Wagner And Larsen Recognized By Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook

LOGAN, Utah – Two Utah State football players were recognized by Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, as senior linebacker Bobby Wagner was named the publication’s Western Athletic Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and named to the all-WAC list, while sophomore center Tyler Larsen was also tabbed to the all-WAC list. The magazine, which hits newsstands in early July, also released its preseason WAC poll, tabbing Utah State fifth. Hawai’i was picked first, followed by Fresno State, Nevada, Louisiana Tech, USU, Idaho, San Jose State and New Mexico State.Wagner, a native of Ontario, Calif. (Colony HS) is a two-time first-team all-WAC honoree. Last season, he led the WAC and ranked tied for seventh in FBS with 11.1 tackles per game, ranking second in the WAC with 133 total tackles in 2010 season. Wagner enters his senior season nearing USU’s and WAC’s career tackles list, as he currently has 299 career stops, needing 22 tackles to break into the Aggies’ top 10 list and 18 stop to crack the WAC’s top 10. In 2010, Wagner tallied a WAC-best four 15+ tackle outings, including two 17-stop games, a 16-tackle game and a 15-tackle outing. On the season, he logged a total of seven double-digit tackle games, and had at least six stops in all 12 games. Additionally, Wagner added eight tackles for loss with half a sack, as well as four pass breakups and one forced fumble.Larsen, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah (Jordan HS), was named to the second-team Phil Steele all-Freshman Team last season after starting all 12 games at center for the Aggies. He made all the blocking calls for the USU offense, anchoring an offensive line that helped the Aggies amass 4,168 yards of total offense (347.3 ypg), including 168.7 ypg rushing and 178.7 ypg passing, for a total of 32 TD’s. The USU center is the lone WAC player on the 42-player Dave Rimington Trophy Spring Watch List, given annually to the nation’s most outstanding center in college football. Larsen is also one of only four sophomores on the list, as there are 23 seniors and 15 juniors.The Blue Ribbon College Yearbook, the most comprehensive college football publication in the world, returns bigger and better for the 2011 season with more than 300 comprehensive pages. It ships the first week of July via UPS Ground, and can be ordered at www.blueribbonyearbookonline.com or 1-877-807-4857.Wagner and Larsen are two of Utah State’s 46 returning letterwinners (28 offense, 17 defense, one special teams), including 16 starters (nine offense, six defense, one special teams), from last season’s 4-8 overall mark, and 2-6 in WAC play, in head coach Gary Andersen’s second season at the helm of the Aggie program.After its season-opener at Auburn, Utah State’s home opener is on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. (MT), taking on in-state foe Weber State, marking the first time that USU and WSU have squared off since 2001, and Utah State leads the all-time series, 11-1. The Aggie-Wildcat match-up will have special meaning for Andersen, who will be facing his mentor, Weber State head coach Ron McBride. Andersen played for McBride at Utah in 1985-86.For USU football ticket information, contact the USU Ticket Office at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum, or by phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or (435) 797-0305.Fans can follow the Aggie football program at twitter.com/USUFootball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on facebook at Utah State University Athletics. -USU-

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