One suspended Aggie reinstated to team

LOGAN — Utah State redshirt freshman lineman Taylor Wallace, who was charged with felony drug distribution Tuesday and suspended from the team, had the charge reduced to a misdemeanor, reinstated to the team, and attended practice Friday.

Wallace missed the first two days of fall camp after the Cache Country attorney's office filed a third-degree felony charge earlier in the week.

Wallace was accused of providing marijuana to five teammates — Steven Downs, Marcus Cross, Kendall Fisher, Brennan McFadden and Ryan Tonnemacher. Those five were charged with Class B misdemeanor marijuana possession.

Downs, who plead guilty and was fined $500, was dismissed from the team for violating team rules for a second time, while the other four were punished internally by head football coach Brent Guy. They also pleaded guilty earlier in the week, but their pleas will be held in abeyance for six months.

AFFLECK IN CAMP: Former Timpview High quarterback Mike Affleck completed his 13 credits needed for an associates degree and has joined the team. He completed his last final this week.

Affleck, who also attended BYU and Dixie State, is a walk-on. He joins Riley Nelson, Bryan Black and Jase McCormick in fighting to be the backup to starter Leon Jackson III.

ON THE MOVE: Ryan Taylor, who tallied six tackles in 10 games at linebacker last year, has been moved to defensive tackle, Guy said at Friday's gathering with the media.

Taylor, (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), has 25 career tackles and one sack in earning three letters with the Aggies.

ACADEMIC AGGIES: Utah State landed 120 athletes on the Western Athletic Conference Academic all-league team. The number led the conference.

Fifteen USU football players were named to the team, which was second with Fresno State. Boise State led in football selections with 19.

It marks the seventh time in the last eight years that Utah State has led its conference in academic all-league selections.

AGGIES AROUND THE WORLD: Six Aggies were born in foreign countries: TE Doug Barbour and OL Malik Cin (Wiesbaden, Germany); CB Sam Bergen (Amsterdam, Netherlands); WR Nnamdi Gwacham (Onitscha, Nigeria); E.J. Reid (American Samoa) and PK Darryl Wheeler (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada).

FAMILY FUN NIGHT: Families will have a chance to mingle with the Aggies as well as pick up their season tickets next Thursday from 6-8 p.m. at Romney Stadium.

Along with picking up their tickets, fans can play catch with the players and get autographs.

The event is free to the public.

---

E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com