LOGAN, Utah – Another group returning plenty of talent and experience heading into the 2024 season for Utah State is its tight ends. And fourth-year assistant coach and Aggie alum
DJ Tialavea is all smiles when asked about his players.
"I'm the luckiest coach," said Tialavea. "I've been with Broc (Lane) and Josh (Sterzer) for four years now."
Overall, Utah State returns all four of its players from a season ago in graduate senior
Broc Lane, senior
Josh Sterzer, and sophomores
Will Monney and
Chase Tuatagaloa. Collectively, this group has played in 74 games with 24 starts.
"It is a blessing to have our whole room back from last year. We have a lot of talented guys with a couple of veterans and a couple of young guys. Overall, it is a very talented and deep group and I'm excited to coach them," Tialavea added.
While pass catching and run blocking are staples of a tight end, Tialavea sees just as much value in his group on special teams heading into the fall.
"The strongest attribute of this group is going to be on special teams. All those guys have a chance to be significant playmakers, and I expect all of them to use their speed and athleticism to make some big plays on special teams this year."
The Returners
Lane earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors in 2023 as he started 10 of the 11 games he played in and caught 21 receptions for 208 yards (9.9 ypr) and one touchdown. For his career, Lane has played in 26 games with 10 starts and has 29 receptions for 247 yards (8.5 ypr) and two scores.
Sterzer has played in 31 games with 13 starts in his career and has caught 17 passes for 161 yards (9.5 ypr) and one touchdown. Sterzer missed the first eight games of the 2023 season due to injury, but played in the final five contests, catching two passes for 11 yards.
Monney played in 12 games with one start as a true freshman in 2023, while Tuatagaloa appeared in five games a year ago after making the move from the quarterback position to tight end during fall camp.
The Newcomers
Along with the four players mentioned above, Utah State added two newcomers in freshmen
Grayson Brousseau (Lehi, Utah/Lehi HS) and
Noah Wright (Woods Cross, Utah/Woods Cross HS).
Offensive Production in 2023
Utah State finished the 2023 season second in the Mountain West and 26th in the nation in scoring offense (33.2 ppg), first in the MW and 25th in the nation in total offense (438.6 ypg), second in the MW and 44th in the nation in passing efficiency (143.2), fourth in the MW and 30th in the nation in rushing offense (184.4 ypg), and fourth in the MW and 43rd in the nation in passing offense (254.2 ypg).
Utah State was also third in the MW and 39th in the nation in first downs with 284 (21.8 pg), fourth in the MW and 39th in the nation in fumbles lost with six (0.46 pg), sixth in the MW and 50th in the nation in red zone offense (.867), sixth in the MW and 52nd in the nation in passing yards per completion (12.29), and seventh in the MW and 53rd in the nation in fourth down conversions (.562).
Fall Schedule
Utah State opens the 2024 season on Saturday, Aug. 31, as it hosts Robert Morris and begins Mountain West play at Boise State on Saturday, Oct. 5.
Ticket Information
Season tickets and mini-plans for the 2024 season are on sale now. Purchase your tickets today to guarantee your seat for the return of the 'Battle of the Brothers' on Saturday, September 14th. To purchase visit utahstateaggies.com or call the ticket office at 435-797-0305.
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