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Full Court Press

What USU’s offensive and defensive coordinators are saying about the team in spring ball | Sports

LOGAN — There’s an air of mystery surrounding Utah State football as it goes through spring practices. A new head coach, a host of new players and closed practices with no public scrimmages make it hard for anyone to figure out what’s happening with the program in terms of on-field progression. But in a pair of exclusive interviews with 106.9 The FAN, the two coordinators for the team — offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven and defensive coordinator Nick Howell — gave some insight as to how the team is doing this spring along with some details about their careers and path to Logan. You can find the full audio of those interviews on 1069TheFAN.com or follow one of the following links directly to the podcast. Here’s the written summary of what McGiven and Howell said about the offseason so far. Path to Utah State Nick Howell coming to Utah State was pretty much settled the moment Bronco Mendenhall took over as head coach. Since 2013, on any team Mendenhall has coached Howell has been the defensive coordinator, encompassing three seasons at BYU (2013-2015), six at Virginia (2016-2021) and last year at New Mexico (during Mendenhall’s two-year sabbatical from coaching, Howell was

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Nick Vigil and Haloti Ngata headline the 31st Annual National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Banquet | Sports

Salt Lake City – Former Fremont High and Utah State standout and NFL Linebacker Nick Vigil, and former NFL All-Pro and future Hall of Famer Haloti Ngata headline the 31st annual Utah Chapter of the National Football Foundation banquet to be held on Tuesday, March 25th at the UCCU Center in the Utah Valley University campus. Vigil joins a long list of Who’s Who amongst great football players in the State of Utah and will be recognized with the Distinguished American Award. Past award winners include Steve Young, Bobby Wagner, Kyle Van Noy, Eric Weddle, Steve Smith, Dennis Pitta, Kevin Curtis, Garrett Bolles, Danny Sorenson, Andy Reid, Brian Billick, and many others.  Vigil has played for five NFL franchises after being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016. Most recently Vigil was a standout for the Dallas Cowboys last season. Ngata, a former Utah High School star and 13-year NFL veteran was a 5-time NFL pro-bowl selection and is a former recipient of the Distinguished American award in 2011. This year Ngata will be recognized with the Contribution to Amateur football award from the Board of Directors. Additionally, the board will recognize former Bear River, Pine View and Snow Canyon High School

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Utah State football holds annual Pro Day | Sports

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State hosted representatives from 18 National Football League teams as 12 former Aggies auditioned for a career in professional football during USU’s annual Pro Day at the iFIT Sports Performance Center and the Stan Laub Indoor Training Center on Thursday. The 12 former Aggies that participated included: offensive lineman Falepule Alo (who measured at 6-foot-1.5″, 294 pounds), offensive lineman Wyatt Bowles (6-5, 306), long snapper Jacob Garcia (6-0, 233), punter Stephen Kotsanlee (6-0.7, 206), linebacker Jon Ross Maye (5-10.7, 225), offensive lineman Cole Motes (6-5.3, 296), placekicker Elliott Nimrod (5-11.7, 178), quarterback Spencer Petras (6-5, 234), wide receiver Jalen Royals (6-0.1, 204), safety Torren Union (6-0.6, 205), safety Jordan Vincent (5-9.5, 192), and wide receiver Kyrese White (5-10, 186). In addition to having their official heights and weights measured, the former Aggies were put through a variety of speed and strength tests, including the 225-pound bench press, 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, three-cone drill, broad jump and vertical jump. Royals, who participated in the 2025 NFL Combine last month in Indianapolis, Indiana, tested out with a 36.0-inch vertical jump and a 10-1 broad jump. White tested extremely well as he benched 20 reps at 225 pounds, recorded

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Utah State pulls away from short-handed UNLV to advance to MW tourney semifinal | Sports

LAS VEGAS — March brings out some of the craziness of college basketball and Utah State didn’t disappoint in a uniquely odd 70-58 win over UNLV in the quarterfinal of the Mountain West tournament. The Aggies defense was both elite and poor in the game, holding the Rebels to 23.6 percent shooting, but also committing 27 fouls leading to 37 free throw attempts, of which UNLV made 29. According to the Stathead database, Utah State had never won a game in which an opponent made that many free throws in a game (0-4 in all other attempts). The Aggies were 4-13 in games in which an opponent made 25 shots at the line. UNLV’s whole focus seemed to be pushing the ball inside the paint at all costs, either drawing a foul or getting a shot in the paint (or both). “That’s their whole game plan, to isolate and attack us and get to the free throw line. And they did a good job of that,” USU guard Mason Falslev said. “We gotta do better in not fouling.” Overcoming such a monumental number of free throws came down to a hot start to the game on offense, and enough consistency to

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Closed spring ball, House Settlement, roster caps, hiring a general manager and more from Utah State football coach Bronco Mendenhall | Sports

LOGAN – New Utah State football head coach Bronco Mendenhall is currently enjoying some of his last notable time off during the school’s spring break, spending the week on his property in Montana. On Monday, though, he joined the Full Court Press on 106.9 FM / 1390 AM The FAN with Eric Frandsen and Jason Walker to discuss various offseason topics, among those being the decision to close spring practices and scrimmages to the public, Utah State opting in to the House Settlement, whether the Aggies will join the trend of hiring a general manager, potential rule changes regarding players faking injuries and a change in the portal window. Your browser does not support the audio element. Jason Walker and Eric Frandsen speak with Utah State football head coach Bronco Mendenhall about the offseason for Utah State football and the hurdles the program has to overcome both within the team and outside of it with the changing landscape of college football. Topics include whether USU will hire a general manager, how Mendenhall feels about potential rule changes with faking injuries and an re-worked transfer window, to how the Aggies themselves are working through spring workouts in preparation for spring practices.

