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Utah State wide receiver Jack Hestera (14) runs off the line of scrimmage during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 in Logan, Utah. | Tyler Tate
Entering the season, Jack Hestera was not a player many talked about.
Sure, Aggie quarterback Spencer Petras briefly mentioned — hesitantly at that — the Charlotte transfer following the final scrimmage of fall camp, but when people talked about wide receivers at Utah State, the names that fell from their lips were Jalen Royals, Otto Tia, Kyrese White and Colby Bowman.
Hestera, listed at 6-feet, 185 pounds, was seen as a depth piece on a team with plenty of skill position players not likely to make that big of an impact. At least not this year.
Things have changed, though, six games into the 2024 season.
Following a breakout performance against UNLV Friday night, Hestera seems to have carved out a significant role for himself in the Aggies’ offense and teased his potential as perhaps the next standout Aggie receiver.
Hestera was arguably USU’s best offensive weapon in its 50-34 loss to UNLV. He finished with a team-high 10 receptions — a career high for him — a career high 152 receiving yards and a touchdown.
By way of comparison, Royals — a projected NFL draft pick — also had 10 receptions and finished with 155 yards and a touchdown.
Time and time again, particularly during the second half when USU outscored UNLV 27-9, Petras connected with Hestera in the middle of the field, Hestera working his way open against the Rebels’ defense over and over again.
Hestera was targeted 12 times in total, second to only Royals, and seemed to almost never be unprepared when passes were thrown his way.
“It felt like every time I looked out there I’d see Jack Hestera,” USU interim head coach Nate Dreiling said.
Dreiling was effusive in his praise of Hestera,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/utah-state-football-unearthed-another-060622181.html
Author : Deseret News
Publish date : 2024-10-12 06:06:22
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