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AGGIES BEGIN MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY AT AIR FORCE FRIDAY NIGHT
Game will be televised on CBS Sports Network at 6 p.m. 
 
UTAH STATE (1-1, 0-0 MW) vs. AIR FORCE (2-0, 0-0 MW)
Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 • 6:02 p.m. (MT) • USAFA, Colorado • Falcon Stadium (37,655)
 
GAME 3 INFORMATION
TV: CBS Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Alex Del Barrio
• Analyst: Robert Turbin
• Reporter: Emily Proud
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 269/753HD
• DISH: Ch. 158
• DirecTV: Ch. 221
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard 
• Analyst: Kevin White
• Online: kslsports.com/kslsportszone
 
SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: stats.statbroadcast.com
 
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State (1-1, 0-0 MW) begins Mountain West play at Air Force (2-0, 0-0 MW) on Friday, Sept. 15, at 6 p.m., on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753HD, DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221) with Alex Del Barrio (play-by-play), USU Hall of Fame running back Robert Turbin (analyst) and Emily Proud (reporter) on the call. 
 
• Utah State has won eight of its last 11 league openers and is 7-3 all-time in Mountain West openers, which includes a 4-1 road record. This will be USU's sixth league opener on the road in its 11 years in the MW. Overall, USU is 35-28-3 (.553) all-time in conference openers and has a 15-14-3 (.516) record in league openers on the road.
 
• Utah State will be starting Mountain West play against Air Force for the sixth time in its 11 years in the league. USU is 4-1 in its previous five conference openers against the Falcons, which includes a 49-45 road win in 2021 and a 52-20 road win in 2013.
 
• Utah State is 48-30 (.615) all-time in Mountain West play, including a 22-16 (.579) road record. Overall, USU is 6-2 in its last eight MW road games and 19-13 (.594) in its last 32 road games overall, which includes a 9-5 road record under head coach Blake Anderson.  
 
• Utah State (48-30) has the third-best record against Mountain West opponents (including championship games) since it joined the league in 2013. Boise State (67-15) has the best record in the league during that time, while San Diego State (58-22) has the second-best record. Air Force has the fifth-best record (43-34).
 
• Utah State leads the nation in yards per rush (7.6) and is second in the Mountain West and sixth in the nation in rushing offense at 248.0 yards per game. USU is also 18th in the nation in scoring offense (46.0 ppg), 26th in completion percentage (.711) and 35th in total offense (460.0 ypg).
 
• Utah State has 61 new players on its roster, which is the sixth-most in the nation, behind Colorado (88), Arizona State (79), Oklahoma State (63), Nebraska (62) and New Mexico State (62). 
 
SCOUTING AIR FORCE
• Air Force is 2-0 on the season following its 13-3 non-conference win at Sam Houston State last weekend and its 42-7 home win against Robert Morris two weekends ago. The Falcons are led by senior QB Zac Larrier, who is 3-of-6 (.500) passing for 109 yards (54.5 ypg) with one touchdown and no interceptions. Larrier also leads the team in rushing with 164 yards on 33 carries (5.0 ypc/82.0 ypg) with two touchdowns. And, junior WR Jared Roznos has caught two passes for 95 yards (47.5 ypr/47.5 ypg) with one touchdown. Defensively, senior LB Alec Mock has 14 tackles, which includes 1.5 tackles for loss, while senior FS Trey Taylor has 11 tackles, which includes 0.5 tackles for loss. As a team, Air Force is averaging 27.5 points and 363.5 yards of total offense per game (309.0 rushing, 54.5 passing), and allowing 5.0 points and 118.0 yards of total offense (78.5 passing, 39.5 rushing). Air Force returns 12 starters (O-5, D-7) and 62 lettermen (O-26, D-32, S-4) from last year's team that went 10-3 overall and finished tied for second in the Mountain Division of the MW with a 5-3 record. Air Force concluded its season with a 30-15 win against Baylor in the 2022 Armed Forces Bowl. The Falcons are coached by Troy Calhoun, who is 123-78 in his 17th season as a collegiate head coach.
 
AGGIES AND FALCONS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State and Air Force will be meeting for the 12th time in series history this weekend with the Falcons holding a 6-5 advantage, which includes a 4-2 home record. USU has won the last two games in the series with a 34-27 home win last year and a 49-45 road win in 2021. The Falcons won the first meeting, 38-13, in 1969, at the USAF Academy. USU then won the next two games with a 52-20 win at the USAF Academy in 2013, and a 34-16 home win in 2014. The Falcons then won three straight meetings with a 35-28 home win in 2015, a 27-20 road win in 2016, and a 38-35 home win in 2017. USU then posted a 42-32 win in 2018, followed by two straight AFA wins with a 31-7 home victory in 2019 and a 35-7 road win in 2020. 
 
AGGIES FROM COLORADO
• Utah State has four players on its roster that are from the state of Colorado in sophomore CB Al Ashford III (Denver/Cherry Creek HS/Wisconsin), sophomore DE Kaden Jolley (Fruita/Fruita Monument HS), redshirt freshman WR Grant Page (Boulder/Fairview HS/Colorado) and freshman DE Tanner Jolley (Fruita/Fruita Monument HS),
 
PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND AIR FORCE
• The following are connections between Utah State and Air Force players. USU junior WR Kyrese Rowan and AFA junior WR Cade Harris both attended Roy (Utah) HS. And, USU sophomore WR Ryder MacGillivray and AFA junior DL James Tomasi both attended Provo (Utah) HS.
 
MORE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND AIR FORCE
• Utah State graduate senior QB Cooper Legas' grandfather, Dick Legas, spent 20 years in the United States Air Force as a lieutenant colonel and a decorated pilot. He also spent four years as a track coach for Air Force in the 1970s. 
 
AGGIES IN SEPTEMBER
• Dating back to the 2012 season, Utah State is 24-15 (.615) in September, which includes a 7-10 (.412) road record. USU is also 3-5 (.375) all-time in known games played on Sept. 15. 
 
