LOGAN, Utah – Utah State's cornerbacks are excited to display their versatility this fall as it returns two letter winners from last season, to go along with one redshirt, while adding four newcomers.

Utah State's two returning letter winners here are junior Avante Dickerson and sophomore JD Drew, while the returning redshirt is freshman Noah Flores, who was put on scholarship during fall camp.
 
"I'm proud of our cornerbacks," said first-year cornerbacks coach Jalen Ortiz. "They have taken a huge jump from spring until fall camp, and they have worked their tails off. It always helps when you are going against someone like Jalen Royals every day. It has done nothing but force the corners to get better.
 
"The guys are bought in, they have a high football IQ, and they bring a lot of versatility to the field," added Ortiz. "We are close, tight-knit group, and we are like family. They set the standard and hold each other accountable."
 
The Returners
Dickerson has played in 24 career games with seven starts, which includes starting seven of the 11 games he played in during his first year with the Aggies as he finished the season with 17 tackles and six pass breakups.


 
Drew has played in 16 games with six starts during his first two years in the program. In 2023, he started six of the 11 games he played in and finished the year with 27 tackles and six pass breakups.

Prior to redshirting the 2023 season, Flores earned first-team all-state honors as a prep senior at Alta High School in Sandy, Utah, as he recorded 28 tackles, to go along with nine interceptions, nine pass breakups and one fumble recovery.


 
The Newcomers
Joining the four players mentioned above are four newcomers, which includes a four-year transfer and three junior college players.
 
Redshirt junior cornerback DJ Graham II (Fort Worth, Texas/Keller Central HS/Oklahoma) highlights this group as he spent four seasons at Oklahoma (2020-23), appearing in 28 career games with 12 starts as he posted 72 tackles.
 
The three junior college players joining this group include junior Mason Edwards (Denham Springs, La./Denham Springs HS/Hutchinson CC), junior EJ Fisk Jr. (Tupelo, Miss./Saltillo HS/East Central College) and junior Courage Ugo (Richmond, Texas/Foster HS/Blinn JC).
 
Fisk highlights this group of junior college players as he was rated the eighth-best junior college cornerback and the 56th-best junior college player in the nation by 247Sports.com following the 2023 season. As a sophomore at East Central College, he earned all-Mississippi Association of Community Colleges Conference (MACCC) South Division honorable mention honors as he played in nine games and recorded 36 tackles, which included 2.0 tackles for loss, to go along with two pass breakups.
 
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
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