Draft Scout Warning: Undefined variable $TeamName in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\notesteam.php on line 20 Player News, College Football: Warning: Undefined variable $TeamName in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\notesteam.php on line 20

San Diego State cornerbacks Noah Avinger and Dallas Branch were warming up before last year's game against Nevada when, within the span of a few minutes, both players suffered the same freak injury - a dislocated left shoulder. That didn't preclude either of them from playing but did require repair after the season. So two days after SDSU beat UTSA in the Frisco Bowl and two days before Christmas, both players had shoulder surgery. "Dallas went right before me," Avinger said. "The surgery went well, our training staff got us right back on the field, great treatment and I feel like I never left." Branch had a similarly successful recovery.

Rehabilitation prevented them from participating in spring camp, but both Avinger and Branch are good to go now. Avinger, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Cerritos, and Branch, a 5-11 senior from Redondo Beach, are locked in one of the more intense competitions of preseason camp. "Since I've been here, we've always had the one alpha coming back," SDSU cornerbacks coach Demetrius Sumler said. "The guy who was clearly the best player in the room, an all-conference-caliber player. "We don't have that guy we know is the guy right now, but I think we've got a pretty talented room. If we keep working, we're going to be good." - San Diego Union Tribune

(DS#35 FS) rSr/2026

FS Noah Avinger, Utah State
News Source: San Diego Union Tribune
Share/Comment: Here

08/11/22 - Spencer Petras, rSr/2025, Utah State, 6-5, 230 (DS#999 QB) + More +

The first major preseason top-25 college football poll was released Monday. And Iowa found itself on the outside looking in. Despite finishing inside the top 25 in the final rankings of 2021 for the fourth straight year (the longest such streak under coach Kirk Ferentz), the Hawkeyes were unranked in the first USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll of the 2022 season. However, they received the most votes of teams not in the top 25. Within the Big Ten, Iowa was picked to finish second in the Big Ten West behind Wisconsin (which checked in at No. 20) during Big Ten media days. The Hawkeyes return an impressive collection of talent on defense but questions about their offense and special teams unit loom entering fall. Outside of Iowa, four Big Ten teams made the initial poll: Ohio State (No. 3), Michigan (No. 6), Michigan State (No. 14) and Wisconsin. Of the ranked teams, Iowa will play all but Michigan State this season. - Iowa City Press-Citizen

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2025

QB Spencer Petras, Utah State
News Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen
Share/Comment: Here

08/06/22 - Jordan Wilmore, rSr/2024, Utah State, 5-08, 200 (DS#999 RB) + More +

Former four-star running back Jordan Wilmore, once a Utah Ute and a Fresno State Bulldog, is now a Utah State Aggie. Wilmore never officially announced his commitment nor that he signed with Utah State. But it is official. The Lawndale, California, native is on Utah State's roster heading into the 2022 season, part of a running back room that now includes Calvin Tyler Jr. - formerly of Oregon State - John Gentry, Pailate Makakona and Robert Briggs. As it turns out, with the loss of Elelyon Noa - via the transfer portal - Utah State coach Blake Anderson just didn't feel comfortable with the depth the Aggies had at running back, and Wilmore's past was intriguing. "We felt like we needed more opportunity in that room to maybe play by committee a little bit," Anderson said. "Wilmore comes in having played on some Power Five rosters. People in the state are familiar with him. At one point he was listed as the starter at Utah, at least for a game or two." - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#999 RB) rSr/2024

RB Jordan Wilmore, Utah State
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
Share/Comment: Here

08/02/22 - Alfred Edwards, rSr/2023, Utah State, 6-7, 327 (DS#35 OT) + More +

2022 PRESEASON OUTLAND TROPHY WATCHLIST: OT Alfred Edwards, Utah State,...Edwards is one of six Mountain West players named to the 89-player list. A year ago, the 6-foot-7, 325-pounder garnered honorable mention all-MW honors after starting 13 games at left tackle, recording 12.0 knockdowns. Despite missing one game due to injury, he played in 830 snaps and graded out at 88 percent to lead the team. The recipient of the 2022 Outland Trophy will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 8, as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show. - Utah State Football