STATS FOR CURRENT AGGIES WITH MULTIPLE GAMES VERSUS AIR FORCE
• The following is a look at what current Utah State players have done against Air Force in multiple games. Senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka has 10 tackles in four games. Senior OL Falepule Alo has five knockdowns in three games. Senior RB Cooper Jones has two punt returns for 15 yards in three games. Senior P Stephen Kotsanlee has punted eight times for 355 yards (44.4 ypp), including a long of 48 yards, in three games, with three punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Senior TE Josh Sterzer has three catches for 21 yards, including a long of 18, in three games. Graduate senior CB Michael Anyanwu has two tackles in two games. Senior DT Poukesi Vakauta has two tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, in two games. And, junior PK Elliott Nimrod has kicked off 14 times for 863 yards (61.6 ypk) and six touchbacks in two games.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State junior WR Micah Davis spent two years (2020-21) at the United States Air Force Academy, playing in 12 career games. During the 2021 campaign, he appeared in eight games and rushed for 360 yards on 47 carries (7.7 ypr) with four touchdowns, and caught 10 passes for 221 yards (22.1 ypr) and two touchdowns. In a game against Utah State on Sept. 18, 2021, he had four receptions for 110 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown, to go along with seven carries for 32 yards and another score.
 
• Davis spent the 2022 season at Iowa Western Community College and led the nation with 326 punt return yards on 29 returns (11.2 ypr) as he earned first-team all-conference accolades and helped the Reivers to a 10-2 record and a National Junior College Athletics Association National Championship. 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 44 players on its roster from the Beehive State, while Air Force has nine players on its roster from the Centennial State.
 
• Utah State is 25-33-1 (.432) all-time in Friday games. USU will also host Fresno State (Oct. 13) on Friday night this season.
 
• Utah State is a combined 77-79-6 (.494) against teams from the state of Colorado, with a 37-39-2 mark versus Colorado State, a 13-19-3 ledger against Denver, a 6-11-1 record against Colorado, a 7-0 mark versus Western State, a 5-4 record against Colorado Mines, a 3-0 record versus Colorado College, a 1-0 mark versus Regis, and a 5-6 record against Air Force.
 
• U.S. Air Force Academy Colonel and former Falcon football player (1973-76) and Athletics Director (1996-2003) Randy Spetman spent four years as the Director of Athletics at Utah State (2004-07). Air Force assistant head coach and defensive backs coach Charlie Jackson spent the 2006 season at Utah State as the special assistant to the head coach. 
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND AIR FORCE
• In 11 games, Air Force has scored 23 more points than Utah State, 344-321.
 
• The 1,247 yards (628 by USU, 619 by AFA) and 94 combined points in the 2021 meeting are the most in series history.
 
• Utah State's last two wins in the series have been by one score and a total of 11 points (5.5 ppg). Its previous three wins were all by double digits. 
 
• Air Force's last two wins in the series have both been by 20-plus points, while its previous three wins were by one score and a total of 17 points (5.7 ppg). 
 
• The winning team has scored at least 27 points in all 11 meetings, while nine of the 11 winners have scored at least 34 points. Conversely, the losing team has only scored less than 20 points four times. 
 
• The team that has more yards of total offense has won nine of the 11 meetings in the series, with the exception being when Utah State lost back-to-back games despite having 88 more yards of total offense (414-326) in 2016 and 81 more yards (521-440) in 2017. 
 
• The team that controls the time of possession has won six of the last 10 games. Air Force has controlled the time of possession in the last nine meetings and is 5-4 in those games.
 
• The team with the most rushing yards has won seven of the 11 games in the series.
 
• The team that scores first has won eight of the 11 games played in the series, while the team that leads at the half has also won eight of the 11 games played in the series.
 
• Air Force has had four 100-yard receivers in series history, but has never had a 300-yard passer. 
 
• Air Force has had a 100-yard rusher in five of the last six meetings, including two in 2017, two in 2021 and one in 2022. In the first five games in the series, AFA did not have a 100-yard rusher against Utah State.
 
• Utah State has had four 300-yard passers and seven 100-yard receivers in series history, and has had a 100-yard rusher in four of the last six games played in the series.
 
• The team with fewer turnovers has won six of the last nine games played in the series.
 
• Utah State has passed for at least 280 yards in seven of the last 10 games against Air Force. In 2021, Logan Bonner was 21-of-34 for 253 yards and two touchdowns, while Andrew Peasley was 10-of-15 for 195 yards and a career-high-tying three touchdowns. In 2018, Jordan Love was 26-of-38 for a then-career-high 356 yards and two touchdowns. In 2017, Love was 17-of-30 for 284 yards with two touchdowns. In 2016, Kent Myers was 29-of-47 for 360 yards and one touchdown. In 2015, Myers was 25-of-47 for a career-high 364 yards and four touchdowns. In 2014, Darrel Garretson was 20-of-29 for 298 yards and two touchdowns. And in 2013, Chuckie Keeton was 32-of-40 for 360 yards and five touchdowns.
 
• Utah State has traditionally put up some big offensive numbers against Air Force. In its first six Mountain West meetings from 2013-18, USU averaged 35.2 points and 471.4 yards of total offense per game (341.2 passing, 130.2 rushing), which included two games of 500-plus yards (2013, 2017), two games with over 200 yards rushing (2013, 2017), and passing for over 300 yards in every game except 2017, when it passed for 284 yards. 
 
• During its 2021 meeting, Utah State had 628 yards of total offense (180 rushing, 448 passing) to rank as the 12th-most total yards in a single game in school history. Furthermore, its 448 passing yards in that game are the sixth-most in school history. USU also had a 100-yard rusher and two 100-yard receivers in the game. 
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State team and individual statistical performances against Air Force over the years.
• Chuckie Keeton tied his own school record with five touchdown passes at Air Force in 2013. 
 
• Jess Garcia punted a school-record 14 times against Air Force in 1969.
 
• Kent Myers' 364 passing yards at Air Force in 2015 are tied for the 28th-most in a single game in Utah State history. 
 
• Hunter Sharp's 193 receiving yards at Air Force in 2015 are tied for the 20th-most in school history.
 
• Zach Vigil had a career-high 22 tackles against Air Force in 2014, which is tied for the fifth-most in a single game in school history.
 
• Utah State punted 14 times against Air Force in 1969, which is tied for the most in a single game in school history.
 
• Utah State held Air Force to 24 passing yards in its 2019 meeting and 33 passing yards in 2017, which are the 12th- and 16th-fewest in school history.
 
• Utah State had 628 yards of total offense in 2021 to rank as the 12th-most in a single game in school history. Furthermore, its 448 passing yards in that game are the sixth-most in school history.
 
