2013 Utah State Spring Football Analysis

2013 Utah State Aggies ... Head Coach: Matt Wells

Utah State Aggies

2013 Schedule
Not Yet Released

Why To Be Excited There’s no reason to think that the offense is going to start slowing down despite the loss of head coach Gary Andersen. Matt Wells has a loaded team returning with eight starters back on an offense that averaged close to 470 yards per game, while the defense gets back most of the key parts after finishing 14th in the nation in yards allowed and seventh in scoring. Quarterback Chuckie Keeton should be one of the Mountain West’s biggest stars, and while he doesn’t have Kerwynn Williams to hand off to anymore, all five starters return to a strong offensive line that should blast away for Joe Hill and the rest of the Aggie backs.

Why To Be Grouchy Andersen really was special. Wells is walking into a great situation, but Andersen was a miracle worker who managed to take a moribund program and make it good enough to go 11-2 and within five points of being perfect. The defensive front that was so great at getting into the backfield loses outside defenders Al Lapuaho and Bojay Filimoeatu. While the top pass rushers are back, it’s going to be a bit of a fight to find more producers up front and replace star corner Will Davis.

What Needs Working On The defense needs to be better at forcing fumbles. As good as it was throughout the year against the run and as fantastic as it was at getting behind the line, the defense didn’t do enough to get the ball on the ground. The pass D picked off 14 passes with 11 in the final six games, but on the year the Aggies forced a mere 11 fumbles and recovered just six. Turnover margin wasn’t a problem overall, but it would be nice it turned into a positive.

Team Concerns For 2013: The first step will be getting used to new head coach Matt Wells, who should keep most of Gary Andersen's main schemes in place, but he'll have to find a new running back to get the ground game going with Kerwynn Williams done. The Aggies have to cut down on the penalties and it would be nice to be better at holding on to the ball - opponents had it four minutes more per game - but more than anything else, they just have to try keeping the momentum rolling moving from the WAC to the Mountain West.

The 2013 Class Is Heavy On ... Wide receivers. The idea is to help out the passing game down the road with JUCO transfers Ryan Watson and Ronald Butler along with three of the team's better prep pickups - John Fakahafua, Hayden Weichers and Tyler Fox - to give the offense a boost. The defense will need bodies next season with ends Caden Andersen and Jacoby Wildman two of the few strong prospects. Quarterback Darell Garretson and JUCO transfer corner Jeremy Morris need to be key parts of the puzzle.

2012 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 124. That Class Was Heavy On ... The Aggies need to upgrade the running back corps with Robert Turbin and Michael Smith gone. The depth needs to be developed and any newcomers will get every shot to see time right away. After going heavy on the JUCO transfers over the last few years, head coach Gary Andersen is in a more secure position and the program can go after more freshmen options to build for down the road. 

2011 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 100. That Class Was Heavy On ... JUCO. Gary Andersen went went the JUCO route to provide some instant pop in 2009, and after dealing with the future last year, he’s going back to the secondary schools for help. True freshman QB Chuck Keeton needs to be the star of the class with his athleticism, but the point of this haul was to load up on plays with three JUCO corners, led by speedy William Davis, while Tyler Bennett could be a major boost for the punting game.

2010 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 107. That Class Was Heavy On ... The passing game. Gary Andersen spent his first season loading up on players getting JUCO transfer after JUCO transfer, but this recruiting season is about building for the future. Diondre Borel is the starting quarterback this year without question, so Alex Hart, Trevor Brown, and Jeremy Higgins will get time to develop. However, a few of the new receivers will be asked to produce early on. JUCO transfers Xavier Martin and Dontel Watkins will give Borel targets, but Shaan Johnson will end up being the start of the passing attack.

2009 CFN Recruiting Ranking: 104. That Class Was Heavy On ... JUCO. New head coach Gary Andersen is looking to make an impact early on, and he needed more bodies to do it. While the incoming junior college players will mostly be used for depth, the program needed players to push for spots and to provide more competition. OT Christian Browne-Frazier and LB Reuben Willis will do that.