GAME WEEK: Utah State at (19) Auburn

LOGAN - Utah State (0-0, 0-0 WAC) will kick off the 2011 season at the defending BCS National Champions Auburn (0-0, 0-0 SEC), who is ranked No. 23 in the Preseason AP Poll and No. 19 in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Preseason Poll, on Saturday, Sept. 3... Kickoff from Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451) in Auburn, Ala., is slated for 10 a.m. (MT)... Saturday's season-opener and first-ever meeting between the Aggies and Tigers will be aired on ESPN2... Beth Mowins will handle play-by-play duties while former Oregon head coach Mike Belotti will provide analysis.

Utah State at (19) Auburn

Week 1 Game Notes

• Utah State (0-0, 0-0 WAC) at #19/23 Auburn (0-0, 0-0 SEC)
• Date: Saturday, Sept. 3
• Time: 10:00 am MT
• Site: Jordan-Hare Stadium (87,451) Auburn, Ala.
• TV: ESPN2
• Radio: KVNU 610 AM, KVNU 102.1 FM (Cache Valley) and KLZX 95.9 FM in Logan; KZNS (97.5 FM and 1280 AM) in Salt Lake City
• Series Record: First meeting
• Kickoff Weather: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms. Temp: lower 90s

SATURDAY'S STORYLINES

-- Things to watch for in Saturday's match-up between the Aggies and Tigers:
* Saturday is USU's first meeting with Auburn in football.
* USU is opening action on the road for the fourth-straight season and eighth time in last 10 years.
* The Aggies are facing a ranked team in their season opener for the third-straight season.
* Both USU and Auburn will be starting a QB who will be making his first career FBS start... USU and Auburn are two of at least 26 other FBS teams in the country whose quarterback will be making their first FBS start in their season-opener.
* USU will have seven players in action who missed all of part of the 2010 season, including 2009 leading rusher Robert Turbin, who missed all of last season with a knee injury, and 2009 leading receiver Stanley Morrison, who returns after also not playing in 2010 with a foot injury.
* Saturday is the first of two national TV appearances for USU, as the Aggies' game at BYU on Sept. 30 will be on ESPN.
* Saturday marks not only the first-ever meeting between the two teams, but it is also USU's first trip to the state of Alabama since 2005, when the Aggies played the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama.
* It is the second time in the last three seasons that USU is opening the season on Sept. 3, also opening the Gary Andersen era at USU in 2009.
* USU junior RB Robert Turbin needs:
-- 22 rushing yards to reach crack the top 10 of USU's Career Rushing list.
-- One rushing TD to take over sole possession of No. 6 on USU's Career Rushing TD list, as he currently is tied with Louie Giammona (1973-75) with 21.
* Aggie senior LB Bobby Wagner needs:
-- One tackle to reach 300 for his career, becoming 14th USU player to reach milestone.
-- 28 tackles to crack USU's top 10 career tackles list.

FOLLOWING THE GAME AND THE AGGIES

ON TV -- Saturday's season-opener and first-ever meeting between the Aggies and Tigers will be aired on ESPN2 (Comcast in Cache Valley Ch. 36/669 HD, DirectTV Ch. 209 and Dish Network Ch. 142)... Beth Mowins will handle play-by-play duties while former Oregon head coach Mike Belotti will provide analysis.

ON THE AIR -- All Utah State football games are carried live on KVNU 610 AM, KVNU 102.1 FM (Cache Valley) and KLZX 95.9 FM in Logan; KZNS (97.5 FM and 1280 AM) in Salt Lake City; on KLZX 105.3 FM in Montpelier, Idaho... All Aggie football games are also on the Internet at www.UtahStateAggies.com by clicking on "Listen Live"... Legendary radio voice Al Lewis will handle the play-by-play duties, while former Aggie SID Craig Hislop provides analysis.

