Jerrod Calhoun’s Utah State Aggies Heat Up Behind Explosive MJ Collins Jr.
Dec 19, 2025, 3:52 PM
Utah State senior guard MJ Collins Jr. looks for a driving lane in USU's win over Illinois State at Delta Center on Saturday, December 13. (Photo courtesy Utah State Athletics)
(Photo courtesy Utah State Athletics)
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State may have stumbled onto one of the Mountain West’s breakout stars—and one of the biggest surprises of the early college basketball season.
Transfer guard MJ Collins Jr. has ignited the Aggies’ hot start, delivering scoring bursts that have quickly turned him into the focal point of a rising USU offense.
“He’s come here and just been incredible,” head coach Jerrod Calhoun said, praising Collins’ motor and versatility as the Aggies prepare for their Mountain West opener against Colorado State on Saturday, December 20.
Calhoun joined DJ & PK for his weekly KSL Sports Zone exclusive interview. The second-year Aggie discussed the team’s strong start, scheduling philosophies, and more on Thursday, December 18.
RELATED: Instant Takeaways From Utah State’s Delta Center Performance
Good defense makes for easy offense #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/OgVPcCJVUp
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 13, 2025
Collins Jr. has gone from averaging around 20 minutes a night in the SEC with Vanderbilt to leading the Mountain West in scoring at 20.6 points per game, a leap fueled by elite efficiency.
The transfer guard is hitting 57 percent from the field and has made 49.2 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Calhoun attributes that surge to the way his portal additions mesh with the program’s identity. “I feel like the portal guys we brought in, they kind of fit who we are. And MJ has just really taken off.”
Off the court, Calhoun shared his thoughts about another crucial part of the program’s success: scheduling.
Jerrod Calhoun compares scheduling to recruiting in college basketball
With computer models and analytic tools shaping NCAA Tournament résumés more than ever, strength of schedule can separate teams bound for an at‑large bid from those left out of March Madness.
“It’s one of the most foundational pieces of your entire program, right outside of your staff and your players,” Calhoun said.
For high-level mid-major programs like Utah State, the challenge is magnified. Many great programs are hesitant to schedule with one another, making résumé‑boosting opportunities scarce.
HUGE battle on Saturday!
🆚 Colorado State
➡️ 12:00 PM
🏟️ The Spectrum𝗕𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘆! 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄: https://t.co/6ZjvKgkOlW pic.twitter.com/wiJdXL6AZe
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 16, 2025
Still, the Aggies have already capitalized by knocking off an Illinois State team picked to win the Missouri Valley and a VCU squad projected atop the Atlantic 10.
And with a Valentine’s Day showdown against Penny Hardaway’s Memphis Tigers coming to Logan, more chances for statement wins lie ahead.
Calhoun and his staff continue exploring a variety of preseason tournaments to further bolster Utah State’s schedule in the years to come.
“We’re looking at every tournament, every promoter, and different third parties that are putting these events on,” Calhoun emphasized.
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Utah State opens Mountain West Conference play when it hosts the Colorado State Rams at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Saturday afternoon, December 20. Tip-off is at 12 p.m. MT
Find Utah State’s entire 2025-26 men’s basketball schedule here.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
