USU football offseason additions that could make an impact
The Utah State offense is undergoing a bit of a facelift this year.
Last year’s leading receiver and leading rusher — Siosini Mariner and Gerold Bright, respectively — and quarterback Jordan Love have all moved on through graduation or the NFL Draft. The Aggies are in need of replacements for their production on the offensive side of the ball.
The team does have returning players who are more than capable of making an impact. Wide receivers Jordan Nathan, Savon Scarver, Taylor Compton, and tight end Carson Terrell all return for their senior seasons. And junior Deven Thompkins is the expected starter at slot receiver.
Four out of the five starting linemen from last season are back: Senior center Demyrtick Ali’fua, Junior left tackle Alfred Edwards, Sophomore right guard Karter Shaw, and Sophomore right tackle Andy Koch.
In addition, senior running back Jaylen Warren, last season’s second-leading rusher, will compete for the starting job with productive graduate transfer Devonta’e Henry-Cole.
But there are four newcomers to the program that are expected to be a big part of what the Aggie offense does in this shortened eight-game season.
Jason Shelley, Quarterback
The junior transfer from the University of Utah is competing against sophomore Andrew Peasley for the coveted title of ‘QB1,’ and is expected to win out.
Shelley has experience playing at the highest level of college football, when he started the final five games of the Utes’ 2018 season his freshman year, including the Pac-12 championship game against Washington. He was 98-of-168 passing for 1,162 yards and had 63 rushes for 192 yards in those five games, winning three of them, including signature victories over Oregon and BYU.
Head Coach Gary Andersen, who developed a relationship with Shelley when he was an assistant at Utah in the 2018 season, is happy with what he’s seen from the Texas native thus far.
“Jason’s done a great job of coming in and being a great teammate. Works very well in the quarterback room, extremely smart,” he said. “He’s savvy, he’s handled things well and he’s excited to be competing for the job he’s competing for.”
Shelley’s versatility and high football IQ should make him a good fit for the run-pass option offense that new offensive coordinator Bodie Reeder likes to run. Reeder has worked closely with other dynamic quarterbacks including Mason Rudolph, current quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Devonta’e Henry-Cole, Running Back
Another Utah transfer, graduate student Henry-Cole will be a major weapon in the Aggies’ running attack this season. Last season for the Utes, despite being in a loaded backfield that included All-American rusher Zach Moss, DHC boasted 34 carries for 188 yards (good for 5.5 yards per carry) and two rushing touchdowns.
DHC previously committed to BYU in February but changed his mind over the summer. News of his decision to be an Aggie broke on July 20, just one week after Shelley announced his plans to come to Logan.
Coach Andersen is high on the fifth-year back out of Florida.
“DHC an experienced back, knows how to take care of himself, smart, understands where he is and he’s a staple of what we expect to be a very good running back room and he’s excited about his opportunity to compete and play.”
Henry-Cole is shifty, explosive, has an established connection with Shelley and is ready for his moment. So don’t be surprised if No. 7 is terrorizing opposing defenses this season.
John Gentry, Running Back
Straight out of Northshore High School in Houston, TX, the three-star freshman passed up offers from Utah, Arkansas, Oklahoma State and Tennessee to come to USU and is the second highest-rated recruit in Aggie history, according to 247 sports.
Gentry helped lead his high school to back-to-back 6A Texas state championships in 2018 and 2019. In three years as a varsity player, he amassed 3,586 all-purpose yards and 48 touchdowns.
It will take some time to adjust to the college level, but Anderson believes he has the work ethic and athleticism to play immediately this season.
“It’s kind of still going fast for him as a Freshman, which is 100% to be expected and we like what we see. He’s got tremendous speed, (he’s) a young man who comes and works every day and in my opinion that’s a credit to his family, his parents, and his high school program,” he said.
Having played some slot receiver in high school as well, Gentry has proven hands and knows how to run route, he has the potential to be an extra target out of the backfield for Shelley.
Justin Mcgriff, Wide Receiver
The 6’6 Sophomore comes to Logan after playing his 2019 season at ASA College in Miami, where he caught 25 passes for 360 and eight touchdowns in just seven games. Mcgriff originally signed with Nebraska, where he redshirted the 2018 season before transferring.
Mcgriff will add some much-needed height to the Aggie’s receiving crew. The second tallest receiver is Sean Carter at 6’2. Mcgriff also has big-play capabilities, as he averaged over 18 yards per catch his senior season of high school at Jefferson High in Tampa, Fl.
With no in-game experience at the division one level, a big focus for the coaches is to get him added reps so he is ready to contribute on the field when games begin.
“We need to get him an opportunity in practice and scrimmages to make plays. You have to give him that opportunity prior to games. And that’s something that he came here to be is a playmaker, he’s a big giant target, and he’s a tremendous tremendous kid. He works his tail off out there on the football field,” Anderson said. “I think that he could be a game-changer in games but right now we have to see if he can be a game-changer in practice and scrimmages.”
@jacobnielson12
— sports@usustatesman.com