Utah State linebacker Harrison Taggart was taken off in an ambulance after sustaining what appeared to be a serious injury in the first half of Utah’s 33-0 win over the Aggies Saturday at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Taggart, who spent two seasons at BYU earlier in his college career, went down with 8:33 left in the second quarter after helping stop Utah running back Daniel Bray.

Taggart’s head hit Bray’s knee, and Taggart’s body appeared to go limp.

Taggart spent several minutes on the ground as Utah State’s medical staff stabilized his head and neck. The USU linebacker waved to the crowd while on the stretcher before being loaded into an ambulance.

“I know I have to be somewhat careful in terms of what I can share medically and not, but it was significant enough,” Utah State head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “I think I’ll just stop with he went off on a spine board, and we’re concerned, and that’s, I think, probably as far as I should go until I have more accurate information. ... We’re hopeful.”

The Associated Press reported Taggart was taken to the University of Utah Hospital on campus for a neck injury.

On Sunday morning, Taggart posted on Instagram that he “Woke up with feeling and starting to get some movement in my legs! God is good.”

Mendenhall called Taggart “the heartbeat of our program.”

“There isn’t anyone who’s more vibrant and has more influence by not only how he plays, but the time he spends and how he connects with our players,” Mendenhall said.

Once the game restarted, Mendenhall said he had a difficult time keeping his mind solely on the game.

“I have kids as well, right?” Mendenhall said. “So, yeah, the game’s going, but I’m kind of thinking about him.”

The injury was felt on the Utah sideline, too.

“Harrison’s a kid that we recruited at Utah. His mom and I went to school together,” Scalley said. “So really praying for him. That’s not something that you want to see ever, and that’s the unfortunate thing about this game. So prayers go out to Harrison.”

Utah quarterback Devon Dampier offered his thoughts on the linebacker after the game, as well.

“I don’t wish that on anybody,” Dampier said. “We’ve all worked so hard to get to where we are today. ... For that to happen to somebody that does hit the heart pretty well. God bless him.”

Taggart joined the Aggies this offseason after spending one season with California. He started his collegiate career at Oregon before transferring to BYU.

“What a journeyman,” Mendenhall said. “And he’s just completely invested in our team — he is our team. He is who we want our team to be.”

Taggart, a preseason All-Pac-12 selection, was off to a strong start to the 2026 season, recording 13 tackles in USU’s first two games. He had already recorded five tackles against the Utes.