2011 CFB Preview, Vincent Rizzo Sports - Utah State

2010 Season Breakdown

Final record (overall, conference): 4-8, 2-6
Bowl game: None
Final ranking (AP, Coaches’): NR, NR
Conference finish: 7^th
Offensive rank: 84^th
Defensive rank: 100^th

2010 Individual Statistics Leaders

Rushing: Derrvin Speight, 779 yards, 8 TD
Passing: Diondre Borel, 2,108 yards, 8 TD, 13 INT
Receiving: Dontel Watkins, 492 yards, 4 TD
Tackles: Bobby Wagner, 133 tackles
Sacks: Levi Koskan, 4.5 sacks
Interceptions: Quinton Byrd and Rajric Coleman, 3 INT each

2011 Schedule (all games Saturday unless noted)*denotes conference game

September 3 @ Auburn
September 10 vs. Weber State [8:00 PM ET]
September 24 vs. Colorado State [8:00 PM ET]
September 30 (Fri) @ BYU [8:00 PM ET]
October 8 vs. Wyoming* [8:00 PM ET]
October 15 @ Fresno State* [10:00 PM ET]
October 22 vs. Louisiana Tech* [3:00 PM ET]
November 6 (Sun) @ Hawaii* [12:00 AM ET]
November 12 vs. San Jose State* [3:00 PM ET]
November 19 @ Idaho*
November 26 vs. Nevada* [3:00 PM ET]
December 3 @ New Mexico State Aggies*

Key Matchups

September 30 @ BYU Cougars: A 1-3 Aggies team managed the 31-16 upset of the Cougars last season. They’ll get the opportunity to do it on the road this time when the two meet on national television on a Friday night this year.

November 6 @ Hawaii Warriors: Want to put your new defensive starters to the test to see where they are mid-season? Try playing the Hawaii Warriors.

December 3 @ New Mexico State Aggies: If the Aggies get it together on defense and find a way to make plays in the backfield, they could make a surprise run at the WAC title. If you’re going to do that, you  need to close the season strong—especially when you’re taking on arguably the weakest opponent in the conference.

Key Departed Players

Diondre Borel, QB; Spencer Johnson, OL; Casey Davis, DT; Sean Enesi, DT; Curtis Marsh, CB; Chris Randle, CB; Rajric Coleman, S

Key Returning Players

Robert Turbin, RB; Kerwynn Williams, RB/WR/KR; Matt Austin, WR; Stanley Morrison, WR; Kellen Bartlett, TE; Eric Schultz, T; Phillip Gapelu, G; Funaki Asisi, G; Tyler Larsen, C; Levi Koskan, DE; Bobby Wagner, LB; Kyle Gallagher, LB; Jake Doughty, LB; Walter McClenton, S

Offensive Overview

Last season the offense lost plenty of playmakers to injuries. Running back Robert Turbin and wide receiver Stanley Morrison went down in the offseason, and then wide receiver Matt Austin was injured in the first week and sat out the rest of the season. Getting Turbin back should be a big boost to the offense; he holds the USU single season record for touchdowns (18—13 rushing, 5 receiving) and points scored (110 points). Another record holder expected to contribute on offense is Kerwynn Williams, who holds the FBS single season record for kick return  yards (1,444 yards) and is second on the WAC career kick return yards list (2,575 yards—the current record holder is Cedric Johnson, UTEP, 1993-96 with 2,782 yards).

The return of wide receivers Austin and Morrison is encouraging for a team that tied for ninth in the nation in red zone offense, scoring on 34 of their 38 red zone appearances (89%). Turbin, Austin, Morrison and running back Michael Smith all sat out of the spring game as they recover from injuries. Others have stepped up this spring such as senior receivers Xavier Martin and Eric Moats and sophomore Travis Reynolds, so there will be depth on the offense if the Aggies get the injured players back and everybody can keep healthy.

Losing quarterback Diondre Borel will be the biggest obstacle for this offense as they look to replace the three-year starter. Borel struggled a season ago and the offense sputtered, which contributed to a down year for the Aggies after starting strong against Oklahoma and beating BYU. The new starter will not be named until fall camp as JUCO transfer Adam Kennedy and Alex Hart appear to be the frontrunners after the spring. The good news is that an offensive line returning four starters will protect the new signal caller. Last season’s line ranked 71^st in sacks allowed, giving up 2.1 sacks per game, so the hope is that the experience will benefit a team getting a lot of playmakers back from injury.

Defensive Overview

Defensively, the biggest challenge will be to find players up front capable of making plays in the backfield. The Aggies were 109^th in sacks and 117^th in tackles for loss last season, so improvement is vital to this team’s ability to take that next step in the conference. Senior defensive end Levi Koskan returns after leading the team with 4.5 sacks. The spring game gave hope to the pass rush, as the Aggies recorded a total of 13 sacks with linebacker Jake Doughty coming away with two sacks and linebacker Parker Hausknecht with three sacks for the other squad.

The secondary could also use some playmakers with three starters leaving and a greater pass rush would take a lot of pressure off of the new starters. Dontel Watkins—a converted wide receiver—should see time in the secondary. Safety Walter McKletton is the lone returning starter. Quinton Byrd and Nevin Lawson should see time at cornerback.

Linebacker is a strength of this defense heading into the season with Bobby Wagner returning after leading the team with 133 tackles and Kyle Gallagher also returning a year after recording 91 tackles. The defense as a whole needs to get better, though. The Aggies finished 101^st in scoring defense and allowed an average of 179.3 rushing yards and 249.6 passing yards per game.

Beat Writer’s Take

I’ve asked beat writers and alumni from around the country to give their take on the local team heading into the 2011 season. Providing his take on the Aggies is Matt Sonnenbergof the Utah Statesman. You may also find Matt’s work at The Refraction and The Bull Sheet, online resources for USU stats and information.

“After a load injuries kept USU’s 2010 offense from repeating the prowess that saw the 12th best yards per game output in 2009, the 2011 squad welcomes back three potential superstars to aid in breaking in a new quarterback. What kind of production the Aggies get on the offensive side of the ball from running back Robert Turbin and wide receivers Stanley Morrison and Matt Austin, the injured 2010 trio, will likely be the biggest factor in what makes or breaks Utah State’s dreams of finally returning to a bowl game for the 2011 season.

“On defense, not only is third year head coach Gary Andersen taking on the role of defensive coordinator, but also switching the scheme from a 4-3 to a 3-4. The move is due largely in part to a strong core of linebackers on the 2011 squad, led by two-time all-WAC first teamer Bobby Wagner.

“Predicting any surety for a program that’s been down as long as USU is never a safe bet, but if Turbin, Morrison and Austin all return to form and if the defense plays to its potential, Utah State could easily find itself among the top three in the Western Athletic Conference standings on the way to the program’s first bowl game in the 21st century.”

Top 2012 Draft Prospects

Bobby Wagner, LB

Season Prediction

5^th WAC

The Aggies get plenty of offensive players returning from injuries that kept them sidelined in 2010 and improvement on offense should be expected if an efficient passer is found, but strides must be made on the defense if this team hopes to compete for the conference championship. There has to be more of a pass rush and while the Aggies defense came up with plenty of sacks in the spring game, a greater push up front needs to become a regular thing if Utah State hopes to keep teams from moving the ball and finding the end zone. There will also be new defensive backs taking the place of last year’s starters, so winning the battle up front is going to be key to a successful season.