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 176-192-8 (.479) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 40-28-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 37-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, a 20-20-1 record vs. San José State, an 18-8 record vs. UNLV, a 16-13 record vs. New Mexico, a 13-18-1 record vs. Fresno State, a 12-6 record vs. Hawai`i, a 7-19 record vs. Nevada, a 5-22 record vs. Boise State, a 5-6 record vs. Air Force, and a 3-13 record vs. San Diego State.
 
LAST MEETING vs. AIR FORCE
LOGAN, Utah - Defending Mountain West champion Utah State kept its hopes alive of repeating with a 34-27 Homecoming victory against Air Force on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022.
               
Junior QB Cooper Legas passed for a career-high 215 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns and ran for another score as the Aggies snapped a four-game losing streak. 
               
Legas completed 18 of his 23 pass attempts, and rushed for a career-high 76 yards on 13 carries. His 32-yard touchdown run with 7:00 remaining in the game gave Utah State (2-4, 1-1 Mountain West) a 34-24 lead.
               
Air Force (4-2, 1-2 MW) cut it to 34-27 with 1:42 remaining to after Matthew Dapore drilled a 51-yard field goal. The Falcons attempted an onside kick, but senior WR Justin McGriff recovered it for Utah State, which improved to 57-33-2 all-time in Homecoming games.
               
Legas and the Aggies finished with 414 yards of total offense, including 199 on the ground. Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. led Utah State with 109 yards rushing on 19 carries. He scored on a 21-yard touchdown run to give the hosts a 20-17 lead late in the third quarter.
               
Defensively, Utah State limited Air Force to 359 yards of total offense, including 264 on the ground on 55 carries.
               
Utah State senior CB Ajani Carter tied his career-high with seven tackles, and forced two fourth quarter turnovers with a fumble and interception, while senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh and junior ILB MJ Tafisi had 13 stops apiece. Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson also had seven tackles and he recovered Carter's forced fumble. Junior DE Byron Vaughns added a season-high seven tackles, while sophomore DT Tavian Coleman had a career-high five stops. 
               
Air Force QB Haaziq Daniels passed for 95 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 34 yards and a score. Brad Roberts led the Falcons in rushing with 136 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries.
               
Daniels' 40-yard touchdown pass to Amari Terry put Air Force in front 24-20 with 13:33 left in the game, but USU scored the next 14 points to rally for the win. 
               
The Aggies went back in front for good, 34-27, on a 34-yard touchdown pass from Legas to junior WR Terrell Vaughn with 10:15 to go.
               
The Aggies scored on their first three possessions of the game, including a 31-yard touchdown pass from Legas to graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs that gave Utah State a 7-0 lead with 9:29 remaining in the first quarter.
               
Cobbs finished with a career-high 136 yards on eight catches, while Vaughn caught four passes for 52 yards.
               
Air Force tied it at 7-all on a 1-yard touchdown run by Roberts, but graduate senior PK Connor Coles regained the lead for Utah State courtesy of a 30-yard field goal with 1:18 left in the first. 
               
The Falcons grabbed their first lead of the night when Daniels scored from a yard out on a quarterback keeper on fourth down, making it 14-10 with 7:02 remaining in the half. 
               
Another 30-yard field goal from Coles pulled the Aggies to within 14-13 with 2:41 to go in the half.
 
LAST ROAD MEETING vs. AIR FORCE
USAFA, Colorado - Junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown on a 61-yard run with 3:54 to go, lifting Utah State to a wild 49-45 come-from-behind win at Air Force in the Mountain West opener for both teams on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at Falcon Stadium.
               
Tyler finished with a career-high 132 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns on a career-best 19 carries for the Aggies (3-0, 1-0 MW), who rallied from four separate double-digit deficits to beat the Falcons (2-1, 0-1 MW).
               
Utah State, which trailed 10-0 in the first quarter, 24-13 at halftime, 31-20 early in the third quarter and 45-34 with 10:37 to go in the game, racked up 628 yards of total offense (448 passing, 180 rushing) – just nine more than Air Force (437 rushing, 182 passing).
               
The Aggies have now won all three of their games this season after trailing by double digits, marking the first time in school history Utah State has ever accomplished that feat.
               
Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner completed 21-of-34 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with one interception. He was injured after throwing a 24-yard touchdown pass to junior WR Justin McGriff that cut Air Force's lead to 24-20 in the third. 
               
Fellow junior QB Andrew Peasley played most of the second half and was 10-of-15 passing for 195 yards and a career-high-tying three touchdowns, including a 72-yarder to senior WR Deven Thompkins that pulled Utah State to within 45-40 with 9:51 remaining in the game. The Aggies elected to go for the two-point conversion and got it thanks to a wild scramble from the pocket for Peasley, who ran it into the end zone himself.
               
Peasley also threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling and a 5-yarder to senior TE Carson Terrell, who was making his season debut for the Aggies.
               
After the 72-yard bomb to Thompkins that came on a third-and-seven play, Utah State's defensive forced Air Force to punt, giving the ball back to the Aggies with 5:56 left. Two minutes later, USU was in the end zone on Tyler's long run.
               
The Falcons got the ball back with 3:54 to go and were driving when graduate senior ILB Justin Rice stripped the ball from Air Force QB Haaziq Daniels. Junior S Monte McGary recovered the fumble at USU's 25-yard line and the Aggie offense ran out the clock.
               
Rice had a career-high-tying 14 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss, to go along with an interception in the end zone that led to a USU touchdown, and the forced fumble.
               
Thompkins and Bowling each eclipsed the century mark in receiving yards with 188 and 136, respectively, both of which are career highs. Thompkins added a career-high nine receptions, while Bowling tied his career high with two touchdowns.
               
Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger and junior S Dominic Tatum each had eight tackles.
               
Air Force scored the first 10 points of the game before the Aggies cracked the scoreboard for the first time on a 1-yard touchdown run by Tyler with 1:17 left in the opening quarter, cutting the deficit to 10-7.
               
Following Rice's interception, Bonner marched the Aggies 92 yards in 11 plays, capping the drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Bowling. The extra point was blocked, but the Aggies had their first lead of the night at 13-10 with 10:16 to go in the opening half. Air Force closed the first 30 minutes of play with a pair of touchdowns to take a 24-13 lead into the locker room. 
 
