USU football releases depth chart, Shelley to start at QB
Monday morning, Utah State released its depth chart for its upcoming season opener against Boise State on Oct. 24. Of the 28 starting spots, 17 are occupied by players who started at least six of the Aggies’ games last season. That includes six players on offense, six on defense and five special teams spots.
Here is the full list of starters for offense, defense and special teams (players names that are in bold are those who started at least six games).
Offense
- QB: Jason Shelley
- RB: Jaylen Warren
- LT: Alfred Edwards
- LG: Andy Koch
- C: Demytrick Ali’ifua
- RG: Karter Shaw
- RT: Jacob South
- TE: Carson Terrell
- X-WR: Jordan Nathan
- H-WR: Deven Thompkins
- Z-WR: Justin McGriff
The main highlight here is that University of Utah transfer, Jason Shelley, won the starting QB battle over sophomore Andrew Peasley. It was just about assumed when Shelley made his journey north and Henry Colombi took his talents east, that the former Utah man would easily take the starting job. But Peasley put up one heck of a fight according to USU coaches, pushing Shelley for that job.
Now, despite the fact that only half of this year’s starters were regular starters last year, there’s a fair amount of returning talent and experience. Warren technically started zero games, but played in 12 and was the Aggies’ second-leading rusher a year ago with 569 yards on an average of 5.1 per carry. Andy Koch was the Week 1 starter at right tackle in 2019, but suffered a season-ending injury against San Diego State. Jacob South was one of Koch’s primary replacements and thus has decent in-game experience at the position. Shelley hasn’t started for the Aggies, but started five games for the Utes.
The only player on offense without some Division I experience is Justin McGriff, a junior college transfer.
Graphic by Dalton Renshaw
Defense
- DL: Justus Te’i
- DL: Ritisoni Fata
- DL: Marcus Moore
- OLB: Nick Heninger
- ILB: Cash Gilliam
- ILB: Kevin Meitzenheimer
- NK-CB: Andre Grayson
- CB: Cam Lampkin
- CB: Zahodri Jackson
- S: Shaq Bond
- S: Troy Lefeged Jr.
The defense returns several of its playmakers from last season, including three of its top four leading tacklers (Troy Lefeged Jr., Kevin Meitzenheimer and Shaq Bond). However, the secondary took a major hit when transfers Terin Adams (CB) and CJ Pollard (S) left the team. Pollard’s departure likely facilitated Lefeged’s return to the safety spot on the depth chart after early report said he would play a hybrid linebacker role. And without Adams, the two starting outside corners are a sophomore and junior with a combined 17 games of experience and two starts (both from Lampkin).
Specialists
- P: Christopher Bartolic
- K: Connor Coles
- LS: Brandon Pada
- HLD: Christopher Bartolic
- KR: Savon Scarver
- PR: Jordan Nathan
The only real change in the specialists category is new kicker Connor Coles who will face the tough task in replacing USU’s all-time leading scorer and best kicker in program history, Dominik Eberle.
@jwalker_sports
— sports@usustatesman.com