Utah State football celebrates 2015 campaign with team banquet Wednesday night

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State football held its end of season banquet Wednesday night, honoring the 2015 team that played in its school-record fifth-straight bowl game and its 11th in program history.

With its six wins in 2015, Utah State has now won at least six games in each of the last five seasons, which is tied with the 1971-75 teams for longest streak in school history. USU also won at least five conference games for the fifth-consecutive season in 2015, setting a school record.

Along with handing out individual awards, two highlight videos recapping the year were shown, as was a video honoring USU’s senior class, which is the second-winningest class in school history with its 36 victories. Utah State players were also given their 2015 home jerseys.

During the banquet, Utah State recognized 10 players who received its annual team awards as linebacker Kyler Fackrell was presented with the Aggies’ Team MVP award, wide receiver Hunter Sharp was named Offensive MVP, linebacker Nick Vigil was named the Defensive MVP, and punt returner Andrew Rodriguez and long snapper Salanoa Galea’i were both named co-Special Teams MVP. Offensive lineman Austin Albrecht was named the Most Improved Offensive Player and nose guard David Moala was named the Most Improved Defensive Player.

Quarterback Chuckie Keeton was named Comeback Player of the Year, while defensive end John Taylor was honored with the Iron Aggie Award for strength and conditioning. Scout team Offensive MVP honors went to wide receiver Mason Gajkowski, while defensive end Jacoby Wildman earned scout team Defensive MVP honors.

Utah State also recognized its 12 players that earned various all-Mountain West honors at season’s end as Fackrell and Vigil both earned first-team honors, while Sharp was named to the second team. USU also had nine players earn honorable mention honors in Albrecht, cornerback Jalen Davis, Moala, offensive lineman Tyshon Mosley, quarterback Kent Myers, defensive end Jordan Nielsen, Rodriguez, and offensive linemen Jake Simonich and Austin Stephens.

Fackrell was recognized for being named a fourth-team All-America by Phil Steele, while Fackrell, Sharp and Vigil were also recognized for being invited to the NFL Combine.

Along with honoring those players who excelled on the field, USU also recognized 19 players who earned academic all-conference honors in 2015, which were tied for the fourth-most in the Mountain West. Those players included linebacker Jarom Baldomero, tight end Chris Copier, punter Aaron Dalton, defensive end Edmund Faimalo, Galea’i, cornerback Daniel Gray, cornerback Deshane Hines, tight end Landon Horne, tight end Wyatt Houston, linebacker Derek Larsen, quarterback DJ Nelson, Nielsen, linebacker Michael Okonkwo, cornerback Jentz Painter, safety Jontrell Rocquemore, defensive end Siua Taufa, wide receiver Zach Van Leeuwen, placekicker Brock Warren and offensive lineman Ben Wysocki.

Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball or on Facebook at Utah State Football, as well as on Instagram at instagram.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Utah State Team Awards</span>

Scout Offensive MVP – Mason Gajkowski

Scout Defensive MVP – Jacoby Wildman

Most Improved Offensive Player – Austin Albrecht

Most Improved Defensive Player – David Moala

Comeback Player of the Year – Chuckie Keeton

Iron Aggie – John Taylor

Co-Special Teams MVP – Andrew Rodriguez / Salanoa Galea’i

Defensive MVP – Nick Vigil

Offensive MVP – Hunter Sharp

Team MVP – Kyler Fackrell

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>All-Mountain West Honors</span>

First Team – Kyler Fackrell, Nick Vigil

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Second Team – Hunter Sharp</span>

Honorable Mention – Austin Albrecht, Jalen Davis, David Moala, Tyshon Mosley, Kent Myers, Jordan Nielsen, Andrew Rodriguez, Jake Simonich, Austin Stephens

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Academic All-Mountain West</span>

Jarom Baldomero, Chris Copier, Aaron Dalton, Edmund Faimalo, Salanoa Galea’i, Daniel Gray, Deshane Hines, Landon Horne, Wyatt Houston, Derek Larsen, DJ Nelson, Jordan Nielsen, Michael Okonkwo, Jentz Painter, Jontrell Rocquemore, Siua Taufa, Zach Van Leeuwen, Brock Warren, Ben Wysocki.

<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>All-American</span>

Fourth Team – Kyler Fackrell (Phil Steele)

-USU-

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