GAME 2 RECAP vs. IDAHO STATE
LOGAN, Utah - Sophomore RB Robert Briggs Jr. rushed for a career-high 101 yards and one touchdown on nine carries to help lead Utah State to a dominating 78-28 home-opening win against Idaho State on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. 
               
The Aggies (1-1) racked up 591 yards of total offense, including 380 on the ground – the 19th-most in school history. Junior RB Rahsul Faison nearly eclipsed the century mark as he had 95 yards rushing and one touchdown on just five carries, while fellow junior RB Davon Booth ran for 83 yards and two scores on just six carries. 
               
This was Utah State's sixth-consecutive victory over Idaho State (0-2), which finished with 424 total yards – 323 through the air and 101 on the ground. 
               
The 78 points scored by the Aggies are the fourth-most in school history and the most since 1919, when they defeated these same Bengals by a whopping 136-0.
               
Utah State senior QB Cooper Legas was 14-of-16 passing for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Two other signal callers got into the game for the Aggies as junior Levi Williams was 5-of-7 passing for 68 yards and two touchdowns, while freshman McCae Hillstead made his Aggie debut, completing 3-of-5 passes for 18 yards. 
               
Senior WR Terrell Vaughn caught 11 passes for 73 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns. He is the first Aggie since Kevin Curtis in 2001 to have double-digit receptions in back-to-back games. In Utah State's season opener at then-No. 25 Iowa on Sept. 2, Vaughn hauled in a career-best 12 receptions for 93 yards and one touchdown. 
               
While the Aggie offense found the end zone nine times on the night, the defense also got into the scoring act on two occasions. Sophomore S Ike Larsen intercepted a pass by Idaho State's Jordan Cooke and returned it 47 yards for a touchdown to give USU a 34-7 lead with 5:44 remaining in the second quarter. It was his fifth-career interception and second career pick-six.
               
Junior CB Jaiden Francois capped the game's scoring with a pick-six of his own, returning it 75 yards for a touchdown with 54 seconds remaining in the fourth. The pass by Idaho State's Matthew Cavallero was broken up by sophomore S Devin Dye and hauled in by Francois.                       Both teams scored on their respective opening drives. Utah State needed just two plays to find the end zone as Briggs scored on a career-long 58-yard run just 27 seconds into the contest. The Bengals tied it at 7-all when Cooke found Christian Fredrickson from nine yards.                         The score remained the same as the two teams headed to the second quarter, where the Aggies broke things open by scoring an eye-popping 44 points – the most in any quarter in school history – including 20 points in a 71-second span. 
               
Utah State went into halftime leading 51-14. The 51 points scored by the Aggies during the first 30 minutes of play are the second-most in school history.
               
Redshirt junior S Anthony Switzer recorded both a game- and career-high 10 tackles on the night, while senior punter Stephen Kotsanlee had a career-long 69-yard punt. 
               
Other Aggies to find the end zone on the night included senior RB Cooper Jones (1-yd run), junior WR Micah Davis (47-yard catch) and fellow junior WR Jalen Royals (20-yard catch). Junior PK Elliott Nimrod added a 37-yard field goal for USU.
 
UTAH STATE ROLLS TO 78-28 HOME WIN AGAINST IDAHO STATE
• Utah State rolled to a 78-28 home win against Idaho State last weekend as its 78 points are the fourth-most in school history and most since it posted a 136-0 win against Idaho State in 1919. Furthermore, USU's 50-point margin of victory is its largest since defeating Stony Brook by 55 points (62-7) in 2019 and the 20th-largest in school history.
 
• Utah State also scored 51 first-half points against Idaho State, which are the second-most in school history, trailing only the 52 first-half points it scored against New Mexico in 2018. 
 
• With the scored tied at 7-all heading into the second quarter, Utah State exploded for 44 points, which are the most scored by an Aggie team in any quarter in school history. During that second quarter, USU scored 20 points in 71 seconds.
 
• Utah State's 591 yards of total offense against Idaho state is the 24th-most in school history, while its 380 rushing yards are the 19th-most in school history.
 
AGGIES' 78 POINTS AND 380 RUSHING YARDS SECOND-MOST IN FBS THIS YEAR
• Utah State's 78 points and 380 rushing yards against Idaho State are the second-most at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level this year. Oregon scored an FBS-best 81 points against Portland State, while UCF rushed for an FBS-best 389 yards against Kent State.
 
UTAH STATE HAS TWO PICK-SIXES AGAINST IDAHO STATE
• Utah State's defense forced three turnovers against Idaho State, including a pair of pick-sixes as sophomore S Ike Larsen returned an interception 47 yards for a touchdown, while junior CB Jaiden Francois had a 75-yard interception return for a score. It is the first time USU has had a pair of pick-sixes in the same game since doing so at Colorado State in 2018.
 
FOUR AGGIES MAKE FIRST-CAREER START IN IDAHO STATE GAME
• Utah State had four players make their first-career start against Idaho State in junior CB Gabriel Bryan, junior CB Jaiden Francois, junior DE Cian Slone and freshman TE Will Monney.
 
• Utah State also had eight players make their first-career start two weekends ago in the Iowa game in graduate senior OL Ralph Frias III, junior WR Micah Davis, sophomore RB Robert Briggs Jr., sophomore WR Otto Tia, sophomore DE Enoka Migao, redshirt freshman CB JD Drew, redshirt freshman DE Paul Fitzgerald and redshirt freshman OL Tavo Motu'apuaka.
 
TEN PLAYERS MAKE AGGIE DEBUT IN IDAHO STATE GAME
• Utah State had 10 players make their Aggie debut this past weekend against Idaho State in junior DT Vaughn Mamea, junior CB Jaylen Martin, sophomore DE Maka Tu'akoi, redshirt freshman P/K Ryan Marks, redshirt freshman WR Austin Okerwa, redshirt freshman WR Quentin Riley, redshirt freshman DE Adam Tomczyk, redshirt freshman TE Chase Tuatagaloa, freshman DE Zion Andreasen and freshman QB McCae Hillstead.
 
