Ags give Jackson a chance

LOGAN — If or most likely when former starting quarterback Leon Jackson III takes the field during Utah State's contest with No. 13 Boise State, don't assume there is a quarterback controversy with starter Riley Nelson.

"Riley is still the guy, but I think there is a chance we may try to play Leon," Utah State football coach Brent Guy said.

Jackson, who started the first five games before being replaced by the freshman, has seen limited action in the last five games at quarterback, but he did see considerable time in Utah State's 42-0 loss to Nevada last week.

"Whether he (Riley) struggles or not, we may give him a series in the first half unless Riley is on fire," Guy said. "That way we get him in there."

Jackson entered in the fourth quarter against the Wolf Pack and in his second series of the game drove the Aggies to the Nevada 11-yard line before losing the ball on downs.

In that drive, which went for 70 yards on 13 plays, Jackson was 3 of 5 for 37 yards.

"After the ball (interception) he threw (on his first drive), he did a pretty good job when he was in there. He moved the ball and made some good checks," Guy said. "You could tell from his play that we was into the game and understood what he was supposed to do."

In 11 drives, Nelson guided the Aggies to 123 yards total offense and drove the Aggies to the Nevada 1 on their first drive of the game before losing the ball on downs. Besides the first drive, Nelson guided the Aggies to only one more drive of five plays or more. Nine drives were four plays or less.

He was also intercepted twice.

In his two drives, Jackson recorded 84 yards total offense and was intercepted once.

For the year, Jackson, who played for the first time in four games against Hawaii two weeks ago, is 58 of 1221 for 490 yards with seven interceptions and a touchdown.

BOISE'S JOHNSON OUT: Boise State running back Ian Johnson, the nation's leader in rushing touchdowns with 21, was still in the hospital in San Jose after suffering a partially collapsed lung in the Broncos' 23-20 come-from-behind victory over the Spartans last Saturday.

"They're going slow as heck to make sure everything is good," Boise State head coach Chris Petersen told the Associated Press Monday morning. "Nothing has really changed since he went in there."