia Tech. USU also ranks tied for first in the Mountain West and tied for sixth in the nation with its three fumble recoveries, tied for second in the MW and tied for fifth in the nation with its four interceptions, and third in the MW and 18th in the nation in turnover margin (+1.50).
 
• With its seven forced turnovers this season, USU has now forced 148 turnovers in its last 77 games, including at least one turnover in 60 of its last 77 games. USU has also recorded 70 interceptions in its last 64 games, including at least one pick in 35 of its last 64 games and multiple interceptions in 21 of its last 64 games. Overall, USU has forced three or more turnovers in 18 of its last 52 games. 
 
• Utah State forced 29 turnovers (16 fumbles, 13 interceptions) last season, which ranked second in the Mountain West and tied for sixth in the nation. USU also ranked tied for second in the nation with its 16 fumble recoveries, and was fourth in the Mountain West and 45th in the nation with its 13 interceptions on the season. In 2016, USU forced just 10 turnovers the entire season.
 
UTAH STATE TIED FOR SECOND IN THE NATION WITH ITS TWO DEFENSIVE SCORES
• Utah State is tied for second in the nation with its two defensive touchdowns this year as S Gaje Ferguson returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown at No. 11 Michigan State and senior CB Deante Fortenberry returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown against New Mexico State. Fresno State leads the nation with three defensive touchdowns, followed by Utah State, Alabama, Boise State, Boston College, Mississippi and Texas State with two each. Overall, USU has scored 18 defensive touchdowns in its last 61 games, including five last season to rank fourth in the nation.
 
UTAH STATE THIRD IN THE NATION IN KICKOFF RETURNS
• Utah State ranks first in the Mountain West and third in the nation in kickoff returns (44.50 ypr), trailing only Alabama and Oklahoma State. USU also ranks second in the conference and 35th in the nation in punt returns (12.0 ypr), ninth in the MW and 77th in the nation in kickoff return defense (21.0 ypr), and ninth in the MW and 96th in the nation in net punting (34.83 ypp).
 
AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS
• Junior PK Dominik Eberle is leading the nation in both field goals made (3.5 pg) and field goal percentage (1.000), while also ranking first in the Mountain West and second in the nation in scoring (15.5 ppg). Overall, Eberle has made all seven of his field goal attempts this year. Redshirt junior LB Tipa Galeai is tied for first in the nation in forced fumbles (1.0 pg), second in the nation in sacks (1.75 pg), second in the MW and tied for 16th in the nation in tackles for loss (2.0 pg), and 43rd in the MW in tackles (5.0 pg). Sophomore LB David Woodward ranks first in the MW and tied for second in the nation in tackles (14.5 pg), and tied for seventh in the MW and tied for 99th in the nation in sacks (0.5 pg). Sophomore WR Savon Scarver is tied first in the MW and tied for second in the nation in kickoff returns for touchdown with one, and first in the MW and third in the nation in kickoff returns (44.5 ypr). Senior DE Adewale Adeoye is tied for first in the nation in fumbles recovered with two, and tied for 29th in the MW in tackles (6.0 pg). Sophomore WR Jordan Nathan ranks first in the MW and 13th in the nation in punt returns (14.5 ypr). Senior S Aaron Wade ranks first in the MW and third in the nation in interceptions (1.0 pg), tied for third in the MW and tied for 39th in the nation in passes defended (1.5 pg), and tied for 43rd in the MW in tackles (5.0 pg). Junior DE Devon Anderson is tied for third in the MW and tied for 10th in the nation in fumbles recovered (0.5 pg). Senior S Gaje Ferguson is tied for third in the MW and tied for 25th in the nation in interceptions (0.5 pg). Senior CB Deante Fortenberry is tied for third in the MW and tied for 25th in the nation in interceptions (0.5 pg). Junior RB Darwin Thompson is tied for second in the MW and tied for 13th in the nation in rushing touchdowns (1.5 pg), tied for seventh in the MW and tied for 62nd in the nation in points scored (9.0 pg), and eighth in the MW in rushing (62.0 ypg). Sophomore LB Maika Magalei is tied for third in the MW and tied for 20th in the nation in forced fumbles (0.5 pg). Junior CB DJ Williams is tied for fourth in the MW and tied for 57th in the nation in tackles for loss (1.5 pg), and tied for seventh in the MW and tied for 99th in the nation in sacks (0.5 pg). Sophomore QB Jordan Love ranks fifth in the MW and 46th in the nation in passing (239.0 ypg), fifth in the MW and 66th in the nation in total offense (231.0 ypg), fifth in the MW and 68th in the nation in completion percentage (.606), and eighth in the MW and 96th in the nation in passing efficiency (113.3). Junior RB Gerold Bright ranks seventh in the MW in rushing (66.0 ypg).  Senior S Jontrell Rocqumore is tied for seventh in the MW and tied for 99th in the nation in sacks (0.5 pg), and tied for 24th in the MW in tackles (6.5 pg). Senior LB Chase Christiansen is tied for ninth in the MW and tied for 71st in the nation in tackles (8.5 pg). And sophomore S Shaq Bond is tied for 43rd in the MW in tackles (5.0 pg).
 
