Coming and going: A glance at the transfer portal for USU Football
After a stellar 11-win 2021 campaign, Utah State is becoming an increasingly enticing destination for student-athletes in the NCAA transfer portal. The Aggies have already landed several transfers from top-tier schools for the 2022 season. Here is a rundown of who they are and what they will bring to the squad.
Newcomers
Levi Williams – QB – Wyoming
Williams is a solid dual-threat quarterback that will throw his hat in the ring for the starting job. He led the Cowboys to winning seasons the past two years and two bowl wins. His marquee performance through the air came against Utah State in November when he threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns. In the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Kent State, Williams ran for 200 yards and four touchdowns.
He announced his decision to join the Aggies on Dec. 30, 2021. His addition adds to an already crowded quarterback room that returns Bonner and Cooper Legas.
On a personal note, Williams is the boyfriend of USU volleyball player Tatum Stall.
Xavier Williams – WR – Alabama
Williams is perhaps the most prolific transfer coming to Utah State next season. The Florida native was a four-star recruit in high school when he committed to Alabama. Williams sat out the 2021 season due to an undisclosed medical reason. Williams did not see much playing time for the Crimson Tide in his three seasons there but recorded a 12-yard reception in the College Football Playoff National Championship against Ohio State in January of 2021.
Nick Saban, Alabama’s head coach, had high praise for Williams when talking to the media in spring 2021. “Ziggy is kind of a jack of all trades. He can play about all the positions and he’s pretty good doing them all. He’s got some ability to return punts. He’s made really nice progress, he has experience, he knows what to do. I think he can always go into the game and help us whenever he’s called on,” Saban said in the press conference.
Williams will help replenish the Aggies’ receiving core which has lost three receivers who recorded double-digit touchdown catches this season: Brandon Bowling and Derek Wright and All-American Deven Thompkins.
Brian Cobbs – WR – Maryland
Another addition to the wide receivers room is graduate transfer Cobbs, who announced he was transferring to Utah State on Jan. 8.
Standing at 6’2, 210 pounds, Cobbs had 25 receptions for 341 yards and a touchdown in 2021. He has plenty of Big 10 experience, having started at least one game at wide receiver since his freshman season.
Most recently, in the Pinstripe Bowl against Virginia Tech, he made an impressive one-handed grab.
Daniel Grzesiak – DE – Nevada
Grzesiak has had one of the more unique paths to Logan. The Californian walked on at Nevada as a tight end in 2018. After redshirting, Grzesiak switched to the defense in 2019. In 2020, he appeared for the Wolf Pack in all nine games, with a breakout game against Fresno State where he recorded a sack and two tackles-for-loss
. In 2021, Grzesiak put up consistent numbers and was a regular contributor for Nevada’s defensive line. His best game was at Colorado State where he picked up season-highs in tackles-for-loss (2.5), sacks (1.5) and total tackles (6).
Grzesiak announced he was coming to Utah State on Twitter on Jan. 5. The Aggies beat out other D-1 teams, including fellow conference member Colorado State, to sign Grzesiak.
Gurvan Hall Jr. – S – Miami (Florida)
Hall has been a consistent contributor for the Hurricanes for three seasons, playing in a majority of games. His best performance last season came against Appalachian State where he recorded 10 tackles. Hall was suspended by Miami early in the 2021 season due to a violation of team rules but returned to play in seven games the rest of the year. Ephraim Banda, Utah State’s defensive coordinator, used to be Hall’s safeties coach and was co-defensive coordinator at Miami two seasons ago.
Anthony Switzer – STRK – Arkansas State
Switzer will look to reunite with former Arkansas State coach Blake Anderson and teammates that have already jumped to Utah State. In 2021, he forced a fumble and had 38 total tackles for the Red Wolves.
Andrew Peasley, others enter transfer portal
Utah State has seen significant growth from the transfer portal, but will also likely lose a few of their players that are currently in the portal.
Quarterback Andrew Peasley is the biggest name looking to leave Logan. Peasley battled for the starting position last season with Logan Bonner. A dual quarterback system was used in the season opener at Washington State, but Bonner ultimately won the job. Peasley was second on the depth chart most of the year until he sustained a shoulder injury at New Mexico which sidelined him for the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl.
Aggie fans will remember Peasley’s heroics and leadership over the past two seasons. He led Utah State to their only win in the 2020 season in his first career start against New Mexico. Against Air Force this year, he stepped up for an injured Bonner and threw for 195 yards and three touchdowns helping the Aggies complete a comeback over the Falcons. He announced his decision to enter the portal on Dec. 23, 2021.
Other Aggies in the transfer portal include linebacker Simon Thompson, long snapper Jesse Vasquez and cornerback Zahodri Jackson.