Aggies Open Spring Football Practice

Utah State University head football coach Brent Guy welcomed 86 players on the first day of spring practice here on Wednesday [March 21]. The Aggies practiced in the Stan Laub Indoor Training Center due to wet conditions on the practice field as well as construction taking place in the north end zone of Romney Stadium.

Entering his third spring, the head coach was impressed with where his team is mentally and physically.

 

"Knowledge-wise we are way ahead of the game," Guy said. "We are further along than where I thought we would be at this time. We spent a little extra time in the off-season doing it. I didn't see snaps on the ground. I didn't see the ball fumbled. We only had one tip in seven on seven and that resulted in an interception, which is what is going to happen in a game."

 

The Aggies spent the first of three straight days in non-padded workouts, working mainly on drills and plays and limiting any offense vs. defense situations.

 

"We are emphasizing knowledge, alignment, assignment and technique the first three days, which are non-padded and we will put the pads on Monday." Guy said.

 

One of the areas of importance for the Aggies this year is the quarterback position, which was vacated by Riley Nelson, who recently left for an LDS Church mission. Leon Jackson, who started nine games as a sophomore in 2005 and the first five contests last season, enters the spring as the leading candidate for the position, although new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Darrell Dickey will have several players to consider for the starting job.

 

"Leon obviously has the most experience of the kids we have and he looked good throwing the ball today, but we haven't put pads on or had a blitz or a rush," Guy said. "That is always a critical position for you and we need guys to execute there, understand what we want to do, get us in the right play and make good decisions. ... It is going to be a good competition there. We have three older guys there. (Junior college transfer) Sean Setzer is probably a little further behind Mike Affleck, Jase McCormick and Leon Jackson because there is some carryover on the offense. We haven't totally changed everything that we are doing offensively, so those guys know a little more than Sean knows."

 

USU will continue with practices on Thursday and Friday. After taking the weekend off, USU will return to the field Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday next week. The four-week practice sessions will conclude with a scrimmage on Friday, April 13 at 4 p.m.

 

More Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics Web site.