Bronco Mendenhall Sees Aggies Maturing During First Fall Camp
Aug 9, 2025, 1:48 PM
Back endzone pylon at Maverik Stadium, home of the Utah State Aggies. (Photo courtesy of Utah State Athletics)
(Photo courtesy of Utah State Athletics)
LOGAN, Utah – Well-versed in how to prepare a team for the grind of the college football season, Bronco Mendenhall focuses on the process and is less interested in the results of any given drill during his 2025 fall camp.
“Most of us, we jump right to the results of each play or the results of the day,” Mendenhall said after one week of fall practice. “What’s really the most important thing? This is process-driven. It’s day in and day out, with the right cues, the right progressions, and just simply the right work.”
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🗣️ “𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐲.”
Hear from head coach Bronco Mendenhall as he recaps Week 1 of fall camp and shares his thoughts on the progress, energy, and expectations for the Aggies. 💪🏽🏈#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/exO8kNJLbz
— USU Football (@USUFootball) August 5, 2025
The new-look Aggies are maturing under Mendenhall, sometimes to the point where coaches have to pull back the reins when emotions run hot.
“They want to be physical at any time,” Mendenhall said of the padless practices so far. “If I were to have to encourage them more, that’s usually not a positive sign… If you’re trying to hold them back and it’s difficult to manage practice, that’s usually a better sign. That’s closer to where we are. Working to manage and working to correct, slowing people down because they’re wanting to go faster than maybe what the rules of engagement are. And that’s all a positive. It’s also part of maturing a football program.”
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“Bryson Barnes is our starter,” Mendenhall said emphatically when asked about the quarterback position. “He’s mature, he’s tough, he’s experienced. He’s a really strong leader. He’s really the epitome of what our program is.”
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We play football this month! 🏈 😤#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/NBjCiiZ5xb
— USU Football (@USUFootball) August 1, 2025
Behind Barnes, Mendenhall sees competition brewing between former BYU and Arizona State QB Jacob Conover and former Boise State Bronco CJ Tiller. Behind that trio, sophomore Anthony Garcia is getting reps at different positions because of his athleticism.
“Between CJ and Jacob, there’s a great battle happening there. Anthony Garcia, not only is he a pretty good quarterback. We’re using him as an athlete, also because of just his ability. So, really encouraged so far at that position.”
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Utah State kicks off the 2025 season on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on Saturday, August 30. Kickoff against the UTEP Miners is at 5:30 p.m. MT.
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