Utah State Football

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 205

POSITIVES

— Dynamic playmaker with the football in his hands, dangerous after the catch.

— Effective and reliable quick passing game threat who finds and settles into voids in the coverage shells.

— Long speed to stress cornerbacks on the vertical plane.

— Short area quickness and suddenness as a route runner.

NEGATIVES

— Expanding his release package to dispose of physical press cornerbacks quickly.

— Suffered a season-ending foot injury in October, cutting his senior season short.

— Protecting his chest and shoulders against handsy defenders at the line of scrimmage.

— Converting downfield contested catch situations by improving body positioning and strength at the catch point.

NOTES

— Born Feb. 18, 2003

— 2023: First-Team All-Mountain West

— Unranked WR recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

— Started 21 games for Utah State

OVERALL

Jalen Royals is a dynamic play-making wide receiver with a well-proportioned NFL frame.

Royals is a good and precise route runner with short-area quickness that puts pressure on cornerbacks. He generates separation with suddenness out of his breaks against man coverage. Facing soft press or off coverage, Royals' foot quickness puts defenders in conflict and tests their reaction time. He attacks defenders' airspace before using sudden movements to break past or away from them.

Royals is effective with the ball in space. His functional play strength is showcased after the catch—leading to broken tackles in the open field. Royals' speed and acceleration defeat pursuit angles. He is agile and elusive in space, making upfield defenders miss and generating big plays. Royals' playmaking is versatile; he aligns in multiple positions and can be fed targets in various ways to help the offense. He is a threat on down-the-field routes and manufactured touches, wide receiver, and tunnel screens.

Against tight press alignment Royals gets stuck hand fighting in the contact window. Improving his use of hands will increase his likelihood of clearing physical press corners quickly at the LOS. By not using his hands, corners have easy access to his chest and shoulder pads to slow down/impede forward progress. Royals is inconsistent at reeling in contested catches down the field. Wingspan and arm length concerns surface in 50-50 situations. Royals can be outmuscled at the catch point, limiting his effectiveness playing on the outside against NFL corners.

In conclusion, Jalen Royals is a position-flexible receiver with long speed and dynamism desired in big-play weapons. Royals projects as a starting Z-receiver who can bump into the slot against favorable matchups.

GRADE: 7.5 (High-level Backup/Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 54

POSITION RANK: WR7

PRO COMPARISON: Jayden Reed

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

Utah State is heading to the Pac-12.

Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, Utah State accepted an invitation from the conference and will be the Pac-12's seventh member in its new formatting, joining Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Colorado State, which also left the Mountain West Conference for the Pac-12.

Subsequentially, UNLV is expected to reengage in conversations with the Pac-12 following Utah State's move, Thamel reported. UNLV previously committed to the Mountain West on Monday, though that commitment was not formalized.

According to Thamel, UNLV agreed to a memorandum of understanding to remain in the Mountain West, though the commitment depended on all eight remaining schools staying in the conference.

After Utah State accepted the invitation, UNLV decided to pause talks with the Mountain West and explore other options.

As it stands now, Air Force, Hawai'i, New Mexico, Nevada, San Jose State and Wyoming are the only remaining members in the Mountain West, meaning the conference would need two more football-playing schools by 2028 to meet NCAA requirements.

The Mountain West was prepared to give UNLV a significant lump payment to remain in the conference. Air Force was also one of the schools that was promised a payment to stay in the Mountain West.

While a move to the Pac-12 could potentially lead to more financial opportunities in the future for UNLV, it would first need to pay a significant exit fee to the Mountain West. According to Thamel, the conference is already set to earn $120 million from the departures of Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Colorado State.

The Pac-12 is now up to seven schools with the addition of Utah State, but still needs an eighth member to be recognized as an official conference, meaning a commitment from UNLV would be crucial.

The Pac-12 has also targeted schools outside of its geographical footprint like Memphis, Tulane, USF and UTSA, but those four schools all committed to staying with the American Athletic Conference on Monday.

The Pac-12 was facing its demise after 10 schools left for the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC, but the conference has experienced a resurrection in recent weeks and is close to securing its future.

The Pac-12 is reportedly targeting a pair of Mountain West teams after approving the additions of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State last week.

Per Action Network's Brett McMurphy, UNLV and Utah State have emerged as the Pac-12's "top" expansion targets should the conference decide to add schools within the same geographical area.

The report comes amid the league also considering the additions of Memphis, Tulane, USF and UTSA.

Both Utah State and UNLV have been somewhat competitive in recent years. The Aggies have been to bowl games over the past three seasons and went 11-3 in 2021. They're 1-2 to start the 2024 season, though their two losses have come against ranked opponents.

Utah State also had football, men's basketball, women's soccer and volleyball reach the postseason for the first time in school history last year.

The Rebels struggled for much of the last decade but have seemingly started trending upwards. They went 9-5 in head coach Barry Odom's first season as head coach in 2023 and could have the chance to represent the Group of Five in the College Football Playoff this year after starting the season 3-0 with a pair of wins against Big 12 opponents.

UNLV is also ranked No. 25 in the AFCA Coaches Poll.

According to McMurphy, one source said "the athletics and university leadership at both universities have a synergy with the new Pac-12 makeup."