(DS#35 OT) rSr/2023

OT Alfred Edwards, Utah State
News Source: Utah State Football
Share/Comment: Here

08/01/22 - Stephen Kotsanlee, rSr/2025, Utah State, 6-1, 210 (DS#35 P) + More +

2022 PRESEASON RAY GUY WATCHLIST: Stephen Kotsanlee - Utah State,... Kotsanlee (6-1, 215) served as Utah State's punter and holder on extra points and field goals in all 14 games last season, punting 53 times for an average of 42.5 yards per punt, which is the ninth-best single-season punting average in school history. With that average, he ranked seventh in the MW and 50th in the nation. Of Kotsanlee's 53 punts in 2021, nine went for 50 yards or more, 19 were downed inside the 20-yard line and 20 were fair caught. Only two of his 53 punts resulted in a touchback. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound native of Melbourne, Australia, has punted 90 times in his career for an average of 41.8 yards per punt, which is tied for the seventh-best punting average in school history.

He is yet another product of Australian Rules football, which he played with the Surrey Park Panthers Football Club in the Yarra Football League and won a premiership (the down-under word for championship) in 2013. He also played soccer (known in the rest of the world as football) for the Blackburn Football Club. In 2018, he was introduced to Prokick Australia, the Melbourne academy that teaches Australians how to punt an American football with the hope of earning a scholarship to play football and study in the United States… He trained with coaches Nathan Chapman and Johnny Smith from 2018-19… Graduated in 2017 from Box Hill High School in Victoria, Australia. - Utah State Football

(DS#35 P) rSr/2025

P Stephen Kotsanlee, Utah State
News Source: Utah State Football
Share/Comment: Here

07/26/22 - Jordan Wilmore, rSr/2024, Utah State, 5-08, 200 (DS#999 RB) + More +

Former Utah running back Jordan Wilmore has transferred to a new school. According to his Twitter bio, Wilmore has transferred to Utah State. Wilmore, a four-star recruit from Lawndale High School in Lawndale, Calif., played in two seasons at Utah, rushing for 194 yards and a touchdown in the 2019 season and 54 yards in 2020. He transferred to Fresno State for the 2021 season, where he rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown. The 5-foot-8, 203-pound Wilmore has two seasons of eligibility left. - Deseret News

(DS#999 RB) rSr/2024

RB Jordan Wilmore, Utah State
News Source: Deseret News
Share/Comment: Here

07/25/22 - Calvin Tyler Jr., rSr/2023, Utah State, 5-08, 204 (DS#47 RB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON DOAK WALKER AWARD CANDIDATE: Calvin Tyler, Jr. (Sr.), Utah State,...Running back Calvin Tyler (5-8, 210), spent four seasons (2017-20) at Oregon State, as he played in 14 games and rushed for 124 yards on 30 carries, to go along with three receptions for 24 yards and nine kickoff returns for 182 yards... Appeared in three games as a junior in 2020, and carried the ball 15 times for 45 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with two receptions for nine yards. - Utah State Football

(DS#47 RB) rSr/2023

RB Calvin Tyler Jr., Utah State
News Source: Utah State Football
Share/Comment: Here

07/22/22 - Logan Bonner, rSr/2023, Utah State, 6-0, 223 (DS#27 QB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST: Logan Bonner, Utah State,...Quarterback Logan Bonner set five single-season Utah State records during the 2021 season with 3,628 passing yards, 36 touchdown passes, four touchdown passes in three-straight games, four touchdown passes in six games in a season and 2.57 touchdown passes per game… Was 263-of-429 (.613) passing to rank fourth in school history in completions, sixth in attempts and seventh in completion percentage… Also had 3,694 yards of total offense to rank as the second-most in school history... His 36 touchdown passes tied for the seventh-most in school history, while his completion percentage (.613) is the third-best - Utah State Football

