Utah State’s Defense Coming Together Under DC Nick Howell
Aug 21, 2025, 1:28 PM
Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium, home of the Utah State Aggies football team, is pictured in Logan on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019. (Courtesy of Deseret News)
(Courtesy of Deseret News)
LOGAN, Utah – Entering 2025, the Utah State football program is an unknown entity for most people not directly involved with the team.
That unfamiliarity extends to coordinator Nick Howell’s defense as the Aggies prepare for their first season under the stewardship of Bronco Mendenhall.
Asked what he believes the defense’s strength is, Howell said, “I think we’ll find out when we play. I like all of our groups. I think they’ve all done a good job. So I look forward to playing and seeing what happens.”
RELATED: Mendenhall Believes Transfer Portal Creates Unsustainable Coaches Calendar
🏈 𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞
Defensive Coordinator Nick Howell shares his thoughts on the progress the Aggie defense has made throughout fall camp and how the unit is preparing for the season opener at home against UTEP. 💪🏽#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/9lcChmwDZF
— USU Football (@USUFootball) August 19, 2025
The roster churn isn’t anything new for Utah State as they prepare under the program’s third head coach in as many seasons. USU is integrating 87 new players, meaning much of the growth and individual familiarity will have to be formed under the crucible of game pressure.
Even after the six-week suspension of All-Mountain West preseason defender Ike Larsen, Howell isn’t worried about leadership, as he sees strong personalities at every level.
“The guys have chosen who their leaders are in the Leadership Council,” Howell began. “Gabe Iniguez Jr. on the front has just been solid since we got here in January. On the second level, Bronson Olevao Jr. has been a really good leader. Then on the back end, Noah Avinger (is a) really, really good leader.”
Numbers earned through hard work 💪#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/LT4pEBIELG
— USU Football (@USUFootball) August 19, 2025
Howell is confident that if his unit can execute its brand of football, the Aggies will find success in 2025.
“We in the program know what we have to do,” Howell said. “We know the process. We know the strategy. It’s everybody clicking on all cylinders, doing their job, and playing the way that you know Coach Mendenhall has set out for the guys to play.”
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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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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.
