Utah State Football Final Notes Package

/// 2022 UTAH STATE FOOTBALL FINAL NOTES PACKAGE ///
    6-7 Overall (5-3 Mountain West / T-2nd Mountain Division

END OF SEASON NOTES
• Utah State finished the 2022 season with a 6-7 record and tied for second place in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 5-3 league mark. Offensively, USU was led by junior QB Cooper Legas, who was 135-of-221 (.611) passing for 1,499 yards (149.9 ypg) with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. led the team in rushing with 1,122 yards on 253 carries (4.4 ypc/86.3 ypg) with seven touchdowns, and graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs had a team-best 76 receptions for 923 yards (12.1 ypr/71.0 ypg) and five touchdowns. Defensively, senior LB AJ Vongphachanh led the team with 101 tackles, which included 2.0 sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, while graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds had 93 tackles, which included 2.5 tackles for loss. As a team, USU averaged 22.2 points and 354.5 yards of total offense (195.2 passing, 159.3 rushing), and allowed 31.2 points and 399.2 yards (205.0 passing, 194.2 rushing).

• Utah State played in a bowl game for the 10th time in the last 12 seasons and for the 16th time in school history, as it lost to Memphis 38-10 in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, held in Dallas, Texas. Overall, it was the ninth time in school history that Utah State played in consecutive bowl games. USU is now 6-10 all-time in bowl games.     

• Utah State has now won at least six games 39 times in school history and 10 times in the past 12 seasons. USU also finished Mountain West play with a 5-3 record, marking the ninth time in the last 12 years that it won at least five league games. Overall, USU has won five or more conference games 19 times in school history.

• Utah State's Blake Anderson is just the second head coach in school history, along with Matt Wells (2013-14), to lead the Aggies to bowl games in each of his first two seasons. Overall, Anderson is the fifth head coach in school history to coach in multiple bowls, along with E. Lowell Romney (1946-47), John Ralston (1960-61), Gary Andersen (2011-12, 2019) and Wells (2013-15, '17).

• Utah State graduate senior OL Alfred Edwards set a school record by starting his 53rd career game in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, breaking the previous mark of 52 career starts set by Tyler Larsen (2009-13). Edwards also set a school record by starting in four bowl games, breaking the previous record of three bowl game starts by Kyler Fackrell (2012-13, '15), Nick Vigil (2013-15), Zach Vigil (2012-14), Nevin Lawson (2011-13) and Larsen (2011-13). Edwards also joined Jordan Nielsen (2012-15) and Frankie Sutera (2011-14) as the only Aggies to ever play in four bowl games.

• Utah State graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. rushed for 2,130 yards in his collegiate career, including 2,006 yards on 449 attempts in his two seasons as an Aggie, to become the 11th player in school history to rush for 2,000 yards in a USU career. Overall, Tyler ranks eighth all-time in school history in rushing attempts and 11th in rushing yards. Tyler, who rushed for 1,122 yards on 253 carries this year, ranks eighth in attempts and 16th in yards in a single season in school history. Overall, he is one of 15 players in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season 19 total times. 

• Utah State graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs caught 76 passes for 923 yards on the season and those 76 catches rank as the sixth-most in a single-season in school history.

• Utah State graduate senior QB Logan Bonner finished his Aggie career 325-of-539 (.603) passing for 4,381 yards with 42 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. His 42 career touchdown passes are the fifth-most in school history, while his career completion percentage of .603 is the seventh-best.

• Utah State graduate senior PK Connor Coles was 35-of-49 (.714) on field goals during his career and ranks fifth all-time in school history in field goal percentage, tied for seventh in field goals made and is eighth in field goals attempted. He was also 95-of-98 (.969) all-time in extra points and ranks fourth in extra points made and attempted, and eighth in extra point percentage. For his career, he scored 206 points to rank as the eighth-most all-time in school history.

• Utah State played 13 games for the 10th time in the past 12 seasons in 2022 after not playing in more than 12 games prior to its current run. The school record for games played in a season is 14 set in 2013, and tied in 2014 and 2021.

• Utah State has only had eight players (5 offense, 3 defense) start all 13 games this year in graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs, graduate senior OL Chandler Dolphin, graduate senior OL Wade Meacham, graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds, graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr., senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh, graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak and freshman OL Weylin Lapuaho.

UTAH STATE WINS FIVE OF ITS FINAL EIGHT GAMES 
• After starting the season with a 1-4 record, including four-straight losses, Utah State finished the season by winning five of its final eight games, including winning five of six before losing its final two games.

