USU Football - Little JoJo turning heads...literally

Through the first two days of Utah State's fall camp, true freshman wide receiver JoJo Natson has been THE story of the Aggies offense. Heck, maybe even the entire team.

Upon first glance? He looks like he belongs in a Pop Warner game. That's stretching it. Slightly. Natson, out of Florida, is 5-foot-6 and 140 pounds, which is 15 pounds heavier than he arrived on campus at for summer conditioning.

But, he has speed. Real speed. The kind of speed that they brag about in Florida. The kind of speed Utah State's offense didn't have last season at the position.

Take Saturday's practice, where Natson shook Terrence Alston, an accomplished cornerback, out of his shoes, shook another defender, caught an Adam Kennedy pass and went for a touchdown.

Or how about any number of the diving catches he's made in the first two days?

Natson is a serious threat to start in the slot for the Aggies. Maybe the shine gets knocked off when camp turns physical on Wednesday, the first day of full pads. Maybe not. As of now, however, he has impressed everyone that needs to be impressed.

"He's made plays whenever we put him on the field and that's the bottom line," Utah State head coach Gary Andersen said. "He knows how to get open and he's making the most of his opportunities."

Aside from his raw speed, Natson has shown a route-running ability unique from any of the other newcomers at wide receiver. He's caught almost everything thrown his way, and looks like he's grasping the playbook.

Still, there are 26 days before Utah State's opener with Southern Utah. Will Natson's great play hold up?

Tony Jones