ON THE INTERNET

-- USU home football games are also streamed on the Internet through "Aggies All Access," by clicking on the "Live Aggies Video" link on the home page of www.UtahStateAggies.com... Fans can register and purchase single-game or season packages to watch... Saturday's season-opener at Auburn is also available through ESPN3. GAMETRACKER

-- Fans can follow all USU Aggie home games through the USU web site at www.UtahStateAggies.com via GameTracker, a free service, which updates play-by-play and statistics throughout the game... Saturday's season-opener at Auburn is also available through GameTracker. COACHES SHOW ON THE ROAD

-- The Gary Andersen radio show will rotate between The Copper Mill and Elements Restaurant on Thursday nights (6:05-7 p.m. on 610 AM KVNU) when the Aggies play on Saturday, with some exceptions, including this week when it is on Tuesday, Aug. 30 at The Copper Mill... The show gives USU fans an opportunity to ask questions and interact with Coach Andersen and players. Upcoming Coaches Shows: Sept. 8 at Elements / Sept. 22 at Copper Mill

UP NEXT

-- Utah State hosts Weber State in the Aggies' 2011 season-opener on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. at Merlin Olsen Field at Romney Stadium... It marks the first time that USU and WSU have squared off since 2001, and Utah State leads the all-time series, 11-1. The Aggie-Wildcat match-up will have special meaning for USU head coach Gary Andersen, who will be facing his mentor, Weber State head coach Ron McBride... Andersen played for McBride at Utah in 1985-86. UTAH STATE NOTE-ABLES

RETURNING FROM INJURY -- Seven players return to action after missing most or all of the 2010 season with injury: junior WR Matt Austin, senior TE Kellen Bartlett, senior OL Robert Hill, senior WR Stanley Morrison, junior CB Jamaine Olson, senior RB Michael Smith, junior RB Robert Turbin and senior LB Reuben Willis.

SIGNAL CALLER SEARCH

-- USU will be looking for a starting quarterback, replacing four-year letterwinner and three-year starter Diondre Borel... Junior college transfer Adam Kennedy and true freshman Chuckie Keeton will not only be making their first career FBS appearance but also first career FBS start when one of them takes the opening snap Saturday. REPLACING 3/4ths OF STARTING DEFENSIVE BACKFIELD

-- The Aggies will also be looking for replacements in their defensive backfield, as starters four-year lettermen CB's Curtis Marsh and Chris Randle and two-year letterman S Rajric Coleman graduated... USU will look toward seniors Alfred Bowden and Walter McClenton, juniors McKade Brady and Quinton Byrd, as well as sophomores Nevin Lawson and Cameron Sanders to replace them. RUNNING MEN

-- While the Aggies lost leading rusher and two of their top three rushers to graduation, (RB Derrvin Speight, 779 yards, 8TDs/ QB Diondre Borel 298 yards, 7 TDs), they get 2009 leading rusher RB Robert Turbin (2009-1,296 yards, 13TDs) and RB Michael Smith (2009-290 yards, 4 TDs; 2010-153 yards, 2TDs) back from injury... Turbin missed all of the 2010 season with an injury while Smith missed nine games also with injury... Turbin was a second-team all-WAC honoree in 2009. Also in the mix are juniors Kerwynn Williams (451 yards, 4 TDs) and Joey DeMartino (157 yards, 1 TD) along with sophomore Robert Marshall (146 yards, 1 TD). NEW D SCHEME

-- Utah State's defense is changing from a 4-3 alignment to a 3-4 alignment. WHISTLE SHUFFLE

-- USU head coach Gary Andersen shuffled his coaching staff around and had some changes on his staff... Andersen will handle defensive coordinator duties, while Bill Busch will be the associate head coach/special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach... Offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin will shift to tight ends this season after coaching quarterbacks last year... Former Aggie player Matt Wells joined the USU staff in January and will be the quarterbacks coach... T.J. Woods is shifting from tight ends coach to offensive line coach, replacing Alex Gerke, who left the staff... Former Aggie player Frank Maile will be the defensive line coach, moving up from defensive graduate assistant to replace Chad Kauha'aha'a, who joined the Utah staff... Kendrick Shaver joined the USU staff in February and will be the Aggies' cornerbacks coach, replacing Corey Raymond who left for Indiana and later Nebraska... A pair of former University of Utah players Robert Conley and Spencer Toone were added to the staff as graduate assistants... Conley, a four-year starting offensive lineman, will be the offensive graduate assistant while Toone, a two-time all-Mountain West Conference selection and a two-year NFL player, will be the defensive graduate assistant. HANDS, HANDS, EVERYWHERE THERE'S HANDS

