Utah faces in-state opponent Utah State for the first time since 2015 (Utah won 24-14), and the first time in Logan since 2012 (Utah lost 27-20). The Aggies suffered a very tumultuous offseason, losing a significant amount of players in the transfer portal before their head coach was fired as a result of a Title IX investigation and their projected starting cornerback Andre Seldon, Jr. died while cliff-diving.
So far the Aggies are 1-1, beating FCS Robert Morris 36-14 and then losing to USC 48-0.
Let’s take a look at what USU lost from last year. First, the offense:
WR - Vaughn: 69.2 on 926 snaps (1,734 career snaps), Vaughn had 90 catches on 122 targets (73.8%) for 936 yards (10.4 ypc) with 11 TD last year. Vaughn got a camp invite but it does not appear he was picked up anywhere.
WR - Davis: 76.7 on 544 snaps (890 career snaps), Davis had 36 catches on 59 targets (61.0%) for 628 yards (17.4 ypc) with 6 TD last year. He transferred to Ole Miss in the offseason.
OT - Frias: 49.6 on 531 snaps (552 career snaps), Frias was better run blocking (53.6) than pass blocking (45.7).
QB - Legas: 73.8 on 484 snaps (1,130 career snaps), Legas went 138/212 (65.1%) for 1,815 (8.6 ypa) with 19 TD and 8 INT last year. He transferred to Tulsa in the offseason.
OG - Meacham: 50.8 on 409 snaps (1,455 career snaps), Meacham was significantly better run blocking (51.6) than pass blocking (36.5), although not rated well at either.
RB - Booth: 83.4 on 353 snaps, the JUCO transfer had 120 carries for 803 yards (6.7 ypc) with 6 TD. He transferred to Mississippi St. in the offseason.
QB - Hillstead: 68.6 on 319 snaps, the freshman went 95/159 (59.7%) for 1,065 yards (6.7 ypa) with 11 TD and 8 INT. He transferred to BYU in the offseason.
That is a lot to lose on offense. While there is some experience back on the offensive line, most of the skill position players have moved on.
Now let’s take a look at the defense.
CB - Anyanwu: 55.6 on 851 snaps (2,101 career snaps), Anyanwu had 2 QB pressures, 41 tackles, 5 PBU and 9 missed tackles while giving up 35 catches on 63 targets (55.6%).
LB - Tafisi: 57.0 on 784 snaps (1,450 career snaps), Tafisi had 7 QB pressures, 142 tackles, 7.5 TFL, and 1 PBU with 25 missed tackles.
LB - Switzer: 66.5 on 770 snaps (1,673 career snaps), Switzer had 18 QB pressures, 84 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks, 4 PBU, 1 INT and 13 missed tackles. He transferred to Arkansas in the offseason.
DE - Fitzgerald: 64.9 on 700 snaps, Fitzgerald had 34 QB pressures, 45 tackles, 9 TFL, 8 sacks, and 7 missed tackles. He transferred to Utah in the offseason.
DT - Motu’apuaka: 59.9 on 646 snaps (2,157 career snaps), Motu’apuaka had 25 QB pressures, 32 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks, and 9 missed tackles.
S - Dye: 71.4 on 627 snaps, Dye had 81 tackles, 7 PBU, 2 INT, 18 missed tackles and gave up 18 catches on 31 targets (58.1%). He transferred to Kansas in the offseason.
That is six of the seven players who played the most snaps last year, including three of the top four tacklers, and three of the top four in both sacks and TFLs. That is a lot for a program like Utah State to replace.
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