EBERLE NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• Junior PK Dominik Eberle was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week and the College Football Performance Awards Honorable Mention National Performer of the Week following his performance against New Mexico State last weekend as he tied two NCAA records, and set two other Mountain West and school records. For Eberle, it is the first time in his career he has garnered MW Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Eberle was also recognized as a Lou Groza Award Star of the Week
 
EBERLE TIES TWO NCAA RECORDS
• Junior PK Dominik Eberle tied two NCAA records last weekend in Utah State's 60-13 home win against New Mexico State. First, Eberle tied the NCAA record for points scored in game by a kicker with 24, a record that was set by Western Michigan's Mike Prindle in 1984. Eberle also tied an NCAA record with his three 51-yard field goals, becoming just the sixth player ever to kick three 50-plus yard field goals in a game.
 
• Eberle also set school and Mountain West records with his six made field goals, while his six field goal attempts ties his own school record that was set last season. In all, Eberle made field goals from 44, 32, 51, 21, 51 and 51 yards, as those six made field goals are tied for the third-most in a single-game in NCAA history.
 
• Eberle also kicked off 12 times for 754 yards (averaging 62.8 yards per kick) with nine touchbacks in the game against New Mexico State.
 
• Eberle is now 7-of-7 this season and 28-of-36 in his career on field goal attempts, including 1-of-1 this year and 11-of-12 in his career from 20-29 yards, 1-of-1 this season and 6-of-7 in his career from 30-39 yards, 2-of-2 this year and 7-of-13 in his career from 40-49 yards, and 3-of-3 this year and 4-of-4 in his career from 50+ yards. His three 51-yard field goals are season-longs and tied for the 18th-longest in school history. In fact, Eberle is the only kicker in school history to have four or more 50-yard field goals in a career as he made a career-long 52-yarder last year.
 
SCARVER TIES MOUNTAIN WEST RECORD WITH 100-YARD KICKOFF RETURN
• Sophomore WR Savon Scarver tied a Mountain West record as he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against New Mexico State last weekend. That return is also tied for the third-longest in school history along with Kevin Robinson, who had a 100-yard kickoff return against Hawai'i in 2007. For Scaver, it is his second kickoff return for a touchdown in his career, as he scored on a 96-yarder against New Mexico State in the 2017 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
 
THREE HORSEMEN ACCOUNT FOR 260 RUSHING YARDS AND THREE SCORES
• Utah State's three horsemen at running back accounted for 260 yards rushing and three touchdowns last weekend in its 60-13 home win against New Mexico State. Junior RB Gerold Bright rushed for a career-high 134 yards on a career-best 14 carries (9.6 ypc) and scored on a 51-yard run. Overall it was his second-career 100-yard rushing game. Fellow junior RB Darwin Thompson rushed for 96 yards on just six carries (16.0 ypc) and scored on a career-long 68-yard run. And, senior RB Eltoro Allen rushed for 30 yards on six carries (5.0 ypc) and scored on a 1-yard run.
 
• For Bright, it was his fourth-career rushing touchdown, while Thompson has a team-leading three rushing touchdowns this season. Allen now has two career rushing touchdowns.
 
• Had Thompson gained four more yards, Utah State would have had a pair of 100-yard rushers for the first time since 2012, when Chuckie Keeton and Kerwynn Williams did so at No. 19 Louisiana Tech.
 
OTHER OFFENSIVE NOTABLES AGAINST NEW MEXICO STATE
• Sophomore QB Jordan Love threw his first touchdown pass of the season and the ninth of his career. Senior WR Jalen Greene caught his first-career touchdown on a 14-yard reception. Senior WR Aaren Vaughns had a career-long 36-yard reception.
 
