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LOGAN — Utah State interim head coach Frank Maile had a message for his team during a trying season: You're either in or you're out.
"Make a decision," he said. "You can't sit on the fence here at Utah State. So, you're either all in or you're in the way."
On Monday, leading rusher Jaylen Warren's name appeared in the transfer portal, joining a growing list of Utah State starters that have chosen to leave the program in the middle of the season.
Just in the last couple of weeks, starting safety Troy Lefeged Jr., leading wide receiver Deven Thompkins and senior linebacker Tobias "Cash" Gilliam also decided to opt out of the remainder of the season and enter the portal.
It's hard to look from the outside and think things are going well up in Logan: head coach Gary Andersen fired, starting quarterback Jason Shelley dismissed, starters continually transferring.
It's not a good look.
On Monday, weeks after Shelley was dismissed, Maile felt he needed to offer clarification on why Shelley is no longer on the team.
"Jason did nothing illegal. He is a great young man. His dismissal was 100% my decision and not due to any misconduct or violation of institutional policies or rules," Maile read from a prepared statement.
But even with all the outward-facing turmoil, Maile contends the culture and the program are still strong.
"It's all about where your heart and your minds at," he said. "If it's not here, then it's probably best that you walk and find another place where you can feel that way. And so, for us, man, we have too many kids here that care. The foundation, the culture here is rock solid, and so that's not going to change here. That and a lot of that has to do with the leaders in each position group holding the fort down and rallying the troops."
Utah State is the seventh-youngest team in the nation, with nearly 70% of the roster made up of freshmen and sophomores. There are just nine juniors and 21 seniors on the current roster — numbers that have been dwindling.
Through five games, the Aggies have had 19 players make their first-career start (ninth-most in the nation), and 26 players who have made their Utah State debut.
"I'm a big believer in there are always guys, top to bottom on the depth chart, that can play," said senior linebacker Nick Heninger, who was named the Mountain West defensive player of the week on Monday. "And I'm just happy to see guys get more opportunities."
Opportunities like the one redshirt sophomore quarterback Andrew Peasley got last week. In his first start, Peasley led the Aggies to their first win, totaling 231 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 118 yards. He was named the conference's offensive player of the week for the performance (the Aggies swept the weekly award with junior kicker Connor Coles earning the special teams honor).
Peasley helped things get back to a more positive note in Logan — even with so much adversity.
"I was on the winning team my freshman year when we went 11-2, and it obviously felt good," Peasley said. "Winning felt normal when I first showed up, and then kind of like slowly we started losing. Then this year, starting off going 0-4, the team was just like, 'Yeah, this is hard, this is no fun.' And so, I think the win last Thursday really gave us confidence."
There's hope the young players will not only continue the culture, but also normalize winning again. Utah State has just two games left of the COVID-19 shortened season, starting with Thursday's contest against Air Force.
"For these guys that come out here (with a) next man up mentality and perform the way they did, man, I mean that just speaks a lot to culture and where we're sitting right now," Maile said.
When it comes to the now-former Aggies, the team doesn't hold any ill will toward them. Maile said he hasn't tried to convince anyone to stay or fought over them entering the portal. And the players understand this season has been far from easy.
"People got to do what's best for them and their situations," Peasley said. "I don't know everyone's situation, and no one else does. So they have to do what's best for them. I don't look at anyone who's transferred, or whatever, as a quitter or giving up, and I think the team knows that. So, you know, we just got to continue to do us and get better every day."
