LOGAN, Utah – Even though Utah State enters the 2024 season without a returning starter at inside linebacker, the coaching staff is excited about the group that has been assembled and expects that group to play with a higher level of physicality than in the past.
 
"We obviously had a bunch of new additions to the room coming out of spring ball," said Bobby McMillen, who is in his first year as USU's co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. "The room, collectively, has had tremendous growth and it's been awesome to see.
 
"The proudest thing for me has been the way they have meshed. The energy in the position meetings, the energy they bring to the practice field, the brotherhood and comradery between the group is awesome and it is a credit to the guys that were here in the spring and a credit to the new guys, as well. The cohesiveness of the group is fantastic."
 
With less than two weeks before the season opener, McMillen has been pleased with his group's ability to win its one-on-one battles.
 
"The one thing our linebacker group has as a whole is physicality," added McMillen. "Our ability to win the line of scrimmage from the second level has shown out throughout fall camp. The guys we brought in bring in a ton of experience and I think this room is ready to have a really good fall."
 
Another factor that McMillen is excited to see play out on Saturdays this fall is the new players' in-game experience.
 
"A lot of our guys have leadership qualities," said McMillen. "The room leads itself in terms of guys keeping each other accountable and holding each other to a higher standard, because they know what it takes, and they have been through it before. We don't have a lot of young guys. I think all of them have done a great job holding each other accountable."
 
The Returners
Despite losing both of its starters here from a year ago, including All-American MJ Tafisi Jr., Utah State does return four players with in-game experience.
 
The three letterwinners back include junior Cole Joyce, and sophomores Max Alford and Logan Pili. Alford has played in 14 games with five starts during his first two years in the program, but redshirted a season ago after suffering a season-ending injury on the first defensive snap of the 2024 campaign. For his career, Alford has 40 tackles, which includes 4.0 tackles for loss. Joyce has played in 27 career games with one start and has 26 tackles, which includes 2.0 sacks. And Pili has played in 15 career games with two starts and has 38 tackles, which includes 1.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss. 


 
Utah State also welcomes back sophomore Bronson Olevao Jr., who played in the first three games of the season last year, before missing the rest of the year due to injury.
 
The Newcomers
Along with the four players mentioned above, Utah State added six talented newcomers, including four via the transfer portal, in graduate senior Jon Ross Maye (Johns Creek, Ga./Johns Creek HS/Lenoir-Rhyne), graduate senior Clyde Washington (Mount Laurel, N.J./Lenape HS/Purdue), graduate junior Jadon Pearson (Gilbert, Ariz./Williams Field HS/Utah) and redshirt junior John Miller (Tualatin, Ore./Tualatin HS/Oregon State), in addition to a pair of freshmen in Tanner Williams (Orange, Calif./Mater Dei HS) and Nathan Wright (Prescott, Ariz./Prescott HS).
 
Maye spent four years at Lenoir-Rhyne (2020-23) in Hickory, N.C, and was named a Division II second-team All-American in 2023. Overall, he has started all 38 games he has played in during his career and has recorded 274 tackles, which included 6.5 sacks and 34.0 tackles for loss, to go along with 16 pass breakups, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.


 
Washington spent four seasons at Purdue (2020-23) as he appeared in 36 games with four starts and recorded 42 tackles, to go along with one interception. Miller spent four seasons at Oregon State (2020-23) and recorded 22 tackles in 35 career games. And Pearson spent two seasons at Utah (2022-23) as he appeared in 16 games and recorded nine tackles.
 
Defensive Production in 2023
Utah State's defense finished the 2023 season second in the Mountain West and 33rd in the nation in tackles for loss with 80 (6.2 pg), fifth in the MW and 56th in the nation in sacks with 29 (2.23 pg), sixth in the MW and 60th in the nation in passing defense (219.6 ypg), and sixth in the MW and 61st in the nation in passing efficiency defense (131.3). USU was also second in the MW and 43rd in the nation in red zone defense (.810), third in the MW and 48th in the nation in fourth down conversions (.471).
 
Utah State was also fifth in the MW and 38th in the nation with 20 forced turnovers, third in the MW and 16th in the nation in fumbles recovered with 10 (0.77 pg), seventh in the MW and 65th in the nation in passes intercepted with 10 (0.77 pg), and one of 28 FBS teams in the nation with three defensive touchdowns on the season.
 
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.
 
Parking
All Single-Game Parking sales will be cashless, starting this year. Those can be purchased in advance for $10 online, or for $15 on gamedays at the F lot entrances.
 
Follow
Fans can follow the Aggie football program with behind the scenes content and coverage on social media through X, Instagram and Facebook, along with visiting www.utahstateaggies.com.