-- Nine of the USU's top 10 receivers from last year, including team-leader junior WR Dontel Watkins (42 catches, 492 yards)... The Aggies also welcome back 2009's leading receiver, junior WR Stanley Morrison, back after missing the 2010 season with an injury... Morrison had 616 yards on 33 catches (18.7 ypc) with three TDs in 2009. The USU receiving corps also welcomes back Matt Austin, who missed the 2009 season with an injury and played in one game in 2010 before suffering a season-ending injury, making one catch for 59 yards in the Oklahoma game. MORE TACKLE BOXES THAN A FISHING STORE

-- The Aggie defense welcomes back its top three tacklers in senior LB Bobby Wagner 133 tackles, senior LB Kyle Gallagher with 91 tackles and senior SS Walter McClenton with 62 stops, as part of seven of the top 10 tacklers from last season... USU also returns its top four leaders for tackles for loss in senior DE Levi Koskan (8.5-47), Wagner (8.0-15), DE Quinn Garner (5.0-11) and Gallagher (4.0-10), as well as its top two sack leaders (Koskan 4.5-36) and Garner (2.5-7). PICK PACK

-- While the USU defense lost players that accounted for eight of its 13 interceptions, co-team leader junior CB Quinton Byrd (3-0) returns, while Garner and sophomore CB Nevin Lawson each had one oskie last season... Lawson's INT was a game-saving pick in the endzone to preserve USU's win at San Jose State... The Aggie defensive backfield lost its top to pass break-up leaders, but return Wagner (four PBU's), Gallagher (three PBU's) and sophomore CB Cameron Sanders (three PBU's). NEW BEEF

-- Utah State's defense also need to replace departed starting defensive linemen Casey Davis, Sean Enesi, Devin Johnson and Nathan Royster... USU will look to junior Evan Huahulu (sat out last season after transferring from SMU), along with junior transfers Al Lapuaho and Havea Lasike, along with Bojay Filimoeatu (JC All-American) who will see action as both a D-lineman and a linebacker, as well as former Idaho State player Kevin Whimpey... Adding to the mix are redshirt-freshmen B.J. Larsen and Tevita Vaifoou... The Aggie offensive line lost multi-year starters Spencer Johnson, Tariq Polley and Ty Rogers, but will replace them with newcomers Taani Fisilau, Stetson Tenney and Kyle Whimpey. O-LINE EXPERIENCE

-- USU's offensive linemen combine for 90 career starts, led by senior Philip Gapelu with 28 career starts, and he enters his senior season with a streak of 23-consecutive starts, both ranking second on the team behind senior linebacker Bobby Wagner's 32 career starts and 27-straight... Fellow senior Funaki Asisi has 18 career starts, while classmate Robert Hill has 16 and sophomore Tyler Larsen has 12. Both Asisi and Larsen have current streaks of 12 in a row. FOOT REPLACEMENT

-- Utah State's special teams will also be looking to replace Ray Guy Award semi-finalist Peter Caldwell, who handled USU's punting and placekicking duties... Sophomores Josh Thompson and Nick Diaz, and freshman transfer Jacob Haueter will handle placekicking duties depending on the distance and situation... Junior transfer Tyler Bennett will handle the punting duties. USU VS. THE TOP 25

-- USU will be playing its 56th game all-time against a ranked team on Saturday, as Auburn is No. 23 in the AP Poll and No. 19 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, and the Aggies are just 1-54 against teams in the AP or BCS poll... The Aggies are 0-43 on the road vs. a top 25 team... Saturday also marks USU's third-straight season to open at a ranked opponent (2009 at No. 19 Utah, 2010 at No. 7 Oklahoma)... The Aggies' lone win against a ranked team was a 20-19 upset of 25th-ranked Fresno State in 1991... Since then, USU has lost 29-straight games against ranked teams... Saturday marks the 24th time during the 2000's decade that USU has faced a ranked team - here is a look at those games: ``` Sept. 8, 2001 - L 14-31 at #13 LSU Sept. 29, 2001 - L 21-38 vs #6 Oregon Oct. 5, 2001 - L 34-54 at #18 BYU Dec. 1, 2001 - L 21-70 at #21 Fresno State Sept. 7, 2002 - L 13-44 at #9 Nebraska Sept. 6, 2003 - L 7-31 at #23 Nebraska Sept. 13, 2003 - L 16-26 at #16 Arizona State Sept. 18, 2004 - L 6-48 #15 Utah Oct. 29, 2005 - L 3-35 at #5 Alabama Nov. 18, 2006 - L 10-49 at #18 Boise State Sept. 15, 2007 - L 3-54 at #3 Oklahoma Oct. 6, 2007 - L 37-52 at #16 Hawai'I Nov. 10, 2007 - L 0-52 vs #19 Boise State Sept. 6, 2008 - L 24-66 at #18 Oregon Sept. 13, 2008 - L 10-58 vs #22 Utah Oct. 3, 2008 - L 14-34 vs #8 BYU Nov. 8, 2008 - L 14-49 at #9 Boise State Sept. 3, 2009 - L 17-35 at #19 Utah Oct. 2, 2009 - L 17-35 at #20 BYU Nov. 20, 2009 - L 21-53 vs #6 Boise State Sept. 4, 2010 - L 24-31 at #7 Oklahoma Oct. 30, 2010 - L 42-56 at #24 Nevada (BCS Poll) Dec. 4, 2010 - L 14-50 at #9 Boise State Sept. 3, 2011 - at #23 Auburn

