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UTAH STATE FACES OREGON STATE IN JIMMY KIMMEL LA BOWL
Game will be televised live on ABC on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 5:30 p.m. (MT). 
 
(RV) UTAH STATE (10-3, 6-2 MW) vs. OREGON STATE (7-5, 5-4 Pac-12) 
Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021 • 5:30 p.m. (MT) • Inglewood, California • SoFi Stadium (40,000)
 
GAME 14 INFORMATION
TV: ABC 
• Play-by-Play: Joe Tessitore
• Analyst: Jesse Palmer
• Reporter: Laura Rutledge
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 4/HD652
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard 
• Analyst: Kevin White
• Online: KSLSports.com/thezone/
 
NATIONAL RADIO: ESPN
• Play-by-Play: Jorge Sedano 
• Analyst: Tom Ramsey
• Reporter: Kelsey Riggs
 
SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
 
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) as well as on the KSLSports App.
• Salt Lake City: KZNS (1280 AM/97.5 FM)
• Logan: KBLU-LP (92.3 FM)
• Green River: KRPX (102.7 FM)
• Moab: KRPX (100.3 FM)
• Montpelier, Idaho: KZNS (1450 AM/101.7 FM)
• Orangeville: KRPX (95.9 FM)
• Price: KRPX (95.3 FM)
 
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State is playing in its 15th bowl game, including its ninth in the last 11 years, after playing in six bowl games in its first 119 seasons. USU played in five-straight bowls from 2011-15 and won three straight from 2012-14, both of which are school records. USU is 5-9 all-time in bowl games.
• Utah State has now won 10-plus games four times in the last 10 years after not reaching double digits in victories in each of its first 120 seasons. The 2012 and 2018 teams hold the school record with 11 wins, while the 2014 team won 10 games. Over the last 10 years, USU has averaged 7.4 wins.
• Utah State's nine-game improvement this year is tied with Baylor (2-7 in '20 to 11-2 in '21) and Northern Illinois (0-6 in '20 to 9-4 in '21), and trailing Michigan (2-4 in '20 to 12-1 in '21), for the second-best turnaround in the nation as the Aggies were 1-5 last season and are 10-3 this year. 
• Utah State went 7-0 on the road for the first time in school history and those seven road wins are a school record. In fact, USU is the first FBS team in eight years to post a 7-0 road record.
• Utah State has set three school records thus far during the 2021 campaign with its 39 touchdown passes, 3,975 passing yards and seven road wins. 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins set the school record for receiving yards in a season (1,589) and tied the school record for consecutive 100-yard receiving games (6) this season. Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner set the school record for passing touchdowns in a season (36) and tied the school record for passing touchdowns in a game (5) this year. Bonner is also the first player in school history to throw at least four touchdown passes in three straight games. 
• Bonner has thrown for 3,560 yards this year and needs eight yards to set the school record, which was set by Jordan Love (3,567) in 2018. Thompkins has caught 96 passes this year and needs five receptions to set the school record, which was set in 2001 by Kevin Curtis (100).
• Utah State ranks 15th in the nation in passing offense (305.8 ypg), 20th in the nation in total offense (450.4 ypg) and 30th in the nation in scoring offense (33.2 ppg). Defensively, USU is fourth in the nation in tackles for loss (7.9 pg) and 10th in the nation in touchdowns allowed in the red zone (.458).  
 
UTAH STATE FACES OREGON STATE IN INAUGURAL JIMMY KIMMEL LA BOWL
• Utah State (10-3, 6-2 MW) will face Oregon State (7-5, 5-4 Pac-12) in the inaugural Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 5:30 p.m. (MT). The game will be televised nationally on ABC (Xfinity Ch. 4/HD652) with Joe Tessitore (play-by-play), Jesse Palmer (analyst) and Laura Rutledge (reporter) on the call.
• Utah State is playing a school-record-tying 14th game for the third time (2013, 2014, 2021).
 
UTAH STATE IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
• Utah State received 109 votes in the latest Associated Press poll to rank 26th in the nation and garnered 85 votes in the latest Coaches' poll to rank 27th in the nation. It is the fourth time this season that USU has garnered top-25 votes, including the second time in as many weeks as USU received eight votes in the previous week's coaches poll to rank tied for 32nd.
 
SCOUTING UTAH STATE
• Utah State is 10-3 on the season following its 46-13 win at No. 19 San Diego State two weekends ago to win the 2021 Mountain West Championship. USU, which won the Mountain Division of the conference with a 6-2 league record, enters its bowl game having won seven of its last eight games. USU is led by graduate junior QB Logan Bonner, who is 257-of-419 (.613) passing for 3,560 yards (273.6 ypg) with 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. has rushed for 764 yards on 170 carries (4.5 ypc/69.5 ypg) with six touchdowns. And, senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught 96 passes for 1,589 yards (16.6 ypr/122.2 ypg) and nine touchdowns. Defensively, graduate senior ILB Justin Rice has 115 tackles, which includes 13.5 tackles for loss, to go along with three interceptions and one forced fumble. USU is averaging 33.2 points and 451.5 yards of total offense (145.7 rushing, 305.8 passing) and allowing 25.3 points and 391.0 yards of total offense (162.5 rushing, 228.5 passing).
 
UTAH STATE WINS 13TH CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
• With its 46-13 victory at No.19 San Diego State in the Mountain West Championship Game, Utah State claimed its 13 conference championship in school history and first since it won the Western Athletic Conference in 2012. USU also won five Big West Conference titles (1978, 1979, 1993, 1996, 1997), three Skyline Conference titles (1946, 1960, 1961), and two Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference titles (1921, 1936).
 
UTAH STATE FOURTH TEAM EVER TO GO FROM ONE WIN TO 10 WINS
• Utah State is just the fourth team in FBS history to go from zero or one win to 10 wins the following season, joining Stanford, Miami (Ohio) and Fresno State. USU is currently 10-3 this season after posting a 1-5 record last year. Stanford was 1-7-1 in 1939 and went 10-0 in 1940. Miami (Ohio) was 1-11 in 2009 and posted a 10-4 record in 2010. And, Fresno State was 1-11 in 2016 and went 10-4 in 2017.
• Furthermore, Utah State is one of just 11 FBS teams to win a conference championship the year after winning one or zero games, joining Colorado State in 1919, Arkansas in 1933, Stanford in 1940, Purdue in 1943, California in 1958, Indiana in 1967, North Texas in 1973, Hawai'i in 1999, Miami (Ohio) in 2010, Central Michigan in 2019 and Northern Illinois in 2021. 
 
UTAH STATE'S 10 WINS AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION
• Utah State is one of 24 teams in the nation that has won at least 10 games this season, including one of two Mountain West teams, and one of three teams from the state of Utah. In fact, Utah and Texas are the only states that have three football teams with at least 10 wins as BYU (10), Utah (10) and Utah State (10) all represent the Beehive State, while Baylor (11), Houston (11) and UTSA (12) represent the Lone Star State.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS IN UTAH STATE'S ROAD GAMES
• Utah State went 7-0 on the road for the first time ever and rallied from double-digit deficits in each of its first five road wins. It is the first time USU has won seven road games in a season. 
• Utah State averaged 38.1 points and 457.0 yards of total offense (138.6 rushing, 318.4 passing) on the road this season, while converting 53-of-106 (.500) third downs, and had a 78-24 scoring advantage in the final 15 minutes of its seven road wins. 
 
ANDERSON ONLY FIRST-YEAR HEAD COACH IN THE NATION WITH 10 WINS
• Utah State's Blake Anderson is one of 19 first-year head coaches at the FBS level in 2021 and is the only head coach to have at least 10 wins this season. 
• Anderson is the only first-year head coach in school history to win 10 games. The previous record was nine wins set by Matt Wells in 2013.  
• Anderson was just the third coach in school history, and first since E. Lowell Romney in 1919, to win his first three games at USU. The other was Fred M. Walker, who went 7-0 in 1907.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State head coach Blake Anderson has now won three conference championships with two Sun Belt titles at Arkansas State (2015, 2016), along with one Mountain West title (2021). Anderson will be coaching his seventh bowl game in eight seasons as a head coach.
 
UTAH STATE BOWL HISTORY
• Utah State has a 5-9 bowl record all-time as it lost to San José State, 20-0, in the 1946 Raisin Bowl; lost to Pacific, 35-21, in the 1947 Grape Bowl; lost to New Mexico State, 20-13, in the 1960 Sun Bowl; lost to Baylor, 24-9, in the 1961 Gotham Bowl; 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; lost to New Mexico State, 26-20 in overtime, in the 2017 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl; defeated North Texas, 52-13, in the 2018 New Mexico Bowl; and lost to Kent State, 51-41, in the 2019 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl.
 
