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Logan • Hunter Sharp's senior season at Utah State started two games later than scheduled, courtesy of a suspension for violating unspecified team rules.

Ask Sharp about the situation today and the pain remains, as though a freshly-formed scab has been ripped away from a once-gaping wound. His voice softens. His eyes drop to the floor. He takes a deep breath, like a diver before he heads to the depths.

"Just disgusting," Sharp said. "I know I never want to have that feeling again."

Because of the suspension, Sharp missed Utah State's opening 12-9 win over Southern Utah, as well as the Aggies' 24-14 loss to unbeaten and now-third-ranked Utah.

With Sharp on the field as a defense-stretching, play-making receiver, who knows if anything would have played out differently?

"Just constantly thinking about the wrong decisions I made," Sharp said, recalling his thoughts while watching those games.

He sighs again: "Just seeing plays that I could have made. I don't know."

The good news for Utah State?

Sharp's suspension ancient history, and the Aggie offense is thriving with him back in good standing with his coaches and teammates.

Utah State, 4-2 overall and 3-0 in the Mountain West Conference, comes off a 52-26 win over Boise State and a 56-14 victory at Fresno State. It's the second time in school history the Aggies have scored 50 points in back-to-back games.

The offensive explosion is not all due to Sharp's return, of course. But his presence has helped Utah State find a rhythm. So far during his abbreviated season, he's caught 23 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns.

"The best thing Hunter Sharp does is make competitive catches," said coach Matt Wells. "That's a tremendous quality for a wide receiver — making catches when you've got guys draped all over you or hanging onto you in tight coverage."

Sharp finished with a season-high seven receptions against Boise. He scored touchdowns on 10- and 21-yard passes from quarterback Kent Myers. The second score came with 1:05 left in the first half and gave the Aggies a 38-10 lead.

"He's on a stop route," Wells said. "The corner is tight and he out-wrestles the guy, who was right on him and had great coverage. … Hunter just has strong hands, he's got strong forearms and he can high-point a football."

Sharp, who stands 6 feet tall and weighs 220 pounds, attended Highland High School in Palmdale, Calif. He went to Antelope Valley Junior College for two years before signing with Utah State.

"I didn't get any offers after the first year," he said. "The second year, I met coach [Mark] Weber. He came to school one week and took a picture with me. He told me I wasn't as tall as I looked on film. So I tried to stand on my tippy-toes."

Sharp ended up with offers from two FBS schools — Utah State and Kansas.

"No offense to those guys," he said, "but the Aggies were very successful at the time and I wanted to be part of it."

In 18 career games at Utah State, Sharp has caught 89 passes for 1,217 yards and 10 touchdowns.

"I feel like I get in and out of my breaks pretty fast, which allows the quarterback to get the ball out faster and use my speed," Sharp said. "I feel like I have pretty good hands, too, and can focus on the ball."

Twitter:@sluhm —

About Hunter Sharp

Hometown • Palmdale, Calif.

Junior college • Antelope Valley

Class • Senior

Position • WR

Ht/Wt • 6-0/220

Career highlights • All-Golden League as a senior at Highland High in Palmdale. … All-California Community College Athletic Association first-team as a sophomore at Antelope Valley after catching 49 passes for 657 yards and six touchdowns. … At Utah State, he played in all 14 games last season. … Led the Aggies in receptions (66), receiving yards (939) and touchdown receptions (seven). … Caught five passes for 173 yards and a touchdown at BYU. … Had 12 receptions for 164 yards against Air Force. … Four touchdown receptions of 70 yards or longer. … Has 23 catches for 278 yards and three touchdowns so far this season. —

Utah State at San Diego State

P Friday, 8:30 p.m. MDT

TV • ESPN2