• The 2022 team is just the third in school history to play in a bowl game after starting the season with a losing record. USU's 1993 team started the year with a 1-5 record before winning its final six games, including its first-ever bowl win with a 42-33 victory against Ball State in the Las Vegas Bowl II. And, the 2011 team had a 2-5 record before winning five-straight games to snap a 14-year bowl drought as it played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

UTAH STATE BLOCKED TWO KICKS AGAINST THE SPARTANS
• For the second time under head coach Blake Anderson, Utah State blocked two kicks in a game as it blocked an extra point and punt against San José State (11/19), returning the blocked punt 56 yards for a touchdown. USU also blocked two punts at No. 19 San Diego State in the 2021 Mountain West Championship Game. Overall, USU blocked four kicks this year (3 punts, 1 extra point) and seven kicks (5 punts, 1 field goal, 1 extra point) under Anderson. The school record for blocked kicks in a season is six set in 2012.

UTAH STATE WON GAMES IN ALL THREE PHASES IN 2022
• Utah State maximized all three phases of its football team this year as it scored three special teams touchdowns and two defensive touchdowns, to go along with its 31 offensive touchdowns. In fact, Utah State scored four non-offensive touchdowns in its last five games as it had a special teams and defensive touchdown against New Mexico (fake field goal and fumble), a defensive touchdown against Hawai'i (interception), and a special teams touchdown against San José State (blocked punt).

UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE LIMITED POINTS FOLLOWING TURNOVERS IN 2022
• Utah State's opponents scored just 53 points on 27 Aggie turnovers this season. If you take away three pick-sixes, USU's defense allowed just 32 points on 24 turnovers.  

UTAH STATE WINS 11TH-STRAIGHT ONE-SCORE GAME
• Utah State improved to 4-0 on the season in one-score games following its 35-31 victory against San José State (11/19). In fact, USU has won eight-straight one-score games under head coach Blake Anderson and 11 straight overall as its last loss in a one-score game was at Wake Forest (L, 35-38) to begin the 2019 campaign.

UTAH STATE HAD FIVE COME-FROM-BEHIND WINS DURING THE 2022 SEASON 
• Utah State had to come-from-behind to win five of its six games this year as it trailed UConn 14-0 in the first quarter before posting a 31-20 win, trailed Air Force 24-20 in the fourth quarter before posting a 34-27 win, scored 10 of the final 13 points to defeat Colorado State 17-13, after trailing 10-7 at halftime, scored the final 20 points to post a 27-10 home win against New Mexico, after trailing 10-7 at halftime, and scored a touchdown in the final three minutes against San José State for a 35-31 win.

• Overall, Utah State has won 12 games under head coach Blake Anderson when it has trailed at some point in the contest, which includes rallying from double-digit deficits in seven games.

• Utah State has won five games under Anderson when trailing in the fourth quarter, as it rallied to defeat Washington State, Air Force and UNLV last year, and Air Force and San José State this year.

• And, Utah State is a perfect 14-0 under Anderson, including a 5-0 record this year, when it has the lead heading into the fourth quarter.

AGGIES BITTEN BY INJURY BUG
• Utah State had 15 starters miss a combined 59 games this season due to injury in graduate senior DT Phillip Paea (10), junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen (10), graduate senior QB Logan Bonner (9), redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki (9), junior ILB MJ Tafisi (5), senior CB Ajani Carter (3), senior CB Michael Anyanwu (2), junior QB Cooper Legas (2), junior DE Byron Vaughns (2), redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen (2), graduate senior OL Alfred Edwards (1), graduate senior OL Jacob South (1), senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka (1), junior TE Josh Sterzer (1) and junior DT Poukesi Vakauta (1). 

• Utah State had 39 different players make at least one start this season, which was tied for the 14th-most in the nation. USU also had 22 players make their first-career start this year, while 30 players made their Aggie debut.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State played four different quarterbacks this year due to injury, including three different starters. First, graduate senior Logan Bonner suffered a season-ending injury against UNLV (9/24). Then, USU had to play three quarterbacks against Colorado State (10/15), as junior Cooper Legas and sophomore Levi Williams were both hurt in the game, which forced true freshman Bishop Davenport into action. Davenport also started the following weekend at Wyoming (10/22).

REYNOLDS NAMED PROFOOTBALLFOCUS HONORABLE MENTION ALL-AMERICAN
• Utah State graduate senior safety Hunter Reynolds was named a ProFootballFocus (PFF) Honorable Mention All-American, becoming the first Aggie defensive back to be named an All-American since Jalen Davis in 2017, and only the sixth defensive back to earn All-America honors in school history, along with Nevin Lawson (2013), Will Davis (2012), Travis Clark (1988) and Henry King (1966).

LARSEN NAMED COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA
• Utah State redshirt freshman safety Ike Larsen was named a College Football News (CFN) Honorable Mention Freshman All-American, becoming just the fourth player in school history to earn Freshman All-America honors, along with defensive back Jalen Davis (2014), linebacker Kyler Fackrell (2012) and kickoff returner Kevin Robinson (2004).

REYNOLDS AND LARSEN ARE FIRST ALL-AMERICAN TANDEM IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• The 2022 season marks the first time in school history that Utah State has had a pair of defensive backs earn All-America honors in the same season in graduate senior safety Hunter Reynolds and  redshirt freshman safety Ike Larsen.