AGGIES FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
• Utah State has 24 players in its program from the state of California, which is the second-most on the team behind the 36 players in the program from Utah. Aggie players from the Golden State include graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua (Hayward/San Leandro HS), graduate senior CB Andre Grayson (Rancho Cucamonga/Etiwanda HS), graduate senior DT Marcus Moore (Pasadena/Crespi HS), graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan (Monrovia/Monrovia HS), graduate senior ILB Justin Rice (Modesto/Central Catholic HS), senior OL Alfred Edwards (Redlands/Redlands Senior HS), senior S Jarrod Green (Elk Grove/Cosumnes Oaks HS), senior ILB Kevin Meitzenheimer (Moreno Valley/Moreno Valley HS), senior CB Xavion Steele (Hemet/Orange Lutheran HS), junior CB Michael Anyanwu (Covina/Charter Oak HS), junior DT James Hansen (Fontana/Kaiser HS), junior WR Tim Patrick Jr. (San Diego/Morse HS), junior DT Aurion Peoples (Compton/Lancaster HS), junior S Dominic Tatum (Culver City/Culver City HS), sophomore QB Josh Calvin (Bellflower/Mayfair HS), sophomore TE Jack Drews (Ramona/Ramona HS), sophomore WR Quinton Hadnot (San Marcos/Mission Hills HS), sophomore OLB Keith Harris (Lawndale/Leuzinger HS), sophomore RB Elelyon Noa (La Mesa/Helix HS), sophomore PK Joey Rouly (Anaheim/Canyon HS), sophomore LS Jesse Vasquez (Los Angeles/Oaks Christian HS), redshirt freshman LS Jacob Garcia (Anaheim/Servite HS), freshman OL Elia Migao (Temecula/Chaparral HS) and freshman DE Enoka Migao (Temecula/Chaparral HS). 
 
UTAH STATE IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN 2021
• Utah State is 2-0 this season in games played in the state of California with a 48-17 road win at defending Mountain West Champion San José State (11/13) and a 46-13 road win at No. 19 San Diego State (12/4) in the Mountain West Championship Game. In fact, USU has won each of its last five games played in the Golden State with its last loss coming at USC in 2016.
 
UTAH STATE AGAINST THE PAC-12 CONFERENCE
• Utah State is 41-125-5 (.254) all-time against current members of the Pac-12 Conference as it is 29-79-4 vs. Utah, 6-11-1 vs. Colorado, 2-11-0 vs. Arizona State, 2-4 vs. Arizona, 2-2 vs. Washington State, 0-6 vs. USC, 0-4 vs. Oregon, 0-3 vs. Oregon State, 0-3 vs.  Washington, and 0-1 vs. both Stanford and UCLA. The only current Pac-12 team that USU has not played is California.
• Utah State is facing a Pac-12 team in a bowl game for the first time ever. In fact, USU has only played one Power 5 opponent in a bowl game as it lost to Baylor (24-9) in the 1961 Gotham Bowl, held in Upper Manhattan, New York.
 
THE MOUNTAIN WEST vs. THE PAC-12 CONFERENCE IN BOWL GAMES
• The Mountain West is 13-12 all-time against the Pac-12 Conference in bowl games as it is 1-3 vs. Arizona, 2-0 vs. Arizona State, 1-3 vs. California, 2-0 vs. Oregon, 1-2 vs. Oregon State, 1-1 vs. USC, 2-1 vs. UCLA, 0-1 vs. Utah, 1-1 vs. Washington and 2-0 vs. Washington State. The last time the MW and Pac-12 played one another in a bowl game was in 2019 when Air Force defeated Washington State (31-21) and Washington defeated Boise State (38-7). 
 
FIRST COLLEGE GAME IN SOFI STADIUM
• Utah State and Oregon State are the first college football teams to play in SoFi Stadium. It will be the second time this year that USU has played in an NFL stadium as it played in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Oct. 16 in a 28-24 win against UNLV.
 
FAMOUS AGGIES FROM OREGON
• Charlie Denson, a native of Corvallis, Oregon, spent more than 30 years with Nike Inc., including as Nike Brand President from 2001-13. Denson was a two-year letterwinner at safety for Utah State in 1976 and 1977, and was inducted into USU's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018. 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has four players in its program that previously played in the Pac-12 in graduate senior RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole (Utah), graduate senior DE Nick Heninger (Utah), graduate senior DT Marcus Moore (UCLA) and graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. (Oregon State).
• Henry-Cole appeared in two games against Oregon State during his time at Utah as he played at OSU in 2016 and 2019, and had three combined carries for one yard. 
 
SCOUTING OREGON STATE
• Oregon State is 7-5 overall and finished third in the North Division of the Pac-12 Conference with a 5-4 record. OSU concluded its regular season with a 38-29 loss at No. 11 Oregon on Nov. 27. The Beavers are led by sophomore QB Chance Nolan, who is 183-of-288 (.635) passing for 2,414 yards (201.2 ypg) with 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Junior RB B.J. Baylor leads the team in rushing with 1,259 yards on 209 carries (6.0 ypc/104.9 ypg) with 13 touchdowns, and senior WR Trevon Bradford has caught 40 passes for 606 yards (15.2 ypr/50.1 ypg) with five touchdowns. Defensively, junior ILB Avery Roberts leads the team with 128 tackles, which includes 9.5 tackles for loss. As a team, OSU is averaging 32.8 points and 430.5 yards of total offense (217.4 rushing, 213.1 passing), and allowing 25.9 points and 387.8 yards of total offense (146.7 rushing, 241.1 passing). OSU returns 18 starters (O-10, D-8) from last year's team that finished in fourth place in the Pac-12 North Division with a 2-5 league and overall record. Jonathan Smith has a 16-27 record in his four years as a collegiate head coach at OSU.
 
AGGIES AND BEAVERS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State trails 3-0 in the all-time series against Oregon State. The first game in the series was in 1904 with OSU winning at home 45-0. The two teams then played a home-and-home series with the Beavers notching a 24-16 home win in 1997 and a 20-16 road win in 1998. 
 
AGGIES FROM THE STATE OF OREGON
• Utah State has five players on its roster from the state of Oregon in junior OLB Patrick Maddox (Portland/Westview HS), junior QB Andrew Peasley (La Grande/La Grande HS), sophomore ILB Simon Thompson (Salem/West Salem HS), sophomore S Luke Marion (Tualatin/Tualatin HS) and sophomore WR Garrett Walchli (Hermiston/Hermiston HS).
 
PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND OREGON STATE
• There are a total of 32 connections between Utah State and Oregon State players. USU graduate senior DE Jaylin Bannerman and OLB Cash Gilliam both attended Arizona Western JC, as did OSU junior ILB Jack Colletto. USU graduate senior PK Connor Coles and OSU freshman LS Peyton Hogan both attended Bozeman (Montana) HS. USU graduate senior OL Maisen Knight and OSU senior OL Nathan Eldridge both began their collegiate careers at Arizona. USU graduate senior CB Kyle Mayberry and OSU senior DB Elijah Jones both played at Kansas before transferring to their current school. USU senior CB Xavion Steele and OSU sophomore DL James Rawls both attended Fullerton (California) JC. Steele and OSU freshman OL Jason White both attended Orange Luthern HS in Orange, California.  USU senior WR Derek Wright and OSU junior OL Dakota Napierkowski both attended Snow College in Ephraim, Utah. USU junior WR Justin McGriff and redshirt freshman WR Jamie Nance both began their careers at Nebraska, as did OSU junior QB Tristan Gebbia and junior ILB Avery Roberts. USU junior DT Hale Motu'apuaka and OSU junior DL Alexander Skelton both attended Punahou HS in Honolulu, Hawaii. USU sophomore OL Falepule Alo and freshman ILB Johnny Alo both attended West HS in Salt Lake City, Utah, as did OSU freshman DL Omarion Fa'amoe. USU sophomore S Luke Marion and OSU freshman ILB John Miller both attended Tualatin (Oregon) HS. USU sophomore LS Jesse Vasquez and OSU freshman OLB Ryan Franke both attended Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, California. USU redshirt freshman LS Jacob Garcia, OSU freshman DB Jack Kane and freshman TE Jake Overman all attended Servite HS in Anaheim, California. And, USU redshirt freshman S Crew Wakley and OSU sophomore OL Hemili Bloomfield both attended Jordan HS in Sandy, Utah.
 
