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Las Vegas • Utah State coach Matt Wells sat in front of reporters Wednesday and talked about team bonding, emotions and the care the players and coaches have for one another as the primary ways the team handled the seriousness of a car accident involving several athletes in June.
"It was hard for them and the team and the program," Wells said. "It makes you realize guys you love may not be there in the locker room with you. It was very emotional."
Luckily for the Aggies, the athletes involved in the accident — senior nose guard Travis Seefeldt, redshirt freshman defensive lineman Adewale Adeoye, senior defensive lineman John Taylor and redshirt junior defensive lineman Edmund Faimalo, along with former softball player Sarah Vasquez — all survived.
The team's response to what could have been a tragic accident reminded Wells of the chemistry that helped the Aggies through an injury-riddled 2014 season and what could help them prevail in 2015. Whether it is on the field or off, the Aggies seem to find a way to be successful.
"Every year you have to reset that chemistry," Wells said. "You have to educate players into why we do things and the way we do things. The personnel changes, but our philosophy never does."
That philosophy is why the Aggies, picked to finish second in the Mountain Division behind Boise State, believe they can challenge for the league title.
Utah State brings back 15 starters from a team that finished tied for second in the Mountain Division in 2014 with a 6-2 league record and 10-4 overall mark, including a 21-6 win over UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl.
But they also get back several players who were out with significant injuries, including quarterback Chuckie Keeton and linebacker Kyler Fackrell.
Keeton, who has played in nine games the past two years due to injuries to the same knee, has been around the team enough to like what he sees.
"It's a tight-knit group," he said. "It seems like everyone has been through some tough times in one aspect or another, and that has given this team a different kind of bond in the locker room than other teams have. This team is in it for the long haul."
Of the injured players, the only one who might not see action this year is Seefeldt, who suffered broken ribs when the automobile he was driving was hit by a semi-truck. If he can't return this season, the Aggies will try to get him another year via a medical hardship, Wells said.
The Aggies are familiar with that route, having taken it for Keeton this season.
Taylor will be able to participate fully when camp opens Aug. 7, while Faimalo and Adeoye will be brought along slowly, Wells said.
"We are pleased with their recovery, and they are on an upward trend; you just never know with internal things," Wells said. "We'll just have to see how it goes. There is no time frame."
In the meantime, the Aggies will continue to do what has made them successful, which is build depth behind the starters.
Having gone through spring and the summer workouts in solid form, Keeton is expected to resume his role as starting quarterback. A key will be finding his backup in camp. Darell Garretson was the logical choice, but he decided to transfer in the offseason to Oregon State, leaving Kent Myers, DJ Nelson and Damian Hobbs as potential backups.
Myers went 5-1 as the starter last year and earned MVP honors in the bowl win over UTEP, while Nelson had a strong spring and Hobbs has a year under his belt with the team after transferring from Oregon.
"It should be a good battle," Wells said. "It is something where the reps are going to be fought for, you have to earn the reps when you are a backup, and they are going to know that."
Defensively, the Aggies are solid, with Fackrell leading an experienced linebacking unit.
Fackrell said just getting back on the field will be big after missing most of the 2014 season with a torn ACL.
"It has been a long time since I've been on the field," he said. "I can't wait to get out there again."
It's a sentiment that is held by the whole team.
Twitter: @lyawodraska —
USU media day rundown
In short • The Aggies were picked to finish second behind Boise State in the Mountain Division. "The championship still goes through Boise," Utah State coach Matt Wells said.
Roster notes • Travis Seefeldt, the nose guard involved in the June car accident who suffered broken ribs, may not be able to play this year, Wells said.
Quote of the day • "For me, I'm just grateful to have an opportunity to play. It wasn't guaranteed at one point," said quarterback Chuckie Keeton, who was granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA. —
USU key dates
Aug. 7 • Camp opens
Aug. 14 • First two-a-day
Aug. 15 • Scrimmage
Aug. 19 • Scrimmage
Aug. 22 • Football family fun day and scrimmage
Aug. 29 • Final day of camp
Sept. 3 • Season opener, vs. SUU