(DS#27 QB) rSr/2023

QB Logan Bonner, Utah State
News Source: Utah State Football
Share/Comment: Here

07/19/22 - Logan Bonner, rSr/2023, Utah State, 6-0, 223 (DS#27 QB) + More +

2022 PRESEASON DAVEY O'BRIEN NATIONAL QUARTERBACK AWARD WATCH LIST: Logan Bonner, Utah State, Sr., 6-1, 230, Rowlett, Texas,...During the 2021 campaign, Bonner set five single-season school records with 3,628 yards passing, 36 touchdown passes, four touchdown passes in three-straight games, four touchdown passes in six games in a season and 2.57 touchdown passes per game. On the season, Bonner was 263-of-429 (.613) passing to rank fourth in school history in completions, sixth in attempts and seventh in completion percentage. He also had 3,694 yards of total offense to rank as the second-most in school history. - Utah State Football

(DS#27 QB) rSr/2023

QB Logan Bonner, Utah State
News Source: Utah State Football
Share/Comment: Here

07/19/22 - Jordan Vincent, rSr/2025, Utah State, 5-10, 190 (DS#65 SS) + More +

2022 PRESEASON ALL-OHIO VALLEY FOOTBALL (COACHES): NB Jordan Vincent, Eastern Illinois,...Vincent was a preseason All-OVC selection in the secondary after earning second team All-OVC honors at safety as the two-year starter was third on the team with 60 tackles during the season. He would rank second on the team with 46 solo stops adding three pass break-ups and one fumble recovery. - Eastern Illinois Football

(DS#65 SS) rSr/2025

SS Jordan Vincent, Utah State
News Source: Eastern Illinois Football
Share/Comment: Here

07/02/22 - Spencer Petras, rSr/2025, Utah State, 6-5, 230 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Iowa quarterback Spencer Petras took some Iowa fans by surprise Tuesday night. A video showed Petras launching a pass with ease for roughly 70 or 75 yards while he was at the Manning Passing Academy. "My goodness," one fan tweeted as it circulated around social media. By Thursday evening, it had almost 72,000 views on Twitter. But the person who recorded the video wasn't surprised. "The biggest thing that people don't realize, I think, in Iowa is how well he throws the football and how strong his arm is," said Tony Racioppi, who was on the staff at the Manning camp.

Racioppi also has been Petras' private quarterback coach, working with him on many of the tweaks that could make a big difference for the Hawkeyes' offense. Not unlike other Power Five quarterbacks, there were some adjustments needed to his mechanics when Petras visited Racioppi shortly after the 2021 season. Offseason priorities in 2022 have included "cleaning up his throwing sequence," adjusting his footwork, staying balanced and maneuvering around the pocket. "When my fundamentals are correct, I don't miss," Petras said in the spring. - The Gazette

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2025

QB Spencer Petras, Utah State
News Source: The Gazette
Share/Comment: Here

05/21/22 - Craig McDonald, rSr/2026, Utah State, 6-2, 215 (DS#999 SS) + More +

Auburn commit and Minnesota native Craig McDonald had several options when he entered the transfer portal after a successful season at Iowa State. McDonald fielded offers from Wisconsin, Boston College, Memphis, and Florida State, among others, before choosing to play for Bryan Harsin on the Plains. McDonald had 41 tackles and was tied for the team lead with two interceptions last season after redshirting for the 2020 season at Iowa State. He was a three-star recruit in the 2020 recruiting class. The 6'2" 190 pound safety has three years of eligibility as a redshirt freshman. He's a physical safety that could fill the void left by Smoke Monday departing to New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent. We caught up with McDonald via cellphone to discuss why he chose Auburn and his plans to improve as an athlete. - Birmingham News

