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Aggie Notes: Utah State Linebackers Ready To Work In 2023

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1 year ago

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Aggie Notes: Utah State Linebackers Ready To Work In 2023


LOGAN, Utah – Senior MJ Tafisi enters his second season in Logan as the undisputed leader of a young but promising Utah State linebackers group.

Third-year linebackers coach Mike Zuckerman feels good about where his group is at with a week to prepare for the season opener.

“Through the first couple weeks of fall camp I’ve been happy with the linebackers,” Zuckerman said following practice last week.

2023 Utah State Aggies Football Schedule

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“They’ve put so much work in this summer to understand the new system, and they’ve just been a joy to coach. I’ve got guys who show up every single day excited for practice, wanting more and more knowledge, and I just love coming to work every day.”

Utah State Wideout Named To 2023 Comeback Award Watch List

Utah State Returning Linebackers (Listed alphabetically)

Max Alford | Sophomore | Park City, UT

Entering his sophomore season with ‘potential through the roof’, according to Zuckerman, Alford is will an important cog in USU’s defense.

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Despite never playing a snap on the defensive side of the ball, Alford was forced into action when Tafisi went down with an injury. He went on to play in all 13 games last season, starting four. Alford finished with 40 tackles, including earning MW Freshman of the Week honors after totaling eight tackles in USU’s win over New Mexico.

“He’s learning how to be a defensive player,” Zuckerman commented. “He wants to know everything. He’s a guy who’s gotten better every single day of camp and I’m excited to see what he can do on the field this year.”

 Aggie Notes: Utah State Wide Receivers Face Uphill Battle In 2023

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Before joining Utah State, the 6’1, 235-pound Alford was rated as a three-star recruit by ESPN.com at Park City High School.

Alford earned Academic All-Mountain West recognition in 2022.

Cole Joyce | Sophomore | Bentonville, AR

Joyce played in all 13 games as a freshman, primarily on special teams, recording one tackle for USU in 2022.

The 6’0, 235-pound sophomore began his collegiate career with Central Florida in 2021 after being recruited as a three-star prospect according to 247Sports.com. He was named the Arkansas Division I Defensive Player of the Year as a junior in 2019.

Joyce earned Academic All-Mountain West in 2022.

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Bronson Olevao Jr. | RS Freshman | Salt Lake City, UT

The 6’1, 215-pound redshirt freshman out of Highland High School looks to crack the lineup after not appearing in any games last season.

Olevao Jr. came to the Aggies as a two-star prospect according to 247Sports.com. He earned Utah Class 5A second-team all-state honors at safety and first-team all-region accolades at both safety and running back as a prep senior in 2018.

MJ Tafisi | Senior | West Jordan, UT

At 6’0 and 250 pounds, the 2022 All-Mountain West honorable mention linebacker enters year two as the undisputed leader of the linebacking group.

Named an Athlon Sports Second-Team All-Mountain West & Phil Steele Second-Team All-Mountain West, Tafisi started the first eight games of 2022 before an injury caused him to miss the remainder of the season. He finished the year with 69 tackles, one sack, and nine tackles for a loss, earning

The former Alta Hawk spent four seasons with the Washington Huskies before transferring to Utah State. He finished his Husky career with 40 tackles, one sack, and one pass breakup.

“We have a lot of new guys and a new defensive coordinator in Joe Cauthen,” Tafisi said. “The biggest thing is everyone is going to work and getting to know the defense. The linebackers have been phenomenal. We have a lot of young guys, but they’re all willing to work.

Limiting Turnovers Will Be Key For Utah State Quarterbacks

“It’s been awesome seeing MJ back out here,” added Zuckerman. “Seeing how hard he’s worked to get back and seeing how strong and what good shape he’s in. Seeing him running the show and being the mike linebacker, has been awesome. Everything I expect out of him as a senior, he’s providing for this group. I just couldn’t be prouder of him for being back on the field and coming back from injury.”

Josh Williams | RS Freshman | Mesquite, TX

Listed at 6’1 and 205 pounds, Williams used his redshirt season in 2022 while appearing in four games for USU without recording a stat.

