Coach Blake Anderson claps on the sidelines after a play.

3 Takeaways from Mountain West Media Days

LAS VEGAS — The first day of Mountain West Conference Media Days is in the books. The first day featured a 45-minute press conference with Craig Thompson, the conference commissioner, and media sessions with each team’s head coach. Here are three takeaways for Utah State football. 

1. Mountain West Predicted Order of Finish

On Wednesday, the Aggies were selected to finish third in the Mountain Division by a vote from league media. Utah State received three first-place votes of a possible 28. Last season, USU was voted to finish fifth but instead won the conference for the first time.

Mountain Division

  1. Boise State (14) 151
  2. Air Force (10) 136
  3. Utah State (3) 122
  4. Colorado State (1) 90
  5. Wyoming 60
  6. New Mexico 29

West Division

  1. Fresno State (20) 160
  2. San Diego State (8) 148
  3. San Jose State 105
  4. Nevada 66
  5. UNLV 58
  6. Hawaii 51

2. Award Watch Lists

On Wednesday, Utah State running back Calvin Tyler Jr. was named to the Doak Walker Award preseason watch list. The award is given annually to the nation’s best running back with a final vote in December. Tyler is one of 73 running backs that the PwC SMU Athletic Forum listed.

Additionally, USU head coach Blake Anderson and cornerback Andre Grayson were nominated for the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. The award recognizes community service, leadership and scholarship throughout college football. In September, a voting panel will name a team of 22 players and an honorary coach. They are typically honored at halftime of the Allstate Sugar Bowl. In 2015, current USU running backs coach and former quarterback Chuckie Keeton was honored as a member of the team. 

Earlier in the week, Aggie quarterback Logan Bonner also made watch lists for the Davey O’Brien Award, for the nation’s best quarterback, and the Maxwell Award, given to the player of the year. Regionally, Bonner is joined on both lists by Fresno State’s Jake Haener, Utah’s Cameron Rising and Brigham Young’s Jaren Hall.

3. Blake Anderson’s Media Session

In an interview for the Mountain West, Anderson talked about how the team has put last season’s success in the rearview mirror. 

“Nobody is going to care about how many wins we had a year ago, it’s all going to come down to what this group can do each week,” Anderson said. 

Anderson also addressed Bonner’s recovery from a knee injury he sustained at last season’s Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. Anderson said Bonner’s rehab is  “ahead of schedule.” 

“We expect him to be ready week one,” Anderson said. “I expect him to have a great year.”

Anderson also made some waves on Twitter during an interaction with New Mexico head coach Danny Gonzales. 

Anderson previously worked at New Mexico as an assistant from 1999 to 2001. 

In another tweet, Anderson showed off his dance moves by doing the “griddy.” 

Mountain West Media Days finish tomorrow with player media sessions. Bonner and defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka will represent Utah State.

 

Featured image of Blake Anderson from Utah State at UNLV during the 2021 season.