Aggie notes, quotes and anecdotes

Utah State has wrapped up Day Two of fall camp with another split-session practice designed to give coaches extra time watching more players and more players extra snaps to impress coaches.

After practicing Wednesday morning, the coaches and players had the afternoon for meetings and personal time and followed that up with a team walk through in the evening at Romney Stadium.

It’s all about ‘the process’ with coach Gary Andersen and even the walk through is designed to replicate the way the Aggies will prepare for actual game weeks. There is no bad time to get that process into the players’ minds.

Practice will get much more intense Wednesday morning, though, as both sets of players hit the field together and the heat will be on to earn reps, rather than just getting them because everyone is getting them.

A team photo and ‘media day’ activity will follow Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m. before the team eventually dives into two-a-day practices on Saturday.

Here’s a few notes, quotes and anecdotes from the first two days of practice in Logan.

AUSTIN THE LEADER: Utah State is getting a huge presence on and off the field from junior wide receiver Matt Austin. After breaking his foot during fall camp last year, Austin redshirted and immersed himself in all things Aggies. The speedy, sure-handed guy became a vocal part of the team even if on the sidelines.

Now, he’s in practice, making plays and setting an example of hard work and a great attitude.

“It wasn’t really just me. Coach (Jovon) Bouknight told us that somebody had to step up. I am not really a vocal leader, but I think that I have to be, and now I have gotten better with it,” Austin said Monday. “Really I am just showing I can be a leader on the field and off the field, and making plays to be a leader, like that I hope my plays will show.”

Andersen is thrilled to have Austin on the team, especially with the top returning receiver, Stanley Morrison, out for the year with his own broken foot.

“It’s what I would expect out of anyone that has been here for a year, but a young man that went through what he had to go through to come here as a JC (junior college) player, and broke his foot,” Andersen said. “He learned a lot, and wrapped his arms around that situation and became a leader for us. He developed himself nicely and I’m proud of the way his leadership skills have developed so far.”

His physical skills should be a perfect compliment to his maturity off the field.

SPEAKING OF FOOT ISSUES: The Aggies might want to put some insurance on the feet of wide receivers. The only significant recent injury that has kept a player off the field happened when junior wideout Eric Moats was moving a refrigerator and dropped it on his foot. He got a few stitches and hasn’t practiced yet.

Another receiver, Provo High product Austin Alder, fell on his shoulder awkwardly during Monday’s practice and walked gingerly to the sideline where he received treatment and watched the remained of the practice with a hefty ice bag on his left shoulder.

SOONERS ARE LATER: While everyone at camp knows the season opener is abouy as big as it gets when the Aggies face No. 8 Oklahoma, there won’t be too much obsessing over the Sooners for another week or two.

That won’t stop the players from getting asked about the game, though.

“I can’t wait, I mean, it is going to be a lot of fans,” USU junior linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “I think everybody on this team is ready for this game, and I think everybody on this team is getting hyped about this game. It is going to be a fun game.”

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