Anderson Not Worried About Tough Schedule, Quarterback Room

LOGAN, UT – Blake Anderson isn’t daunted by his teams challenging early schedule as the defending Mountain West champion Aggies prepare for 2022.

Entering his second season leading the Utah State program, Anderson spoke with the media at Mountain West media days July 20 and 21.

Coming off an 11-win season and a @MountainWest Championship … 𝙊𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙤 2022‼️

🗣 @CHbanderson#AggiesAllTheWay | #MWFB pic.twitter.com/jQhOxEV3Ut

— USU Football (@USUFootball) July 20, 2022

The work to meet the standard set by last season’ 11-3 record began in January. Using success as a motivator, the Aggies took a day by day approach to the offseason.

“It’s been good, you win last game of the season and you always carry that over. But we can’t worry about the past. It was fun, we celebrate it. Rings are great. Trophies are great. But we’ve got to go back out and prove it again.” Anderson continued, “We’ve tried to maintain a daily approach to being the best we can. We tell them ‘Complacency cannot set in’.”

And he’s happy with the approach taken by leaders like quarterback Logan Bonner.

“I think our kids have done a good job of that. Had a really tough, physical, hard offseason. All indications are that we’re going to go into fall camp in good shape, ready to make a run at it again.”

"Right where we want to be… Underdogs again."

🗣 @LoganBaneBonner#AggiesAllTheWay | #MWFB pic.twitter.com/ALWDyokVSh

— USU Football (@USUFootball) July 21, 2022

Bonner is the clear leader in the quarterback room but junior Cooper Legas and Wyoming sophomore transfer Levi Williams add depth.

“There’s a tremendous amount of comfort knowing that Cooper can perform on a big stage. Levi Williams comes in from Wyoming. He was the MVP of their bowl game.”

He continued, leaving no question who the starter is.

“But it’s Logan’s room. He’s a grown man. He knows the system well and played his best football at the end of the season. We’ve got one of the best quarterbacks in the country for the season.”

When it comes to the first month of the schedule, Anderson refused to look ahead. He cautioned against overlooking UConn, the Aggies opponent for their August 27 home opener.

perfection defined. #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/obMaKurbIU

— Utah State Athletics (@USUAthletics) July 19, 2022

“It’s started for us against UConn. We don’t even know what to expect with with the transfer portal and a new head coach (former UCLA and Atlanta Falcons head coach Jim Mora). There’s no telling what we got with those guys.”

Anderson acknowledged the difficult path in front of the Aggies.

Road games against perennial powerhouse Alabama and at always difficult LaVell Edwards Stadium against BYU in the first month of the season. He also praised an improving conference schedule that has Utah State closing the regular season against the always talented Boise State Broncos.

“Finishing up at Boise the last week of the season. I hope that game means a whole lot. Hopefully we both had great seasons and that matters. It’s a tough league, tough schedule.”

Following the Aggies

The Aggies are slated to open fall camp on Friday, July 29. All practices will be closed to the public. Anderson is planning on hosting two scrimmages that fans will be invited to attend. The scrimmages will be held on Saturday, August 6 at 11 a.m. (MST) and Saturday, Aug. 13, at noon. Both scrimmages will be held on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.

For Aggie football ticket information, fans can contact the USU Athletics Ticket Office over the phone by calling 1-888-USTATE-1 or 435-797-0305 during regular hours of operation. Fans can also buy their tickets in person at the USU Ticket Office inside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum or online by clicking on the “Buy Tickets” tab at www.UtahStateAggies.com. All Utah State football games can be heard on The Zone Sports Network.

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