2009 Utah State Football Predictions
Written July 15, 2009 by InfoPlays
The Utah State Aggies made progress last season by winning three conference games and they should be a better team this year. But they play eight bowl teams and have road dates with Utah, Texas A&M, BYU, Fresno State and Hawaii. Significantly improving on a 3-9 record will not be easy with the schedule presented. Check out the college football odds at Sportsbook.com where they offer 10% bonuses and reduced Friday juice!
Offense: New coordinator Dave Baldwin has installed a new spread offense in the spring after spending the two previous seasons directing New Mexico’s offense. This offense will put quarterback Diondre Borel in the shotgun, operating without a huddle. The spread should suit Borel well, after his elusiveness last season baffled many WAC defenses. He started the Aggies’ final nine games, passing for 1,705 yards and rushing for 632, making him one of only seven players in the nation to lead his team in both categories. Now he must learn to sit in the pocket a little longer and improve on his 56.2 percent passing. In all, 10 starters return to the offense. Tailback Robert Turbin averaged a solid 4.6 yards/carry last season, but he only got the ball fewer than 10 times/game.
On paper, the receiving corps appears deep. However, none of the players is a go-to-guy. Omar Sawyer provided some hope with 196 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the spring game. The top returning receivers are Stanley Morrison (26 catches), Nnamdi Gwacham (20 grabs), and Xavier Bowman (9 catches). Sophomore Austin Alder is pushing to crack the starting lineup after an impressive spring as well. The offensive line welcomes back four starters, including All-WAC second-team center Brennan McFadden. Guards Funaki Asisi and Philip Gapelu, along with tackle Spencer Johnson also return. There are four backups who earned letters last season as well.
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Defense: The new defensive coaching staff has implemented a pressure-based defense that uses mostly man coverage. Speed has been the No. 1 priority to make this approach work. That quest led them to move 14 players from offense or other defensive positions to new spots on defense. Most players moved closer to the ball, for example linebackers moved to end, ends moved to tackle and so on and so forth. Senior linebacker Paul Igboeli earned second-team All-WAC last year and he’ll be the top returnee.
Igboeli has recorded 242 career tackles and he should finish in the top 10 in WAC and Utah State history when his senior season concludes. He’s more than just a tackler, registering 4 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries, an interception and a blocked field goal last season. Sophomore linebacker Bobby Wagner also returns after making 51 stops a year ago. Playmakers in the secondary will come from safety James Brindley and corner Kejon Murphy. There is experience on the defensive line with the return of Alan Bishop, Darby Golden and Nathan Royster.
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