• Utah State also had 29 players make their Aggie debut two weekends ago in the Iowa game in graduate senior OL Ralph Frias III, graduate junior WR Colby Bowman, redshirt junior S Anthony Switzer, junior OL Shively Asoau Fua, junior RB Davon Booth, junior CB Gabriel Bryan, junior WR Kahanu Davis, junior WR Micah Davis, junior RB Rashul Faison, junior CB Jaiden Francois, junior DT Siaosi Lauhingoa, junior DE Cian Slone, junior DE Blaine Spires, junior PK William Testa, redshirt sophomore S Avante Dickerson, sophomore CB Al Ashford III, sophomore ILB Gavin Barthiel, sophomore S Devin Dye, sophomore S Simeon Harris, sophomore OL Aloali'I Maui, sophomore ILB Ioholani Raass, sophomore S Javar Strong, redshirt freshman OL Teague Andersen, redshirt freshman DT Sir Mells, redshirt freshman OL Tavo Motu'apuaka, redshirt freshman ILB Logan Pili, redshirt freshman ILB Bronson Olevao Jr., redshirt freshman OL Bryce Radford and freshman TE Will Monney.
 
SIXTEEN AGGIES MAKE DIVISION I DEBUT IN IOWA GAME
• Utah State had 16 players make their Division I debut in the Iowa game in junior OL Shively Asoau Fua, junior RB Davon Booth, junior CB Gabriel Bryan, junior WR Kahanu Davis, junior RB Rashul Faison, junior DT Siaosi Lauhingoa, junior DE Cian Slone, junior PK William Testa, sophomore S Devin Dye, sophomore OL Aloali'I Maui, sophomore ILB Ioholani Raass, redshirt freshman OL Teague Andersen, redshirt freshman OL Tavo Motu'apuaka, redshirt freshman ILB Bronson Olevao Jr., redshirt freshman OL Bryce Radford and freshman TE Will Monney.
 
UTAH STATE OPENED 2023 SEASON WITH HARD-FOUGHT LOSS AT NO. 25 IOWA
• After falling behind 14-0 in the first 6:16 of the game, Utah State outplayed No. 25 Iowa the rest of the way, but lost to the Hawkeyes 24-14. Over the final three-plus quarters, USU outscored Iowa 14-10. USU outgained Iowa 329-284 as the Aggies rushed for 116 yards (4.8 ypr) and held the Hawkeyes to just 88 yards rushing (2.4 ypr). USU also threw for 213 yards in the game and held Iowa to 196 passing yards. USU had one more first down (19-18), while Iowa held the advantage in time of possession (32:12 to 27:48). USU committed the only turnover on an interception in the second quarter that was converted into three points. 
 
• During the 2022 season, only Ohio State (54), Michigan (27) and Nebraska (24) scored 14 or more points against Iowa, and only Minnesota (312) Illinois (200), Michigan (172) and Iowa State (129) rushed for over 100 yards against the Hawkeyes defense.
 
VAUGHN RECORDS DOUBLE-DIGIT RECEPTIONS FOR SECOND-STRAIGHT GAME
• Senior WR Terrell Vaughn caught 11 passes for 73 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns last weekend against Idaho State. Vaughn, who had a career-high 12 receptions for 93 yards and one touchdown two weekends ago at No. 25 Iowa, is the first Aggie since Kevin Curtis in 2001 to have double-digit receptions in consecutive games. Overall, Vaughn now has three touchdown catches this year and eight in his career.
 
BRIGGS POSTS FIRST-CAREER 100-YARD RUSHING GAME
• Sophomore RB Robert Briggs Jr. posted his first-career 100-yard rushing game last weekend against Idaho State as he gained 101 yards on nine carries, including scoring his first rushing touchdown of the season and the second of his career on a career-long 58-yard run.
 
UTAH STATE'S JUNIOR COLLEGE TRANSFER RUNNING BACKS SHINE AGAIN
• For the second-straight game, Utah State's two junior college transfer running backs in junior Davon Booth (Cerritos College) and junior Rahsul Faison (Snow College) played well. Against Idaho State this past weekend, Booth gained 83 yards on six carries and scored a career-high two touchdowns on runs of eight and 40 yards, while Faison gained 95 yards on five carries and scored his first-career touchdown on a career-long 60-yard run. That 60-yard run by Faison is the longest by an Aggie since Calvin Tyler Jr. scored on a 61-yard run at Air Force in 2021.
 
• Overall, the duo rushed for 178 yards on just 11 carries (16.2 ypr) and scored three touchdowns. Two weekends ago at No. 25 Iowa, the duo rushed for 92 yards on 15 carries (6.1 ypr) and caught five passes for 28 yards (5.6 ypr) as they combined for 120 all-purpose yards. 
 
• In two Utah State games, Booth and Faison have rushed for 270 yards on 26 carries (10.4 ypr) and scored three touchdowns.
 
UTAH STATE HAS THREE PLAYERS WITH 80-PLUS RUSHING YARDS IN SAME GAME
• Utah State had three running backs rush for 80-plus yards against Idaho State last weekend as sophomore RB Robert Briggs Jr. rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown on nine carries, junior RB Rahsul Faison rushed for 95 yards and one touchdown on five carries and junior RB Davon Booth rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns on six carries. Furthermore, senior RB Cooper Jones rushed for 18 yards on six carries and scored one touchdown. Those five rushing touchdowns are the most since USU rushed for seven touchdowns against Hawai'i in 2018. And, it is the first time USU had three players with 80-plus rushing yards in the same game since the 2011 season when Michael Smith (18-121), Robert Turbin (25-98) and Adam Kennedy (15-95) accomplished the feat against New Mexico State. 
 
AGGIE QUARTERBACKS PLAY WELL IN IDAHO STATE GAME
• Utah State played three quarterbacks against Idaho State last weekend and the trio combined to complete 22-of-28 (.786) passes for 211 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Graduate senior QB Cooper Legas was 14-of-16 (.875) passing for 125 yards with two touchdowns. Graduate junior QB Levi Williams was 5-of-7 (.714) for 68  yards with two touchdowns, and freshman QB McCae Hillstead was 3-of-5 (.600) for 18 yards. Legas now has three touchdown passes on the season and 14 in his career, while Williams has 15-career touchdown passes.
 
OTHER OFFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM IDAHO STATE GAME
• Junior WR Jalen Royals caught his first-career touchdown on a 20-yard reception. Junior WR Micah Davis had his first touchdown reception as an Aggie, and the third of his career, on a 47-yard catch. And, senior RB Cooper Jones scored his first-career rushing touchdown on a 1-yard run. Jones finished the game with eight carries for 32 yards, both of which are career highs. 
 