UTAH STATE HAS NINE PLAYERS NAMED ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State had nine football players earn various all-Mountain West accolades, including graduate senior OL Alfred Edwards, who earned first-team honors. USU also had three players earn second-team all-MW accolades in graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs, graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. and redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen,  while five Aggies garnered honorable mention honors in graduate senior OL Chandler Dolphin, graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds, graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak, junior ILB MJ Tafisi and junior WR Terrell Vaughn.

• Edwards is the only Aggie to earn all-conference honors multiple times as he was named an honorable mention selection following the 2021 season. 

UTAH STATE SIXTH IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
• Utah State had five offensive and four defensive players recognized for a total of nine all-conference awards, to rank as the sixth-most in the league. San Diego State had a league-best 16 all-conference players and Fresno State was second with 13. Boise State was third (12), followed by Air Force (10), San José State (10), Utah State (9), Colorado State (8), Hawai'i (8), New Mexico (8), UNLV (8), Nevada (7) and Wyoming (7).

UTAH STATE NOTABLES ON ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS
• Graduate senior OL Alfred Edwards is just the fourth Aggie offensive lineman to earn first-team all-Mountain West honors since Utah State joined the league in 2013, joining Tyler Larsen (2013), Kevin Whimpey (2014) and Quin Ficklin (2018).

• Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs is just the fourth Aggie wide receiver to earn first- or second-team all-MW honors as Deven Thompkins was named to the first team last year, while Hunter Sharp and Siaosi Mariner were both named to the second team in 2015 and 2019, respectively.

• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is just the second Aggie running back to earn first- or second-team all-MW honors, as Darwin Thompson was also named to the second team in 2018. 

• Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen is one of just three freshmen and one of just seven underclassmen in the MW to earn first- or second-team all-conference honors this year. Larsen is the first USU freshman since Kyler Fackrell in 2012, and just the 12th freshman in school history, to earn first- or second-team all-conference accolades. Larsen is also just the fifth Aggie defensive back to earn first- or second-team all-MW honors and first since Jontrell Rocquemore was also named to the second team in 2018.

SIX AGGIES EARN MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS IN 2022
• Utah State had six players recognized by the Mountain West this year, led by redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen, who was named the MW Defensive Player of the Week and Freshman of the Week following his performance at Hawai'i. Graduate senior PK Connor Coles and junior P Stephen Kotsanlee were both named the MW Special Teams Player of the Week, while true freshman ILB Max Alford, true freshman RB Robert Briggs and true freshman QB Bishop Davenport were all named the MW Freshman of the Week.

UTAH STATE FINISHES 62ND IN THE NATION IN RUSHING 
• Utah State's offense finished the 2022 season fourth in the Mountain West and 62nd in the nation in rushing (159.2 ypg), fifth in the MW and 96th in the nation in total offense (354.3 ypg), sixth in the MW and 78th in the nation in sacks allowed with 30 (2.31 pg), sixth in the MW and 94th in the nation in completion percentage (.578), sixth in the MW and 104th in the nation in scoring offense (22.2 ppg), sixth in the MW and 107th in the nation in passing offense (195.2 ypg), and eighth in the MW and 114th in the nation in passing efficiency (115.7).

• Utah State's offense was also fifth in the MW and 62nd in the nation in fourth down conversions at 51.4 percent (18-of-35), and sixth in the MW and 67th in the nation in tackles for loss allowed with 73 (5.69 pg).   

UTAH STATE FINISHES 11TH IN THE NATION IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State finished the 2022 season first in the Mountain West and 11th in the nation in tackles for loss with 94 (7.2 pg), sixth in the MW and 31st in the nation in passing defense (205.0 ypg), sixth in the MW and 64th in the nation in sacks with 28 (2.15 pg), eighth in the MW and 76th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (133.1), 11th in the MW and 83rd in the nation in total defense (399.2 ypg), 11th in the MW and 105th in the nation in scoring defense (31.2 ppg), and 11th in the MW and 113th in the nation in rushing defense (194.2 ypg).

UTAH STATE HAD TWO DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State scored two defensive touchdowns on the season to rank second in the Mountain West and 33rd in the nation.

UTAH STATE FORCED 18 TURNOVERS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State forced 18 turnovers (11 interceptions, 7 fumbles) this year to rank sixth in the Mountain West and 68th in the nation. USU was also sixth in the MW and 50th in the nation with 11 interceptions (0.85 pg), and fourth in the MW and 72nd in the nation in fumbles recovered with seven (0.54 pg). Conversely, USU was fifth in the MW and 29th in the nation in fumbles lost with six (0.46 pg), and 12th in the MW and 131st in the nation in interceptions thrown with 21 (1.62 pg).

UTAH STATE FINISHES SEVENTH IN THE NATION WITH THREE BLOCKED PUNTS
• Utah State was one of 12 teams in the nation that blocked three punts this season (vs. Alabama, vs. UNLV, vs. San José State) as it led the Mountain West and tied for seventh in the nation. USU also blocked an extra point against San José State and ranked first in the MW and 10th in the nation in blocked kicks with four. In all, USU has blocked five punts in its last 15 games dating back to the 2021 season. 

