New players, coaches abound at Utah State

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Iowa Hawkeyes football team probably doesn’t know exactly what it’s going to get from its season-opening opponent Saturday morning at Kinnick Stadium.

Because that season-opening opponent probably doesn’t know exactly what it’s going to get from itself. It’d be very difficult to know considering the circumstances.

Utah State played past the regular season last year, finishing 6-7 overall and losing to Memphis in the First Responders Bowl, 38-10, but offseason turnover in the program was massive, both player and coach wise.

There are six new assistant coaches on head coach Blake Anderson’s staff, including both coordinators. Anderson himself has taken over offensive coordinator duties, which he had at Arkansas State, his previous head coaching stop.

Then there are 59 new players at Utah State, including 14 four-year transfers. Only Colorado (88), Arizona State (79), Oklahoma State (63) and Nebraska (62) have more new guys in FBS football this season.

That is a ton of change.

“It's time to find out what we’re made of, what this team’s going to look like," Anderson said at his weekly press conference. "We had a good fall camp, I think the guys have worked really hard. We’re relatively healthy. There’s still some bumps and bruises we’re trying to get healed up, but we’re moving in the right direction.

“It’s going to be a huge test for us to start with. The environment’s going to be chaotic, the (Iowa) team is built really, really well. A big, physical football team that we’re going to have to match what they do, how they do it, but also try our best to play to our strengths, which is speed and quickness and tempo of play, and hopefully find a way to make them uncomfortable. I’m looking forward to it.”

As Anderson mentioned, Utah State will try and play uptempo on offense. The Aggies return starting quarterback Cooper Legas and starting receiver Terrell Vaughn, but are relatively unproven up front.

A junior from Orem, Utah, Legas played in 10 games last season, completing 61 percent of his passes for 1,499 yards and 11 touchdowns (to 10 interceptions). Vaughn had 56 catches and five TDs.

“There’s for sure eight or nine guys (receivers) that can play and know what they’re doing,” Legas said. “I’m excited. Whoever is out there, I know I can trust to throw them the ball, trust that they’re going to find open windows. Really, I feel like it’s on me just to get them the ball. I think we’ve got a lot of playmakers in the receiver room.”

Legas complimented Iowa’s defense and its year-in, year-out consistency.

“For me, watching film so far, I think it’s not the most confusing defense I’ve ever seen. They stick to base stuff, they just do it really well,” Legas said. “Which is what makes them awesome every year. I’ve played defenses that have confused me more, as far as knowing where guys are going to be and what their responsibilities are going to be.

“But I think they just do a really good job of not having any busted coverages or being in the wrong place. They have big, fast athletes that cover the field well ... They just do a good job of what they’re supposed to do.”

Utah State has five starters returning defensively.

“(Iowa is) big. They’re really big and really physical,” said senior cornerback Michael Anyanwu. “They are who they are on offense. I feel like everybody knows that. They are who they are, and they’re going to be who they’re going to be. They’re big, physical and want to run the ball.”

“That’s a challenge for us because obviously on paper we are smaller than they are. But we bring a fly-around, run-to-the-ball, physical, tough, speed, fast mentality to our defense. So I think that will be a challenge for them as well.”

In his third season at USU, Anderson’s life has had its share of tragedy. His wife, Wendy, died of breast cancer in August 2019, his father died six months later and his only brother was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer.

Then in February 2022, his son, Cason, died by suicide at the age of 21. Anderson and Utah State have combined to establish the Robert Cason Mental Health and Wellness Fund to increase mental health services for USU student-athletes, coaches and support staff.

“Our lives forever changed that morning,” Anderson said in a 2022 video announcing his son’s death and his mission to promote mental health awareness. “A piece of me and a piece of our family’s gone, and it will never come back. Questions are all we’re left with. Why didn’t I see it? How could I have helped more? What could I have done?”

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