(DS#999 SS) rSr/2026

SS Craig McDonald, Utah State
News Source: Birmingham News
Share/Comment: Here

05/17/22 - Craig McDonald, rSr/2026, Utah State, 6-2, 215 (DS#999 SS) + More +

Auburn football landed its second transfer portal commitment of the past 10 days Saturday, as former Iowa State safety Craig McDonald announced via Twitter he'd be coming to the Plains next season. McDonald spent two seasons with the Cyclones, playing in four games in 2020 and registering a tackle. In 2021, he played in 13 games, logging 41 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and two interceptions. In a loss to Oklahoma last season, McDonald recorded 10 tackles and an interception, and also had six tackles and a pass breakup against Clemson in the Cheez-it Bowl. Listed a 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, McDonald entered the portal on April 30. Out of high school, the Minneapolis native chose the Cyclones over offers from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Purdue. - Opelika-Auburn News

(DS#999 SS) rSr/2026

SS Craig McDonald, Utah State
News Source: Opelika-Auburn News
Share/Comment: Here

05/16/22 - Craig McDonald, rSr/2026, Utah State, 6-2, 215 (DS#999 SS) + More +

Auburn isn't done adding to the 2022 recruiting class, specifically in the secondary. Iowa State's Craig McDonald became the seventh transfer to join the Tigers. He announced the move on Twitter while visiting the Plains. A former 3-star recruit, McDonald is a redshirt freshman and will have three years of eligibility. He's the sixth defensive back to join the Tigers either through the transfer portal or high school. Starting three games for the Cyclones last season, he was tied for the team lead with a pair of interceptions.

Coming out of Minnehaha (Minn.) Academy, McDonald was the country's 66th-best safety prospect, per 247Sports composite rankings. He redshirted in 2020 after appearing in four games. In 2021, while earning a spot on the All-Big 12 Academic Team, he recorded 41 tackles. "We watched some film and they want me to be even more physical," McDonald told Auburn Undercover's Jason Caldwell. "They are going to put me into even more positions to be successful. I'm really looking forward to that." - Birmingham News

(DS#999 SS) rSr/2026

SS Craig McDonald, Utah State
News Source: Birmingham News
Share/Comment: Here

04/22/22 - Spencer Petras, rSr/2025, Utah State, 6-5, 230 (DS#999 QB) + More +

Petras earned an invite to be a counselor at the annual Manning Passing Academy, a prestigious summer football camp for middle and high school athletes playing offensive skill positions. Past quarterbacks to attend the Manning Passing Academy as counselors include Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Jordan Love and Iowa's Nate Stanley. The academy - led by former NFL quarterbacks Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning, among others, and located in Thibodaux, La. - has announced the first 16 quarterbacks to work the camp so far. Other quarterbacks invited this year include Penn State's Sean Clifford, South Carolina's Spencer Rattler and LSU's Myles Brennan. - The Gazette

(DS#999 QB) rSr/2025

QB Spencer Petras, Utah State
News Source: The Gazette
Share/Comment: Here

Previous 15 Notes

|Back to Page One|

Next 15 Notes

Warning: Undefined array key "TeamID" in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\2020rightcolteam.php on line 56

Warning: Undefined array key "DSTeamID" in D:\InetPub\vhosts\scoutnation.com\draftscout.com\2020rightcolteam.php on line 57

Utah State Football Videos

Buy Draft Scout Weekly

** Draft Scout Data **
(Everything Online PLUS)

Support Draft Scout

The Database Engine for NFLDraftScout.com, Draft Scout is being repurposed...Support the Future Development of ScoutNation.com...

Draft Scout Archives

** 2010-2022 Draft Scout Archives **
(Yearly Player Data Exports, Prospect Lists & More)

Draft Scout Future

100% Dedicated and Never Done

80% Innovated

45% Hidden

35% Built

2025 CFB/2025-2029 NFL Draft Scout

2024 CFB/2024-2028 NFL Draft Scout

2023 CFB/2024-2027 NFL Draft Scout

NFL Draft Scout History

2022 Draft Scout

Draft Scout by Conference

2023 Draft Scout Offense

2023 Draft Scout Defense

2022 Draft Scout Offense

2022 Draft Scout Defense

Utah State Football Videos

Buy Draft Scout Weekly

Support Draft Scout

Draft Scout Archives

Draft Scout Future

Synergization

Did You Know?

Hidden Designs

Future Development