• Utah State was also second in the MW and 33rd in the nation in punt return defense (5.4 ypr), third in the MW and 51st in the nation in punt returns (8.9 ypr), third in the MW and 56th in the nation in net punting (38.9 ypp), seventh in the MW and 66th in the nation in kickoff returns (20.0 ypr), and eighth in the MW and 60th in the nation in kickoff return defense (19.7 ypr).

AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS
• Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen tied for first in the nation with three blocked kicks (0.27 pg), and was third in the Mountain West and 22nd in the nation with four interceptions (0.36 pg). Junior WR Terrell Vaughn led the MW and was second in the nation with his one kickoff return for touchdown (0.08 pg), was second in the MW and 10th in the nation in kickoff returns (26.5 ypr), fourth in the MW in receiving touchdowns with five (0.38 pg), seventh in the MW in receptions (4.3 pg) and 10th in the MW in all-purpose yards (92.2 ypg). Junior CB Jamie Nance led the MW and was third in the nation in fumbles recovered with three (0.23 pg). Junior CB Jaden Smith was second in the MW and sixth in the nation with one punt return for touchdown (0.08 pg). Senior RB Cooper Jones was second in the MW and 32nd in the nation in punt returns (6.6 ypr). Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs was third in the MW and 32nd in the nation in receptions (5.8 pg), fourth in the MW and 59th in the nation in receiving (71.0 ypg), and fourth in the MW in receiving touchdowns with five (0.38 pg). Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee was fourth in the MW and 38th in the nation in punting (43.2 ypp). Junior QB Cooper Legas was fourth in the MW and 72nd in the nation in completion percentage (.611), fifth in the MW and 93rd in the nation in completions (13.5 pg), sixth in the MW and 84th in the nation in yards per completion (11.1), sixth in the MW and 87th in the nation in yards per attempt (6.78), sixth in the MW and 92nd in the nation in passing efficiency (125.4), sixth in the MW and 95th in the nation in total offense (180.2 ypg), sixth in the MW and 95th in the nation with 11 passing touchdowns (1.1 pg), seventh in the MW and 96th in the nation in passing (149.8 ypg), and seventh in the MW in points responsible for (7.8 pg). Graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds was fifth in the MW and 43rd in the nation with three interceptions (0.23 pg). Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. was sixth in the MW and 35th in the nation in rushing (86.3 ypg), and eighth in the MW and 82nd in the nation in all-purpose yards (96.2 ypg). Graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak was sixth in the MW and 38th in the nation in sacks with 8.5 (0.65 pg).Senior WR Justin McGriff was seventh in the MW in yards per reception (14.5) and eighth in the MW in receiving touchdowns with four (0.31 pg). Graduate senior PK Connor Coles was eighth in the MW and 72nd in the nation in field goals made with 12 (1.0 pg), eighth in the MW and 82nd in the nation in field goal percentage (.688), and eighth in the MW in scoring (6.2 ppg). And, senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh was ninth in the MW and 83rd in the nation in tackles (7.8 pg).

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State was one of five Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams with multiple kick returns for a touchdown this year as USU returned a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown.

UTAH STATE SPECIAL TEAMS RANKED AS 16Th-BEST IN THE NATION
• According to FootballOutsiders.com, Utah State's Special Teams finished the 2022 season ranked 16th in the nation based on the Fremeau Efficiency Index (FEI). The FEI is an opponent-adjusted possession efficiency data representing the per-possession scoring advantage a team would be expected to have on a neutral field against an average opponent.

UTAH STATE MILESTONES THAT EQUAL SUCCESS
• Utah State has won 43 of its last 53 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 5-1 record this year, and 49 of its last 57 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game, including a 5-2 record this year. USU has also won 66 of its last 71 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 4-0 record this season.

UTAH STATE BOWL HISTORY
• Utah State has a 6-10 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; 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; lost to Kent State, 51-41, in the 2019 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl; defeated Oregon State, 24-13, in the 2021 Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl; and lost to Memphis, 38-10, in the 2022 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

BRIGGS NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
• Utah State RB Robert Briggs was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week after setting the school record for rushing yards by a true freshman in their first-ever game, as he gained 85 yards on 10 carries, including a 23-yard touchdown, against UConn (8/27). The previous record was set by QB Kent Myers, who rushed for 28 yards on three carries against UNLV in 2014, in his USU debut as a true freshman.

DAVENPORT NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
• Bishop Davenport, who began the season as Utah State's fourth-string quarterback, was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week, as he came off the bench late in the second quarter and led USU to a pair of third quarter scoring drives in his collegiate debut to help the Aggies rally from a 10-7 halftime deficit to post a 17-13 win at Colorado State (10/15). On the first drive of the third quarter, Davenport led USU on an eight-play, 46-yard drive that culminated in a 48-yard field goal. On his second drive of the third quarter, USU went 59 yards in eight plays, and scored a touchdown on Davenport's 4-yard run. Against the Rams, Davenport was 3-of-9 passing for 41 yards and rushed for 29 yards on 11 carries, including a touchdown. 

