Utah State Aggies Football: 2015 Season Preview

Matt Wells continues to find build the Utah State program after 19 wins in two years as head coach of the Aggies and is in search of a second straight 10-win season and a Mountain West title in 2015.

The Utah State football program is one of the best from the ranks of the Group of Five and after a 10-4 record in the second year under head coach Matt Wells who has kept the program afloat after the departure of Gary Andersen.

Offensive Outlook

Chuckie Keeton was a dark horse Heisman contender two years ago but a pair of torn ACL’s in back-to-back years has limited him to a total of nine games in the last two seasons. He was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA and if he can stay healthy, should put up the numbers he did in his last full season when he threw for 3,373 yards and 27 touchdowns to only nine interceptions in 2012. He also added 619 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.

Helping Keeton stay healthy is an offensive line that returns four starters and an experienced group of skill position players. Running back LaJuan Hunt was a part-time starter last year when he led the team in rushing with 540 yards on a 4.9 yards-per-carry average but should see an increased workload with Joe Hill gone. The 5-8, 195-pound back won’t have to do it alone as another timeshare situation that worked so well last year could be used to keep everyone fresh.

At receiver, Hunter Sharp, JoJo Natson and Devonte Robinson return after they were three of the top four receivers last year. Sharp led the way with 66 receptions for 939 yards and seven touchdowns while Natson brings big-play as a receiver and runner after he had 498 rushing and 504 receiving yards with five total touchdowns last year.

Defensive Outlook

The Utah State defense made this team special last year when they allowed an average of 19.7 points per game, good for the nation’s No. 12 scoring defense but they’ll have to replace first-team Mountain West performers, Brock Hekking, Zach Vigil and Frankie Sutera.

This year’s unit will be led by a pair of linebackers in Nick Vigil and Kyler Fackrell. Vigil had 123 tackles with seven sacks, 17 tackles for loss and forced five fumbles last year and should top those numbers this year as the leader and best player and leader of the unit. Fackrell suffered a knee injury last year but should be fully healthy and ready to improve on the numbers he posted in 2013 when he had 82 tackles, five sacks, 13 tackles for loss, and an interception he returned 99 yards for a score. The talented outside linebacker should be one of the conference’s best all-around defenders.

Leading the secondary is Devin Centers who had 74 tackles from his safety position last year and cornerback Jalen Davis who started every game as a true freshman in 2014 and made 61 tackles with a pair of interceptions and seven pass deflections.

Jordan Nielson isn’t going to rack up double-digit sacks from his end position, but the senior is as tough and as consistent as they come against the run. He had 52 tackles and 6.5 of them for loss to go with his two sacks.

Prediction

Utah State was decimated by injuries last year so you have to think the football Gods will be in their favor this year and keep them healthy. Had they not suffered so many devastating injuries last year they probably are the reigning Mountain West champions and could have had a 12-win season.

This year will present challenges on both sides of the ball with new offensive coordinator Josh Heupel and new defensive coordinator Kevin Clune, but that can also be a positive with a fresh approach and renewed enthusiasm brimming from the new assistants.

The season will hinge on the health of Keeton who could be the conference’s best player if he can get through the grind of the regular season after back-to-back ACL surgeries. If he gets hurt again, Kent Myers will take over and he’s capable of managing the offense but lacks the star power of Keeton.

A tough first half of the schedule looms large for a team looking to start strong but after opening vs Southern Utah have road dates with Utah and Washington in Weeks 2 and 3 before playing Colorado State, at Fresno State, Boise State and at San Diego State in October.

Provided they manage to get through that gauntlet their final three games are at Air Force, vs Nevada and BYU.

With a healthy, Keeton a 10-win season is possible, but it won’t be easy with such a challenging schedule.

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