In 2022, Utah State ranked 105th in the FBS in points allowed per game, giving up 31.2 points on average. It was the worst ranking for the team since the 2009 Aggies ranked 107th (34.0 points allowed per game). This year, under first-year defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen, USU is hoping to improve its defense despite losing numerous starters and the previous DC. The majority of the much talked-about turnover via the transfer portal for Utah State came on the defensive side and as such most of the incoming transfers were on that side of the ball as well. But for as many transfers there are on the defense, looking at the likely starters in the unit, it mostly consists of players who were on the roster last year. Utah State will have the 4-2-5 base defense with four down linemen and two linebackers. Behind that the team has multiple options in it’s base look. On the one hand the Aggies could go with a “Sam” which, while traditionally a term for a strong-side linebacker, it will be a position similar in scope to what former defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda’s terminology called the “Striker” position — a hybrid safety-linebacker tasked with

LOGAN — The No. 3 player on the Cache Valley Media Group Top 25 Aggies of 2023 is senior quarterback Cooper Legas. His journey with Utah State has been unique, but now is set for a breakout season as the primary starting quarterback. Legas famously made his debut in the 2021 LA Bowl, his first pass being a 62-yard touchdown to Deven Thompkins. He had to step in and play that day because Logan Bonner had left the game with an injury. Legas went on to go 11 of 20 for 172 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in what became a 24-13 Aggie win over Oregon State, capping an 11-3 season for Utah State. In 2022, Legas went back to backing up Bonner, but when the latter suffered a season-ending foot injury against UNLV, Legas became the starting QB. He started eight games throughout the rest of the season, throwing for 1,499 yards, completing 61.1 percent of his passes and throwing 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. Legas led a turnaround for the Aggies, flipping a 1-4 start to a 6-6 record at the end of the regular season. For two seasons, Legas has been a backup, only playing when

Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan (5) scrambles to avoid being hit by Utah State defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka (8) during the second half of the First Responder Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde) LOGAN — At No. 2 on the Cache Valley Media Group Top 25 Aggies of 2023 is veteran defensive tackle Hale Motu’apuaka. He’s among the longest-tenured players on the Utah State football team along with being one of the best. Motu’apuaka joined the Aggies in 2018, appearing in two games as a true freshman that season, and since 2019 has been a regular in the defensive line rotation, rising up the depth chart until becoming the veteran and star of the team he is. He’s appeared in 46 games with 28 starts in his five seasons in Logan. The 2022 season was Motu’apuaka’s best as he set career highs in tackles (35) and sacks (5.0) while tying his career-best in tackles for loss (8.0). Coming into this season he’s earned preseason accolades from Phil Steele (First Team All-Mountain West), Athlon Sports (Second Team All-Mountain West) and was named to the Polynesian Player of the Year Award watch list. Cache Valley