• Davenport is the first true freshman QB to play for Utah State since Andrew Peasley during the 2018 season. Furthermore, the last true freshman QB to score a rushing touchdown for USU was Kent Myers during the 2014 campaign. Myers went 5-1 as the starting quarterback in 2014.

DAVENPORT THROWS FIRST-CAREER TOUCHDOWN IN BOWL GAME
• Freshman QB Bishop Davenport threw his first-career touchdown on a career-long 44-yard pass against Memphis (12/27) in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. Davenport, who was playing in his third game of the season, was 7-of-9 for 100 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

COBBS CATCHES FIFTH TOUCHDOWN PASS OF THE SEASON IN BOWL GAME
• Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs had six receptions for 79 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown, against Memphis (12/27) in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. For Cobbs, it was his fifth touchdown catch of the season and the seventh of his career.   

LEGAS POSTS 5-3 RECORD AS STARTING QUARTERBACK
• Junior QB Cooper Legas posted a 5-3 record in his first year as a starter this season. His best game of the season was in the regular season finale at Boise State (11/25), as he  was 23-of-40 passing, both of which are career highs, for a career-best 306 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also carried the ball 15 times for 51 yards as he finished with 357 yards of total offense. Overall, it was his first-career 300-yard passing game and his fourth-career 200-yard passing game.

TYLER HAD 10-CAREER 100-YARD RUSHING GAMES
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. recorded his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season and the 10th of his career against San José State (11/19), as he carried the ball 30 times for 125 yards and scored a career-high three touchdowns, which are the most by an Aggie since Darwin Thompson and Gerold Bright both had three rushing touchdowns at Hawai'i in 2018. 

• In his previous game at Hawai'i (11/12), Tyler carried the ball 25 times for 113 yards and one touchdown, and tied his career high with three receptions for a career-best 50 yards, including a career-long reception of 35 yards, for his first receiving touchdown this year and the second of his career.

• Tyler also rushed for 100 yards in three-straight games earlier this season with 104 yards against BYU (9/29)), 109 yards vs. Air Force (10/8) and 129 yards at Colorado State (10/15), and gained a career-high 162 yards on a career-best 33 carries against UConn (8/27) in the season opener.

• Tyler's six 100-yard rushing games this year are the most by an Aggie since Joey DeMartino had seven 100-yard rushing games in 2013. 

• Tyler's six 100-yard rushing games this year are tied for the second-most in the Mountain West as Brad Roberts (Air Force) had 11, while George Holani (Boise State) and Tyler both had six.

TYLER 11TH ALL-TIME AT UTAH STATE IN RUSHING
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. rushed for 2,006 yards on 449 attempts (4.4 ypc) and 13 touchdowns in his Utah State career, and ranks eighth all-time in rushing attempts and 11th all-time in rushing. Overall, Tyler is one of 11 Aggies to rush for 2,000 yards and one of 33 Aggies to rush for 1,000 yards.

• During his collegiate career, which includes four years at Oregon State, Tyler rushed for 2,130 yards on 479 carries (4.45 ypc) and 15 touchdowns.

TYLER GOES OVER 1,000 RUSHING YARDS FOR THE SEASON
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. rushed for 1,122 yards on 253 attempts (4.4 ypc) and seven touchdowns this year, becoming just the 15th player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season for the 19th time, and the first to do so since Darwin Thompson gained 1,044 yards in 2018. His 1,122 yards are the 16th-most in a single season in school history, while his 253 attempts are the eighth-most.

COBBS HAD THREE 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES THIS SEASON
• Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs posted his third 100-yard receiving game this season and of his career as he tied his career high with 10 receptions for 122 yards on 15 targets against San José State (11/19). Cobbs also had eight receptions for a career-high 136 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown, against Air Force (10/8), and eight receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown against UConn (8/27). Cobbs also had a career-high 10 receptions for 96 yards and a career-high two touchdowns at No. 19 BYU (9/29). 

• Cobbs' three 100-yard receiving games this year were tied for the third-most in the Mountain West as Tory Horton (Colorado St.) and Elijah Cooks (San José St.) both have five 100-yard receiving games, while Nikko Remigio (Fresno St.), Jalen Moreno-Cropper (Fresno State) and Cobbs all had three.

McGRIFF GOES OVER 1,000 CAREER RECEIVING YARDS
• Senior WR Justin McGriff caught 80 passes for 1,037 yards in his career, becoming the 37th player in school history with 1,000 career receiving yards.

VAUGHN HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST BOISE STATE IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE
• Junior WR Terrell Vaughn had a career game at Boise State (11/25) as he caught a career-high eight passes for a career-high 148 yards, including a career-long 75-yard reception for a touchdown. Overall, it was his first-career 100-yard receiving game. Vaughn also scored his first-career rushing touchdown on a 3-yard run as he had a career-high four carries for a career-best 22 yards, to go along with three kickoff returns for 44 yards as he finished the game with a career-high 214 all-purpose yards.

VONGHPHACHANH HAS CAREER OUTING IN BOWL GAME
• Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh had nine tackles, including a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss, against Memphis (12/27) in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

ALFORD POSTS CAREER HIGHS IN BOWL GAME
• True freshman ILB Max Alford had a career-high nine tackles, which included a career-best 2.0 tackles for loss, against Memphis (12/27) in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

CARTER RECORDS CAREER HIGH IN TACKLES IN BOWL GAME
• Senior CB Ajani Carter had a career-high eight tackles against Memphis (12/27) in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

JOYNER JR. RECORDS CAREER HIGH IN TACKLES IN BOWL GAME
• Junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. tied his career high with four tackles, which included 0.5 tackles for loss, against Memphis (12/27) in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

VAKAUTA RECORDS CAREER HIGH IN TACKLES IN BOWL GAME
• Junior DT Poukesi Vakauta tied his career high with three tackles, which included a career-best 1.0 sacks and a career-high 1.5 tackles for loss, against Memphis (12/27) in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM SERVPRO FIRST RESPONDER BOWL  
• Junior DE Byron Vaughns had seven tackles, which included 1.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss, to go along with his first-career fumble recovery. Graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak had four tackles, which included 2.0 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss, to go along with his second forced fumble of the season and the third of his career. He also posted his second pass breakup of the season and the third of his career. Junior OLB Kaleo Neves had six tackles, which included 0.5 tackles for loss, to go along with his third pass breakup on the season and in his career. Sophomore DT Tavian Coleman had a career-high-tying 1.0 tackles for loss as part of his three total tackles. Senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka had 1.0 sacks and 1.5 tackles for loss as part of his three total tackles. Senior CB Michael Anyanwu had one pass breakup to give him 11 PBUs on the season and 13 in his career. 

LARSEN NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK 
• Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week and the MW Freshman of the Week following his performance at Hawai'i (11/12), as he had six tackles, which included a career-high-tying 1.0 sacks and a career-best 2.0 tackles for loss, to go along with a career-high two interceptions, one of which he returned 36 yards for his first-career touchdown. Larsen is the first Aggie to have two interceptions in a game since Shaq Bond did so at UNLV last year, and he is the first USU player to return an interception for a touchdown since Bond did so at San Diego State in 2019. 

• Larsen was also named the MW Freshman of the Week after recording a then-career-high seven tackles, to go along with an interception, and his first-career blocked punt at No. 1 Alabama.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS WITH LARSEN
• Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen was the only player in the nation that had four interceptions, three blocked kicks and a defensive touchdown during the season.

• Larsen was the highest-rated defensive back in the Mountain West and No. 7 nationally with an overall grade of 89.9% (ProFootballFocus). In fact, that grade is the second-highest among any player in the MW. He was also the best pass coverage defensive back in the MW with a grade of 87.2%.

• Allowed just nine receptions for 56 yards on 22 targets this year with no touchdowns and four interceptions, and quarterbacks had a QB rating of 9.1 when throwing at him.

• Larsen was the only freshman, and one of just 23 players in the nation at the FBS level, with four interceptions. Was also one of just two players in the MW with at least four interceptions.

• Larsen was the only freshman, and one of just four players in the nation at the FBS level, with four blocked kicks. He was also the only player in the MW with four blocked kicks.

• Larsen was one of just eight freshmen in the nation to return an interception for a touchdown.

ALFORD NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
• True freshman ILB Max Alford was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week following his performance against New Mexico (11/5), as he had a then-career-high eight tackles, which included a then-career-best 1.5 tackles for loss. 

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State's defense had a season-high 5.0 sacks and a season-best 14.0 tackles for loss against Memphis (12/27) in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. Those 14.0 TFLs are tied for the second-most in a game in school history.

LARSEN SETS SCHOOL RECORD WITH THREE BLOCKED PUNTS
• Utah State S Ike Larsen blocked his third punt of the season against San José State (11/19), which was returned 56 yards for a touchdown. Larsen also blocked a punt against UNLV (9/24), which resulted in a safety. Larsen's first blocked punt of the year was at No. 1 Alabama. Larsen's three blocked kicks are the most in a single season in school history. The previous record is two blocked kicks, done most recently by Louy Compton and DJ Nelson in 2017.

NANCE RECOVERED THREE MUFFED PUNTS DURING 2022 SEASON
• Junior CB Jamie Nance recovered three muffed punts this season against Hawai'i (11/12), New Mexico (11/5) and Wyoming (10/22), and all three of those recoveries led to points as USU scored a touchdown following the muffed punt at Wyoming, and converted field goals following the muffed punt against both New Mexico and Hawai'i. 

SMITH RETURNS BLOCKED PUNT FOR A TOUCHDOWN AGAINST SPARTANS
• Utah State junior CB Jaden Smith returned a blocked punt 56 yards for a touchdown against San José State (11/19) for his first-career score. Overall, it was USU's first touchdown following a blocked punt since doing so against UNLV in 2018.  