UTAH STATE SCORES 60 POINTS FOR THIRD TIME UNDER WELLS
• Utah State scored a season-high 60 points last weekend in its 60-13 home win against New Mexico State, marking the third time it has scored 60-plus points and ninth time it has hit the 50-point plateau under head coach Matt Wells, both of which are school records. Prior to Wells, E. Lowell 'Dick' Romney (1919-48) held the school record with six 50-point games in 29 seasons, while John Ralston (1959-62) and Tony Knap (1963-66) shared the school record for most 60-point games with two each, as both coaches spent four seasons at USU. 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State produced 500 yards of total offense four times during the 2017 season, which tied the 2013 team for the most in a single season in school history. In fact, prior to the 2013 and 2017 seasons, Utah State had never produced 500 yards of total offense in more than two games. Under head coach Matt Wells, USU has had a school-record 11 games with at least 500 yards of offense. USU also set a school record last year by scoring 50-plus points in three games.
 
WADE NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• Senior S Aaron Wade was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in Utah State's 60-13 home win against New Mexico State last weekend. Wade had a career game against NMSU as he intercepted his first two career passes and recorded a career-high 10 tackles, while adding his first career pass breakup. Wade entered the game with just 17 tackles in 30 career games. It is Wade's first-ever MW Player of the Week accolade.
 
FORTENBERRY SCORES FIRST CAREER TOUCHDOWN IN FIRST CAREER START
• Senior CB Deante Fortenberry made the most of his first career start last weekend against New Mexico State as he intercepted his first career pass and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown. That interception return is tied for the 10th-longest in school history, along with Jerome Dennis against BYU in 2002 and Lauren Pettis against Montana in 1958.
 
WOODWARD RECORDS SECOND-STRAIGHT DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLE OUTING
• Sophomore LB David Woodward recorded his second-straight double-digit tackle outing with his 13 stops against New Mexico State last weekend. He also had his first sack and tackle for loss this season against NMSU, giving him 2.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss in his career. Woodward also had a career-high 16 tackles in the season opener at No. 11 Michigan State, giving him three career double-digit tackle games.
 
ADEOYE RECOVERS CAREER-HIGH TWO FUMBLES AGAINST NEW MEXICO STATE
• Senior DE Adewale Adeoye recovered two fumbles last weekend against New Mexico State, the first two of his career, and tied his career high for the second-straight week with six tackles. He also had 1.5 tackles for loss against NMSU, giving him 6.0 in his career.
 
GALEAI TORMENTING OPPONENTS IN SHORT TIME AT UTAH STATE
• Redshirt junior LB Tipa Galeai has tormented Aggie opponents in his first two games. In his season opener at No. 11 Michigan State, he had 2.0 sacks as part of his four tackles, while adding his first career forced fumble, to go along with one quarterback hurry. And against New Mexico State last weekend, he forced another fumble and had 1.5 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss as part of his season-high six stops.
 
DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM THE NEW MEXICO STATE GAME
• Junior DE Fua Leilua had 0.5 tackles for loss, the first of his career, as part of his season-high six tackles. Sophomore LB Maika Magalei forced his first-career fumble and had 0.5 sacks, giving him 3.5 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss in his career. Senior LB Chase Christiansen had 0.5 sacks, giving him 3.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in his career. Senior S Jontrell Rocqumore had 0.5 tackles for loss, giving him 1.5 tackles for loss this year and 5.0 in his career. Junior CB Cameron Haney had 0.5 tackles for loss as part of his season-high six tackles, giving him 2.5 tackles for loss in his career. Junior CB DJ Williams had 1.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss, the first of his career, as part of his season-high six tackles. Junior NG Christopher 'Unga had 0.5 sacks, the first of his career, giving him 5.5 tackles for loss in his career. Sophomore LB Logan Lee  had 1.0 tackles for loss, giving him 2.0 tackles for loss in his career. Sophomore S Shaq Bond had one pass breakup, giving him two on the season.
 