MORE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND OREGON STATE
• Utah State graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. spent four seasons (2017-20) at Oregon State, as he played in 14 games and rushed for 124 yards on 30 carries (4.1 ypc) and two touchdowns, caught three passes for 24 yards (8.0  ypr) and one touchdown, and returned nine kickoffs for 182 yards (20.2 ypr).
• Oregon State sophomore OL Heneli Bloomfield spent three years (2018-20) at Utah State, as he played in three games in 2018 and all 13 games in 2019, including four starts, as he played in 424 offensive snaps, including a career-high 61 at Fresno State.
• Oregon State Vice President and Director of Athletics Scott Barnes spent seven years (2008-15) as Vice President and Athletics Director at Utah State.   
 
COACHING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND OREGON STATE
• Former Utah State head coach Gary Andersen (2009-12, 2019-2020) also spent three years  (2015-17) as Oregon State's head coach. Dave Kragthorpe was a four-year letterwinner at tackle for USU (1951-54) and spent six years (1985-90) as OSU's head coach, earning Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors in 1989. USU running backs coach Chuckie Keeton spent two seasons on staff at OSU as a quality control assistant (2016) and a graduate assistant (2017). USU defensive line coach Al Lapuaho spent two seasons (2016-17) at OSU as a graduate assistant. USU passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Kyle Cefalo was on staff at Boise State in 2013 with current OSU head coach Jonathan Smith. Cefalo also began his collegiate career as a baseball player at OSU.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 36 players in its program from the Beehive State, while Oregon State has 34 players on its roster from the Beaver State.
• Utah State is 0-7 all-time against teams from the Beaver State with an 0-4 record against Oregon and an 0-3 record against Oregon State.
• Utah State is 17-19 (.472) all-time in games played during the month of December, and 0-0 all-time in known games played on Dec. 18.
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND OREGON STATE
The following are series notables between Utah State and Oregon State dating back to 1997.
• The team that scores first and leads at the half is 1-1 in the series, as USU is 0-1 in both scenarios and OSU is 1-0.
• Utah State has lost the last two games in the series despite having more rushing yards in both contests.
• Oregon State has had more passing yards in each of the last two games, winning both.
• Utah State has had one 100-yard rusher and one 100-yard receiver in the last two meetings, while Oregon State has not had a 100-yard rusher or receiver.
 
AGGIES WITH BOWL GAME EXPERIENCE
• Utah State has 28 players on its roster that have played in at least one bowl game in graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, graduate senior S Shaq Bond, graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling, graduate senior OLB Cash Gilliam, graduate senior CB Andre Grayson, graduate senior DE Nick Heninger, graduate senior RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole, graduate senior OL Maisen Knight, graduate senior DE Marcus Moore, graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan, senior OL Alfred Edwards, senior S Jarrod Green, senior CB Zahodri Jackson, senior ILB Kevin Meitzenheimer, senior WR Savon Scarver, senior TE Carson Terrell, senior WR Deven Thompkins, senior WR Derek Wright, graduate junior S Hunter Reynolds, junior OLB Ajani Carter, junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr., junior CB Cam Lampkin, junior DT Hale Motu'apuaka, junior OL Jacob South, junior OL Quazzel White, sophomore DE Darius McFarland, sophomore ILB Kaleo Neves and sophomore OL Jackson Owens.
• Of the 28 players that have played in bowl games for Utah State, 13 have appeared in multiple bowl games (Ali'ifua, Edwards, Grayson, Green, Heninger, Henry-Cole, Jackson, Knight, Meitzenheimer, Nathan, Scarver, Terrell, Thompkins) and five have played in three bowls (Heninger, Meitzenheimer, Nathan, Scarver, Terrell).
• Utah State also has 10 players that have started in bowl games (Ali'ifua, Bond, Edwards, Grayson, Jackson, Meitzenheimer, Nathan, South, Terrell, Thompkins), while Edwards is the only player that has started in two bowl games.  
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State University President Noelle Cockett attended Oregon State University and received her master's of science in animal genetics in 1983 and her Ph.D. in animal genetics in 1985.
• A native of Logan, Utah, Merlin Olsen was a two-time All-American (1960-61) as a defensive lineman at Utah State and won the 1961 Outland Trophy as the nation's outstanding interior lineman. As the second player selected in the 1962 National Football League Draft, Olsen became a charter member of the Los Angeles Rams, and the famed "Fearsome Foursome." In 15 pro seasons, he was named to an NFL record 14 Pro Bowls. Olsen was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1962 and was the league's Most Valuable Lineman in 1973. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1982 and earned a spot on Sports Illustrated's all-time NFL team. 
 
LAST MEETING vs. OREGON STATE
LOGAN, Utah - After leading 6-3 at halftime and entering the fourth quarter tied at 13, Utah State suffered a narrow 20-16 loss to Oregon State in cold (40 degrees) and wet conditions at Romney Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 3, 1998. 
 
Oregon State (3-2) turned two Utah State (1-4) turnovers into touchdowns in the second half to gain the victory. 
 
Utah State's defense was tough, once again, limiting Oregon State to 95 rushing yards, while the Aggies offense controlled the football for 33:32 of the game. USU finished with 346 yards of total offense (129 rushing, 217 passing) as compared to 353 for the Beavers. Both teams had three turnovers. 
 
Utah State had two drives during the game that started in Oregon State territory, but did not score on either. USU first got the ball on the OSU 33 yard-line following a fumble recovery in the first quarter trailing 3-0, but turned it over four plays later with a fumble of its own. Tied at 13-all in the third quarter, USU forced another fumble and recovered it at the OSU 39-yard line. However, USU lost seven yards on that drive and was forced to punt. 
 
Oregon State started the scoring with a 46-yard field goal in the first quarter. Utah State sophomore PK Brad Bohn connected on a pair of second quarter field goals from 30 and 20 yards, respectively, to give the home team the 6-3 lead at halftime. 
 
Oregon State scored the first touchdown of the game early in the third quarter to take a 10-6 advantage. USU answered on its next possession as senior QB Riley Jensen connected with senior WR Ricky Brumfield from 29 yards out to give the home team a 13-10 advantage. 
 
Oregon State tied the game at 13-all later in the third quarter on a 36-yard field goal and then took the lead for good early in the fourth quarter on an 18-yard touchdown pass. Bohn added a 37-yard field goal midway through the final period to cut the deficit to 20-16, but neither team scored again. 
 
Jensen finished the game 13-of-27 passing for 217 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, while junior RB Demario Brown caught five passes for 105 yards to go along with 51 rushing yards on 22 carries. Freshman RB John Roberts led the Aggies with 69 yards on 18 carries, while senior WR Robert Scott caught four passes for 66 yards and Brumfield finished the game with three catches for 38 yards and a score. 
 
Senior LB Tony D'Amato led Utah State's defense with nine tackles, which included 2.0 tackles for loss, while adding a fumble recovery. Senior S Johndale Carty added eight tackles and junior S Donald Dicko had seven tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, to go along with a fumble recovery. 
 
Terrance Bryant was 22-of-40 passing for 258 yards and one touchdown for Oregon State, while Ken Simonton carried the ball 27 times for 99 yards and caught one pass for 16 yards. Bryant added a rushing touchdown in the game as well for the Beavers. 
 
ANDERSON NAMED AFCA REGION 5 COACH OF THE YEAR
• Utah State first-year head coach Blake Anderson was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 5 Coach of the Year. The AFCA recognizes five regional Coach of the Year winners and Region 5 covers the Mountain West and Pac-12 Conferences, along with two independents in BYU and New Mexico State. Cincinnati's Luke Fickell was the AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year, while Arkansas' Sam Pittman was the Region 2 winner, Michigan State's Mel Tucker was the Region 3 winner and UTSA's Jeff  Traylor was named the Region 4 Coach of the Year. Each regional winner is now a finalist for the AFCA National Coach of the Year Award, which will be announced on Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at the AFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
 
ANDERSON FINALIST FOR EDDIE ROBINSON COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
• Utah State first-year head coach Blake Anderson is one of 13 finalists for the 2021 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, it was announced by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). Other finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award include: Dave Aranda (Baylor), Luke Fickell (Cincinnati), Thomas Hammock (Northern Illinois), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Billy Napier (Louisiana), Pat Narduzzi (Pittsburgh), Nick Saban (Alabama), Kalani Sitake (BYU), Kirby Smart (Georgia), Jeff Traylor (UTSA), Mel Tucker (Michigan State) and Kyle Whittingham (Utah). The 2021 recipient of the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award will be announced on Monday, Dec. 20. The official presentation will be at a reception on Saturday, Jan. 8, in Indianapolis, Indiana, prior to the College Football Playoff National Championship.
 