COLES NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week as he scored a career-high-tying 15 points in Utah State's 27-10 Mountain West home win against New Mexico (11/5). Coles, who was 2-of-3 on field goals (49, 27) and 3-for-3 on extra points, scored his first-career touchdown on a 6-yard run on a fake field goal. Coles was also named the MW Special Teams Player of the Week against New Mexico in 2020 and against Washington State in 2021.

COLES IN THE UTAH STATE RECORD BOOKS  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles was 12-of-17 this year and was 35-of-49 (.714) on field goals during his career, and ranks fifth all-time in school history in field goal percentage, tied for seventh in field goals made and is eighth in field goals attempted. He was also 95-of-98 (.969) all-time in extra points and ranks fourth in extra points made and attempted, and eighth in extra point percentage. For his career, he scored 206 points to rank as the eighth most all-time in school history.

COLES MAKES CAREER-LONG 53-YARD FIELD GOAL IN BOWL GAME  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles made a career-long 53-yard field goal against Memphis (12/27) in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, which is tied for the eighth-longest field goal in school history and longest since 2012. It was also the longest made field goal in USU bowl game history.

KOTSANLEE NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK 
• Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career following his performance at Colorado State (10/15), as he punted five times for an average of 47.2 yards with three 50-yard punts (58, 55, 59), to go along with one punt being downed inside the 20-yard line.

• Kotsanlee had 22 punts this year and has 35 in his career of at least 50 yards, to go along with 24 punts this year and 60 in his career that have been downed inside the 20-yard line. 

• Overall, Kotsanlee has punted 157 times in his career for an average of 42.5 yards, which is the fifth-best average in school history. This year, Kotsanlee punted 67 times for an average of 43.4 yards, which is the sixth-best average in school history. Last season, Kotsanlee punted 53 times for an average of 42.5 yards, which is the 10th-best single-season average in school history.

• As a freshman in 2020, Kotsanlee earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors as he punted 37 times for an average of 40.7 yards.

VAUGHN SCORES FIRST-CAREER TOUCHDOWN ON KICKOFF RETURN  
• Junior WR Terrell Vaughn returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Weber State (9/10), which is the first of his career, and tied for the third-longest in school history. It is also one of eight kickoff returns in school history that have gone at least 100 yards.

AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS
•  Utah State had 11 players on its 2022 roster who have served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in senior OL Wade Meacham, junior TE Josh Sterzer, junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen, redshirt freshman CB Ty Barnett, redshirt freshman DT Johnson Hansen, redshirt freshman ILB Sione Moa, redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki, redshirt freshman WR Timm Van Leeuwen, freshman P Ryan Marks, freshman ILB Bronson Olevao and freshman OL Adam Pond.

AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED 
• Utah State had three players on its 2022 roster who are married in senior OL Wade Meacham, junior TE Josh Sterzer and sophomore OL Cole Motes.

HEAD COACH BLAKE ANDERSON
• Blake Anderson (hired on Dec. 12, 2020) concluded his second year as Utah State's head coach and is the 29th head coach in program history. He has a 68-47 overall record, including a 49-23 conference mark. He has posted a 17-10 record at USU, including a 11-5 Mountain West record.

• Anderson has 29 years of coaching experience and has been part of six conference championships. He has also coached in 12 bowl games and he won a national championship at the junior college level.

• During the 2022 campaign, Anderson led Utah State to six wins and its 10th bowl game in the past 12 seasons, including its second in as many years. USU also tied for second-place in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 5-3 mark as the Aggies had nine players earn various all-conference accolades. Graduate senior safety Hunter Reynolds was named a ProFootballFocus Honorable Mention All-American, while redshirt freshman safety Ike Larsen was named a College Football News Honorable Mention Freshman All-American.

• In his first season at Utah State, Anderson led the Aggies to their first-ever Mountain West Championship with a 46-13 win at No. 19 San Diego State, their sixth bowl win in school history with a 24-13 victory against Oregon State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, and a school-record-tying 11 wins as USU was picked to finish fifth in the Mountain Division of the MW in the preseason polls.

• Under Anderson, Utah State tied for the best turnaround in the nation in 2021 as the Aggies became the first FBS program ever to go from zero or one win to 11 wins the following season. 

• During the 2021 season, Utah State set 10 school records, including 4,248 passing yards and 41 touchdown passes, and tied four more as it became the first FBS program in eight years to go 7-0 on the road. USU also ranked 15th in the nation in passing offense (303.4 ypg) and 23rd in total offense (445.6 ypg), and was top three in the MW in passing offense, total offense and scoring offense (32.6 ppg).

• Anderson, who was named the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year in 2021 at Utah State, mentored a pair of Aggies that broke several single-season school records in quarterback Logan Bonner and wide receiver Deven Thompkins. Bonner set school records in passing touchdowns (36) and passing yards (3,628), while Thompkins set school records for receptions (102) and receiving yards (1,704). 