LEGAS SETS CAREER HIGHS AGAINST IOWA
• Graduate senior QB Cooper Legas was 32-of-48 (.667) passing for 213 yards with one touchdown and one interception at No. 25 Iowa two weekends ago. Those 32 completions and 48 attempts are both career highs. It was also his fifth-career 200-yard passing game. 
 
• Legas' 32 completions at Iowa are the most by an Aggie since Jordan Love completed 33 passes at Wake Forest in 2019 and tied for the third-most in a single-game in school history behind the 34 completions by Gym Kimball against UNLV in 1984. Furthermore, Legas' 48 attempts are the most by an Aggie since Love attempted 49 passes against BYU in 2019.
 
UTAH STATE MILESTONES THAT EQUAL SUCCESS
• Utah State has won 44 of its last 54 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 1-0 record this year, and 50 of its last 58 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game, including a 1-0 record in 2023. USU has also won 67 of its last 72 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 1-0 record this year.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State 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) in 2019.
 
LARSEN INTERCEPTS FIFTH-CAREER PASS IN IDAHO STATE GAME
• Sophomore S Ike Larsen intercepted his fifth-career pass and returned it 47 yards for his second-career pick-six against Idaho State last weekend. Larsen also had five tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, against the Bengals. 
 
• In the season opener at No. 25 Iowa, Larsen had four tackles, tied his career high with two pass breakups, and blocked his fourth-career punt to extend his own school record.  
 
FRANCOIS INTERCEPTS FIRST-CAREER PASS IN IDAHO STATE GAME
• Junior CB Jaiden Francois, a transfer from UCF, intercepted his first-career pass and returned it 75 yards for his first-career touchdown against Idaho State last weekend. That 75-yard interception return is tied for the 12th-longest in school history. Francois also had a career-high seven tackles, including a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss, against the Bengals. 
 
SWITZER POSTS FIRST-CAREER DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLE OUTING 
• Redshirt junior S Anthony Switzer recorded a career high 10 tackles in his last outing against Idaho State for his first-career double-digit tackle game. Switzer began the season by posting eight tackles at No. 25 Iowa.
 
HARRIS TIES CAREER HIGH WITH EIGHT TACKLES IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES  
• Sophomore S Simeon Harris, a transfer from Colorado, tied his career high in tackles in each of his first two games with Utah State as he had eight stops, including his first-career pass breakup, against Idaho State last weekend, and eight tackles at No. 25 Iowa two weekends ago. Harris also had eight tackles against Washington during the 2022 campaign.
 
FITZGERALD HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST IDAHO STATE  
• Redshirt freshman DE Paul Fitzgerald, a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, had a career-high six tackles, which included a career-best 1.0 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss, against Idaho State
 
OTHER DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM IDAHO STATE GAME
• Sophomore ILB Cole Joyce had a career-high four tackles, which included 1.0 sacks, which is the first of his career. Redshirt freshman CB JD Drew had a career-high three tackles. Sophomore ILB Gavin Barthiel had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 1.5 TFLs this season and in his career. Barthiel also had his first-career pass breakup. Junior CB Gabriel Bryan had a career-high two pass breakups, which are the first of his career. Sophomore S Devin Dye had two tackles and one pass breakup, both of which are career highs. Redshirt sophomore CB Avante Dickerson tied his career high with two tackles and had a career-high two pass breakups. Graduate senior CB Xavion Steele tied his career high with one pass breakup to give him three PBUs in his career. Junior DE Blaine Spires had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 1.5 TFLs on the season and 11.5 TFLs in his career. Graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. had 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 4.0 TFLs this year and 14.5 TFLs in his career. Sophomore DE Enoka Migao had a career-high two tackles. Graduate senior CB Michael Anyanwu forced his first fumble of the season and the third of his career. Junior DE Cian Slone recovered his first-career fumble. And, sophomore DT Seni Tuiaki had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 1.5 TFLs this season and 4.0 TFLs in his career.   
 
TAFISI JR. POSTS SIXTH-CAREER DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLE GAME  
• Graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. posted his sixth-career double-digit tackle outing two weekends ago at No. 25 Iowa as he finished the game with 12 tackles, which included a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss, to go along with his first-career forced fumble. Tafisi, who now has 13.5 tackles for loss in his career, missed the final five games of the 2022 season due to injury.
 
UTAH STATE HAS TWO KICKERS MAKE A FIELD GOAL IN SAME GAME
• For the first time since the 2017 season, Utah State had a pair of placekickers make a field goal in the same game. In its season opener at No. 25 Iowa, junior PK William Testa made a 32-yard field, while junior PK Elliott Nimrod made a 45-yard field goal. In 2017, Utah State had a pair of placekickers make field goals against Idaho State in Dominik Eberle and Michael Smith.
 
KOTSANLEE FIFTH ALL-TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN PUNTING
• Senior P Stephen Kotsanlee punted three times for an average of 45.3 yards last weekend, including a career long 69 yard punt against Idaho State, and has now punted 166 times in his career for an average of 42.6 yards per punt (7,066 yards), which is the fifth-best average in school history. For his career, he has 36 punts of at least 50 yards and 62 punts that have been downed inside the 20-yard line.
 
• 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.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State's starting punter Stephen Kotsanlee (Australia) and starting placekicker William Testa (Italy) are both international players. The only other FBS schools that have international players at both punter and placekicker are Bowling Green, Colorado State and Oklahoma State.
 
UTAH STATE 18TH IN THE NATION IN SCORING OFFENSE 
• Following its first two games of the 2023 season, Utah State is first in the Mountain West and 18th in scoring offense (46.0 ppg), first in the MW and 26th in the nation in sacks allowed with two (1.0 pg), first in the MW and 26th in the nation in completion percentage (.711), first in the MW and 35th in the nation in total offense (460.0 ypg), second in the MW and sixth in the nation in rushing offense (248.0 ypg), sixth in the MW and 77th in the nation in passing efficiency (137.0), and sixth in the MW and 85th in the nation in passing offense (212.0 ypg).
 
• Utah State is also first in the nation in yards per rush attempt (7.6), first in the Mountain West and 10th in the nation in turnovers lost with one, first in the MW and 20th in the nation in turnover margin (+1.00), third in the MW and 30th in the nation with one interception thrown, and third in the MW and 35th in the nation in tackles for loss allowed with nine (4.50 pg).
 
