2018 UTAH STATE SPRING FOOTBALL NOTES ®
UTAH STATE RANKED FIFTH IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN SCORING OFFENSE • Utah State finished the 2017 season averaging 30.2 points per game to rank fifth in the Mountain West and 51st in the nation. USU also ranked sixth in the MW and 56th in the nation in rushing offense (171.4 ypg), sixth in the MW and 69th nationally in passing offense (226.0 ypg), seventh in the MW and 70th in the nation in completion percentage (.584), eighth in the conference and 68th in the nation in total offense (397.4 ypg), ninth in the conference and 72nd in the nation in sacks allowed (2.15 pg), and 10th in the MW and 95th in the nation in passing efficiency (122.0). AGGIES RANK 19TH IN THE NATION IN PASSING DEFENSE • Utah State allowed 182.5 passing yards per game in 2017 to rank fourth in the Mountain West and 19th in the nation. USU also ranked second in the conference and 24th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (116.6), fifth in the MW and 67th in the nation in scoring defense (26.9 ppg), seventh in the MW and 73rd in the nation in total defense (398.8 ypg), seventh in the MW and 83rd nationally in sacks (1.85 pg), and ninth in the MW and 115th nationally in rushing defense (216.4 ypg). AGGIES RANK SIXTH IN THE NATION WITH 29 FORCED TURNOVERS • Utah State forced 29 turnovers (16 fumbles, 13 interceptions) in 2017, which ranked second in the Mountain West and tied for sixth in the nation. In 2016, USU forced just 10 turnovers the entire season. USU also ranked tied for second in the nation with its 16 fumble recoveries, and was fourth in the Mountain West and 45th in the nation with its 13 interceptions on the season. UTAH STATE FOURTH IN THE NATION WITH ITS FIVE DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS • Utah State’s defense scored five touchdowns in 2017 to rank fourth in the nation. Senior CB Jalen Davis scored three of those touchdowns as he had a 30- and a 50-yard interception return against BYU, and a 25-yard interception return against Idaho State, while freshman LB Maika Magalei returned a fumble 38 yards for a score against San José State and redshirt freshman LB David Woodward returned a fumble 70 yards for a touchdown at New Mexico. Overall, USU has scored 16 defensive touchdowns in its last 59 games. UTAH STATE FOURTH IN THE NATION WITH ITS FOUR BLOCKED PUNTS • Utah State ranked fourth in the nation with its four blocked punts in 2017. On the season, USU blocked punts against Idaho State, Wake Forest, San José State and Colorado State, returning the one against CSU for a touchdown. The school record for blocks is six set in 2012 (3 FGs, 2 punts, 1 PAT). Overall, USU has blocked 14 kicks under head coach Matt Wells. UTAH STATE 21ST IN THE NATION IN KICKOFF RETURN DEFENSE • Utah State ranked fifth in the Mountain West and 21st in the nation in kickoff return defense (15.88 ypr), fifth in the conference and 36th in the nation in punt returns (9.6 ypr), fifth in the MW and 45th in the nation in kickoff returns (21.8 ypr), and seventh in the MW and 65th in the nation in net punting (37.80 ypp) during the 2017 season. DAVIS FIFTH IN THE NATION IN PASSES DEFENDED • Senior CB Jalen Davis ranked fifth in the nation with his 20 passes defended (15 pass breakups, 5 interceptions) and 11th in the nation with his five interceptions in 2017, both of which led the Mountain West. Davis also ranked tied for first nationally with his three defensive touchdowns. OTHER AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS • Junior LB Louy Compton and junior QB DJ Nelson both ranked tied for third in the nation with their two blocked kicks, while Nelson also ranked tied for second in the Mountain West and tied for 10th in the nation with his one punt return for a touchdown. Senior QB Kent Myers ranked first in the MW and 29th in the nation in completion percentage (.629) and eighth in the MW and 82nd in the nation in passing efficiency (123.7). Redshirt freshman WR Jordan Nathan ranked third in the MW and 24th in the nation in punt returns (8.5 ypr). Freshman WR Savon Scarver ranked third in the MW and 31st in the nation in kickoff returns (24.0 ypr), and tied for fourth in the MW and tied for 17th in the nation with one kickoff return for a touchdown. Junior LB Suli Tamaivena ranked tied for fourth in the MW and tied for 26th in the nation with his two fumble recoveries, and eighth in the MW and 46th in the nation in tackles (8.5 pg). Sophomore LB Justus Te’i ranked tied for fourth in the MW and tied for 26th in the nation with his two fumble recoveries. Senior S Dallin Leavitt ranked fourth in the MW and 29th in the nation with his four interceptions (0.3 pg), and 17th in the MW in tackles (7.2 pg). Junior LB Chase Christiansen ranked fifth in the MW and 31st in the nation with his three forced fumbles (.25 pg), and 32nd in the MW in tackles (5.9 pg). Senior RB LaJuan Hunt ranked fifth in the MW and 43rd in the nation with his 11 rushing touchdowns (0.8 pg), fifth in the MW and 52nd in the nation with his 12 total touchdowns (0.9 pg), 10th in the MW and 93rd in the nation in yards per carry (4.9 ypc), and 10th in the MW in rushing yards per game (63.7 ypg). Junior WR Ron’quavion Tarver ranked tied for fourth in the MW and tied for 60th nationally with his seven receiving touchdowns (0.6 pg), and ninth in the MW in receptions (3.7 pg). Redshirt freshman QB Jordan Love ranked 10th in the MW and 88th in the nation in passing efficiency (119.3), 10th in the MW and 94th in the nation in completion percentage (.549), and 10th in the MW and 98th in the nation in passing (135.9 ypg). Junior S Gaje Ferguson ranked 19th in the MW in tackles (6.9 pg). Sophomore PK Dominik Eberle ranked third in the MW and 27th in the nation in field goals (1.38 pg), seventh in the MW and 52nd in the nation in scoring (7.8 pgg), and eighth in the MW and 56th in the nation in field goal percentage (.750). And, junior P Aaron Dalton ranked fifth in the MW and 55th in the nation in punting (42.0 ypp).
