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SALT LAKE CITY — Looking up and down the Aggies roster it seems that there are a lot of players that are returning in core roles. However, there are spots that players can step in to and make big plays.
Chuckie Keeton needs other people on offense and the defense will need to fill in some spots. The Aggies lost two great players, who were drafted in Kerwynn Williams and Will Davis, but they aren't the only players the Aggies lost in areas where players can step up.
This list is partially me and mostly help from Matt Glade.
Joe Hill — Running back
This is probably the easiest player to choose as a breakout star, but that is because he really should be a breakout star. Utah State has a short run as running back U in Utah. The Aggies put Robert Turbin, Michael Smith and Williams into the NFL and next in line is Hill.
Hill only carried the ball 43 times, but had a 6.26 yards per carry average and scored 7 touchdowns. He also caught 10 balls for 183 yards and two more scores. So, in 53 offensive touches he had 9 touchdowns and 452 yards, an average of 8.5 yards per touch. That's better than Williams was last year.
It doesn't seem like those numbers will translate into a starting role, but Turbin, Smith and Williams all had their rushing average go up in their first year as the feature back. Hill was at 6.26 per carry, it could be closer to 7 by year's end. With the 218 carries Williams left that's a big year for Hill.
Bruce "Jojo" Natson — Wide Receiver
Keeton is the best quarterback in the state, but still needs someone to throw to: Enter Jojo Natson.
Natson is entering his sophomore year at Utah State and last year he didn't too much, catching 17 balls for 132 yards. Now that the Aggies will see four of their five top pass catchers leave someone needs to fill the void.
The only returning player with more catches than Natson last year is Travis Reynolds who had 25. The diminutive Natson will need to step up to make this a successful season for the Aggies. He is only 5-7, but has earned a spot on the team, even a start last season in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Nevin Lawson — Cornerback
Will Davis was the star corner last year and got selected in the third round in the Draft. Now it is Nevin Lawson's turn to step up. He might be the breakout player simply out of necessity. If anyone missed it here is a small list of receivers the Aggies will face this year.
By the end of the year Lawson's name will be called a lot, for better or worse. The corner position has been good in the past for the Aggies and Lawson will need to step up to be the next big name. Not only did the Aggies lose Davis, but also Terrence Alston and Jumanne Robertson who gave the Aggies time last season. The only other corners who played any significant time was Tay Glover-Wright and Rashard Stewart.
Brian Suite — Safety
You know Jake Doughty, Zach Vigil and Kyler Fackrell, but do you recall that Brian Suite had 73 tackles last year from the safety position. He was fifth on the team in tackles last year, second in the secondary behind McKade Brady.
73 tackles for the second safety is either really amazing or really sad depending on the defense. Since the defense was really good it is amazing. The now junior safety will be the returning leader in the secondary. Suite will have to command the team and still make the tackles if anyone can get past those linebackers.
Much like Lawson he needs to be able to step up, his name will be called a lot for good or bad.
Brandon Swindall — Wide Receiver
Have I mentioned that Keeton will need to throw the ball to someone yet? Because he does. While the aforementioned Natson is the new-age short slot receiver Swindall is the 6-4 prototype red-zone threat. He was a high-school All-American from Oklahoma three years ago. In high school he caught 46 passes for 1,200 yard and 17 touchdowns. The math on that is 26 yards per catch and a touchdown every 2.7 catches. He also had 17 interceptions on defense and returned 8 of those for touchdowns.
Swindall had been recruited by a lot of big schools, including Arkansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas A&M and Boise State, so he has the skills. Can he put it all together and show off what he can do.
He has proven less than any other player on this list, only has 3 catches in his career, but it is hard not to like his upside. He could be the best player on this list and at the same time might not play this year.
There is the list of players. Skill positions on both sides of the ball. The Aggies keep replacing and seeing new breakout players. The first year of the Matt Wells era will be a fascinating watch for how these players will develop.