UTAH STATE 14TH IN THE NATION IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• After finishing the 2022 season first in the Mountain West and 11th in the nation in tackles for loss with 94 (7.2 pg), Utah State is second in the MW and 14th in the nation this year with 8.5 tackles for loss per game. USU is also fourth in the MW and 39th in the nation in rushing defense (94.5 ypg), fourth in the MW and 68th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (125.7), fourth in the MW and 73rd in the nation total defense (354.0 ypg), fifth in the MW and 87th in the nation in scoring defense (26.0 ppg), sixth in the MW and 103rd in the nation in passing defense (259.5 ypg), and eighth in the MW and 84th in the nation in sacks with three (1.50 pg).
 
• Utah State is also second in the MW and 42nd in the nation in passes intercepted with two (1.0 pg).
 
UTAH STATE ONE OF SEVEN FBS TEAMS WITH TWO DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
• Utah State is one of seven Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams in the nation with two defensive touchdowns this season, along with Akron, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Syracuse, Washington State and Western Kentucky.     
 
UTAH STATE BLOCKS FIRST PUNT OF 2023 SEASON
• After leading the Mountain West and ranking 10th in the nation with four blocked kicks (3 punts, 1 extra point) in 2022, Utah State started the 2023 season by blocking a punt at No. 25 Iowa. USU has blocked six punts in its last 17 games dating back to the 2021 season.
 
• Utah State has blocked eight kicks (6 punts, 1 field goal, 1 extra point) under head coach Blake Anderson, which included four blocks (3 punts, 1 extra point) during the 2022 campaign.  The school record for blocked kicks in a season is six set in 2012.
 
UTAH STATE 38TH IN THE NATION IN KICKOFF RETURNS
• Following its first two games of the 2023 season, Utah State is second in the Mountain West and 46th in the nation in punt return defense (1.0 ypr), fourth in the MW and 38th in the nation in kickoff returns (23.3 ypr), fifth in the MW and 60th in the nation in punt returns (7.6 ypr), seventh in the MW and 62nd in the nation in net punting (39.9 ypp), and 10th in the MW and 126th in the nation in kickoff return defense (28.3 ypr). 
 
AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS
• Utah State senior WR Terrell Vaughn currently leads the nation with 11.5 receptions per game, is second in the Mountain West and seventh in the nation in receiving touchdowns with three (1.5 pg), third in the MW and 49th in the nation in scoring (9.0 ppg), sixth in the MW and 46th in the nation in receiving yards (83.0 ypg), and 10th in the MW in all-purpose yards (92.5 ypg). Sophomore S Ike Larsen is tied for first in the nation with one blocked kick (0.5 pg), tied for first in the nation with one defensive touchdown (0.5 pg), is second in the MW and 25th in the nation with one interception (0.5 pg), and is fourth in the MW and 20th in the nation in pass breakups (1.5 pg). Junior CB Jaiden Francois is tied for first in the nation with one defensive touchdown (0.5 pg), and is second in the MW and 25th in the nation with one interception (0.5 pg). Graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. is first in the MW and eighth in the nation in tackles for loss (2.0 pg), and fourth in the MW and 16th in the nation in forced fumbles with one (0.5 pg). Junior PK Elliott Nimrod is tied for first in the nation in field goal percentage (100.0), and is sixth in the MW and 53rd in the nation in field goals made per game (1.0). Graduate senior QB Cooper Legas is first in the MW and 22nd in the nation in completion percentage (.719), third in the MW and 24th in the nation in completions per game (23.0), seventh in the MW and 86th in the nation in passing efficiency (128.6), eighth in the MW and 91st in the nation in passing yards per game (169.0), and ninth in the MW and 94th in the nation in total offense per game (186.5). Junior DE Cian Slone is second in the MW and seventh in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.5 pg). Junior WR Micah Davis is second in the MW and 34th in the nation in punt returns (7.6 ypr). Graduate senior CB Michael Anyanwu is fourth in the MW and 16th in the nation in forced fumbles with one (0.5 pg). Senior P Stephen Kotsanlee is fifth in the MW and 21st in the nation in punting (45.2 ypp). Junior RB Rahsul Faison is fifth in the MW and 56th in the nation in rushing (77.0 ypg). Redshirt junior S Anthony Switzer is sixth in the MW and 43rd in the nation in tackles (9.0 pg). Junior S Simeon Harris is eighth in the MW and 80th in the nation in tackles (8.0 pg). And, junior RB Davon Booth in eighth in the MW in rushing (58.0 ypg).
 
ANDERSON ENTERS THIRD SEASON AT UTAH STATE
• Blake Anderson, who is entering his third season at Utah State, is just the second head coach in program history to lead the Aggies to consecutive bowl games in 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 Matt Wells (2013-15, '17). 
 
• In 2021, Anderson led the Aggies to their first-ever Mountain West Championship with a 46-13 win at No. 19 San Diego State, which was the program's first win against a nationally-ranked opponent in six years. Anderson also led USU to its 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 after being picked to finish fifth in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West in the preseason polls. USU concluded its season ranked 24th in the nation in the final Associated Press poll, marking just the fifth-time ever that USU finished a season nationally ranked. 
 
• Under Anderson, Utah State tied for the best turnaround in the nation in 2021, as the Aggies became the first Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team ever to go from zero or one win to 11 wins the following season. USU also became the first FBS program in eight years to post a 7-0 road record. 
 
• Anderson, who was named the 2021 AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award, was the only first-year head coach in the nation to lead his team to nine or more wins. In 2022, Anderson led USU to the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.  
 
• 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 eighth bowl game in nine seasons last year and has a 3-5 bowl record.
 
ANDERSON AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND QUARTERBACKS COACH
• Along with his head coaching responsibilities, Blake Anderson is also serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach this season. During his time as a head coach at Arkansas State, Anderson also served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. In 2017, ASU ranked fifth in the nation in passing (342.2 ypg), 10th in total offense (494.8 ypg) and 13th in scoring (37.8 ypg). In 2018, ASU ranked 17th in the nation in total offense (466.2 ypg), 21st in passing (281.5 ypg) and 54th in scoring (30.3 ppg).
 
CEFALO HAS COACHED THREE BILETNIKOFF SEMIFINALISTS
• Utah State co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Kyle Cefalo has coached a Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist in three of the last four seasons. 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.
 
