Legas To Cobbs Connection Paying Dividends For Utah State
Oct 11, 2022, 12:53 PM | Updated: 12:55 pm
LOGAN, UT- OCTOBER 8: Cooper Legas #5 of the Utah State Aggies congratulates teammate Brian Cobbs #8 after he caught a touchdown pass against the Air Force Falcons during the first half of their game October 8, 2022 Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah.
LOGAN, Utah – A once struggling Utah State offense looks brand new thanks to an uncanny connection between Cooper Legas and Brian Cobbs.
After averaging 32.6 points per game last season, the USU offense had fallen on hard times in 2022. A team that was scoring 15.5 points per game with Bonner taking the snaps has shown far more rhythm and consistency since Legas took over for an injured Bonner prior to the Aggies facing BYU in late September.
In a two game sample size, Legas’ passing ability coupled with his athleticism and willingness to create with his legs when a play breaks down has given the Aggies life.
COOPER LEGAS KEEPS IT FOR 7🤫😤
📺 @FS1 #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/3QMOxeWJYd
— USU Football (@USUFootball) October 9, 2022
As Legas’ running ability has opened up space in the secondary, first year Utah State wide receiver Brian Cobbs has been the main beneficiary of those wide open passing lanes.
Cobbs played in 41 games over four seasons with the University of Maryland. He caught 59 passes for 858 yards and two touchdowns as a Terrapin. After a 2021 senior season in which Cobbs set career-highs with 25 receptions and 319 receiving yards, he transferred to Utah State as a graduate senior.
Finding Chemistry
Cobbs burst onto the season in USU’s home opener against UConn when he caught eight balls for 108 yards (both career highs) and a touchdown. Following that performance, Cobbs made just four grabs four 50 yards in his next two games as Bonner struggled with mobility and the Aggie offense suffered.
In his last three games, the 6’2, 210 pound wideout from Alexandria, Virginia has been on a tear.
.@usufootball's Brian Cobbs has 24 catches for 315 yds and three scores in his past three games.
Cobbs caught 25 passes for 319 yds and a TD at Maryland last season.#GlowUp #AggiesAllTheWay #USU #USUfootball @kslsports
📸: Courtesy of Utah State Athletics pic.twitter.com/CvVuvPr1bP
— Brian Preece (@bpreece24) October 10, 2022
“He’s winning in one on one situations and he’s got a capacity to play the whole game,” head coach Blake Anderson said of Cobbs recent success. “I loved him all along the way. We knew he was a guy that would work hard. I think he had a great connection with with Logan. He’s continued that with Cooper. They both have a lot of confidence in him.”
In Bonner’s last healthy game against UNLV, Cobbs reeled in six catches for 83 yards.
With Legas at QB, those numbers have only improved.
Legas looked Cobbs way early with the pair connecting for a second quarter touchdown against BYU that gave the underdog Aggies a brief lead. The duo connected again for a score late in garbage time. All told, Legas found Cobbs for a career-high 10 catches and 96 yards to go along with the two touchdowns.
Against Air Force, Cobbs had another career day. This time finishing with a career-high 136 receiving yards and a touchdown on eight catches.
“His work ethic and the way he approaches every day. It shows up on the field and he came through big when we went absolutely had had to have one,” Anderson said.
Dimes ONLY from @cooperlegas! pic.twitter.com/Ip4dQ8DQL2
— USU Football (@USUFootball) October 8, 2022
“Obviously me and Cooper, I kind of know where he’s gonna throw his stuff like that after being through spring. That helped a little bit,” Cobbs said of his connection with Legas.
“Cooper is a great player and a great leader. We knew he’s gonna be confident. Knew he was gonna put us in the right positions to make plays. Then at the end of the day, when when the ball came our way, us as receivers just had to make the plays.”
Things are only looking up for this duo as the 2-4 Aggies look to make a run toward a second consecutive Mountain West Championship.
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Up Next
Utah State (2-4, 1-1) heads out on the road for their next two games. Next weekend the Aggies will be in Fort Collins, Colorado to face the Colorado State Rams (1-4, 1-0). The Rams are coming off of their first win of the season, a 17-14 conference win over Nevada.
Every Utah State football game can be heard on the KSL Sports Zone with Scott Garrard and former Aggie quarterback Kevin White on the call.
