USU football holds first spring practice (with video)

USU quarterback Chuckie Keeton

LOGAN – Spring football started Monday afternoon for the Utah State Aggies. Warm weather allowed the team to practice outdoors at Romney Stadium. They practiced without pads, but head coach Matt Wells said it was “just good to be out.”

“It’s always great to start,” Wells said. “It’s a youthful enthusiasm that gets us up in the morning and excited about being back out on the grass and coaching these kids. The biggest thing today is to be able to reset the Aggie standard.”

The football team saw more than its fair of injuries last fall. Some players have recovered and were able to return to the field, but others such as linebackers Kyler Fackrell and Nick Vigil won’t see the field until practice this summer.

“Some of them are going to be out the whole spring and that’s what their injuries dictate,” Wells said. “So we won’t mess with their rehabilitation schedule.”

Quarterbacks Darell Garretson and Chuckie Keeton were both back on the field. Keeton, who missed the latter half of the 2014 season after reinjuring his knee, practiced practiced Monday afternoon without the aid of a knee brace.

“I think he feels comfortable and mobile enough not to have one,” Wells said. “As hard and fast as he practiced I don’t think he needs one.”

The Aggies are not only working with new players this fall, but with new coaches as well. Kevin Clune is the new defensive coordinator and Josh Heupel took over as offensive coordinator. Keeton said when Heupel first arrived he had to teach the new coach what the Aggies were doing, but said that the new coach is now teaching him.

“The tides have definitely turned and I’m happy he’s here and I’m happy I get to learn from him,” Keeton said.

Changes also came for quarterback Kent Myers. The sophomore finished the 2014 season as a quarterback and led the team to its third-straight bowl victory, but is now listed as a wide receiver.

“Kent (Myers) approached us about it,” Wells said. “It was his idea and we agreed. It’s a move for this spring. For right now he’s going to be a receiver. With some of our injuries and some guys that aren’t here, at a receiver standpoint there’s a lot of reps to go around for him.”

Wells said with so many new faces, different competitions at different spots will take place this spring.

“We want to see who will emerge at safety,” he said. “Who is going to emerge at running back, there’s a lot of guys there. Some have played.”

Spring practices will run through April 13. The <span>Blue vs. White Spring Game will take place April 11.</span>

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