Utah State football: Aggies finally bump Hall to safety

Hurst will be competing with Joshua Taylor, Marquise Charles, Chris Randle and Kejon Murphy for time at cornerback.

Those aren't the only two moves the Aggies have made on the defensive side of the ball.

Ben Calderwood, who had been primarily a rush end, has been moved inside, and can play either defensive end or defensive tackle.

"Calderwood had a great day (Tuesday) playing inside. Ben is a swing-guy for us inside there," Guy said.

He, along with the addition of junior college transfers Casey Davis (Snow College) and Mangum Mauga (Grossmont JC), will give the Aggies more strength up front.

"They (Davis and Mauga) will have to learn the defenses and alignment and staying in the gaps," Guy said. "They have already physically proven to us that they are going to help us."

Guy is still looking for players to help Calderwood, Darby Golden and Nathan Royster at defensive end.

"Of the scholarships that we have left, that's where we need to go look in the junior college ranks and possibly find a pass-rushing defensive end," he said.

Last year, the Aggie defense, which tallied just 12 sacks, allowed 33.8 points and 450 yards per game.

Inside the camps

PLAYER ON THE RISE: LB Deshon Benton — He was in camp last spring and was expected to make an impact for the Aggies last year, but at the last minute it was discovered he was short of credits and was forced to redshirt. Now he's ready to go and his addition has allowed the Aggies to move LB De'von Hall to safety and Roy Hurst from safety to cornerback.

INJURY REPORT: OL Ryan Tonnemacher will miss the entire spring while recovering from knee surgery ... WR Nnamdi Gwacham separated his shoulder on the first day of drills last Wednesday and will miss the rest of the spring ... RB Robert Turbin, who suffered turf toe last year and ended up having surgery, will be used very limited during the spring while recovering ... Washington Igboeli, the younger brother of LB Paul Igboeli, broke his leg Monday and will have surgery.

NOTES: All Aggie practices are open to the public and this week the Aggies will practice today and Friday. For the following two weeks they will practice on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Spring drills end April 11. All practices, weather permitting, will be at Romney Stadium.

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