This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Logan • Only 48 hours remain in Utah State linebacker Nick Vigil's extraordinary season.
Yet, there he is at the far end of Boise State's indoor practice facility — still working.
After Aggie coach Matt Wells ended practice Sunday morning, Vigil and a few teammates improvised a little conditioning drill.
One player jumped on another's back and was carried sideline-to-sideline and back again. It looks like horseplay, but when he's finished, Vigil is out of breath.
"We're excited," he said about meeting Akron in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Tuesday. "We have a chance for four straight bowl wins. .... So we're privileged. We're looking forward to it."
For Vigil, a junior out of Fremont High School, it has already been a year to remember:
• He leads Utah State in tackles with 140. Only eight players in school history have had more in a season.
• He leads the Mountain West Conference and ranks fifth nationally in tackles per game (11.7).
• He's had at least nine tackles in every game so far — the only player in the Football Bowl Subdivision to do so.
• He had a career-high 20 tackles in a 35-28 loss at Air Force. Only three FBS players have had more in one game this year.
• In Utah State's 52-26 win over Boise State, he had 14 tackles, including two quarterback sacks, and a fumble recovery.
• He's led Utah State in tackles in 10 of its 12 games.
"I have a lot of great players around me," Vigil said. "… They make it easy for me to run around and make tackles."
Maybe.
But Vigil has been an anchor on a defense that has keyed Utah State's six-win season and its school-record fifth straight bowl appearance.
"Nick has had a very good year," coach Matt Wells said. "He's an extremely valuable member of this program. … He's got a lot of God-given talent, but he has also developed that talent and he's very coachable. He's a tremendous kid off the field and a very good student.
"You don't have any [outside] issues with Nick Vigil. He's a football junkie and has a good character. He's a high-class individual and has an extremely high work ethic. You add all that to a bunch of God-given talent and you've got a special player."
Vigil has contributed to Utah State's offense, too.
A standout running back in high school who once rushed for 256 yards in a state playoff game, he has carried six times in short yardage situations this season. He's gained 17 yards but, more importantly, he's done what the Aggies needed.
Vigil has carried four times on third down; he picked up the first down three times. He carried once on fourth down and moved the chains. He carried once on first-and-goal and scored a touchdown.
Some day, however, Vigil will get his shot in professional football as a play-making linebacker. Rumors have circulated on the Internet that he might try it after this season, but he downplays the idea.
"I have no plans to leave yet," Vigil said. "I haven't really thought about it. We'll see what happens."
For now, he's focused only on helping stop Akron's offense in the Potato Bowl.
"They have good running backs," Vigil said. "They're physical. The quarterback is a good runner. He can throw the ball, too. They have good receivers, with speed. They'll go up and get the ball. So we have to be on-point on defense."
Twitter: @sluhm —
The Nick Vigil File
Hometown: Plain City, Utah
High school: Fremont
Position: Linebacker/running back
Height: 6-2 Weight: 235
Career highlights: Chosen the Most Valuable Player in Class 5A as a senior in high school. … Has played in all 39 games at Utah State over the last three seasons, including 29 starts. … All-Mountain West Conference first team in 2014 and 2015. … Rushed 16 times for 57 yards and one touchdown in a 35-20 win at BYU in 2014. … This season, he leads the Mountain West and ranks fifth nationally in tackles per game (11.7). … Recorded a career-high 20 tackles in a 35-28 loss at Air Force on Nov. 14.