AGGIES VS. NO. 23

-- No, the Aggies are playing Michael Jordan, perhaps the most famous No. 23 adorned athlete, but the Aggies will be playing a No. 23 ranked team for only the second time ever, as the only other time was on Sept. 6, 2003 when USU played at No. 23 Nebraska, losing, 31-7. SEASON-OPENERS

-- Saturday's season-opener marks the second time in the last three years and third time in the last seven years that USU is scheduled to begin the season on Sept. 3... However, this will be the second time during that span, joining 2009 at Utah, that USU has played on Sept. 3 as the first occasion, Sept. 3, 2005, the USU game vs. Nicholls State was cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina... USU has begun the season on Sept. 3 five times, but has played only four, going 1-3... Overall, Utah State is 3-20 in its last 23 season-openers, winning in 1993, 1996 and 1997... In those three years of the Aggies winning their season-opener, USU has had a winning season, been to a bowl game or in some cases shared or won the conference title (USU was 7-5 in 1993, winning the Las Vegas Bowl and tying for the Big West Conference championship; 6-5 in 1996; 6-6 in 1997 after losing in the Humanitarian Bowl and again tying for the Big West championship)... Overall, the Aggies' first game of the season has had a September date 10 times in the last 14 years and a total of 42 times in USU's 113 seasons of football. ``` Sept. 3 Season-Openers 1978 - W 10-0 vs Idaho State @ Osaka, Japan 2005 - vs Nicholls State - Cancelled 1988 - L 13-53 at #2 Nebraska
2009 - L 17-35 at#19 Utah 1994 - L 17-32 vs. Utah

OPENING ON ROAD

-- The Aggies are opening the season on the road for the fourth-straight season and 10th time in last 12 years, only starting at home in 2002 and 2007. The 2005 season was supposed to start at home, but USU's season and home-opener against Nichols State was cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina. OPENING AGAINST A RANKED OPPOSITION

-- USU is opening the season against a ranked opponent for the third-straight year and the eighth time in history. ``` Sept. 12, 1970 - L 0-37 at #14 Kansas State Sept. 6, 1986 - L 0-52 at #18 BYU Sept. 5, 1987 - L 12-56 at #2 Nebraska Sept. 3, 1988 - L 13-63 at #2 Nebraska Sept. 4, 1999 - L 7-38 at #12 Georgia Sept. 3, 2009 - L 17-35 at #19 Utah Sept. 4, 2010 - L 24-31 at #7 Oklahoma

UTAH STATE vs. AUBURN

-- Saturday marks the first time ever that USU and Auburn are meeting on the gridiron, but the Aggies and Tigers have faced each other in two other sports, with USU posting an even 3-3 record... The Aggies have tangled with the Tigers five times in gymnastics with Auburn holding a 3-2 series lead, and once in volleyball with the Aggies winning the lone meeting in 1997. ``` Sport Series History Last Meeting Last USU Win Football 0-0 Never Never M. Basketball 0-0 Never Never W. Basketball 0-0 Never Never Gymnastics 2-3 2006 1999 Softball 0-0 Never Never M. Tennis 0-0 Never Never W. Tennis 0-0 Never Never Volleyball 1-0 1997 1997