AGGIES SCORE TOUCHDOWNS IN EACH PHASE OF THE GAME AGAINST NMSU
• Utah State scored a touchdown in each phase of the game last weekend against New Mexico State as it had four offensive touchdowns, a defensive touchdown on a 75-yard interception return and a special teams touchdown on a 100-yard kickoff return. The last time USU scored an offensive, defensive and special teams touchdown in the same game was against Nevada at home in 2015 as it had two offensive touchdowns, a fumble recovery in the end zone for a touchdown and a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State had 5.0 sacks and 12.0 tackles for loss, to go along with five forced turnovers, in its 60-13 home win against New Mexico State last weekend. Those 5.0 sacks are the most by an Aggie defense since it had 5.0 sacks at Fresno State in 2015. Furthermore, USU's 12.0 tackles for loss against NMSU are its most since it had 12.0 tackles for loss against San José State in 2014. And, its five turnovers are its most since forcing seven against BYU last year.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State ranked fourth in the nation with four blocked punts in 2017. The school record for blocks is six set in 2012 (3 FGs, 2 punts, 1 PAT). Overall, USU has blocked 14 kicks under Wells.
 
EBERLE NAMED ALL-AMERICAN AND FINALIST FOR LOU GROZA AWARD
• Utah State junior Dominik Eberle was named a third-team All-American by Phil Steele's Magazine and an honorable mention All-American by SB Nation in 2017. Eberle is the first-ever USU placekicker named an All-American and just the second-ever specialist, joining Steve Mullins, who was named an honorable mention All-American punter by Football News in 2001.
 
• Eberle was also named a finalist for the 2017 Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, presented by the Orange Bowl. Eberle was one of three finalists to land on the list, joining Daniel Carlson of Auburn and Matt Gay of Utah, who won the award. Eberle and Gay are just the second and third players from the Beehive State (Utah's Louie Sakoda in 2008) to be named a Lou Groza finalist, and Eberle is the fifth player from a current Mountain West institution.
 
• Other than Merlin Olsen winning the Outland Trophy in 1961, this is the first time Utah State has ever had a player named a finalist for a national award.
 
• Heading into 2018, Eberle is a preseason second-team All-American by Athlon Sports.
 
EBERLE SECOND ALL-TIME IN FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE
• Sophomore PK Dominik Eberle is 7-of-7 on field goal attempts this season and 28-of-36 on field goal attempts in his career, and his 77.8 conversion percentage ranks second all-time in school history. Russ Moody (1988-89) holds the school record for field goal percentage at 84.6, as he was 22-of-26 all-time on field goal attempts.
 
• Eberle also ranks eighth all-time in school history in field goals made with 28 and ninth all-time in field goals attempted with 36. Brad Bohn (1997-2000) was 59-of-89 on field goals in his career, to rank first all-time in school history in both categories.
 
• Eberle is a perfect 10-of-10 on extra points this season and 57-of-57 on extra points in his career and is one of just three kickers in school history with a minimum of 30 PAT's made to have never missed an extra point, joining Willie Beecher (1981-84), who was 64-of-64 all-time on extra points, and Russ Moody (1988-89), who was 44-of-44 all-time on extra points. Those 47 extra points made in 2017 rank third all-time at USU for a single-season, while his 47 extra point attempts rank fourth.
 
• Eberle is one of just seven kickers in school history to not miss an extra point for an entire season, joining Nick Diaz (2012), Peter Caldwell (2010, 2007), Doug Beach (1990), Willie Beecher (1982), Tom Mayes (1975) and Steve Steinke (1978).
 
EBERLE SECOND IN SINGLE-SEASON POINTS BY A KICKER
• Sophomore PK Dominik Eberle scored 101 points in 2017 with 47 extra points and 18 field goals, to rank as the second-most points scored by a kicker in a single season in school history. Nick Diaz set the school record for points scored by a kicker with 102 during the 2013 season with 17 field goals and 51 extra points.
 
• Eberle was 18-of-24 on field goal attempts in 2017 and his 75.0 conversion percentage is tied for ninth all-time in school history for a single season. Russ Moody set the school record in 1988 as he made 86.7 percent of his field goals as he was 13-of-15. Eberle's 18 made field goals in 2017 are tied for the third-most in a single-season in school history, while his 24 attempts are tied for the fourth-most.
 
• Eberle made eight straight field goals at one point in 2017, which was the longest streak for an Aggie since Nick Diaz also made eight straight in 2014.
 
• Eberle was 5-of-9 on field goal attempts of at least 40 yards in 2017, including a career long of 52 yards, which is tied for the 10th-longest in school history. The last Aggie kicker to make at least five field goals of 40-plus yards in a single season was Diaz in 2012, when he was 5-of-7. And, Brad Bohn was the last USU kicker to make more than five from that distance, when he was 6-of-10 from 40-plus yards back in 2000.
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
• Utah State earned the 2017 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Academic Achievement Award, which is presented by the Touchdown Club of Memphis, as it recorded a 100 percent graduation rate for members of their freshman football student-athlete class of 2010.
 
