Previewing the Utah State Offense

Wake Forest football hosts the Utah State Aggies for homecoming on Saturday at 3:00 pm at BB&T Field.

Utah State comes into the game with a record of 1-1, having lost at 9th ranked Wisconsin 59-10 in their opener, and beaten Idaho State 51-13 last weekend in Logan, Utah.

Senior quarterback Kent Myers leads the offense, and is 49-67 for 542 yards in 2 games, good for a 73.1% completion rate. Myers is averaging 8.09 yards per attempt and has thrown 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions on the year. He has a QB rating of 139.0. For comparison, John Wolford’s QB rating is 173.2.

Myers is also a capable running quarterback, as he has 13 carries for 93 yards, with an average of 7.2 yards per carry. He has two rushing touchdowns, including a team leading 36 yard touchdown rush.

Junior running back Eltoro Allen is the leading rusher on the team with 21 carries for 100 yards, and an average of 4.8 yards per carry and a long of 16 yards and a touchdown.

Senior running back LaJuan Hunt has the other rushing touchdown on the year and has 17 carries for 78 yards, with an average of 4.6 yards per carry and a long of 18 yards.

Expect to see Allen and Hunt used in much the same way that Wake rotates Cade Carney and Matt Colburn, with Myers mixing in carries much like John Wolford did against Boston College.

Freshman Jordan Nathan and junior Ron’Quavion Tarver are the leading receivers for Utah State.

Nathan has 9 receptions for 86 yards with an average of 9.6 yards per reception, and a long of 19 yards that went for a touchdown.

Tarver has 9 receptions for 83 yards with an average of 9.2 yards per reception, a long of 32 yards, and has the other receiving touchdown for the Aggies on the season.

Senior Jaren Colston-Green is the deep threat on the team, as he has two receptions for 74 yards with a long of 40 yards.

Freshman Savon Scarver is the other deep threat as he has 2 receptions for 71 yards with a long of 36 yards.

Kicker Dominik Eberle is 7 for 7 on extra points and has converted on all three field goal attempts, with a long from 40 yards. Kicker Michael Smith converted his only field goal attempt from 42 yards.

As a team Utah State is 52-73 for 560 yards passing, with an average of 7.67 yards per attempt, two passing touchdowns, and 4 interceptions.

The Aggies have 76 rush attempts for 340 yards for an average of 4.5 yards per attempt and 4 touchdowns.

They are averaging 30.5 points per game over the two games this season. Expect Wake’s defense to hold them under this total, as the Deacs open as about a two touchdown favorite.