YELLOWHAMMER STATE TIME

-- Saturday marks not only the first-ever meeting between the two teams, but it is also USU's first trip to the state of Alabama since 2005, when the Aggies played the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama... Utah State made two trips to the Yellowhammer State in 2004, opening against the Crimson Tide, and then four weeks later returned to the state to take on the Trojans of Troy University, who were fellow Big West Conference opponents in 2003 and 2004... Overall, USU is 1-3 on Alabama soil, going 0-2 at Alabama and 1-1 at Troy. ``` Alabama - 0-2 Sept. 9, 2004 - L 17-48 Away Oct. 29, 2005 - L 3-35 Away

Troy - 1-2 overall / 1-1 on road Nov. 16, 2002 - W, 19-16 (OT) Away Nov. 15, 2003 - L 14-23 Home Oct. 2, 2004 - L, 21-49 Away

AN SEC STARTER

-- Utah State's season-opener at Auburn is the first time since 2004 that the Aggies have faced an SEC team in their season-opener, and both have been in the Yellowhammer State, as USU played at Alabama to open the 2004 season... Overall, Saturday makrs the fourth time in USU's history that the Aggies have taken on a current SEC team to open the season: ``` Sept. 6, 1980 - L 10-17 at Kentucky Sept. 4, 1999 - L 7-38 at #12 Georgia Sept. 9, 2004 - L 17-48 at Alabama Sept. 3, 2011 - at #23 Auburn

UTAH STATE vs. SEC HISTORY

-- Saturday also marks the first time since 2006 that the Aggies play an SEC team after playing at Arkansas on Sept. 9, 2006... Overall, Utah State is 1-10 all-time against teams in the current SEC, winning its first match-up, but has lost the last 10 in a row... USU's last win vs. an SEC team was a 35-6 win at Kentucky on Oct. 10, 1970... Saturday is the fifth meeting between the Aggies and a ranked SEC team... Here is a look at the last 10 meetings against the league: ``` Oct. 10, 1970 - W 35-6 at Kentucky Oct. 25, 1975 - L 0-31 at Arkansas Sept. 11, 1976 - L 16-33 at #13 Arkansas Sept. 6, 1980 - L 10-17 at Kentucky Sept. 12, 1987 - L 0-41 at Kentucky Oct. 2, 1993 - L 17-38 at LSU Sept. 4, 1999 - L 7-38 at #12 Georgia Sept. 8, 2001 - L 14-31 at #13 LSU Sept. 4, 2004 - L 17-48 at Alabama Oct. 29, 2005 - L, 3-35 at #5 Alabama Sept. 9, 2006 - L, 0-20 at Arkansas

CENTRAL TIME ZONE

-- The Aggies' game at Auburn is USU's lone game in the Central Time Zone, and is one of four different time zones that Utah State will play in this season, with eight games in the Mountain Time Zone (all six home games, at BYU, at New Mexico State), two in the Pacific Time Zone (at Fresno State, at Idaho) and one in the Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone (at Hawai'i). AGGIE'S 2011 SCHEDULE FEATURES FOUR TEAMS IN PRESEASON POLLS

-- Utah State will face four teams in the Associated Press (AP) Preseason Poll... Just like the USA Today Coaches' Preseason Poll, only one of them is in the Top 25, as USU's season-opening opponent Auburn is at No. 23 in the AP Preseason Poll, compared to No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll... The Aggies will also take on BYU (Sept. 30), Hawai'i (Nov. 5) and Nevada (Nov. 26), who are all among others receiving votes in the AP Poll, as well as the USA Today Coaches' Poll. UTAH STATE'S 2011 SCHEDULE FEATURES FIVE 2010 BOWL TEAMS

-- A total of five teams on USU's 2011 schedule went to a bowl game in 2010, opening at defending national champion Auburn (Tostitos BCS National Title Game, W 22-19 over Oregon)... The Aggies will also face bowl teams BYU (New Mexico Bowl, W 52-42 over UTEP), Nevada (Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, W 20-13 vs. Boston College), Hawai'i (Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, L 62-35 to Tulsa) and Fresno State (udrove Humanitarian Bowl, L 40-17 to Northern Illinois). TURBIN IS 20th AGGIE TO 1,000 FOR CAREER

-- Junior RB Robert Turbin became the 20th player in Utah State history to reach the 1,000 career rushing yards milestone in 2009 and the first since David Fiefia (2000-03), who finished with 1,193... Turbin is currently No. 11 on USU's all-time rushing list with 1,798 yards, needing 22 more to crack the top 10, as Jack Hill (1952, 55-56), currently holds the No. 10 spot with 1,820 yards. ``` Career Rushing No. Name Years Yds.

1. Demario Brown 1996-1999 4,053
2. Abu Wilson 1992, 94-96 3,933
3. Rick Parros 1976-79 3,537
4. Louie Giammona 1973-75 3,499
5. Emmett White 1998-01 2,791
6. Roger Grant 1990-91 2,387
7. Tom Larscheid 1959-61 2,206
8. Altie Taylor 1966-68 1,959
9. Jay Van Noy 1946-49 1,923
10. Jack Hill 1952,55-56 1,820
11. Robert Turbin 2008-pres. 1,798

TOUCHDOWN TIME FOR TURBIN

-- Turbin is also climbing USU's career rushing TD list, currently tied for the No. 6 spot with 21 career TD's, including 13 in 2009, tied with Louie Giammona with 21 (1973-75)... A closer look at Turbin's climb: ``` Career Rushing TD's No.Name Years TD

1. Abu Wilson 1992, 94-96 40
2. Demario Brown 1996-99 37
3. Tom Larscheid 1959-61 29
4. Emmett White 1998-01 27
5. Rick Parros 1976-79 26
6. Louie Giammona 1973-75 21 Robert Turbin 2008-pres 21
7. Roy Shivers 1964-65 18 Diondre Borel 2007-10 18
8. Jack Hill 1956 14
9. Jerry Cox 1973-74 13 Jerry Hughes 1971-72 13 Altie Taylor 1966-68 13

TURBIN IN TOP 10 CAREER SCORING LIST

-- Turbin moved up to tie for No. 10 on USU's career scoring list, entering the 2010 season with 170 career points, tied with Rick Parros (1976-79), needing 114 points to reach record-holder Brad Bohn (1997-2000) with 284 career points. ``` Career Points Scored Years Pts.

1. Brad Bohn 1997-2000 284
2. Tom Larscheid 1959-61 248
3. Abu Wilson 1992, 94-96 246
4. Demario Brown 1996-99 234
5. Steve Steinke 1977-80 204
6. Micah Knorr 1993-96 197
7. Emmett White 1998-01 194
8. Kevin Robinson 2004-07 182
9. Willie Beecher 1981-84 172
10. Rick Parros 1976-79 170 Robert Turbin 2008-pres 170

WAGNER WAC PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF YEAR, MULTI-PRESEASON WATCH LIST MEMBER

-- The media of the Western Athletic Conference voted on preseason players of the year, selecting USU senior linebacker Bobby Wagner as the Defensive Player of the Year, while Hawai`i senior quarterback Bryant Moniz was voted the Offensive Player of the Year. Wagner is the first USU player to earn a preseason WAC honor since the Aggies joined the league in 2005. It is Utah State's first conference preseason honor since 2004 when Ronald Tupea and Robert Watts were named to the Sun Belt preseason first-team all-conference team. The WAC does not have a preseason all-conference team.

Wagner is also on several preseason all-WAC teams as well as several award watch lists, including:
Butkus Award - nation's top linebacker
Rotary Lombardi Award - nation's top college lineman
Bronko Nagurski Award - nation's best defensive player

Wagner, a native of Ontario, Calif. (Colony HS) is a two-time first-team all-WAC honoree... Last season, he led the WAC and ranked tied for seventh in FBS with 11.1 tackles per game, ranking second in the WAC with 133 total tackles in 2010 season. Wagner enters his senior season nearing USU's and WAC's career tackles list, as he currently has 299 career stops, needing 28 tackles to break into the Aggies' top 10 list and 18 stops to crack the WAC's top 10... In 2010, Wagner tallied a WAC-best four 15+ tackle outings, including two 17-stop games, a 16-tackle game and a 15-tackle outing... On the season, he logged a total of seven double-digit tackle games, and had at least six stops in all 12 games... Additionally, Wagner added eight tackles for loss with half a sack, as well as four pass breakups and one forced fumble.

WAGNER WRANGLING WAY UP USU AND WAC TACKLE LIST -- Senior LB Bobby Wagner has 299 career tackles, needing one to become the 14th player in USU history with 300 stops and the first since former teammate Jake Hutton (328 career tackles, 2005-08)... Wagner also needs 28 more tackles to crack USU's top 10 Career Tackles List... He also needs 18 stops to break into the WAC's top 10.