UTAH STATE HAS NINE PLAYERS NAMED ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State had nine football players earn various all-Mountain West accolades, including senior WR Deven Thompkins, who earned first-team honors. USU also had two players earn second-team all-MW accolades in senior ILB Justin Rice and senior KOR Savon Scarver, while six Aggies garnered honorable mention honors in graduate senior S Shaq Bond, senior OL Alfred Edwards, graduate senior DE Nick Heninger, graduate senior PR Jordan Nathan, junior OL Quazzel White  and senior WR Derek Wright. 
 
UTAH STATE SIXTH IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
• Utah State had four offensive, three defensive and two specialist recognized for a total of nine all-conference awards, to rank as the sixth-most in the league. Nevada had a league-best 16 all-conference players and San Diego State was second with 15. Boise State was third with 13 players recognized, followed by San José State (11), Fresno State (10), Utah State (9), Hawai'i (9), Colorado State (8), Wyoming (8), Air Force (7), New Mexico (5) and UNLV (4).
 
SIX AGGIES HAVE NOW EARNED MULTIPLE ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST ACCOLADES
• Four of the nine Utah State players honored by the Mountain West are multiple recipients of postseason recognition from the conference, highlighted by senior KOR Savon Scarver, who earned all-conference honors for the fourth time in his career as he was named first-team all-MW in both 2018 and 2019, and garnered honorable mention accolades in 2020. Scarver was also a consensus All-American in 2018. Graduate senior S Shaq Bond earned all-conference honors for the third time in his career as he was also named honorable mention all-MW in both 2019 and 2020. Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger earned all-conference honors for the second time as he was also named honorable mention all-MW last season. And, graduate senior ILB Justin Rice earned all-league honors for the third time in his career, as he was named first-team all-Sun Belt Conference in 2020 at Arkansas State and first-team all-MW in 2019 at Fresno State.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins is the first Aggie wide receiver to earn first-team all-conference honors since Aaron Jones was named first-team all-Big West Conference in 2000. USU was an independent in 2001 and 2002 as Kevin Curtis was named to the all-independent team both seasons. Overall, Thompkins is just the 10th wide receiver in school history to earn first-team all-conference honors. 
 
GAME 13 RECAP vs. SAN DIEGO STATE
CARSON, California - Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner passed for 318 yards and four touchdowns as the Aggies throttled No. 19 San Diego State 46-13 on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in the Mountain West Championship Game at Dignity Health Sports Park. 
 
It is Utah State's 13th conference title overall and first since winning the Western Athletic Conference championship in 2012. 
 
The Aggies improved to 10-3 on the season, including 7-0 on the road, becoming just the fourth team in school history to record a 10-win season. Furthermore, this was USU's first victory over a team ranked in the top 25 since 2015. 
 
Named the game's offensive MVP, Bonner set the MW championship game record with touchdown passes of 5, 58, 18 and 9 yards, respectively. He was 29-of-42 on the day, both of which are season highs. 
 
Utah State's high-powered offense decisively won its matchup with San Diego State's elite defense, which had allowed a conference-low 17.3 points per game this season before getting shredded by the Aggies. USU finished the game with 383 yards of total offense, and was 8-of-16 on third down and 2-for-2 on fourth down. 
 
Graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling caught eight passes for a career-high 154 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns, including a 58-yarder to open the third quarter that gave the Aggies a 21-3 lead. 
 
Junior DE Byron Vaughns was named the defensive MVP as he had five tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks. 
 
Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice and graduate junior S Hunter Reynolds each had a game-high 10 tackles. Rice also had 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks, and a quarterback hurry. Reynolds had 0.5 tackles for loss and one pass breakup, helping USU record a season-high six pass breakups on the day to go along with a season-best seven quarterback hurries. 
 
Utah State limited San Diego State (11-2) to just 315 yards of total offense – 167 through the air and 148 on the ground. The Aggies recovered two fumbles, one by graduate senior DT Marcus Moore and another by sophomore CB Jaden Smith, that led to nine points. 
 
San Diego State punter/placekicker Matt Araiza, named the MW Special Teams Player of the Year, had two of his punts blocked, a single-game school record for USU. Sophomore WR Reece Jarvis blocked the first one, while the second was created to the team and resulted in a safety and a 23-3 third-quarter lead for the Aggies. 
 
Senior WR Deven Thompkins led Utah State with nine receptions for 46 yards. Fellow senior WR Derek Wright caught six passes for 57 yards and a touchdown, and junior WR Justin McGriff had three receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown. Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. led Utah State's ground attack with 17 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown. 
 
Bonner threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Wright and Tyler ran for a 1-yard touchdown as the Aggies opened a 14-0 lead with 4:57 remaining in the second quarter. 
 
Utah State led 14-3 at the half after Araiza, who also missed a field goal wide right, kicked a 23-yard field goal with 1:01 left in the second. 
 
Jordon Brookshire passed for 117 yards before getting replaced by Jalen Mayden for SDSU, which had its four-game winning streak snapped in the school's most lopsided loss since a 35-point defeat at Ohio State in September 2013. 
 
Utah State's 46 points were the most allowed in head coach Brady Hoke's four seasons at SDSU. 
 
UTAH STATE DOMINATES SAN DIEGO STATE IN MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
• Utah State dominated No. 19 San Diego State in the 2021 Mountain West Championship Game, setting numerous records and breaking several streaks along the way.
• Utah State set the following records for a MW Championship Game: points (46), largest margin of victory (33), points in a half (33), points in a quarter (17), most blocked punts (2) and first-ever safety. 
• Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner set the MW Championship Game record for most passing touchdowns (4) and most touchdowns responsible for (4), while graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling set the record for most receiving touchdowns (2). 
• San Diego State entered the MW Championship Game having not allowed more than 35 points in 46 consecutive games, which was the longest active streak in the nation. 
• Utah State improved to 6-63 all-time against Associated Press top-25 teams with the win, including a 5-9 record in its last 14 games.  
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS OF UTAH STATE'S MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
• Utah State dominated No. 19 San Diego State in all three phases of the game in its 46-13 Mountain West Championship Game win, which was SDSU's most lopsided loss since 2013. 
• First, USU's 46 points, which were scored from the second quarter on, were the most allowed by SDSU since it lost to Colorado State 63-31 on Nov. 26, 2016. SDSU entered the game ranking ninth in the nation in points allowed per game (17.2). USU was also 8-of-16 on third down.  
• Second, USU's defense had 5.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss, to go along with a season-high six pass breakups, a season-high seven quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery. USU also held SDSU to 1-of-14 on third down.
• And third, USU's special teams set a single-game school record with two blocked punts, one of which resulted in a safety, to go along with a fumble recovery on a muffed punt. Those two blocked punts were the first of the season for San Diego State.
 
UTAH STATE HAVING SUCCESS ON FOURTH DOWN
• Utah State has converted 16-of-30 (.533) fourth downs and has scored points on all but one of those 16 drives it has converted a fourth down with 12 touchdowns and three field goals. The only drive USU did not score on this season after converting a fourth down was against New Mexico (11/26), as it was on the last drive of the game and USU ran out the clock. Overall, USU is tied for 19th in the nation in both fourth-down conversions and attempts. 
 
AGGIES RALLY FROM DOUBLE-DIGIT DEFICITS FOR SIX WINS
• Utah State has rallied from double-digit deficits to win six of its 10 games this season, marking the first time in school history that has happened. In fact, USU overcame a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit in each of its first two road wins this season, and won each of its first five road games after trailing by double digits.
• In its 48-17 road win at San José State (11/13), Utah State overcame a 14-point (14-0) second-quarter deficit and outscored SJSU 48-3 the remainder of the game.
• In its 35-13 road win at New Mexico State (11/6), Utah State overcame a 10-point (10-0) first-quarter deficit and outscored NMSU 35-3 the remainder of the game. 
• In its 28-24 road win at UNLV (10/16), Utah State overcame a 10-point (17-7) first-quarter deficit and scored the winning touchdown with 35 seconds remaining in the game. 
• In its 49-45 road win at Air Force (9/18), Utah State overcame four double-digit deficits. First, USU trailed 10-0 before taking a 13-10 lead. USU then trailed 24-13 and later 31-20 before taking a 34-31 lead. USU then trailed 45-34 before scoring 15 unanswered points in the final 9:51 for the win.
• In its 48-24 home win against North Dakota (9/10), Utah State outscored the Fighting Hawks 41-3 over the final three quarters after trailing 21-7 in the first 15 minutes of play.
• In its 26-23 season-opening road win at Washington State (9/4), Utah State overcame a 12-point (23-11) fourth-quarter deficit by scoring 15 unanswered points in the final 5:25 of the game.  
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS DURING UTAH STATE'S 10 WINS
• Utah State has trailed after the first quarter and at the half in eight of its 13 games this year, and trailed after the third quarter in six of its 13 games. USU is 5-3 on the season when trailing after one quarter and at halftime, and 3-3 when trailing after three quarters.
• Utah State has been outscored 99-62 in the first quarter, but has outscored its opponents 122-63 in the fourth quarter, which includes a 112-40 advantage in its 10 wins. 
 
