Utah State football: Aggies still shuffling deck during camp

LOGAN — New coach. New system. New players.

Throw them all together and you end up with a depth chart filled with more eraser marks than permanent entries.

"Daily," first-year Utah State football coach Gary Andersen said when asked if his two-deep is seeing much change just seven days into camp.

The Aggies have a bundle of starters and lettermen returning. But those players, as talented and experienced as they might be, were recruited by and played for a different coaching staff. With Andersen blowing the whistle, Utah State's players are fighting for playing time and virtually every position is up for grabs.

One of the few players fairly secure as a starter is quarterback Diondre Borel. But the competition to be his backup has seen some pretty significant movement.

Redshirt freshman Exavier Johnson was the favorite to win the backup spot, with JC transfer Jeff Fischer and true freshman Kane Wilson likely redshirt candidates.

Wilson, however, has made a fast climb up the depth chart with his impressive arm and solid decision making.

"Kane is definitely the number two right now," Andersen said after Thursday's scrimmage at Romney Stadium. "He's a very talented guy ... he's exactly what we thought he was when we recruited him."

While Borel is an exciting playmaker with the ability to use both his legs and arm to make things happen, Wilson is a more traditional quarterback and has a 6-foot-4 frame and a pedigree to fall back on. His father, Dave, played for seven seasons in the NFL.

"It's a huge step up from high school," Wilson said of his transition from El Dorado High School in Yorba Linda, Calif. "But I've got to be ready."

Thursday, Wilson completed five of nine passes for 45 yards working mostly with the second team. Borel struggled a bit, going just 2-of-12 for 18 yards while Fischer had a solid 70-yard passing performance completing seven of eight attempts.

Quarterback is not the only position seeing movement. Andersen said defensive tackle Alan Bishop has impressed the coaching staff and is no longer considered a fourth-string player.

Bishop, a senior from Alabama by way of Air Force Prep, started six games as a junior but wasn't high on Andersen's depth chart after spring ball.

"He worked his tail off," Andersen said. "He's rotating with the twos now."

Also making an impression during the scrimmage was backup running back/fullback Ronald Scott. The sophomore had 96 yards and a touchdown (12 yards) on six carries.