The Utah State Aggies were maligned before the season began. The New York Times ranked the Aggies (0-1) 119th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision college football teams, and Sports Illustrated predicted an 0-12 finish, good for last in the Western Athletic Conference and the nation. Head coach Brent Guy is familiar with Oregon – he was Arizona State’s defensive coordinator from 2001-04 – and winning in Logan, Utah, as the linebackers coach in the 1993 season. That year, the Aggies won the Las Vegas Bowl against Ball State for the only bowl win in school history.
Guy is not close to returning to bowl eligibility at present. His coaching record with the Aggies is 6-29 over three years, with half his wins coming in his first year. Last year’s model went 2-10 (2-6 WAC), both wins coming against conference teams Idaho and New Mexico State. To top it off, the opening game of the year – a 27-17 loss to UNLV – revealed a potential quarterback controversy.
In the loss to UNLV, senior quarterback Sean Setzer, a graduate of Portland’s Wilson High School, was replaced in the third quarter by sophomore Diondre Borel after a UNLV touchdown increased the Rebels’ lead to 24-7. Setzer, a pro-style drop-back passer, completed 10 of 17 throws for 123 yards and an interception, while Borel, a dual-threat running quarterback, completed eight of 16 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown, and rushed 15 times for 70 yards to lead the Aggies in rushing yards. This will likely play on into the Oregon game, but head coach Mike Bellotti understands the value of offensive depth.
At the skill positions, Utah State is also considered deep at running back, where sophomores Curtis Marsh and Derrvin Speight and freshman Robert Turbin will each receive a share of the carries. UNLV held Marsh to six yards on five carries, but Turbin ran for 34 yards and 13 carries, scoring the Aggies’ first touchdown. Speight, Utah State’s leading rusher last season, did not carry the ball.
Six-foot-four Otis Nelson and 5-foot-8 speed demon Stanley Morrison line up at WR for the Aggies, while senior tight end Rob Myers is the top receiver from last season. Three of the 17 returning starters for Utah State are among the offensive line, including massive offensive tackle Derek Hoke (6-foot-9, 315 pounds).
Defensively, each starting linebacker and defensive back returns from 2007, including the top five tacklers from last season. The defensive line brings back both defensive tackles – senior Ben Calderwood and junior Alan Bishop – who look to make an impact up the middle.
How critical was graduated quarterback Leon Jackson III to the Aggies? Not only did he throw for 1,576 yards (nine TDs, four INTs) and rush for 338 more (second on the team), he also served as Utah State’s punter. Sophomore Peter Caldwell, who made 13 of 21 field goals last year, will assume both punting and conversion kicking duties this year.
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