| Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton returns to lead the Aggies' offense. (Brian Losness, USA Today Sports) |
Orlando Sentinel college insider Matt Murschel has ranked all 125 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in the country. The Sentinel staff will take a closer look at a new team daily, counting backward from No. 125 to our projected No. 1 team.
Today at No. 47: Utah State
Coach: Matt Wells (0-0, entering first season; 0-0 overall)
2012 record: 11-2 (6-0 in Western Athletic Conference, WAC champion)
Look back: Utah State is coming off the most successful season in school history, setting a record for wins (11) and home wins (6). The Aggies won their first outright conference title since 1936.
Early in the season, Utah State scored a big win over rival Utah, snapping the Utes' 12-game win streak in the series with a 27-20 overtime victory. The Aggies went 2-2 after the Utah win, falling 16-14 at Wisconsin and 6-3 at BYU. Utah State then closed out the season on a seven-game winning streak, earning a 41-15 win over Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
The success helped Utah State's Gary Anderson land the Wisconsin head-coaching job. Anderson posted a 18-8 record during the 2011 and 2012 seasons at Utah State, including wins in 16 of its past 19 games. Utah State hired Matt Wells to take over the program. Wells, who graduated from Utah State in 1996, is 39 years old and the 11th-youngest head coach at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. He spent the past two seasons working as an assistant coach at Utah State, serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2012.
Offensive starters returning: 8
Offensive starters lost: 3
Defensive starters returning: 7
Defensive starters lost: 4
Key losses: TE Kellen Bartlett, WR Matt Austin, WR Chuck Jacobs, RB Kerwynn Williams, S McKade Brady, CB Will Davis, LB Bojay Filimoeatu, DE Al Lapuaho, P Tyler Bennett
Top returnees: QB Chuckie Keeton, WR Travis Reynolds, LB Zach Vigil, C Tyler Larsen, LB Kyler Fackrell, S Brian Suite, CB Nevin Lawson, K Nick Diaz
Strengths: QB Chuckie Keeton is back to lead the Utah State offense. He was a star playmaker for the Aggies, racking up 3,992 yards of total offense during the 2012 season. During his sophomore season, he set single-season school records for touchdown passes (27), passing yards (3,992), completions (275) and completion percentage (.676).
Keeton will continue to get key protection up front. Utah State returns four of five starting offensive linemen, including C Tyler Larsen. On the defensive side of the ball, LB Kyler Fackrell, who earned Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American honors last season, anchors a potent group of returning Utah State linebackers.
Weaknesses: Keeton is losing some key members of his supporting cast, with starting RB Kerwynn Williams and the top five receivers during the 2012 no longer on the roster. The Aggies also will have some significant holes to fill in the secondary. S McKade Brady, who had 93 tackles, and CB Will Davis, who had 64 tackles and five interceptions, must be replaced in the lineup.
Outlook: Utah State has played well against strong competition, but there is no question the Mountain West lineup will be a step up from the WAC lineup the Aggies roughed up last season. The team also will have to adjust to Wells' leadership approach. However, with Keeton leading a talented group of returning players, Utah State should be in contention for another bowl appearance.
2013 schedule
Aug. 29 at Utah
Sept. 7 at Air Force
Sept 14 Weber State
Sept 21 at USC
Sept. 27 at San Jose State
Oct. 4 BYU
Oct. 12 Boise State
Oct. 19at New Mexico
Nov. 2 Hawaii
Nov. 9at UNLV
Nov. 23 Colorado State
Nov. 30 Wyoming
ilimon@tribune.com
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