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The Lowdown 2006 Schedule Coach: Brent Guy (2nd season, 3-8) 2005 record: 2-6 WAC finish: 2-6 (t-6th) 2005 I-A offensive rankings: Rushing: 92nd (117.0 ypg) Passing: 82nd (200.0 ypg) 2005 I-A defensive rankings: Rushing: 53rd (144.1 ypg) Passing: 98th (261.6 ypg) Date Opponent Sept. 2 at Wyoming Sept. 9 at Arkansas Sept. 16 Utah Sept. 23 at BYU Sept. 30 Idaho Oct. 7 Fresno State Oct. 14 at San Jose State Oct. 21 at Louisiana Tech Nov. 4 Hawaii Nov. 11 at Nevada Nov. 18 at Boise State Nov. 25 New Mexico State Depth Chart: Offense 6 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. WR 6 Kevin Robinson Jr. 5 Preston Robinson Jr. WR 1 Tony Pennyman Sr. 14 Otis Nelson So. WR 19 Tarrell Richards Sr. 81 Nnamdi Gwacham Fr. LT 67 Ryan Tonnemacher So. 70 Zac Zimmerman Fr. LG 55 Ryan Pahua Sr. 64 Ryan Wilson Sr. C 62 Brent DeLadurantey Sr. 76 Malik Cin Sr. RG 63 Pace Jorgensen Jr. 61 Brennan McFadden Fr. RT 74 Justin Schlimgen Sr. 77 Derek Hoke So. TE 86 Rob Myers So. 84 Will Fausel Jr. QB 7 Leon Jackson III Jr. 16 Brian Black Sr. TB 4 Marcus Cross Jr. 17 Ryan Bohm So. Depth Chart: Defense 6 returning starters in red Ps. No. Player Yr. No. Player Yr. DE 58 Ben Calderwood So. 98 Michael Martini Fr. DT 79 E.J. Reid Jr. 41 Kerry Shepherd Sr. DT 54 Brian Soi So. 96 Alan Bishop Fr. DE 57 Frank Maile Jr. 97 Bevan Howard So. SLB 45 Devon Hall So. 42 Josh Anderson Jr. MLB 53 Jake Hutton So. 94 Steven Downs Fr. OLB 47 Daryl Fields So. 44 Clay Swan So. CB 23 Josh Taylor So. 25 Elijah Bonner Sr. CB 3 Marquise Charles So. 12 Drew Pearson Jr. SS 24 Antonio Taylor Jr. 39 Caleb Taylor So. FS 9 Terrance Washington Sr. 11 Eric Sobolewski Jr. Special Teams Ps. No. Player Yr. Ps. No. Player Yr. K 13 Justin Hamblin Sr. KR 6 Kevin Robinson Jr. P 13 Justin Hamblin Sr. PR 1 Tony Pennyman Sr.

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Winning conference games is the top priority for the Aggies in 2006. The honeymoon is over for the new coaching staff at Utah State, and head coach Brent Guy knows that. "We've got to win more WAC games," Guy says. "We need to be much more competitive in the WAC and give ourselves a chance to go to a bowl game."

Utah State joined the Western Athletic Conference in Guy's first year at the helm. The Aggies went 2-6 in league play, losing three games that could have gone the other way. A six-game losing streak didn't help morale either.

However, Utah State did win its final game of 2005 -- a 24-21 victory over New Mexico State -- and the Aggies are hoping to carry momentum from that victory over to this season. With 34 lettermen returning, including 11 starters, there is experience on both sides of the ball.

The offense has all of its statistical leaders back, plus the addition of a running back who turned heads in the spring. That is welcomed, since the rushing attack has been lacking the past few seasons and ranked 92nd last year.

On defense, Utah State is still plenty young, with only three seniors on the projected two-deep, but the Aggies ranked in the top half of the league in most statistical categories last year. They have depth up front and in the secondary, but the linebacking corps is thin.

"We lost several games last year where if we just made one more play we would have pulled out a win," sophomore linebacker Jake Hutton says.

It will not be easy early on. The Aggies play another tough non-conference schedule.

OFFENSE

The Aggies welcome back all of their statistical leaders, and they gain the services of a talented junior college tailback, but the key to this unit's success will be the health and development of the offensive line.

Three starting linemen graduated, and the staff wasn't able to get much accomplished in the spring due to various injuries to five players who figure to play a prominent role in the fall. That left only seven linemen for spring drills. While it wasn't ideal, it did give the younger linemen a chance to prove themselves.

Quarterback Leon Jackson III started the first nine games of the 2005 season, then watched from the sideline with a bum shoulder. Jackson was healthy by the time spring ball rolled around and solidified his spot as the Aggies' starter.

There is plenty of experience at wide receiver with Tony Pennyman and Kevin Robinson back. That duo combined for 106 receptions, 1,402 yards and 13 touchdowns.

How bad was the Aggies' rushing attack in 2005? Well, a player other than a running back led the team in rushing in nine of 11 games. That's got to change, and second-year coach Brent Guy thinks junior college transfer Marcus Cross will help jumpstart USU's ground game. Cross beat out the top two returning rushers, Ryan Bohm and Chris Forbes, during the spring.

DEFENSE

Utah State is still plenty young on defense but the Aggies ranked in the top half of the league in most statistical categories last year. They have depth up front and in the secondary, but the linebacking corps is thin.

Brian Soi and E.J. Reid will anchor the middle of the defensive line, and Frank Maile, Ben Calderwood and Bevan Howard will play at the ends.

A trio of sophomores will start at linebacker. A former walk-on, Hutton led the team in tackles last year with 87 as a true freshman. He has moved to the middle and will be flanked by Devon Hall and Daryl Fields.

The Aggies' secondary lost two starters but returns five players with significant game experience. Guy plans on using a three-man rotation at the two safety and cornerback spots. Leading the group is senior free safety Terrance Washington, who had 60 tackles and picked off two passes a year ago.

SPECIALISTS

Justin Hamblin took care of both the punting (37.2 average) and placekicking (6-of-14 field goals) duties last year and will probably do so again. The senior struggled at times, so Jackson, who punted as a freshman, may see some action. The coaching staff is working on getting some kickers to walk on this fall. Returning kicks is not a worry with Robinson and Pennyman back.

FINAL ANALYSIS

With one year under his belt, Guy has high expectations for his sophomore season. The top goal is to be competitive in the WAC, where the Aggies went 2-6 last year, tying for sixth.

Second-half letdowns led to three of those league defeats. With more experienced players and some familiarity with WAC opponents, the Aggies believe a .500 record in the league is a realistic goal. For that to happen, the offensive line must come together, or the offensive weapons will not be as effective.

The Aggies have improved from a year ago, but four tough non-conference games (three on the road) and tough league road trips to Nevada and Boise State will make it difficult for this team to show much progress in the win-loss column.