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Logan • Junior quarterback Kent Myers spent his first two seasons at Utah State as the Aggies' insurance policy behind starter Chuckie Keeton.
Myers played — often very well — when Keeton was sidelined with one of the numerous injuries that limited his five-year career to 41 games, including only 10 over the final two seasons.
Keeton has has moved on, however, and Myers is center stage as the Aggies complete their next-to-last week of spring practice with a scrimmage on Friday at Maverik Stadium.
Asked about the Keeton's departure from the program, Myers grinned and said, "It's different, him not being here. But it's time for a change and we have to keep moving. A lot of people left and a lot of people have to step up. That's my job — to help us keep moving forward and win games."
Myers played nine games last season.
He completed 121 of 199 passes for 1,593 yards and 16 touchdowns. He threw three interceptions. An outstanding runner, he also rushed 85 times for 460 yards and three scores.
"I'm just trying to come out every day and get better and better," Myers said. "I try not to put too much pressure on me because I can only do what I can do and my teammates are always there for me. … I think we're coming along very well."
According to head coach Matt Wells, Myers' consistency is the key to his emergence as a top quarterback.
"Kent has played very well at times and just OK at times," he said. "It's up to me to try and get him to play at a high, high level every single week. So that one's on me."
There are four other quarterbacks on Utah State's spring roster, including junior Damion Hobbs, sophomore DJ Nelson, redshirt freshman Cade Smith and true freshman Jordan Love of Bakersfield, Calif.
New faces
Wells hired six new assistants over the winter, so spring practice is the first time the current staff has been together on the field as a group.
"I think it's been good," Wells said. "These guys are very professional and they are very eager to put their stamp on Aggie football. They have bought into it completely — the way we do things around here."
Veteran David Kotulski is the new linebacker coach.
"He knows everything about the game," said sophomore linebacker Derek Larsen. "He knows how to work with you. He knows all the techniques. So from the first day he's been helping us become better. I give a lot of credit to [the new coaches] for helping us get better every day. That's how we're going to become great — through them."
Bring the noise
The Aggies are practicing in the shadow of a massive new construction project on the west side of Maverik Stadium, which is scheduled to be completed in time for the season opener Sept. 1 against Weber State.
Said Wells: "When you're in here and hear the clanking of the jack hammers and everything they've got up there and you see those guys working from sun up to sun down to help make this a great place, it's very motivating for us as a team."
Injury update
Utah State has suffered two injuries of note during spring practice.
Senior wide receiver-kick returner Andrew Rodriguez has a sprained knee and won't play until preseason camp. Junior safety Dallin Leavitt is limited because of "back issues that we're just being very cautious with," Wells said. Leavitt is a transfer from BYU.
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