/// RANKINGS FOR 2017 /// TEAM MW NCAA • Scoring Offense (30.2) ......... 5 ........... 51 • Rushing Offense (171.4) ........6 ........... 56 • Passing Offense (226.0) ....... 6 ........... 69 • Completion % (.584) ........... 7............ 70 • Total Offense (397.4) ............ 8 ........... 68 • Sacks Allowed (2.15) ............ 9............ 72 • Pass Efficiency (122.0) ........ 10 ........... 95 • Pass Eff. Defense (116.6)........ • Passing Defense (182.5) ...... • Scoring Defense (26.9) ........ • Total Defense (398.8) ........... • Sacks (1.85) ........................... • Rushing Defense (216.4) ......
2 ............ 24 4 ........... 19 5 ........... 67 7 ........... 73 7 ........... 83 9 ......... 115
• Kickoff Return Def. (18.1) ..... • TO Margin (+0.38) ................. • Punt Returns (9.6) ................. • Kickoff Returns (21.8) ........... • Net Punting (37.80) ..............
5 ........... 5 ........... 5 ........... 5 ........... 7 ...........
21 30 36 45 65
INDIVIDUAL AVG. MW NCAA • Chase Christiansen (LB) Forced Fumbles...... 0.25 .......... 5 ......... 31 Tackles ..................... 5.9 ........ 32 ........... • Louy Compton (LB) Blocks ..................... 0.15 ........ T-1 ........ T-3 • Aaron Dalton (P) Punting .................. 42.0 .......... 5 ......... 55 • Jalen Davis (CB) Passes Def. .............. 1.5 .......... 1 ........... 5 Interceptions............. 0.4 .......... 1 ......... 11 • Dominik Eberle (PK) FG Per Game ......... 1.38 .......... 3 ......... 27 Scoring .................... 7.8 .......... 7 ......... 52 FG % ....................... .750 .......... 8 ......... 56 • Gaje Ferguson (S) Tackles ..................... 6.9 ........ 19 ........... • LaJuan Hunt (RB) Rushing TDs ............. 0.8 .......... 5 ......... 43 Total TDs .................. 0.9 .......... 5 ......... 52 Yards Per Carry ....... 4.9 ........ 10 ......... 93 Rushing .................. 63.7 ........ 10............ • Dallin Leavitt (S) Interceptions............. 0.3 .......... 4 ......... 29 Tackles ..................... 7.2 ......... 17 ........... • Jordan Love (QB) Passing Eff............. 119.3 ........ 10 ......... 88 Completion % ....... .549 ........ 10 ......... 94 Passing.................. 135.9 ........ 10 ......... 98 • Kent Myers (QB) Completion % ....... .629 .......... 1 ......... 29 Passing Eff. .......... 123.7 .......... 8 ..........82 • Jordan Nathan (WR) Punt Returns ............ 8.5 .......... 3 ......... 24 • DJ Nelson (QB) Blocks ..................... 0.15 ........ T-1 ........ T-3 Punt Returns TD ..... 0.08 ........ T-2 ...... T-10 • Savon Scarver (WR) Kickoff Returns ...... 24.0 .......... 3 ......... 31 Kickoff Returns TD . 0.08 ........ T-4 ...... T-17 • Suli Tamaivena (LB) Fumbles Rec. ........ 0.15 ........ T-4 ...... T-26 Tackles ..................... 8.5 .......... 8 ......... 46 • Ron’quavion Tarver (WR) Receiving TDs .......... 0.5 ........ T-4 ...... T-60 Receptions .............. 3.7 .......... 9 ........... • Justus Te’i (LB) Fumbles Rec. ........ 0.15 ........ T-4 ...... T-26
February 21, 2018• 9 ®