OTHER COACHING NOTABLES
• Utah State welcomes six new coaches to its staff this fall in defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen, defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Mitchell White, offensive line coach Cooper Bassett, defensive line coach Tevita Finau, running backs coach Rodney Freeman III and safeties coach Ethan Morriss. 
 
• Cauthen spent five years working with USU head coach Blake Anderson at Arkansas State (2014-18) as the Red Wolves played in five-straight bowl games and won a pair of conference championships (2015-16). 
 
• Anderson has two former Aggies on his staff in tight ends coach DJ Tialavea (2010-13) and director of player development and community engagement Austin Albrecht (2014-16). 
 
• Finau spent five years (2012-16) in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets and Houston Texans. 
 
• White spent six years in professional football, including in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders (2013) and Philadelphia Eagles (2017). White also played four years in the Canadian Football League and won back-to-back Grey Cups with the Ottawa Redblacks (2016) and Toronto Argonauts (2017). During the 2016 campaign, he was named a CFL East All-Star.
 
WHAT'S RETURNING IN 2023 
• Utah State returns nine starters (O-4, D-5) as part of 35 letterwinners (O-19, D-13, S-3) from last year's team that posted a 6-7 record, tied for second in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 5-3 mark, and concluded its season by playing in its 10th bowl game in the past 12 years against Memphis (L, 38-10) in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl in Dallas, Texas. USU also welcomes back 14 redshirts (O-7, D-6, S-1) and three squadmen (O-1, D-2). 
 
• Highlighting Utah State's returners in 2023 are a trio of all-Mountain West performers in sophomore S Ike Larsen, senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. and senior WR Terrell Vaughn. Larsen earned second-team all-MW accolades and was named a College Football News Honorable Mention Freshman All-American, while Tafisi and Vaughn both garnered honorable mention all-MW honors. USU also returns senior P Stephen Kotsanlee, who earned honorable mention all-MW honors in 2020.  
 
• Other starters returning for Utah State in 2023 include graduate senior CB Michael Anyanwu, graduate senior QB Cooper Legas, graduate senior OL Wade Meacham, senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka, senior TE Josh Sterzer and senior DT Poukesi Vakauta.
 
UTAH STATE WELCOMES 61 NEWCOMERS 
• Utah State welcomes 61 newcomers (O-27, D-32, S-2) to its program this fall, which is the sixth-most in the nation. Among the group of new players are 14 four-year transfers in graduate senior OL Ralph Frias III (Arizona State), senior RB Sione Finau (BYU), graduate junior WR Colby Bowman (Stanford), junior CB Jaiden Francois (UCF), junior QB Zeke Payne (New Mexico Highlands), junior DE Blaine Spires (Bowling Green), redshirt sophomore CB Avante Dickerson (Oregon), sophomore CB Al Ashford III (Wisconsin), sophomore ILB Gavin Barthiel (Washington State), sophomore S Simeon Harris (Colorado), redshirt freshman DT Sir Mells (Oregon), redshirt freshman WR Grant Page (Colorado), redshirt freshman ILB Logan Pili (BYU) and redshirt freshman S Jackson Sundstrom (Concordia). USU also welcomes 21 junior college transfers (O-9, D-11, S-1), to go along with 26 high schoolers (O-13, D-12, S-1).
 
• Among the 21 junior college transfers, five of those players began their careers at the FBS level in junior WR Micah Davis (Air Force), junior RB Rahsul Faison (Marshall), junior CB Jaylen Martin (California), sophomore DE Ioholani Raass (UCLA) and sophomore S Javar Strong (Arkansas State). 
 
UTAH STATE HAS FOUR SETS OF BROTHERS ON 2023 ROSTER  
• Utah State has four sets of brothers on its 2023 roster in senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou HS) and redshirt freshman OL Tavo Motu'apuaka (Honolulu, Hawaii/Mililani HS), junior DE Cian Slone (Rocklin, California/American River JC/Rocklin HS) and sophomore S Teeg Slone (Rocklin, California/American River JC/Rocklin HS), sophomore OL Elia Migao (Temecula, California/Chaparral HS) and sophomore DE Enoka Migao (Temecula, California/Chaparral HS), and redshirt freshman DE Kaden Jolley (Fruita, Colorado/Fruita Monument HS) and freshman DT Tanner Jolley (Fruita, Colorado/Fruita Monument HS). 
 
NINE AGGIES WITH BACHELOR'S DEGREES  
• Utah State has nine players on its 2023 roster that have already received their bachelor's degrees in graduate senior CB Michael Anyanwu (kinesiology), graduate senior OL Ralph Frias III (interdisciplinary studies), graduate senior OL Calvin Knapp (interdisciplinary studies), graduate senior QB Cooper Legas (economics), graduate senior OL Wade Meacham (psychology), graduate senior CB Xavion Steele (sociology), graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. (integrated studies), graduate junior WR Colby Bowman (science, technology and society) and graduate junior QB Levi Williams (integrated studies). 
 
AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS 
•  Utah State has 14 players on its 2023 roster who have served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in graduate senior OL Wade Meacham, senior RB Sione Finau, senior TE Josh Sterzer, senior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen, sophomore DE Kaden Jolley, sophomore DT Seni Tuiaki, redshirt freshman K/P Ryan Marks, redshirt freshman ILB Bronson Olevao Jr., redshirt freshman LB Logan Pili, redshirt freshman OL Adam Pond, freshman DE Emerson Conlon, freshman ILB Bowen Fjord, freshman DT Tanner Jolley and freshman S Titan Saxton.
 
AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED 
• Utah State has four players on its 2023 roster who are married in graduate senior OL Wade Meacham, senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka, senior TE Josh Sterzer and junior OL Cole Motes.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State sophomore S Devin Dye's dad, Jermaine, spent 13 years in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for several teams, including the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox, as he was named World Series MVP. He was a two-time All-Star, a Gold Glove Award recipient in 2000 and a Silver Slugger Award recipient in 2006. 
 
HEAD COACH BLAKE ANDERSON
• Blake Anderson (hired on Dec. 12, 2020) is in his third year as Utah State's head coach and is the 29th head coach in program history. He has a 69-48 overall record, including a 49-23 conference mark. He has posted an 18-11 record at USU, including a 11-5 Mountain West record.
 
• Anderson has 30 years of coaching experience and has been part of six conference championships. He has also coached in 13 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.