• Utah State's football team has a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 89 percent to rank first in the Mountain West. The Aggies also rank first among the other football programs in the Beehive State, ahead of Utah (83), Southern Utah (67), Weber State (66) and BYU (52). 
 
• Over the past eight seasons, USU has had 166 players earn academic all-league honors and 156 players have graduated from Utah State.
 
• Utah State had two football players earn College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) first-team Academic All-District VIII honors in 2017 in junior DE Jacoby Wildman and sophomore S Baron Gajkowski.
 
• Utah State has one player on its current roster that has already graduated from USU with a bachelor's degree in senior OL KJ Uluave (social work), while graduate transfer Jalen Greene earned his bachelor's degree from USC (communications).
 
WHAT'S RETURNING IN 2018
• Utah State returns 18 starters (O-9, D-9) and 47 letterwinners (O-19, D-26, S-2) from last year's team that tied for fourth place in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 4-4 record and finished the season at 6-7 after playing in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. Highlighting Utah State's returners in 2018 are four players who earned various all-Mountain West honors a season ago as junior PK Dominik Eberle earned third-team All-America honors from Phil Steele's Magazine and honorable mention All-America honors from SB Nation, along with being a first-team all-MW selection and a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, while senior OT Roman Andrus, senior OC Quin Ficklin and junior TE Dax Raymond all garnered honorable mention all-MW honors. Utah State returns six other starters on offense in senior OG Rob Castaneda, senior OT Sean Taylor, senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver, junior OG Moroni Iniguez, sophomore QB Jordan Love and sophomore WR Jordan Nathan. USU also returns nine starters on defense in senior DE Adewale Adeoye, senior LB Chase Christiansen, senior S Gaje Ferguson, senior LB Suli Tamaivena, junior DE Devon Anderson, junior CB Cameron Haney, junior LB Justus Te'i, junior NG Christopher 'Unga and sophomore CB Ja'Marcus Ingram, to go along with one other specialists returning in senior P Aaron Dalton.
 
COACHING CHANGES IN 2018
• Utah State's coaching staff has two additions this season as Keith Patterson was hired as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach, replacing Kendrick Shaver, while Uani 'Unga was hired as the new 10th assistant and will coach outside linebackers after serving as a defensive administrative assistant for USU in 2017.
 
• Utah State enters the 2018 season with the same offensive coordinator, David Yost, for the first time since the 2014 season when Kevin McGiven served in that role.
 
NO SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR FOR UTAH STATE IN 2018
• Utah State will have all of its coaches working with the special teams during the 2018 season and does not have a special teams coordinator. In fact, USU is one of just three FBS programs that doesn't have a special teams coordinator in 2018, joining Ole Miss and Texas A&M.
 
WHAT UTAH STATE MUST REPLACE FROM 2017
• Utah State must replace two players who earned all-Mountain West honors in 2017, including CB Jalen Davis, who earned first-team honors, and S Dallin Leavitt, who was named to the honorable mention team. Other starters lost include RB LaJuan Hunt and WR Braelon Roberts. Along with being named first-team all-MW, Davis was also named a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and earned second-team All-America honors from both The Associated Press and the Football Writers Association of America.
 
AGGIES CURRENTLY IN THE NFL AND CFL
• Utah State currently has 14 players on NFL rosters and has had 11 players drafted into the NFL in the past eight years. Former Aggies currently in the NFL include DE Ricky Ali'ifua (Seattle), LB Jalen Davis (Miami), S Marwin Evans (Green Bay), LB Kyler Fackrell (Green Bay), OG Tyler Larsen (Carolina), CB Nevin Lawson (Detroit), S Dallin Leavitt (Oakland), RB Devante Mays (Green Bay), OT Donald Penn (Oakland), LS Patrick Scales (Chicago), RB Robert Turbin (Indianapolis), LB Nick Vigil (Cincinnati), LB Zach Vigil (Washington) and LB Bobby Wagner (Seattle). USU also has two former Aggies currently in the Canadian Football League in LB Chris Randle (Winnipeg) and DE Connor Williams (Ottawa).
 
