Utah State football excited at chance for Sun Belt title
A new era in Utah State football history begins this year as the team gears up for their first season in the Sun Belt Conference.
The Aggies will have the opportunity to play for a conference championship for the first time since leaving the Big West Conference in 2000.
“It will be good to be in a conference race again,” said Head Coach Mick Dennehy. “The [players] are all looking forward to it and they’re all excited about it. They’ve got games that mean something instead of just going and playing. Playing a conference game is a huge, huge difference.”
Respect will be another motivation for USU this fall.
Sports Ilustrated’s preseason rankings listed the Aggies in last place out of all Division-IA teams. Dennehy said the ranking was a “slap in the face” to the team and to the Sun Belt Conference because several members of the conference were also at the bottom of the list.
“I know that our guys feel way better about themselves than being called the worst team in the country,” Dennehy said. “It’s way more important what we think than what Sports Illustrated thinks.”
The Aggies were picked to finish sixth out of eight teams in the Sun Belt in the conference’s preseason poll.
The Mean Green of North Texas were tabbed as the top team this year, after winning the conference the last two years. They received 20 first-place votes. New Mexico State ranked second with two first place votes. Middle Tennessee got one first-place vote and were picked third, followed by Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Utah State. Idaho received a first-place vote despite being picked to finish in seventh place. Louisiana-Monroe was chosen last.
North Texas swept the preseason player of the year categories as well.
Junior running back Patrick Cobbs and defensive tackle Brandon Kennedy were chosen as preseason Sun Belt offensive and defensive players of the year.
Offensive lineman Trevor Hudson and tight end Chris Cooley were the only Aggies voted as preseason all-conference players.
“Right now North Texas has kind of earned everyone’s respect,” Cooley said. “We’re going to look forward to them as maybe our toughest game.”
The Aggies will open with three games on the road starting Thursday versus the University of Utah, followed by No. 29 Nebraska, and No. 23 Arizona State before their conference opener at home against Louisiana-Monroe.
Dennehy made major changes in the coaching staff this year, hiring David Kotulski as defensive coordinator and John Rushing as a secondary coach. He also promoted Jeff Choate from graduate assistant to special teams coordinator.
Under Kotulski, the Aggies will put three defensive linemen on the line of scrimmage with four linebackers instead of the four linemen and three linebackers used in the past. Last season, USU was 111th in total defense in the NCAA.
Dennehy said he made the change to bring a “new enthusiasm, a new breath of fresh air” to the defense. He said he hopes the defense is the most improved aspect of this year’s team.
“Based on the number of guys we have returning, I would hope that the most noticeable difference would be on the defensive side of the ball,” Dennehy said.
The Aggies lost linebacker Jesse Busta because of graduation, the third-leading tackler in USU history, but return seven of the 11 defensive starters from last year.
“Defensively, we’ve got a bunch of guys that are sick and tired of being 100th in the country,” Dennehy said. “I hope that everybody in that unit kind of takes the bull by the horns and says, ‘Hey that’s enough. Let’s go play like we can, let’s make plays.'”
Linebacker Robert Watts, the team’s top returning tackler, said he likes the new defensive scheme.
“It fits me perfectly,” he said. “The position I play I just get to run downfield and tackle people. Last year you kind of had to read the play and be in a certain spot. This year you’ve got a little more freedom to run around and make plays, use your athletic ability.”
Dennehy also named permanent team captains for the first time, with game captains also being named each week. Last year captains were only named on a game-by-game basis.
This year’s captains are Cooley, Watts and kick returner/cornerback Jerome Dennis.
“I felt it was important because the kids felt it was important,” Dennehy said.
On offense, the Aggies will be looking to replace their top producers from last year in quarterback Jose Fuentes and wide receiver Kevin Curtis. USU’s passing offense was ranked seventh in the NCAA last year and 38th in total offense.
“In terms of productivity, Curtis is going to be awfully difficult to replace,” Dennehy said. “Obviously, Jose is a guy that had a great career for us, but I think in general our wide receivers are a little better than they have been, we’re a little deeper.”
Junior quarterback Travis Cox will be stepping in to the starter’s role at quarterback. Cox had limited experience at backup last season, but won the starting job in spring practice.
Dennehy said the quarterback is important, and he’s confident in Cox’s
abilities.
“I think Travis is going to be ready to go,” he said.
The offensive line will be anchored by preseason Outland Trophy candidate Trevor Hutton. The Outland Trophy is given to the nation’s top lineman each year.
Cooley is on the Mackey Award watch list for best tight end.
Cooley said the award is a personal goal for him.
“I feel lucky,” he said. “It’s an honor to be nominated for the best tight end in the country. My main goal is to win the Sun Belt and go to a bowl game. I want to play well, catch a lot of balls and be a major contributor to our team.”
-royburton@cc.usu.edu
Quarterback Travis Cox throws a pass in practice Saturday. Cox won the starting position in spring practice. (Photo by Ryan Talbot)