• Overall, Anderson saw nine of his players earn all-Mountain West honors, including Thompkins, who was named a third-team All-American by The Associated Press.   

• Anderson came to Utah State after spending seven years as the head coach at Arkansas State, leading ASU to six-consecutive winning seasons and six-straight bowl games (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. ASU also won back-to-back Sun Belt Conference Championships under Anderson (2015-16).

• 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.

• The Red Wolves won at least seven games, including at least five league games, six-straight years 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 at ASU, 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.

• 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 ypg), 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.

• 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). Anderson graduated with his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from SHSU in 1992. He also attained his master's degree in sports administration from Eastern New Mexico in 1994.

BLAKE ANDERSON CONCLUDES SECOND SEASON AT UTAH STATE
• Blake Anderson concluded his second season as Utah State's head coach after leading the Aggies to their best-ever season in his first year in 2021 as USU tied the school record with 11 wins (11-3, 6-2 MW), won its first-ever Mountain West Championship with a 46-13 victory at No. 19 San Diego State, posted a 24-13 win against Oregon State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl and finished the season ranked 24th in the nation in both polls.

• Anderson was one of 19 first-year head coaches at the FBS level in 2021 and was the only one to win nine or more games. Anderson is also the only first-year head coach in school history to win double-digit games. The previous record was nine wins set by Matt Wells in 2013.  

• Anderson was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 5 Coach of the Year in 2021 and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. 

• Anderson has won three conference championships as a head coach with two Sun Belt titles at Arkansas State (2015, 2016), along with one Mountain West title at Utah State (2021). Anderson coached in his seventh bowl game in eight seasons last year and has a 3-4 bowl record.

UTAH STATE RETURNED MAJORITY OF ITS COACHING STAFF  
• Utah State returned eight of its 10 full-time assistants, as only cornerbacks coach Ray Brown (Washington State) and defensive line coach Al Lapuaho (Nevada) did not return. Those eight returning assistants are the most since the 2010 staff returned all nine of its assistant coaches from the previous season.

• Utah State returned all three of its coordinators in Anthony Tucker (offense), Ephraim Banda (defense) and Nick Paremski (special teams) for the first time since 2013, when Kevin McGiven (offense), Todd Orlando (defense) and Dave Ungerer (special teams) were each in their second seasons, respectively.

• Utah State head coach Blake Anderson had three former Aggies on staff in running backs coach Chuckie Keeton (2011-15), tight ends coach DJ Tialavea (2010-13) and director of player personnel Austin Albrecht (2014-16).

BANDA ONE OF TWO HISPANIC DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS IN THE NATION
• Utah State defensive coordinator and safeties coach Ephraim Banda was one of only two hispanic defensive coordinators in the nation at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level along with Penn State's Manny Diaz. Overall, Banda was one of 13 hispanic coaches at the FBS level, which includes five head coaches. 

• Banda was named one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation in January of 2021, by Rivals.com.

CEFALO HAS COACHED THREE-STRAIGHT BILETNIKOFF SEMIFINALISTS
• Utah State passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Kyle Cefalo had coached a Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist in each of his last three seasons prior to this year. In his first year at USU in 2021, Cefalo coached Deven Thompkins, who set school records with 102 receptions for 1,704 yards. At Arkansas State, Cefalo coached Jonathan Adams in 2020 and Omar Bayless in 2019, as both players were named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Players of the Year.

UTAH STATE HAD MOST DIVERSE COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• For the second straight year, Utah State was 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).

• Of Utah State's 10 full-time assistant coaches, six were minorities, which was tied for the fifth-most minorities on a staff in the nation behind Hawai'i (8), Miami, Fla. (8), Northern Illinois (7) and Virginia (7), and tied with Arizona State, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia State, Illinois, LSU, Michigan State, Missouri, Penn State, Rice and Texas A&M.

UTAH STATE HAD THE THIRD-YOUNGEST COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• Of Utah State's 10 full-time assistant coaches, two are in their 20s, five are in their 30s and three are in their 40s. The average age of those 10 assistants is 35.1 years, which ranked as the third-youngest staff in the nation behind Old Dominion (33.5) and Georgia State (35.0).

DID YOU KNOW? 
• For just the second time in program history, Utah State returned its head coach, Blake Anderson, after finishing the previous season nationally ranked. John Ralston is the only other Aggie head coach to return as his 1961 team finished that season ranked 10th in the nation in both the AP and UPI polls with a 9-1-1 record. The three other times USU concluded a season nationally ranked, its head coach left for another head coaching position. Chuck Mills went to Wake Forest after the 1972 team went 8-3 record and was 19th in the final UPI poll. Gary Andersen went to Wisconsin after the 2012 team finished the year 16th in the AP poll and 17th in the Coaches poll as it went 11-2 and set the school record for wins. And, Matt Wells went to Texas Tech after the 2018 team finished the year 21st in the Coaches poll and 22nd in the AP poll as it went 11-2 and tied the school record for wins.