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Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com out of Mesquite High School in Texas, he earned first-team all-district honors following his senior season. Williams finished his final prep season with 89 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

Anyanwu Leads Utah State Cornerbacks Into 2023

Utah State Incoming Linebackers (Listed alphabetically)

Gavin Barthiel | Sophomore | Lakeland, FL

The 6’0, 225-pound Barthiel begins his Aggie career as a sophomore after spending the previous two seasons at Washington State. He redshirted for the Cougars in 2021 before playing in five games last season.

Out of Lake Gibson High School, Barthiel was rated a three-star recruit by ESPN.com, Rivals.com, and 247Sports.com. Recorded 72 tackles, three sacks, and 14 tackles for a loss as a prep senior.

Bowen Fjord | Freshman | Boerne, TX

Listed at 6’1 and 225 pounds, Fjord has good size for an incoming freshman. He comes to Utah State after earning Texas Class 5A-1 Region III District 12 first-team honors at safety for Boerne-Champion High School in Texas. Bjorn finished his senior season with 113 tackles, 12 pass breakups, and three interceptions.

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Logan Pili | RS Freshman | Provo, UT

After spending 2022 redshirting with the BYU Cougars, Pili transferred to Utah State. The 6’0, 225-pounder out of Timpview High School played in three games for the Cougars, finishing with seven tackles.

Rated a three-star recruit by 247Sports.com and ESPN.com, Pili had 53 tackles, one sack, and one interception as a prep senior. Pili won a state championship with the Thunderbirds in 2019.

Thoughts From Utah State’s Second Scrimmage

Jaden Wright | Freshman | Pleasant Grove, UT

A Utah Class 6A second-team all-region honors as both a junior and senior, the 6’0, 190-pound Wright heads to Utah State after a stellar senior season at Pleasant Grove High School. Wright finished the year with 126 tackles, ten sacks, and five pass breakups.

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Following The Aggies With KSL Sports Zone

Utah State begins the 2023 campaign with a road test against the Big Ten’s Iowa Hawkeyes. Iowa hosts the Aggies on Saturday, September 2 with a 10 a.m. (MT) season-opening kickoff. The Hawkeyes ended 2022 with a 21-0 shutout against Kentucky in the Music City Bowl to finish the season at 8-5.

Utah State football games are found on KSL Sports Zone with Scott Garrard and former Aggie quarterback Kevin White on the call.

KSL Sports coverage of Utah State University Athletics can be found here. 

Take us with you, wherever you go.

Download the new & improved KSL Sports app from Utah’s sports leader. You can stream live radio, and video and stay up to date on all of your favorite teams.

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Utah

Missing woman found dead in Utah; police looking for her 'violent' ex-boyfriend – East Idaho News

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4 hours ago

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January 5, 2025

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Missing woman found dead in Utah; police looking for her 'violent' ex-boyfriend – East Idaho News


SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KSL.com) — Unified police on Saturday located the body of a missing woman in a remote location in Tooele County. The woman was murdered, police say, and now they are looking for her “violent ex-boyfriend” in connection with her death.

On Thursday, the family of Talia Benward reported to Unified police that she was missing.

“As the investigation developed and evidence was gathered, it became evident Talia Benward was either being held against her will by a violent ex-boyfriend or was deceased,” Unified police said in a statement Sunday.

Beginning in the early morning hours on Saturday, police searched a remote area of Tooele County where they thought she could be. The large area is “covered with tall brush and cedar trees” and was being conducted in “nearly total darkness and frigid snowy conditions.”

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Benward’s body was located at 5:20 a.m. Saturday with the assistance of the Salt Lake City and Weber County K-9 teams, police said.

“Preliminarily, it appears the victim may have suffered from blunt force trauma and trauma to her neck area,” the statement says.

The Unified Police Department is treating Benward’s death as a homicide and is asking for the public’s help in locating Nestor Rocha-Aguayo, 24, of West Valley City, who they say is a person of interest. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 801-840-4000.

“We do believe he is still in Salt Lake County and are asking individuals to not confront him but to call police,” the statement says.