UTAH STATE WINNING THE CLOSE GAMES
• Utah State is 4-0 on the season in one-score games and has won those four contests by a total of 13 points. The school record for one-score wins in a season is five set in 2011, as that team posted a 5-5 record in one-score games.
 
UTAH STATE MILESTONES THAT EQUAL SUCCESS
• Utah State has won 37 of its last 46 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 2-2 record this year, 43 of its last 49 games when rushing at least 40 times, including a 5-1 record this year, and 62 of its last 67 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 7-0 record this season.
 
BONNER NAMED OFFENSIVE MVP OF MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP
• Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner was named the Offensive MVP of the Mountain West Championship Game as he was 29-of-42 passing for 318 yards with four touchdowns  (5, 58, 18, 9) and one interception. Those four touchdown were a MW Championship Game record, while his 29 completions and 42 attempts were both season highs. It was the fifth time this year and sixth time in his career he has thrown for 300 yards, and the sixth time this year and seventh time in his career, he has had at least four touchdown passes in a game.
• Bonner is the first quarterback in school history to throw at least four touchdowns in six games in a season. He also set the school record with four touchdowns in three-straight games, doing so against Hawai'i (10/30), New Mexico State (11/6) and San José State (11/13). 
• In his last six games, Bonner is 128-of-200 (.640) passing for 1,788 yards (298.0 ypg) with 23 touchdowns and three interceptions. In fact, Bonner has thrown multiple touchdowns in each of his last nine games as he has totals of 29 touchdowns and six interceptions over that stretch.
 
BONNER SETS SINGLE-SEASON SCHOOL RECORD WITH 36 TOUCHDOWN PASSES
• Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner has thrown 36 touchdowns this season, breaking the previous school record of 32 set by Jordan Love in 2018. In fact, those 36 touchdowns by Bonner are also tied for the seventh most all-time at Utah State.
• Bonner is tied with Hawaii's Cole McDonald (2018) for the fourth-most touchdown passes in a single season in Mountain West history. Fresno State's Derek Carr set the MW record with 50 touchdowns in 2013, while Boise State's Kellen Moore is second with 43 set in 2011. Carr also ranks third with 37 touchdowns in 2012.
 
BONNER SECOND ALL-TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN PASSING YARDS
• Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner has thrown for 3,560 yards this season to rank as the second-most in a single season in school history. Bonner is now just seven passing yards shy of tying the school record of 3,567 set by Jordan Love in 2018. 
• On the season, Bonner is 257-of-429 (.613) passing to rank fifth in school history in completions, and seventh in both completion percentage and attempts.
• Overall, Bonner has 3,626 yards of total offense to rank as the third-most at Utah State for a single season. The school record is 3,992 yards of total offense set by Chuckie Keeton in 2012.
• Bonner's completion percentage (.613) ranks as the third-best in school history for a career.
 
BONNER TIES SCHOOL RECORD WITH FIVE TOUCHDOWN PASSES
• Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner was 16-of-23 passing for 306 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes at New Mexico (11/26) to tie the school record with five other quarterbacks. Chuckie Keeton had five touchdown passes in a game three times (2011, 2013, 2013), Jordan Love did it twice (2018, 2018), Anthony Calvillo did it twice (1992, 1993), Tony Adams did it twice (1972, 1972), and Brent Snyder did it once (1987). Overall, it is the 13th time in school history that Utah State has thrown five touchdown passes in a single game. 
 
BOWLING HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST SAN DIEGO STATE
• Graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling caught eight passes for a career-high 154 yards at No. 19 San Diego State for his third 100-yard receiving game this season and the fourth of his career. Bowling also tied his career high with two touchdowns (58, 18) for the second time this year and third time in his career. In fact, Bowling has caught at least one touchdown in each of his last four games.  
 
UTAH STATE WIDE RECEIVER NOTABLES
• Utah State is the only FBS team in the nation that has three players with at least nine touchdown receptions this year (Derek Wright - 11, Brandon Bowling - 9, Deven Thompkins - 9).
• Wright has caught two touchdown passes in four different games this season and has nine touchdown receptions in his last eight games. In his last two games, he has 10 receptions for 207 yards and three touchdowns.
• Graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan and junior WR Justin McGriff have each scored a touchdown in their last two games.
 
ALI'IFUA EXTENDS OWN SCHOOL RECORD FOR GAMES PLAYED
• Graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua has played in a school record 58 career games. The previous record was 54 career games played by Jordan Nielsen (2012-15).
 
UTAH STATE'S OFFENSE IN THE RECORD BOOKS
• Utah State has had 12 100-yard receiving games this year, which is the second-most in school history. The 1996 team holds the school record for 100-yard receiving games in a season with 13.  
• Utah State has converted 307 first downs this season, which are the second-most in school history, and it is just three first downs shy of tying the school record of 310 set by the 2013 team.
• Utah State is averaging 451.5 yards of total offense per game, which ranks as the fifth-most in school history. USU is also averaging 305.8 passing yards per game, which ranks as the third-most in school history.
 
THOMPKINS SETS SINGLE-SEASON SCHOOL RECORD IN RECEIVING YARDS 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins set the Utah State single-season school record in receiving yards at New Mexico (11/26). On the season, Thompkins has 96 receptions for 1,589 yards. The previous school record for receiving yards was 1,531 set by Kevin Curtis in 2001. Curtis also holds the school record for receptions in a season with 100 set in 2001 and Thompkins' 96 catches this year rank second all-time in school history.
• Thompkins is just the 12th player in school history to post 1,000 receiving yards in a season and the first since Curtis did so in 2002.
 
THOMPKINS SECOND THE NATION IN RECEIVING YARDS 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins is currently second in the nation with 1,589 receiving yards and third in the nation in receiving yards per game (122.2 ypg). Western Kentucky's Jerreth Sterns leads the nation with 1,704 receiving yards and 131.1 receiving yards per game.
• Thompkins and Sterns are the only players in the nation this season to have five games with at least 170 receiving yards. Thompkins is also the first player in school history to accomplish this feat as the previous school record was four 170-yard receiving games by Kevin Alexander in 1995.
 
THOMPKINS SECOND IN THE NATION WITH EIGHT 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has eight 100-yard receiving games this season, which is the second-most in the nation behind Western Kentucky's Jerreth Sterns, who has nine. In fact, Thompkins had six-straight 100-yard receiving games earlier this year, which is tied with Kevin Curtis (2001) for the longest streak in school history.
• Thompkins' eight 100-yard receiving games this season are the third-most in school history. Nakia Jenkins set the school record with nine 100-yard receiving games in 1996 and Kevin Curtis tied that record in 2001.
•  The Mountain West record for 100-yard receiving games in a season is 11 set by BYU's Austin Collie in 2008.  Thompkins is currently tied for the third-most.  
•  The school record for 100-yard receiving games in a career is 16 set by Kevin Curtis (2001-02). Thompkins is currently tied with Aaron Jones (1997-2000), James Murphy (1978-80) and Mike O'Shea (1966-68) for the fourth-most in school history.
 
THOMPKINS FOURTH IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN RECEIVING YARDS 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins currently ranks fourth in the Mountain West in receiving yards in a single season with 1,589. San Diego State's J.R. Tolver holds the MW record with 1,785 receiving yards set in 2002, followed by Rashard Higgins (Colorado State) with 1,750 yards in 2014, Davante Adams (Fresno State) with 1,718 yards in 2013, and Thompkins (Utah State) with 1,589 yards.
 
THOMPKINS RANKS SEVENTH ALL-TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN RECEIVING 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins has caught 165 passes for 2,404 yards in his career to rank fourth all-time in school history in receptions and sixth all-time in receiving yards. The school record for receiving yards is 2,943 set by Kendal Smith (1985-88), while the school record for receptions is 178 set by Kevin Robinson (2004-07). Thompkins is just the 11th player in school history to post 2,000 receiving yards in a career and the first since Robinson in 2007.  
 
THOMPKINS NAMED MW PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOLLOWING NEW MEXICO STATE GAME 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins had a career game at New Mexico State (11/6) with nine receptions for a career-best 215 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns (26, 54) as he was named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season and in his career. 
• Those 215 receiving yards for Thompkins are the most by a Mountain West player this season and the 13th-most in the nation. It is also just the 15th time in school history that an Aggie has had 200 receiving yards in a game as Thompkins' 215 yards is tied with James Murphy (215 vs. Long Beach State, 10/6/79) for the ninth-most in a single game in USU history.
 