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Utah State football starts Spring practice on Tuesday, March 18 | Sports

LOGAN, Utah – Under the direction of first year head coach Bronco Mendenhall, Utah State football will begin spring practice on Tuesday, March 18. All practices will be closed, and Utah State will not hold a Spring Game this year. Fans will have an opportunity to watch the team and interact with the players at its annual Football Family Fun Day in August as part of Fall Camp. “After careful consideration, I have reluctantly decided to close our spring practices and not hold a spring game that is open to the public,” said Mendenhall. “My primary intent is both to protect and retain our current roster and to keep our schemes and strategies unknown from our opponents for as long as possible. I look forward to connecting with Aggie Nation this fall as we wrap up fall camp.” Media availability for coaches and players are available upon request. Inside The Roster Utah State returns four starters (O-1, D-3) as part of 20 returning letter winners (O-9, D-11) from last year’s team. USU also welcomes back 15 redshirts (O-8, D-7) and 15 more players (O-8, D-7) that were members of the program in 2024. Highlighting Utah State’s returners in 2025 are three

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Mountain West Conference seeks mediation over $55 million in dispute in Pac-12 ‘poaching’ lawsuit | Sports

The Mountain West Conference said Thursday it is seeking mediation in the lawsuit the Pac-12 filed against it in an attempt to avoid paying $55 million in “poaching” fees for bringing five Mountain West teams into its own league. The Pac-12 and some of the schools it is adding filed lawsuits last year, claiming the poaching clause it agreed to when it signed a scheduling agreement for its football teams for last season was invalid. The clause called for payments to the Mountain West of $10 million for the first team that left, with the amount growing by $500,000 for every additional team. That was on top of the $17 million-plus exit fees schools were responsible for as part of a different agreement. Colorado State, Utah State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Boise State are all set to join the Pac-12 starting in 2026. “The goal is to resolve the parties’ disputes through terms mutually agreed to by the parties,” the Mountain West said in a statement. “While the Conference remains confident in its legal positions, the ongoing litigation matters are a distraction from our main priorities: serving our member institutions and our student-athletes.” The Pac-12 did not immediately

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Utah State athletics announces 2025 Hall of Fame class | Sports

LOGAN, Utah – The Utah State University Athletics Department will honor seven outstanding individuals when it inducts its 2025 Hall of Fame Class in September. The induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame’s 22nd class is scheduled for 7 p.m., on Friday, September 12, 2025, on the USU campus. Location and ticket information for the event will be announced at a later date. The seven inductees into the 2025 class include former head football coach Gary Andersen, Devyn Christensen (women’s basketball), Shawn Daniels (men’s basketball), Tyler Larsen (football), Jessica Parenti Otte (gymnastics), Amanda Orgill-Nielson (volleyball) and Taryn Rose (soccer). Since its inception in 1993, nearly 150 student-athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors, along with three teams, have been inducted into the Utah State Athletics Hall of Fame. Bios on this year’s Hall of Fame class are below. GARY ANDERSEN Salt Lake City, Utah Head Football Coach (2009-12; 2019-20) Gary Andersen’s hiring as Utah State’s head coach on Dec. 4, 2008, began a transformation within the program that changed the course of Aggie Football forever. Over two tenures spanning more than five years, he established a foundation of sustained success, turning Utah State into a consistent winner. Andersen built the program on core

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Mountain West announces dates for 2025 football schedule | Sports

LOGAN, Utah – Three home games during the first four weeks of the season highlights Utah State’s 2025 football schedule as the Mountain West announced dates for the upcoming conference slate. Utah State, who is entering its 13th season in the MW, will have its eight league games spread out over 12 weeks from Sept. 13 through Nov. 29. Utah State’s 2025 MW schedule will include home games against Air Force (9/13), San José State (10/18), Nevada (11/8) and Boise State (11/29), and road games against Hawai’i (10/11), New Mexico (10/25), UNLV (11/15) and Fresno State (11/22). Utah State will not play Colorado State, San Diego State and Wyoming during the 2025 season. Utah State will also have two byes during the year on the first weekend in October and the first weekend in November. Utah State opens the season with consecutive non-conference games as it hosts UTEP on Saturday, Aug. 30, and plays at Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 6. The Aggies and Miners will be meeting for the first time since the 2014 New Mexico Bowl and fourth time overall, while USU will be facing Texas A&M for the second time. Utah State begins its conference slate by hosting

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