Photo by Clint Allen LOGAN—Win or lose, this week’s game will have no bearing on the Aggies’ spot in the Mountain West Conference standings, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot on the line. For the fans, Friday night’s game against #13/#15 BYU is all about in-state bragging rights. For Blake Anderson, it is about getting the attitude and mindset of his team right. Utah State’s head coach is new to the state, but said people around town have made it clear how important the BYU game is, and that it is a game they want him to win. “I want to beat BYU just as bad as anybody in Cache Valley, but for probably different reasons,” he said. “This just happens to be the next opportunity to show what we are capable of.” Getting that win in his first meeting with the team from Provo won’t be an easy task. While Utah State is coming off a 27-3 loss to Boise State, BYU is undefeated and ranked No. 13 nationally. “I think we are playing the best team that we will have seen all year on our schedule,” he said. “Friday night, on a short week.” Scouting BYU

Photo by Robert Scott LOGAN, Utah – Utah State senior wide receiver Deven Thompkins has been added to the 2021 Biletnikoff Award Watch List, it was announced Wednesday by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc. The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season’s outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. In the first addition to the watch list, seven other players joined Thompkins, including three from the Mountain West in Colorado State’s Trey McBride, Fresno State’s Jalen Cropper and Nick Mardner of Hawai’i. The 5-foot-8, 155-pound Thompkins leads the Mountain West and ranks third in the nation in receiving (514 yards; 128.5 ypg), is 11th in the nation in receptions (29; 7.2 pg), 24th in the nation in all-purpose yards (132.0 ypg) and 30th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with three. Thompkins became the first player in school history to have back-to-back games with at least 170 receiving yards as he caught eight passes for 172 yards against North Dakota and nine passes for 188 yards at Air Force. The previous record was held by Hunter Sharp, who had 160-plus receiving yards in

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State grad senior defensive end Nick Heninger has been named as one of 176 semifinalists for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy, it was announced Wednesday by the National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame. The list of candidates boasts a 3.66 average GPA, with more than two-thirds of the semifinalists having already earned their bachelor’s degrees. Celebrating its 32nd year, the Campbell Trophy recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership. “These 176 impressive candidates truly represent the scholar-athlete ideal,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. “For more than 60 years, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards have honored more than 800 college football players who have been successful on the football field, in the classroom and as leaders in the community. And, we are excited to celebrate the 32nd year of the Campbell Trophy, which honors the best of the best. This year’s semifinalists further illustrate the power of our great sport in developing the next generation of influential leaders.” The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct.