Utah State Football Position Preview: Safeties
Jul 12, 2019, 5:15 PM
Utah State sophomore safety Shaq Bond warms up prior to the Aggies' game against New Mexico on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, at Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah. (Wade Denniston, USU Athletic Media Relations)
(Wade Denniston, USU Athletic Media Relations)
LOGAN, Utah – The Aggies secondary will look significantly different in 2019 than it did last season.
They lost both starters in Jontrell Rocqemore and Aaron Wade, who graduated.
Rocquemore had a great season in 2018, earning second-team All-Mountain West honors after finishing the year with 73 tackles, 2 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Wade was a critical part of the secondaries’ success last season after picking up 50 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions and 2 pass-breakups.
Now they must turn to new talent including players who have joined the program as transfers.
Players To Watch For
Shaq Bond will enter his second season with the Aggies as a junior college transfer from Southwestern JC. He started the first eight games of the season in 2018 before suffering a season-ending injury against New Mexico in October, the game that he intercepted a pass and returned it 100 yards for his first career touchdown.
Bond ended the season with 37 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 7 pass deflections.
Joining Bond at free safety is Troy Lefeged Jr., who joins the Aggies as a transfer from Fullerton junior college. He is a 5’11 free safety from Montgomery Village, Maryland. While at Fullerton, Lefeged played 10 games while recording 37 tackles, 4 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, one blocked kick and a touchdown.
Other names to look out for include junior Braxton Gunther from Woods Cross High School, and Arizona Western junior college transfer Cash Gilliam from Dayton, Ohio.
How They Stack Up In Mountain West
Utah State has a tough schedule as they will face Wake Forest and LSU on the road in non-conference play, but neither projected starter at safety for USU is predicted as a All-Mountain West player.
According to Phil Steele, 3 skill position players (RB, WR, TE) from Boise State are preseason All-Mountain West along with 2 from Fresno State, 2 from San Diego State and 1 from Air Force.
The safeties will have their hands full this season.
