USU football: Aggies picked second in division, behind Boise State

Las Vegas • With dangerous pass rushers only feet away, Chuckie Keeton felt no pressure.

At Mountain West media day, after all, there are no pads, no helmets and no tackling.

In a few months, other attendees will be scrambling to pound the Utah State quarterback into the turf. On Monday, they wore polo shirts and khakis and made idle conversation over pizza and caesar salad.

"Now I know that they are human," Keeton said, "and not trying to hit me at all times."

The Utah State football team is wading into deeper, more dangerous waters this fall against the Mountain West. But even in July, with games more than a month out, the Aggies are already seen as one of the sharks.

A preseason media poll judged Utah State the second-best team in the conference's Mountain Division, just behind Boise State. And even the Broncos are looking at the Aggies as a potential threat.

Offensive lineman Charles Leno watched the Aggies topple Toledo on Boise State's home field in the Idaho Potato Bowl last year. Utah State left an impression.

"We know they're a quality program," Leno said. "I know they've still got a lot of players back, and I got to meet some of them. Those guys are top-of-the-line quality guys."

The Aggies' excitement as a conference newcomer was met with the same sentiment from other Mountain West programs. The conference's media day offered players and coaches a chance to fist pump an eventful and fruitful offseason: adding Utah State and San Jose State; retaining San Diego State and Boise State; securing games on ESPN and adding a conference championship.

Entering his first year at San Jose State, coach Rod Caragher said even since he was hired months ago, the Mountain West improved his job.

"It's all kind of fitting together nice," he said. "I know the landscape of college athletics is always changing, but I hope the stability and consistency is here for a long time."

In a conference of dangerous quarterbacks, Utah State has one in Keeton. He'll remain the Aggies' most versatile offensive weapon, but he's also a valuable practice partner when the team will face such potent passers as San Jose State's David Fales, Boise State's Joe Southwick, and Wyoming's Brett Smith in conference play.

"We have six quarterbacks in this league, and each one of them has potential to go to the next level," linebacker Nick Vigil said. "It's really going to be a benefit to us."

But Utah State's other returners also make the Aggies a threat.

Offensive lineman Tyler Larsen landed on the preseason all-Mountain West team, one of five returning starters. And linebacker Kyler Fackrell was one of three returning starting linebackers, part of the Aggies stout front.

They'll be a target to some as well: Utah State has beaten Colorado State, Wyoming, San Jose State, Hawaii and UNLV at least once in the last two seasons. All are on the schedule this year.

"Honestly, it was such a blur with them running us around, so I can't remember who was their best guy or anything," Fales said of the looming ESPN-televised rematch. "But I'm definitely looking forward to seeing them again." —

Mountain West Football Media Poll

Mountain Division

Team (First-Place Votes) Points

1. Boise State (40) 245

2. Utah State (1) 204

3. Air Force 143

4. Wyoming 116

5. Colorado State 90

6. New Mexico 63

West Division

Team (First-Place Votes) Points

1. Fresno State (39) 243

2. San Diego State (1) 181

3. San Jose State (1) 172

4. Nevada 135

5. UNLV 71

6. Hawaii 59 —

All-Mountain West preseason team

Offense

QB Derek Carr* Sr Fresno State

WR Davante Adams* So. Fresno State

WR Noel Grigsby Sr. San Jose State

RB Kasey Carrier** Sr. New Mexico

RB Adam Muema** Jr. San Diego State

OL Charles Leno** Sr. Boise State

OL Matt Paradis* Sr. Boise State

OL Weston Richburg Sr. Colorado State

OL Austin Wentworth* Sr. Fresno State

OL Tyler Larsen Sr. Utah State

TE Marcel Jensen Sr. Fresno State

Defense

DL Demarcus Lawrence* Jr. Boise State

DL Tyeler Davison* Jr. Fresno State

DL Brock Hekking** Jr. Nevada

DL Travis Raciti Jr. San Jose State

LB Jake Fely** Jr.            San Diego State

LB Keith Smith Sr. San Jose State

LB Kyler Fackrell So. Utah State

DB L.J. Jones Sr. Fresno State

DB Derron Smith* Jr. Fresno State

DB Nat Berhe** Sr. San Diego State

DB Bené Benwikere Sr. San Jose State

Specialists

P Ben Skaer Sr. New Mexico

PK Austin Lopez So. San Jose State

Ret. Chase Clayton Jr. New Mexico

Preseason Offensive Player of the Year • Derek Carr, Sr., QB, Fresno State

Preseason Defensive Player of the Year • Derron Smith, Jr., DB, Fresno State

Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year • Chase Clayton, Jr., KR, New Mexico