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Deseret News archives: Snow in Utah’s Dixie? It has happened through the years

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12 hours ago

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January 5, 2025

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Deseret News archives: Snow in Utah’s Dixie? It has happened through the years


A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On Jan. 5, 1974, a major winter storm moved across southern Utah, dropping more than a foot of snow on Kanab and St. George and causing numerous traffic accidents.

Nationally, year-round daylight saving time had begun in the U.S. on a trial basis as a fuel-saving measure in response to the OPEC oil embargo.

But Californians, southern Nevadans and residents of Utah’s Dixie — where the sun always shined was dealing with a soggy storm track. The rarely seen snowstorms, snarled traffic all along I-15. Victorville, California, reported 21 inches of fluffy snow on Jan. 4.

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In St. George, a storm had hit on New Year’s Day, then on Jan. 4-5, the snow hit the Arizona Strip, Washington and Kane counties and beyond.

According to the Deseret News, ”a population explosion of snowmen and snowball fights” were reported. The same Deseret News article reported many St. George residents walked to church rather than risk the drive on icy roads.

Storms in that area of the state — usually the Beehive State’s winter playground — are rare but not unheard of. Similar storms in 1894, 1919, 1993, 2006, 2007 and 2008 found their way into the record books.

But on Jan. 5, 10 inches fell in St. George.

Here are some articles from Deseret News archives about snow in southern Utah, why snowbirds love to fly to St. George and Utah’s weather history:

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“Snow hits Utah from Ogden to St. George”

“Rare coating of snow in Dixie creates travel troubles”

“‘83 floods top Utah’s ‘disaster’ list: Tornado, avalanche, cold also rank high for century

“Snowbirds flocking to St. George”

Snow blankets palm trees and redrock in St. George on Thursday, Dec.18, 2008, after storms moved across the area. The storm closed schools, delayed flights and caused problems on the roads.

“Rare snowstorm traps I-15 motorists overnight on Arizona Strip”

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“Snow in Utah’s Dixie”

“The snow is a gift that I don’t really want anymore”

The front page of the Deseret News Metro section on Jan. 7, 1974, recapping a weekend of snow accumulation in Utah’s Dixie, including 10 inches of snow that fell on Dec. 5.



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Utah takes on Orlando for non-conference showdown

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19 hours ago

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January 5, 2025

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Utah takes on Orlando for non-conference showdown


Associated Press

Utah Jazz (8-25, 14th in the Western Conference) vs. Orlando Magic (21-15, fourth in the Eastern Conference)

Orlando, Florida; Sunday, 6:30 p.m. EST

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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Magic -6.5; over/under is 212

BOTTOM LINE: The Utah Jazz take on the Orlando Magic in a non-conference matchup.

The Magic have gone 13-4 at home. Orlando is the top team in the Eastern Conference in team defense, allowing 103.4 points while holding opponents to 46.4% shooting.

The Jazz are 6-13 on the road. Utah allows the most points in the Western Conference, giving up 119.2 points while allowing opponents to shoot 48.2%.

The Magic score 105.6 points per game, 13.6 fewer points than the 119.2 the Jazz allow. The Jazz are shooting 46.1% from the field, 0.3% lower than the 46.4% the Magic’s opponents have shot this season.

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TOP PERFORMERS: Jalen Suggs is shooting 41.0% and averaging 16.4 points for the Magic.

John Collins is averaging 17.9 points and 8.3 rebounds for the Jazz.

LAST 10 GAMES: Magic: 4-6, averaging 100.5 points, 40.0 rebounds, 23.2 assists, 9.5 steals and 6.3 blocks per game while shooting 43.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 103.7 points per game.

Jazz: 3-7, averaging 116.8 points, 46.0 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 7.1 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 120.2 points.

INJURIES: Magic: Gary Harris: out (hamstring), Paolo Banchero: out (oblique), Jalen Suggs: out (back), Anthony Black: day to day (back), Franz Wagner: out (oblique), Moritz Wagner: out for season (knee).

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Jazz: Jordan Clarkson: day to day (plantar ), Taylor Hendricks: out for season (fibula).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.



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