Linebackers, defensive backs prepare
With five of 10 leading tacklers returning from last year’s squad, Utah State players who will make up the defensive backfield are looking forward to football season.
“(The players) are communicating well,” said defensive coach Dave Aranda. “Communication is outstanding. We’re looking to finish it off with a bang here at the end of spring.”
At the linebacker spot, the Aggies will look to fill the voids left by Bobby Wagner and Kyle Gallagher. Throughout spring training, Aranda said sophomore Tavaris McMillian and junior Jake Doughty remind him of Wagner and Gallagher.
“Doughty and McMillan have really made strides from day one of spring,” Aranda said. “They’ve asserted themselves as the guys and they’ve continued to make plays and they’ve continued to be leaders in that linebacker core. They’re starting to step out and feel comfortable as a defense. The more we can get out of them the better.”
With the two leading tacklers gone from last season, Doughty said he’s confident about filling their shoes.
“So far I feel pretty good,” Doughty said. “I definitely have to step up, I’ve got make sure I know the linebacker position 100 percent, ins and outs. I’m trying to fill the gap that Bobby and Kyle left. That’ll be a little bit difficult because they were great players but so far so good.”
Last season, Doughty recorded tackles in 10 of Utah State’s 13 games and finished with 26 tackles for the year – including three for a loss. McMillian finished eighth in total tackles with 45, eight of which he caught the opponents for a loss.
Battling Doughty and McMillian for the inside linebacker positions are sophomore Parker Hausknecht and junior Zach Vigil. The pair combined for six total tackles last season in six games.
“It’s been a good battle,” Dougthy said. “Everyone that is competing is doing great. The ones, twos and threes are competing their butts off. We have all of summer and fall to tighten the screws down and see who’s going to win it.”
Behind the linebackers at the safety and cornerback positions, two big names return for Utah State in junior Nevin Lawson and senior McKade Brady. Lawson was one of three Aggies to record an interception last season and also finished fourth in total tackles with 73.
Brady will be back in the lineup for his third season and has shown versatility throughout spring training camp. The free safety turned cornerback finished third in overall tackles last season, behind Wagner and Gallagher.
“Having McKade Brady back has given a lot of leadership in that area,” Aranda said. “We have also gotten better with young guys.”
Another player Aranda said should make an impact is Cameron Sanders at the safety spot. Sanders made the move this spring, and Aranda said Sanders has adapted quickly and improved, despite the differences in alignments and techniques.
Sanders played in four of the 13 games last season, finishing with four tackles. Playing alongside Sanders and leaving his mark on spring camp is Michael Okonkwo.
“There’s a learning curve with him but he picks things up,” Aranda said. “Once he makes a mistake he won’t make that mistake again. He has been making plays consistently.”
Other returning players to keep an eye on include seniors Jumanne Robertson, Quinton Byrd, Terrance Alston and Isaiah Jones. Will Davis is the only junior in the defensive backfield, and underclassmen include sophomores Brian Suite and Frankie Sutera, and freshman Kyler Fackrell.
After forcing 15 turnovers last season, the Aggie defense has made it a point of emphasis throughout spring training to produce takeaways. Lawson and Doughty both said they’ve seen improvements in the turnover category, and the Aggies are making takeaways a big part of their defense.
“It’s something we talk about every day,” Lawson said. “We need at least two takeaways a week, minimum. That’s a big thing for us, a big part of our defense. In order for us to be a great defense, and get where we want to go, we need turnovers.”
Aranda said another area with a need for improvement from last season was pass interference calls. According to Lawson, there’s been a couple of interference calls in spring training camp, and Doughty said he’s also seen improvement.
“We’re very more hands on, Doughty said. “We’re going to be as physical as we can, every play, so with that comes a couple calls, but the back ends are working their tails off. I see a lot of improvement.”
Overall the Aggies are optimistic about the progress that has been made this spring, and Aranda said they are eager for the season.
“When we play well, we get 11 guys doing the same thing,” Aranda said. “We’re not going to have one guy make all the plays while the other 10 do whatever they do, we need 11 guys playing together. We’re working on getting that done. That’s the definition of team defense.”
– curtis.lundstrom@aggiemail.usu.edu