Utah St Aggies 2023 College Football Preview
June 28, 2023
2022 Recap
Record – 6-7
ATS – 4-9
The Aggies followed up an eleven-win season and conference title in 2021 with a mediocre display of football in 2022. Things didn’t get off to a good start as they won just one of their first five games and were blown out on their home field by FCS foe Weber St (L 35-7). Utah St didn’t pack it in tho and put together a streak of five wins in six games, and that allowed them to weasel their way into bowl season. Memphis gave them the WHAT FOR and the HOW TO in the First Responder Bowl (L 38-10) and they finished with a losing record.
Utah St Aggies 2023 Outlook
OFFENSE
Utah St is gonna need much better production from QB Cooper Legas if they have any hope of being a serious contender in the Mountain West (61%, 11-10 TD to INT, 303 rush LY). Hopefully he can stay healthy for an entire season and show what he can do. The THROW GAME has a few decent pieces in WR Terrell Vaughn (624, 5 TD) and keep your eye on Stanford transfer WR Colby Bowman. There doesn’t appear to be a game-changer at WR/TE but we’ll see how things go. It’s a killer to lose 1,000-yard rusher Calvin Tyler who booked over 2,000 rushing yards (14 TD) the L2Y. There are high hopes for RB Robert Briggs but he may not have the frame to take too much of a beating (5-6, 175). The OL could be an issue as they will be working with four new starters.
DEFENSE
The Aggies allowed over 30 PPG for the third time in four seasons LY (#105 scoring defense) and they were particularly smelly vs the run (194 YPG, #113). They allowed an impressive 55% completion rate but still finished #77 in pass efficiency defense. We don’t have a great feeling about the 2023 stop unit as they return just five starters and will be without their top-two tacklers from LY as well as leading sack producer Daniel Grzesiak (8.5). The DL has impressive GIRTH on the inside but we’re not sure where the pass rush is gonna come from on the outside. MJ Tafisi is a legit piece at LB but they’ll miss AJ Vongphachanh who led the team in tackles in 2022 (101). A pair of talented transfers were added to the LB group so this may be the strength of the defense. Only a pair of starters are retained on the back end and they hope that a pair of Power 5 transfers will help plug the hole.
SPECIAL TEAMS
It’s mostly good news. They’ve got a dangerous KR in Terrell Vaughn (26.5, TD LY) and a good punter in Stephen Kotsanlee (43.4), but they’ll have to find a new PK.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – Yikes. They start with a road game at Iowa ** and have to play all four big boys in Mountain West action (Boise, Fresno, AF, SD St).
** BODY BAG SPECIAL
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Connecticut (Sept 30)
The Aggies have to make a rare trip to the northeast and have conference play on deck (Colorado St).
Season Win Total
Market consensus June 28
Over 5.5 +115
Under 5.5 -135
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Under
It’s gonna be a challenge to achieve bowl eligibility with that schedule.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The 2020 census recorded a population of 52,778 in Logan, Utah. It was founded in 1859 by settlers sent by Brigham Young to survey for a site near the banks of the Logan River.
After competing in just five bowl games during the 20th century ** Utah St has gone bowling in every season since 2011, with the exceptions being 2016 and the truncated 2020 PLANDEMIC season.
** that doesn’t include the 1947 Grape Bowl in which they lost to Pacific in a game that was not sanctioned by the NCAA.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
This has the makings of a mid-pack Mountain West squad with the potential for a bit of upside if they can win more close games than they lose. Blake Anderson has surprised us before and is one of the better coaches in the conference, but there appears to be too many holes on the roster to expect anything more than a bowl invite. Go get ’em!