Aggie 'backers a strength

LOGAN — Utah State linebacker Jake Hutton is sick of all of the head games.

Beginning in fall camp last year, Hutton injured his ankle, and it lingered until the fourth game of the season when he had finally had enough.

"My foot was hurt the whole year, so it was frustrating playing on it and not playing up to my abilities," said the walk-on who was third-team freshman all-American two years ago.

"Finally at BYU it hurt so bad. I was looking ridiculous out there. I was missing a lot of plays. It was embarrassing."

Hutton broke a bone in his foot near the ankle, and unknowingly played with it for six weeks. Along with the break, bone spurs developed in the ankle, which required surgery.

He missed the final eight games.

"I did everything except for play," Hutton said. "I went to all the meetings and studied film. When I saw the games I tried to play them out in my head. I came out to practice and tried to play it in my head."

Enough is enough. He's ready to play the game for real, especially with the deep and talented linebackers the Aggies have returning this year.

Five different linebackers started last year, and if it wasn't for Hutton's injury, Paul Igboeli, who was second on the team in tackles with 69 stops in 12 games and earned Western Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year honors, may not have emerged.

"We have a lot of depth now," Hutton said. "Paul really learned the game a lot better. We've got three guys starting that know what they are doing and guys behind us that know exactly what they're doing."

The Aggies are eager for Thursday's season and home-opener against UNLV.

"It's our time to shine," Hutton said specifically of the linebackers. "We need to do our assignment and don't miss tackles. If we can do that, we will be successful."

Junior Devon Hall started 10 games last year and was second on the team with 68 tackles, while junior Derrick Cumbee and junior Daryl Fields made starts and recorded 48 and 45 tackles, respectively.

Hutton, a junior, finished with 29 tackles in four games.

Defensively, the Aggies allowed 38.5 points and 436 yards per game. Hutton is counting on major improvement from a defense that returns all 11 starters.