<p>USU Career Tackles
Tackles Years   No.
(Since 1979)
1.  Del Lyles   1988-91 446
2.  David Gill  1993-96 425
3.  <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/busta_jesse00.html">Jesse Busta</a> 1999-2002   392
4.  <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/passey_brent00.html">Brent Passey</a>   1997-2000   386
5.  Kevin Bouwmann  1987-1990   372
6.  Pat McKenna 1979-82 359
7.  Johndale Carty  1995-98 347
8.  Jermaine Younger    1990-93 337
9.  Jake Hutton 2005-08 328
10. Al Smith    1984-86 327
11. Toby Tyler  1988-91 321
12. <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/eagal_blake00.html">Blake Eagal</a> 1997-2000   313
13. James Jenkins   1983-85 311
14. <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/wagner_bobby00.html">Bobby Wagner</a>   2008-pres.  299
</p><p>WAC Career Tackles
Tackles Years   No.
(Since 1979)
1.  Robert Rodriguez, UTEP  2001-04 443
2.  Solomon Elimimian, UH   2005-07 434
3.  Matt Castelo, SJSU  2004-07 397
4.  Korey Hall, BSU 2003-06 394
5.  Andy Avalos, BSU    2001-04 355
6.  Antonio Baker, LTU  2006-09 352
7.  Jake Hutton, USU    2005-08 328
8.  David Vobora, UI    2005-07     324
9.  Daryl Towns, NEV    2000-03 320
10. Derrick Richardson, NMSU    2005-08 318
--  <a href="http://www.utahstateaggies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/wagner_bobby00.html">Bobby Wagner</a>   2008-pres.   (133) 299
(Number in parenthesis = `10 stats)
</p><p></p>

WILLIAMS NINTH-BEST SINGLE-SEASON ALL-PURPOSE MARK IN WAC

-- With 2,042 all-purpose yards last season (1,444 kick return, 451 rush, 110 receiving, 37 punt return), Kerwynn Williams holds the No. 9 spot on the WAC's Single-Season All-Purpose list, the most in the WAC since USU's Kevin Robinson amassed 2,317 all-purpose yards in 2007. FRESH FISH AT QB

-- USU's match-up at Auburn on Saturday is one of two contests in the opening week where both teams' quarterbacks will be making their first career start, as Barrett Trotter will be Auburn's signal-caller and making his first start, while USU's starting quarterback either junior Adam Kennedy or freshman Chuckie Keeton will not only also be starting for the first time, but also playing in their first Football Bowl Subdivision game... When Ohio State takes on Akron on the same day, both of those teams' QB's will also be making their respective first career starts... USU and Auburn are two of at least 26 other FBS teams in the country whose quarterback will be making their first FBS start in their season-opener. ``` QB MAKING FIRST FBS START Akron ^2 Alabama Arkansas Auburn ^1 Clemson Florida Atlantic Iowa State Louisiana Tech Marshall Memphis Minnesota Ole Miss Nevada NC State Ohio Ohio State ^2 San Jose State TCU UCONN UNLV Utah State ^1 UTEP Virgina * Virginia Tech Wyoming

* = No starter named yet, at least one of possibilities hasn't made an FBS start ^ = Facing each other in season opener

NO FBS EXPERIENCE FOR YOU

-- USU's QB corps does not have any Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) experience... The Aggies are one of four teams in the country who enters the season-opener without any FBS experience among its signal-callers and one of seven schools with less that five total FBS games played. ``` School - Total FBS Games/No. of QB's On Roster Iowa State - 0/6 Utah State - 0/4 Wyoming - 0/3 Florida Atlantic - 0/2 North Texas - 1/4 Memphis - 3/5 Ole Miss - 4/5

TOGETHER IN THE TRENCHES

-- Utah State's offensive linemen have made a combined 90 starts, ranking in the 20 in the country: ``` OFFENSIVE LINE COMBINED STARTS 158 SMU 137 Northwestern 118 UAB 116 Clemson 114 Tulsa 106 BYU 105 Florida State 104 Middle Tennessee 99 Ohio 98 Virginia Tech 94 Louisiana-Monroe 92 Boise State 91 Oregon State 91 San Jose State 90 Utah State 86 UCF 85 Georgia 85 Kent State