THOMPKINS ONE OF 10 SEMIFINALISTS FOR BILETNIKOFF AWARD 
• Senior WR Deven Thompkins was one of 10 semifinalists for the Biletnikoff Award, which is awarded annually to the outstanding receiver in the nation. Thompkins is just the second player in school history named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, joining Kevin Curtis (2001). The 10 semifinalists were: Jordan Addison (Pittsburgh), David Bell (Purdue), Jahan Dotson (Penn State), Josh Downs (North Carolina), Drake London (USC), Chris Olave (Ohio State), A.T. Perry (Wake Forest), Jerreth Sterns (Western Kentucky), Jameson Williams (Alabama) and Thompkins.
 
WRIGHT TIED FOR SECOND IN SINGLE-SEASON TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS 
• Senior WR Derek Wright has caught 11 touchdown passes this season, which is tied with four other players for the second-most in a single season in school history. Graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling and senior WR Deven Thompkins have both caught nine touchdowns this year, which is tied with two other players for the 11th-most in a single season in school history. Tracy Jenkins holds the school record with 14 touchdown receptions set in 1990. Thompkins has 14 touchdown catches in his career, which is two shy of entering the USU career top 10.
 
VAUGHNS NAMED DEFENSIVE MVP OF MOUNTAIN WEST CHAMPIONSHIP 
• Utah State junior DE Byron Vaughns was named the Defensive MVP of the Mountain West Championship Game as he had five tackles, which included 1.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss, to go along with one quarterback hurry. In his last two games, Vaughns has recorded 13 tackles, which includes 1.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss.
 
RICE RECORDS 16TH-CAREER DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLE OUTING 
• Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice posted his third-straight double-digit tackle outing with 10 stops, which included 1.0 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss, in the Mountain West Championship game. Overall, Rice now has six double-digit tackle outings this season and 16 in his career.
• On the season, Rice has 115 tackles and is the 68th player in school history to record 100 or more tackles in a single season.
• Rice is also one of just four players in the nation at the FBS level to have at least 100 tackles and three interceptions this year, along with Devin Lloyd (Utah), Jaylin Thomas (Ball State) and Chad Muma (Wyoming). 
 
REYNOLDS RECORDS DOUBLE DIGITS IN TACKLES FOR THIRD TIME 
• Graduate junior S Hunter Reynolds tied his season high with 10 tackles in the Mountain West Championship Game, marking the second time in three games, the second time this season, and the third time in his career he has recorded double digits in tackles.
 
OTHER DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM SAN DIEGO STATE GAME 
• Junior OLB Ajani Carter had a career-high seven tackles. Graduate senior DE Jaylin Bannerman tied his career high with four tackles. Graduate senior DT Marcus Moore had 1.0 sacks as part of his four tackles and recovered his first-career fumble. Junior LB AJ Vongphachanh had 1.0 sacks as part of his two tackles. Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger tied his career high with two pass breakups and had 1.0 sacks as part of his two tackles. Junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. had 0.5 tackles for loss as part of his two tackles. Junior DT Hale Motu'apuaka had 0.5 tackles for loss as part of his two tackles. Sophomore DT Poukesi Vakauta had 1.0 tackles for loss as part of his two tackles. Junior CB Cam Lampkin had his fifth pass breakup of the season and the ninth of his career. Graduate junior S Monte McGary had his fourth pass breakup of the season and his career. Junior CB Michael Anyanwu had his second pass breakup of the season and his career. Redshirt sophomore CB Jaden Smith recovered his first-career fumble on a muffed punt. Sophomore WR Reece Jarvis blocked his first career punt. -
 
UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE RECORDING LOTS OF TACKLES FOR LOSS 
• Utah State's defense has turned up the pressure in its last six games and has recorded 19.0 sacks and 61.0 tackles for loss during that time as compared to 9.0 sacks and 47.0 tackles for loss in its first seven games. Against San Diego State (12/4) in the Mountain West Championship Game, USU had 5.0 sacks and 9.0 tackles for loss. Against New Mexico (11/26), USU had 12.0 tackles for loss. Against Wyoming (11/20), USU had 6.0 tackles for loss. Against San José State (11/13), USU had 2.0 sacks and 8.0 tackles for loss. Against New Mexico State (11/6), USU posted season highs with 7.0 sacks and 14.0 tackles for loss. And against Hawai'i (10/30), USU had then-season highs of 5.0 sacks and 12.0 tackles for loss. 
• On the season, Utah State has 108.0 tackles for loss to rank as the third-most all-time at USU. The school record is 115.0 tackles for loss set in 1999 and the 2014 team had the second-most with 114.0 tackles for loss.
 
UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE PLAYING WELL AS OF LATE 
• Utah State's defense has limited four of its last five opponents to 17 or fewer points and six of its last eight opponents to 360 or fewer yards of offense, including holding two of those opponents to less than 200 yards as San José State (11/13) gained just 150 yards and New Mexico (11/26) gained just 186 yards against USU.
• Utah State's run defense has been equally impressive as of late as it has held three of its last six opponents to under 50 yards rushing as both Hawai'i (10/30) and San José State (11/13) gained 12 yards on 22 carries (0.5 ypc), while New Mexico State (11/6) gained 49 yards on 35 carries (1.4 ypc). USU also held New Mexico (11/26) to 101 rushing yards on 48 carries (2.1 ypc).
 
UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE HAS BEEN GOOD IN THE RED ZONE 
• Utah State's opponents have been in the red zone 48 times this year and have scored points 38 times (.792) as USU ranks third in the Mountain West and 43rd in the nation. Furthermore, USU has allowed 22 touchdowns on those 48 possessions in the red zone (.458) and that percentage ranks second in the MW and 10th in the nation. 
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• Utah State graduate ILB Justin Rice was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week twice this year, while graduate senior S Shaq Bond won the award once. Rice was honored in back-to-back weeks against North Dakota (9/10) and Air Force (9/18), while Bond won the award against UNLV (10/16).
 
SCARVER TIES NCAA RECORD WITH SEVENTH KICKOFF RETURN FOR TOUCHDOWN
• Senior WR Savon Scarver tied the NCAA and Mountain West record for kickoff returns for touchdown at UNLV (10/16/21) as he returned the Rebels' first kickoff of the game 100 yards for the score. Scarver is one of five FBS players all-time with seven career kickoff returns for touchdowns, joining Clemson's C.J. Spiller, 2006-09; Houston's Tyron Carrier, 2008-11; San Diego State's Rashaad Penny, 2014-17; and Memphis' Tony Pollard, 2015-18. 
• Of his seven career kickoff returns for touchdowns, four have been from 100 yards, while the others were from 99, 96 and 94 yards, respectively.
• The previous USU record for kickoff returns for touchdown was held by Kevin Robinson (2004-07), who returned four during his career. 
 
SCARVER SETS MOUNTAIN WEST RECORD FOR CAREER KICKOFF RETURN YARDS
• Senior WR Savon Scarver has 2,874 kickoff return yards in his career, breaking the previous Mountain West record of 2,626 yards set by UNLV's Deante' Purvis (2008-11). Scarver also ranks second all-time in MW history with 104 career kickoff returns trailing Purivs, who had 112 returns.
• Scarver ranks second all-time in school history in kickoff return yards behind Kerwynn Williams  (2009-12). Williams currently ranks fourth in NCAA history with 3,408 kickoff return yards and Scarver ranks 20th with 2,874 yards. The NCAA record holder for career kickoff return yards is Minnesota's Troy Stoudermire (2008-12) with 3,615 yards. Scarver also ranks 14th all-time in FBS history in kickoff return average (27.6 ypr). Scarver's 27.6 career average on kickoff returns is also the third-best in school history.
 
COLES IN THE UTAH STATE RECORD BOOKS  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles is 19-of-28 (.679) on field goals and 49-of-51 on extra points this season as he has scored a team-best 106 points. Coles is tied for first in school history in field goals attempted (28), tied for fourth in field goals made (19), fourth in extra point attempts (51), fourth in extra points made (49), and tied for sixth in points scored (106) in a single season.
• For his career, Coles is 22-of-31 (.709) on field goals and ranks sixth all-time in career field goal percentage. Coles is also tied for 10th all-time in school history in field goals made.
 
