What will Utah State football look like in the fall?

The view of Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium from a box at the new West Stadium Center in Logan. | Jeff Hunter

There are few people who have any sort of idea what Utah State football will look like this fall.

For good reason.

Head football coach Blake Anderson is all but assuredly gone after Utah State — following an external investigation — alleged that he, deputy athletic director Jerry Bovee and USU football director of player development and community Austin Albrecht committed “violations of university policies related to the reporting of sexual and domestic violence and failures of professional responsibilities.”

The loss of any head coach this close to the start of a season raises serious questions, but the loss of Anderson especially so, since he doubled as the the Aggies’ offensive play caller (co-offensive coordinator) and quarterbacks coach.

Anderson was the architect of USU’s prolific offensive attack, which finished the 2023 season ranked No. 26 in the country in scoring.

Defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling, new to Utah State as of January, has been named the team’s interim head coach. He will be the youngest head coach at the FBS level in 2024.

Nate Dreiling’s coaching background

Utah State interim head coach Nate Dreiling coaches during spring drills at Maverik Stadium in Logan. | Utah State Athletics

By most accounts, Dreiling, 33, is a rising star in the coaching industry, and much of that praise is the result of his work at New Mexico State.

Those other Aggies are traditionally one of the most dismal programs in all of the FBS, yet, during the past two years, New Mexico State was competitive enough to upset Auburn in Alabama and play for a Conference USA championship. Dreiling’s defense played a key role in that success.

Bud Elliott of 247 Sports perhaps put it best, saying, “Nate…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/utah-state-football-look-fall-030000277.html

Author : Deseret News

Publish date : 2024-07-03 03:00:00

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