LOGAN, Utah – Utah State's football team held its ninth spring practice Monday afternoon on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium and the Aggie wide receivers are relying on great effort and attitude as they learn a newly-installed fast-paced offense.
 
"My favorite thing about the wide receiver group is they come to practice every day," said first-year passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Kyle Cefalo. "They show up every day with great attitudes and they are trying to do what we are coaching them to do. We have made progress every day this spring and one of the biggest things we have learned is how hard we need to work to accomplish what we want to."
 
Without a doubt, this is the most experienced position group on the field for Utah State as nine of the 11 returning wide receivers from last season have in-game experience. Overall, those nine players have combined to play in 156 career games with 57 starts and have caught 273 passes for 3,228 yards (11.8 yards per reception) and 20 touchdowns.
 
"We have some experience and some older guys in the wide receiver room and with that comes some built-in leadership. For us to play at the speed we want to and for us to push the ball down the field vertically, that is going to require a bunch of guys, and we are going to need depth to do that," added Cefalo.
 
In all, Utah State returns three starting wide receivers from last season to go along with three more letterwinners and five other players that were members of the program in 2020.
 
Highlighting this group is senior Jordan Nathan, who has started 32 of the 44 career games he has played in during his time at Utah State. Overall, Nathan has caught 117 passes for 1,259 yards (10.8 yards per reception) with seven touchdowns.
 
Utah State's other returning starters at wide receiver are seniors Deven Thompkins and Derek Wright, and junior Justin McGriff. Thompkins has played in 29 career games with nine starts and has caught 69 passes for 815 yards (11.8 ypr) and five touchdowns. Wright has played in 16 career games with three starts and has caught 18 passes for 224 yards (12.4 ypr) with two touchdowns. And McGriff started all six games he appeared in last season in his first year in the program and caught 15 passes for 185 yards (12.3 ypr) and two touchdowns.
 
"We are getting used to a new offense and learning how to play at the pace we want to, and I feel like everyone has bought in to what we are trying to get done," said Thompkins. "We are executing pretty well, but there are still things that we need to clean up, as we continue to install new things every day."
 
Other returning lettermen at wide receiver include senior Savon Scarver and junior Tim Patrick Jr. Scarver has appeared in 42 career games with seven starts and has caught 49 passes for 705 yards (14.4 ypr) and four touchdowns. And Patrick has played in eight games and has three receptions for 21 yards (7.0 ypr).
 
Furthermore, Utah State welcomes back five more wide receivers that were members of the team last season in senior Sean Carter, and sophomores Quinton Hadnot, London Rockwood, Garrett Walchli and Kyle Van Leeuwen.
 
In addition to the 11 players mentioned above, Utah State also welcomes three newcomers to the program in graduate transfer Brandon Bowling (McKinney, Texas/Boyd HS/Arkansas State), and freshmen Otto Tia (Layton, Utah/Northridge HS) and Payton Thomas (Millville, Utah/Ridgeline HS).
 
Bowling is the most accomplished of the newcomers as he spent five seasons at Arkansas State (2016-20). Overall, he appeared in 32 games with nine starts for the Red Wolves and caught 82 passes for 878 yards (10.7 ypr) and nine touchdowns. This past season, Bowling earned honorable mention all-Sun Belt Conference honors as he started nine of 11 games and finished the season with 39 receptions for 507 yards and seven touchdowns.
 
"It's amazing the amount of experience we have in the wide receiver room and I believe we are going to be a very productive group this season," added Thompkins.
 
Utah State will hold two more practices this week on Wednesday and Friday, April 7 and April 7, at 4:15 p.m. and 9:15 a.m., respectively.
 
During the five-week period, the Aggies will participate in 15 spring practice sessions, including their annual Blue vs. White Spring Game on Saturday, April 17, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium at 2 p.m.
 
Season ticket renewals are currently being accepted. To renew, fans should visit www.utahstateaggies.com, or do so in person or by phone through the USU Ticket Office during regular business hours (435-797-0305). New season ticket orders can also be made.
 
Utah State opens the 2021 season at Washington State on Saturday, Sept. 4.
 
Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball or on Facebook at Utah State Football, as well as on Instagram at instagram.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.
 
2021 Utah State Football Spring Practice Dates
Wednesday, April 7 - 4:15 - 6:15 p.m.  
Friday, April 9 - 9:15 - 11:15 a.m.
 
Tuesday, April 13 - 4:15 - 6:15 p.m.  
Thursday, April 15 - 4:15 - 6:15 p.m.  
Saturday, April 17 - 2 p.m. - Blue vs. White Spring Game
 
Monday, April 19 - 4:15 - 6:15 p.m.
 
Note – Dates and times subject to change.