COLES SCORES CAREER HIGH IN POINTS IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles has made 11 of his last 15 field goals over his last seven games. Against Colorado State (10/22), Coles was one of three players named a Lou Groza Star of the Week as he scored 14 points as he was a perfect 4-of-4 on field goals (45, 30, 42, 34) and 2-for-2 on extra points. In fact, his field goals made and attempted were both career highs. Against Hawai'i (10/30), Coles was 3-of-3 on field goals (40, 22, 22) and 6-for-6 on extra points for a career high of 15 points. Coles then made 2-of-3 field goals and was 6-for-6 on extra points against San José State as he scored 12 points.
• Coles has been named the Mountain West Player of the Week twice in his career. His first honor came after scoring a then-career-high 11 points against New Mexico State (11/26/20). He won it again after scoring 10 points at Washington State (9/3/21) this year.
 
KOTSANLEE RANKS SEVENTH ALL-TIME AT UTAH STATE IN PUNTING  
• Sophomore P Stephen Kotsanlee has punted 86 times in his career for an average of 41.8  yards per punt, which is tied with Russell Griffith (1983) for the seventh-best punting average in school history. This season, Kotsanlee has punted 49 times for an average of 42.6 yards per punt, which is the ninth-best single-season punting average in school history.
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
• Utah State graduate senior DE Nick Heninger was named to the 2020-21 Academic All-America Division I second team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Heninger is just the eighth football player in Utah State history to be named an academic All-American, joining USU legend Merlin Olsen (1961), along with Dennis Ferguson (1970), Gary Anderson (1971), Randy Stockham (1974, 1975), Mike Perko (1981), Steve Neeleman (1991) and McKade Brady (2012).
• Utah State has 19 players on its roster that have already received their bachelor's degree in senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, senior DE Jaylin Bannerman, senior S Shaq Bond, junior QB Logan Bonner, senior WR Brandon Bowling, senior PK Connor Coles, senior OLB Cash Gilliam, senior CB Andre Grayson, senior DE Nick Heninger, senior RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole, senior OL Maisen Knight, senior CB Kyle Mayberry, junior S Monte McGary, senior DT Marcus Moore, senior WR Jordan Nathan, junior DT Phillip Paea, junior S Hunter Reynolds, senior ILB Justin Rice and junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr.
• Utah State football has a 91 percent Graduation Success Rate, which ranks first in the Mountain West, and a 2.97 cumulative grade-point average.
• Utah State had 54 football players earn academic all-Mountain West honors in 2020, while 15 players were named MW Scholar-Athletes. 
 
UTAH STATE 20TH IN THE NATION IN TOTAL OFFENSE
• Utah State is averaging 450.4 yards per game to rank second in the Mountain West and 20th in the nation. USU also ranks third in the MW and 15th in the nation in passing offense (305.8 ypg), third in the MW and 24th in the nation in passing efficiency (152.6), third in the MW and 30th in the nation in scoring offense (33.2 ppg), fourth in the MW and 72nd in the nation in completion percentage (.603), fifth in the MW and 82nd in the nation in rushing offense (144.6 ypg), and sixth in the MW and 62nd in the nation in sacks allowed with 28 (2.15 pg).    
• Utah State's offense also ranks first in the MW and 12th in the nation in first downs with 307 (23.6 pg), first in the MW and 24th in the nation in third down conversions at 45.0 percent (95-of-211), and second in the MW and 15th in the nation in passing yards per completion (13.95).
 
UTAH STATE FOURTH IN THE NATION IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State is averaging 7.9 tackles for loss per game to lead the Mountain West and rank fourth in the nation. USU also ranks seventh in the MW and 58th in the nation in scoring defense (25.3 ppg), eighth in the MW and 59th in the nation in pass efficiency defense (131.8), eighth in the MW and 65th in the nation in passing defense (228.4 ypg), eighth in the MW and 71st in the nation in sacks with 28 (2.15 pg), eighth in the MW and 85th in the nation in rushing defense (162.6 ypg), and ninth in the MW and 78th in the nation in total defense (391.0 ypg).  
• Utah State's defense is also second in the MW and third in the nation in fourth down conversions allowed at 27.8 percent (5-of-18), and second in the MW and 28th in third down conversions allowed at 34.7 percent (59-of-170).
 
UTAH STATE 31ST IN THE NATION IN PUNT RETURN DEFENSE
• Utah State ranks third in the Mountain West and 31st in the nation in punt return defense (5.0 ypr), fourth in the MW and 41st in the nation in kickoff returns (22.3 ypr), fourth in the MW and 43rd in the nation in net punting (40.5 ypp), fourth in the MW and 52nd in the nation in punt returns (9.1 ypr), and fifth in the MW and 58th in the nation in kickoff return defense (20.6 ypr). USU also ranks third int he MW and 17th in the nation with its two blocked punts. 
 
UTAH STATE HAS FORCED 21 TURNOVERS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State has forced 21 turnovers this year with 11 interceptions and 10 fumbles, and ranks fourth in the MW and 15th in the nation in fumbles recovered (0.77 pg), and fifth in the MW and 42nd in the nation in interceptions (0.85 pg). USU has forced three-or-more turnovers in 28 of its last 95 games and has scored 25 defensive touchdowns in its last 104 games. 
 
AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS IN 2021
• The following is where current Aggies rank in the Mountain West and in the NCAA. Senior WR Deven Thompkins leads the MW and ranks third in the nation in receiving (122.2 ypg). Thompkins is also first in the MW and ninth in the nation in all-purpose yards (142.0 ypg), second in the MW and ninth in the nation in receptions (7.4 pg), sixth in the MW and 24th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with nine (0.69 pg), and sixth in the MW and 57th in the nation in yards per reception (116.6). Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner is first in the MW and sixth in the nation in passing touchdowns with 36 (2.77 pg), second in the MW and 22nd in the nation in yards per completion (13.9), second in the MW and 31st in the nation in yards per attempt (8.48), third in the MW and 18th in the nation in passing (273.8 ypg), third in the MW and 18th in the nation in points responsible for (16.8 pg), third in the MW and 28th in the nation in passing efficiency (155.4), fourth in the MW and 33rd in the nation in completions (19.8 pg), fifth in the MW and 26th in the nation in total offense (278.9 ypg), and fifth in the MW and 70th in the nation in completion percentage (.612). Senior WR Savon Scarver is first in the MW and 11th in the nation in kickoff returns for touchdown with one (0.08 pg), and third in the MW and 34th in the nation in kickoff returns (24.0 ypr). Graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling is first in the MW and 11th in the nation in kickoff returns for touchdown with one (0.08 pg), and sixth in the MW and 24th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with nine (0.69 pg). Senior WR Derek Wright is first in the MW and 11th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with 11 (0.85 pg), and fifth in the MW and 53rd in the nation in yards per reception (16.8). Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger is second in the MW and sixth in the nation in fumbles forced with five (0.38 pg), and third in the MW in tackles for loss (1.19 pg). Graduate senior PK Connor Coles is fourth in the MW and 27th in the nation in field goals made with 19 (1.46 pg), fourth in the MW and 35th in the nation in scoring with 106 points (8.2 ppg), and 10th in the MW in points responsible for (8.2 pg). Sophomore DT Poukesi Vakauta is fourth in the MW and 21st in the nation in fumbles recovered with two (0.15 pg). Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice is fourth in the MW and 27th in the nation in tackles with 115 (8.8 pg), and eighth in the MW in tackles for loss (1.04 pg). Graduate senior WR Jordan Nathan is sixth in the MW in punt returns (9.8 ypr). Graduate senior S Shaq Bond is seventh in the MW and 54th in the nation in interceptions with three (0.25 pg). Junior OLB Ajani Carter is seventh in the MW and 54th in the nation in interceptions with three (0.25 pg). Sophomore P Stephen Kotsanlee is seventh in the MW and 50th in the nation in punting (42.6 ypp). Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is seventh in the MW and 71st in the nation in rushing yards (69.5 ypg). And, junior WR Justin McGriff is 10th in the MW and 71st in the nation in receiving touchdowns with six (0.46 pg).      
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State is one of 11 teams with multiple kickoff returns for touchdown this year, along with South Florida (3), Alabama (2), Appalachian State (2), Arkansas State (2), Connecticut (2), Duke (2), Houston (2), Kansas State (2), Marshall (2), North Carolina State (2) and SMU (2). And, USU and Marshall are the only teams in the nation with two players that have returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
 