BIG eVan -- Junior DT Evan Huahulu weighs in at 351 pounds and wears jersey No. 5... He is tied with Georgia nose guard Jon Jenkins, who also weighs 351 pounds and wears jersey No. 6 ``` HEAVIEST SINGLE DIGIT WEIGHT NO NAME POS SCHOOL 351 5 Evan Huahulu DT Utah State 351 6 Jon Jenkins NG Georgia 326 9 Louis Nix III NG Notre Dame 303 6 Jaye Howard DT Florida 297 8 Timmy Jernigan DT Florida State 295 7 Stephon Tuitt DE Notre Dame 290 6 Greg Scruggs DT Louisville 289 3 Cassius Marsh DT UCLA 285 9 Zach Masch DL Hawai'i 281 6 Dana Brown DT Kent State 280 2 William Gholston DE Michigan State 276 6 Melvin Ingram DT South Carolina 273 4 Twyon Martin DT UConn 272 8 Jeoffrey Pagan DL Alabama 265 6 Tavaris Barnes DT Clemson 258 1 Andrew Power TD North Texas 255 1 Ishaq Williams LB Notre Dame 255 5 Manti Te'o LB Notre Dame 255 5 Brenden Daley LB Hawai'i 254 3 Logan Thomas QB Virginia Tech 250 8 Nick Perry DE USC 250 7 Tavita Woodard DL Hawai'i 250 2 Juda Parker DE Colorado 249 9 C.J. James DE Colorado State 245 1 Brandon Beal LB Minnesota

CURRENT AGGIE COACHES VS. AUBURN

-- Utah State has three members of its coaching staff that have faced Auburn as a coach with another team or a player... USU assoc. head coach/special teams coordinator Bill Busch and offensive administrative assistant Hunter Teafatiller faced Auburn in the Cotton Bowl to conclude the 2005 season, when Busch was the Cornhuskers' special teams coordinator and Teafatiller was playing tight end for Nebraska... USU strength & conditioning coach was at Kentucky in 2004 when the Wildcats played Auburn... Overall, those three members are a combined 0-3 vs. Auburn in their other positions. RED LEADER, RED LEADER

-- That title not only is fitting for the Star Wars call sign of the Commander of Red Squadron, but also for the Utah State offense, which led the WAC and ranked tied for ninth in FBS in red zone offense, scoring on 89.0 percent of its trips there (34-of-38). ``` RED ZONE OFFENSE Rank Name Gm Drives Scores Pts. Rush Pass FG Pct TD TD 1 Oklahoma St. 13 61 58 337 23 18 17 .95 1 Memphis 12 19 18 89 4 5 9 .95 3 Illinois 13 52 49 283 23 11 15 .94 4 Wisconsin 13 68 62 400 39 15 8 .91 5 East Carolina 13 63 57 353 18 28 11 .90 5 Virginia Tech 14 62 56 326 26 14 16 .90 5 Arkansas 13 49 44 266 17 17 10 .90 5 North Carolina 13 49 44 240 15 12 17 .90 9 Stanford 13 70 62 376 29 19 14 .89 9 Georgia 13 55 49 281 20 14 15 .89 9 Kansas St. 13 47 42 279 31 7 4 .89 9 Michigan St. 13 44 39 236 17 13 9 .89 9 UTAH STATE 12 38 34 202 20 5 9 .89 9 California 12 37 33 201 15 11 7 .89

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH

-- There are nine Division I schools that are located in cities with an elevation of at least 4,000 feet about sea level... Utah State's home of Logan ranks seventh on the list with an elevation of 4,710 feet... USU is the highest non-Mountain West Conference school, as the top six are all MWC teams... This season the Aggies will play at only one other location on the list, giving USU seven games this season at 4,000 feet above sea level after playing eight in 2006, seven both 2007 and 2008, eight in 2009 and seven last year... USU will play at #7 on the list, BYU (Sept. 30), but will host both No. 1 on the list, Wyoming (Sept. 8), and #4 Colorado State (Sept. 24). ``` School City, State Elevation

1. Wyoming Laramie, Wyo. 7,220
2. Air Force Colorado Springs, Colo. 6,620
3. Colorado Boulder, Colo. 5,360
4. Colorado State Fort Collins, Colo. 5,190
5. New Mexico Albuquerque, N.M. 5,100
6. UTAH STATE LOGAN, UTAH 4,710
7. Brigham Young Provo, Utah 4,630
8. Nevada Reno, Nev. 4,610
9. Utah Salt Lake City, Utah 4,357

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