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LOGAN — The Aggies have another shot at knocking off a Pac-12 opponent Saturday, when they visit the Coliseum to take on Southern Cal.
Utah State will be facing quarterback Cody Kessler who has found renewed confidence after going 15 of 17 for 237 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-7 win last week versus Boston College.
“His confidence started to build throughout the game,” Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin said. “I felt a very different player by the time we were getting near the end of the second quarter than had been the first couple of games from a confidence level. He was very comfortable. He was having fun. He was very loose. He really seemed different, and that’s normal. Confidence is fragile. When stuff isn’t going well around you, it’s hard. In that game, much different than the game before, everything started going well around him and he started playing well and getting a lot more comfortable.”
The Aggies have done a good job of slowing opposing quarterbacks since Travis Wilson passed for 302 yards against them in week one, albeit one of their performances came against a quarterback making his first collegiate start, whose receivers dropped half of the passes he threw. The other strong defensive effort helped USU shut down Weber State freshman Austin Chipoletti.
“It was a combination of a lot of things,” Kiffin said, referring to the causes leading to Kessler’s improvement. “I think the increased reps throughout the week in practice. Guys really performed well around him also — making the plays in protection, and Tre Madden picking up different blitzes.”
You can't tackle him, he runs around and makes every throw, he doesn't seem to get rattled and he plays great in big games. This is a really special player.
–Lane Kiffin
USC began the season splitting time between Kessler and Max Wittek, which resulted in an underwhelming passing attack that threw for 172 yards at Hawaii in the season opener, and just 54 yards in the Trojans’ 10-7 home loss during week two.
Utah State currently ranks No. 13 in the nation in passing yards allowed, but is 51st in passing efficiency defense — and is yet to record an interception. Kessler will likely be looking for star wideout Marqise Lee often, who scored his first touchdown of the season on an 80-yard catch-and-run against Boston College. Nevin Lawson and Tay Glover-Wright will need to be up to the challenge as both are likely to see time covering Lee.
Meanwhile Kiffin has praised Aggie signal-caller Chuckie Keeton, comparing him to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, writes Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times.
"You can't tackle him, he runs around and makes every throw, he doesn't seem to get rattled and he plays great in big games," Kiffin said. "This is a really special player."
Plain and simple, the Trojans have not seen a dual-threat field general like Keeton this season. The USU leader comes in at No.10 in passing yards and tied for first in touchdown passes. USC was efficient in its gameplan to frustrate Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday, who sits two spots above Keeton in passing yards, but it came in the Trojans’ only loss of the season, and Halliday does not pose the threat to run.
USC stands at No. 21 in passing yards allowed and sixth in passing efficiency defense. The last time Kiffin’s team played a quarterback with a similar skill set to Keeton's, Oregon’s Marcus Mariota shredded the Trojans for 304 yards through the air and another 96 on the ground.
Kyle Spencer is a ksl.com intern. He is studying journalism at Utah Valley University and is the sports editor of the UVU Review. Follow him on twitter @kyledspencer.
