Utah State football brings back Jovon Bouknight

The new Utah State football coaching staff so far has some key pieces of the old one.

Matt Wells retained his third staff member in the last week, bringing back wide receivers coach Jovon Bouknight. With defensive line coach Frank Maile and cornerbacks coach Kendrick Shaver back in the fold, Wells is still half a dozne hires away from completing his staff.

But Bouknight will help Wells retain the offensive style that has led Utah State to winning records each of the last two years. Last season, the team set program records in single-season points, total offense and total yards on the way to a 11-2 finish. Bringing back Bouknight ensures a measure of continuity on that side of the ball.

"When you have a head coach like Matt Wells who is very passionate and very detailed about the game, it's very easy to coach with him and for him," Bouknight said in a school news release. "I'm excited to get back into the saddle with a great group of guys that finished 11-2 this year, and I can't wait to get working again."

Entering his fifth season at Utah State, Bouknight has been wide receivers coach the last three years. He groomed two all-WAC receivers in Matt Austin and Chuck Jacobs this season.

Nationally, Bouknight might be better known as a player. At Wyoming, he was a Biletnikoff semifinalist in 2005 and finished his career No. 20 in NCAA history in receptions and receiving yards. He had a short stint in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kyle Goon

kgoon@sltrib.com

Twitter: @kylegoon