HEAD COACH BLAKE ANDERSON
• Blake Anderson (hired on Dec. 12, 2020) is in his first season as Utah State's head coach and is the 29th head coach in program history. He is 61-40 all-time as a head coach, including a 44-20 conference mark.
• Anderson has 29 years of collegiate coaching experience and has been part of six conference championship teams. He has also coached in 11 bowl games and won a national championship at the junior college level.
• Anderson comes to Utah State after spending the past seven years as the head coach at Arkansas State, leading the Red Wolves to six-consecutive winning seasons and six-straight bowl games from 2014-19, including a 31-13 win against UCF in the 2016 Cure Bowl and a 34-26 win against FIU in the 2019 Camellia Bowl.
• Arkansas State also won back-to-back Sun Belt Conference Championships under Anderson in 2015 and 2016, and competed for another in 2017 in A-State's regular-season finale that was a de facto championship game.
• During that six-year stretch, the Red Wolves broke 12 school records, including 494.8 yards of total offense per game, 4,106 passing yards and 38 touchdown passes in 2017, 520 points scored and 69 total touchdowns in 2015, and 6,174 yards of total offense and 1,024 total plays in 2014.
• Entering the 2020 season, the Red Wolves had won at least seven games, including at least five league games, every year under Anderson, including a nine-victory campaign in 2015 and eight-win seasons in 2016, 2018 and 2019. In all, Anderson posted a 51-37 (.580) record during his seven seasons at Arkansas State, including a 38-18 (.679) mark in the Sun Belt Conference. Those 51 wins, 40 of which were by double digits, are tied for the third-most in school history.
• The Anderson-led Red Wolves were one of just 20 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs in the nation, including six from the Group of Five, to post a winning record six-consecutive seasons from 2014-19. A-State's 51 wins under Anderson were tied for the 41st-most in the country during his seven seasons at the helm, while his 38 league wins are the second-most in Sun Belt history.
• Statistically, Arkansas State annually ranked as one of the top offensive teams in the nation under Anderson. In 2020, the Red Wolves led the Sun Belt Conference and ranked 15th nationally in total offense at 489.7 yards per game. ASU also led the Sun Belt in total offense in 2018 (466.2 yards per game), 2017 (494.8 ypg) and 2014 (476.5 ypg), and ranked second in 2015 (438.5 ypg). Furthermore, the 2017 team ranked 10th in the nation in total offense, while the 2018 team was 17th and the 2014 team was 20th nationally.
• As for passing offense, Arkansas State led the Sun Belt Conference and ranked third in the nation in 2020 at 364.4 yards per game. In 2019, the Red Wolves finished second in the conference and 10th in the nation with 312.1 passing yards per game. ASU also led the Sun Belt in passing offense in both 2017 and 2018 with 342.2 and 281.5 passing yards per game, respectively. The 2017 team also ranked fifth nationally in that category, while the 2018 team was 21st in the nation.
• Arkansas State also led the Sun Belt Conference in scoring offense three times under Anderson as the 2017 team averaged 37.8 points per game to rank 13th nationally, while the 2015 team averaged 40.0 points per game to rank 12th in the nation, and the 2014 team averaged 36.7 points per game to rank 18th nationally. In fact, six of Anderson's seven Red Wolves teams averaged over 30 points per game.
• Overall, each of Anderson's first six squads at Arkansas State ranked among the top-45 teams in the nation in at least 23 combined offensive, defensive and special teams categories, including the 2018 team that led the nation in punt return defense (-1.9 yards per return), the 2016 team that led the nation in tackles for loss (9.6 per game) and the 2015 squad that led the nation in both defensive touchdowns (8) and passes intercepted (26).
• Along the way, Anderson saw 11 of his players earn all-Sun Belt recognition in 2014, followed by 16 in 2015, 2016 and 2019, and a school-record 18 in 2017. All six seasons combined, Anderson coached 65 different players to 97 all-conference selections – the most in the league over that span.
• Following the 2019 campaign, Anderson received the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award and was named the Grant Teaff Coach of the Year, presented annually by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as he guided the Red Wolves to an 8-5 record and Camellia Bowl championship after his wife, Wendy, passed away prior to the start of the season following a courageous battle with cancer. 
• A two-year letterwinner at wide receiver for Sam Houston State from 1990-91, Anderson was named Southland Conference all-academic as a senior. He also played for two years as a quarterback and receiver at Baylor (1988-89) before transferring. Anderson graduated with his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Sam Houston State in 1992. He also attained his master's degree in sports administration from Eastern New Mexico in 1994.
 
UTAH STATE HAS MOST DIVERSE COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• Utah State is the only staff in the nation that has minority coaches serving in the roles of offensive coordinator (Anthony Tucker), defensive coordinator (Ephraim Banda) and head strength and conditioning coach (Paul Jackson).
 
UTAH STATE HAS THE SECOND-YOUNGEST COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• Of Utah State's 10 full-time assistant coaches, four are in their 20s, four are in their 30s and two are in their 40s. The average age of those 10 assistants is 33.7 years, which ranks as the second-youngest staff in the nation behind Old Dominion (32.2).
 
FIVE FORMER AGGIE PLAYERS ON STAFF
• Utah State head coach Blake Anderson has five former Aggies on his staff in running backs coach Chuckie Keeton (2011-15), tight ends coach DJ Tialavea (2010-13), defensive line coach Al Lapuaho (2011-12), and analysts Austin Albrecht (2014-16) and Jumanne Robertson (2011-12). 
 
AGGIES HAVE NEW COORDINATORS FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR IN 2021
• Utah State has new offensive, defensive and special teams coordinators for the fourth straight season this fall. In fact, USU has had a different defensive coordinator in each of its last five seasons and a different special teams coordinator in each of its last seven seasons. The last time USU had the same defensive coordinator for multiple years was Todd Orlando (2013-14), while its last special teams coordinator to coach multiple seasons was Dave Ungerer (2013-15). Ironically, USU has had the same offensive coordinator for multiple seasons twice during the past nine seasons with David Yost (2017-18) and Kevin McGiven (2013-14).
• Overall, Utah State is the only FBS school to have new coordinators on offense, defense and special teams in each of the past four seasons.
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• Utah State defensive coordinator and safeties coach Ephraim Banda was named one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation in January of 2021, by Rivals.com.
• Banda is the only hispanic-latino defensive coordinator in the nation at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. Overall, Banda is one of 32 hispanic-latino coaches at the FBS level, with six of those serving other coordinator positions.
 
UTAH STATE ADDS 16 TRANSFERS AND 44 NEWCOMERS TO THE ROSTER 
• First-year head coach Blake Anderson added 16 four-year transfers and 44 newcomers to the 2021 roster. Of those 16 transfers, six are starters and all 16 have played this season. The 16 four-year transfers include graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling (Arkansas State), graduate senior OL Maisen Knight (Liberty), graduate senior CB Kyle Mayberry (Kansas), graduate senior ILB Justin Rice (Arkansas State), graduate junior QB Logan Bonner (Arkansas State), graduate junior S Monte McGary (Troy), graduate junior DE Phillip Paea (Michigan), graduate junior S Hunter Reynolds (Michigan), graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. (Oregon State), junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. (Miami), junior DE Byron Vaughns (Texas), junior OL Quazzel White (TCU), sophomore DE Darius McFarland (BYU), sophomore WR Reece Jarvis (Arkansas State), sophomore PK Elliott Nimrod (Arkansas State) and redshirt freshman WR Jamie Nance (Nebraska).
• Utah State also has 11 Power 5 transfers on its roster in graduate senior RB Devonta'e Henry-Cole (Utah), graduate senior DE Nick Heninger (Utah), graduate senior DT Marcus Moore (UCLA), Tyler, Mayberry, Nance, Paea, Reynolds, Joyner, Vaughns and White.  
• Utah State also has three more players on its roster that began their careers at Power 5 schools before transferring to a junior college and then Utah State in graduate senior DE Jaylin Bannerman (Kentucky), graduate senior OLB Cash Gilliam (Kentucky) and junior WR Justin McGriff (Nebraska). 
 
FOUR AGGIES PUT ON SCHOLARSHIP THIS FALL
• Utah State had four players put on scholarship this fall in senior OL Chandler Dolphin, junior RB Pailate Makakona, sophomore DE Addison Trupp and redshirt freshman LS Jacob Garcia.
 
AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS 
• Utah State has 12 players on its roster who have served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in graduate senior DE Nick Heninger, junior DT James Hansen, junior OL Wade Meacham, sophomore TE Josh Sterzer, sophomore WR Kyle Van Leeuwen, freshman ILB McKay Breshears, freshman DT Johnson Hansen, freshman WR Franky Jacobsen, freshman ILB Sione Moa, freshman TE Jackson Rigby, freshman DT Seni Tuiaki and redshirt freshman S Crew Wakley.
 
AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED 
• Utah State has seven players on its 2021 roster who are married in graduate senior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, graduate senior DE Nick Heninger, senior WR Derek Wright, sophomore DT Aaron Bredsguard, sophomore TE Josh Sterzer, redshirt freshman OL Cole Motes and redshirt freshman S Crew Wakley.