CURRENT AGGIES WITH NFL TIES
• Utah State has one player on its current roster whose father played in the NFL in junior LB Mason Tobeck (Robbie Tobeck). His dad, Robbie Tobeck (OL), spent 14 seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons (1993-99) and Seattle Seahawks (2000-06).
 
AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS
• Utah State has 25 players on its 2018 roster who have served two-year LDS Church Missions in senior OL Roman Andrus, senior OL Quin Ficklin, senior LB Ofa Latu, senior WR DJ Nelson, senior OL KJ Uluave, junior TE Dax Raymond, junior LB Braden Harris, junior OL Moroni Iniguez, junior S Chance Parker, junior NG Mohelika Uasike, junior DE Jacoby Wildman, sophomore DE Caden Andersen, sophomore WR Taylor Compton, sophomore DE Ritisoni Fata, sophomore S Baron Gajkowski, sophomore DE Logan Lee, sophomore OL Connor Meyers, sophomore S Chase Nelson, sophomore DE Keith Tambe, redshirt freshman WR Preston Curtis, redshirt freshman RB Sione Fehoko, redshirt sophomore S Jordan Hayes, redshirt freshman LB Daniel Langi, freshman OL Wade Meacham and freshman TE Bryce Mortenson. 
 
AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED
• Utah State has 12 players on its 2018 roster who are married in senior LB Chase Christiansen, senior S Gaje Ferguson, senior LB Suli Tamaivena, senior OL KJ Uluave, redshirt junior DE Fua Leilua, junior DE Dalton Baker, junior OL Moroni Iniguez, junior S Chance Parker, junior DE Jacoby Wildman, sophomore DE Keith Tambe, redshirt freshman LB Daniel Langi and freshman OL Wade Meacham.
 
UTAH STATE BEGINS SIXTH SEASON IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State begins its sixth year as a member of the Mountain West in 2017 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
• Utah State is 150-179-8 (.457) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 38-26-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 33-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, a 16-7 record vs. UNLV, a 17-20-1 record vs. San José State, a 12-17-1 record vs. Fresno State, an 11-13 record vs. New Mexico, a 9-6 record vs. Hawai`i, a 6-18 record vs. Nevada, a 5-17 record vs. Boise State, a 2-4 record vs. Air Force, and a 1-12 record vs. San Diego State.
 
UTAH STATE BOWL HISTORY
• Utah State has a 4-8 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; lost to Akron, 23-21, in the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl; and lost to New Mexico State, 26-20 in overtime, in the 2017 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
 
UTAH STATE PLAYS IN SIXTH BOWL GAME IN SEVEN SEASONS
• Utah State finished the 2017 season by playing in its sixth bowl game in the last seven seasons and 12th bowl game in school history as it lost to New Mexico State 26-20 in overtime in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, which was held in Tucson, Ariz. USU is 4-8 all-time in its 12 bowl game appearances.
 
• Utah State played in five-straight bowl games from 2011-15 and won three-straight bowls from 2012-14, both of which are school records.
 
COACH WELLS NOTABLES
• Utah State head coach Matt Wells' 35 wins rank as the fourth-most in school history, while his 51.5 winning percentage (35-33) ranks seventh with a minimum of 15 games coached. Wells is also 23-17 (.575) in Mountain West play in five seasons.
 
• Wells, who is entering his sixth season in charge of the Aggie football program, is the longest tenured head coach since Chuck Shelton (1986-91) also spent six seasons at USU. In fact, Wells is tied with Shelton and Chuck Mills (1967-72) as the fourth-longest tenured head coaches in 120 seasons of Utah State football.
 
• Wells has been a player (1993) or coach (2012, 2013, 2014) in all four of Utah State's bowl wins. The NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl in 2017 was his seventh bowl game as an Aggie.
 
• Wells coached his fourth bowl game in 2017 to extend the school record for most bowl games by a head coach. E. Lowell 'Dick' Romney (1946, 1947), John Ralston (1960, 1961) and Gary Andersen (2011, 2012) all coached the Aggies in two bowl games, while Charlie Weatherbie (1993) and John L. Smith (1997) each coached one bowl game at USU.
 
• In his five years as head coach, Wells has led Utah State to three wins against top 25 opponents, one more than USU had in its previous 115 years.
 
• During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Wells mentored a combined 12 players who earned all-Mountain West honors. Wells also coached Jalen Davis, who was named a Walter Camp First Team All-American, while Dominik Eberle was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, and earned third-team All-America honors.
 
• 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 22 FBS 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. That year, USU 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.