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LOGAN — "Their secondary is as good as anybody we're gonna see in the PAC-12."
That is some high praise coming from Utah's receiver's coach, Aaron Roderick, at the Utes' practice today. Roderick, also the passing game coordinator, faces the task of game planning against Utah senior Nevin Lawson, a preseason second team all-Mountain West Conference.
With Lawson, the Aggies return Tay Glover-Wright and Rashard Stewart. Quinton Byrd is 100 percent after an ACL injury and they've added JC transfer Jeremy Morris. But Lawson says this groups wants to be recognized on a much grander scale.
"We don't wanna be just better than the PAC-12, we want to be one of the best secondaries in the nation."
They'll certainly have their chance to prove it.
In the first six weeks of the season, they'll face Dres Anderson and Kenneth Scott, Noel Grigsby, Cody Hoffman, and perhaps the best college player in the country, Marqis Lee.
"They've played a lot of ball, they're physical, they're confident, and they're well versed in the scheme so it will be a good match-up," head coach Matt Wells said of his players.
Roderick wasn't the only one heaping praise on his team's opponent; Wells knows his experienced secondary will have their hands full with the guys lining up across from them.
We want to be one of the best secondaries in the nation.
–Nevin Lawson
"Dres and Kenneth Scott will get your attention in a hurry when you flip on the tape and I would love to coach Jake Murphy."
Murphy, an honorable mention all PAC-12 selection, will be a favorite target of sophomore quarterback Travis Wilson; and it will be up to the Aggies' linebacking corp to try and contain him. Linebackers coach, Kevin Clune, says they can't worry about what Murphy can do but rather focus on their own execution.
"I respect the heck out of those players, but it's not really about those guys; it's about what we're gonna do and how we produce."
We won't have to wait much longer to see how the linebackers and secondary will fair against Utah's weapons, kickoff is a mere six days away at Rice-Eccles.