McMurphy also noted that the Nevada Board of Regents would have to approve UNLV's move to the Pac-12, but the school is not tied to the University of Nevada.

The Pac-12 seemed to be heading toward its demise after it saw 10 teams depart for the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC last year, but the league has gained momentum in recent weeks by targeting Mountain West teams. It could add two more Mountain West teams in UNLV and Utah State while also keeping the possibility of bringing in Memphis, Tulane, USF and UTSA from the AAC.

Utah State will have some of the most unique helmets in college football this season.

On Friday, the team announced it will embrace its agriculture roots and wear cow-themed helmets this season.

"Established as the Agricultural College of Utah, we are proud to celebrate the agriculture history of Utah State University and Cache Valley as we take the field on August 31," Utah State wrote in a post on X.

The Aggies will wear the cow-themed helmets for their season opener against Robert Morris on Aug. 31 and will have them as an alternate option for the remainder of the year.

"We are honored to celebrate Utah State University's long history of excellence in agricultural education with our alternate helmets," USU Vice President and Director of Athletics Diana Sabau said in a statement. "USU has been at the forefront of agricultural technologies and practices since its founding. The helmets provide us an opportunity to honor Utah State's agricultural success and those who work to maintain its reputation as one of the leading agricultural schools in the nation."

Utah State is coming off a 6-7 season with an appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Over the offseason, the Aggies fired head coach Blake Anderson and named defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling the interim head coach for the 2024 season.

Dreiling, who is just 33, will be the youngest head coach in FBS this season. Despite his age, he'll look to lead the Aggies to a big year, starting next Saturday.

Utah State cornerback Andre Seldon Jr. died at the age of 22 on Saturday in an apparent cliff-diving accident.

"Our football program is heartbroken to have to endure the loss of one of our own," interim head coach Nate Dreiling said in the school's announcement. "Having had a previous relationship with Andre during our time together at New Mexico State, I can tell you he was an incredible person and teammate. Our condolences and prayers go out to Andre's family as we grieve with them over this tremendous loss."

The school said a search was launched when Seldon didn't resurface after diving at Porcupine Reservoir. Divers from the Utah Department of Public Safety found his body at 9:05 p.m. MT on Saturday night.

A spokesperson from the Cache County Sheriff's Office called Seldon's death a "tragic accident" based on the preliminary investigation.

Seldon was the No. 11 cornerback in 247Sports' composite rankings for the 2020 recruiting class. He enrolled at Michigan and transferred after two seasons with the Wolverines, making two total appearances.

The Belleville, Michigan, native found more success at New Mexico State. He had two interceptions, including a pick-six, and 96 total tackles in 28 games.

Seldon followed Dreiling ahead of the 2024 campaign. Dreiling had been the defensive coordinator at NMSU before accepting the same job at Utah State.

Utah State quarterback Levi Williams is forfeiting his final year of eligibility at the end of the season to train for the Navy SEALs.

"I just want to be in a spot where I can protect this great country where we get to play football with the freedom to do that," he said Monday on KSL Sports Zone's Hans & Scotty. "So I'd like to keep it that way and protect it as long as I can."

Williams spent five years in college between spells with Wyoming and Utah State. Over the past two seasons with the Aggies, he threw for 322 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.

The 6'5" signal-caller was eligible to spend one more season at Utah State. Instead, his collegiate career will end after the team's upcoming bowl game.

Williams will leave Logan, Utah, on a high. He threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 153 yards and three scores in his team's 44-41 victory over New Mexico in the final week of the regular season.

Williams explained how he knew there would be a life after football and felt the time was right to pivot in a new direction. In addition, joining the military was a natural choice because of his family's history of service.

"The timeline with training and stuff, it just kind of works out perfectly to get in this year," he said. "My mom was Army. My grandparents were Navy and Army. So it kind of runs in the family."

Williams' future father-in-law was in the Army as well.

After spending the next year training for the SEALs, he'll know in February 2025 whether he'll be selected.

One of Utah State head football coach Blake Anderson's sons has died. 

Utah State athletic director John Hartwell issued a statement on Tuesday:

Anderson and his late wife, Wendy, had three children—sons Coleton and Cason, and daughter Callie—during their 27-year marriage. Wendy died in August 2019 after being diagnosed with breast cancer two years earlier. 

Anderson sent out a tweet on Monday, though it's unclear when his son died. 

Anderson married Brittany Anderson (nee King) in March 2021 and adopted her two daughters, Collins and Ellison. 

The 52-year-old Anderson led Utah State to an 11-3 record in his first season with the program in 2021. The Aggies defeated San Diego State 46-13 to win the Mountain West Championship Game for the first time in program history. 

Prior to being hired by Utah State, Anderson spent seven seasons as head coach at Arkansas State. He led the Red Wolves to a 51-37 record and six bowl game appearances. 

Utah State defeated Oregon State 24-13 in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Presented by Stifel on Saturday night. The Aggies, who also won their first Mountain West conference title this season, finished with an 11-3 record.

Calvin Tyler Jr., who spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Oregon State, ran the ball 26 times for 120 yards and a score. It was a revenge performance for him, as he had just 30 total carries in his three seasons as a Beaver.

After starting quarterback Logan Bonner exited the game with an apparent knee injury, sophomore signal-caller Cooper Legas stepped in and powered Utah State to victory. Legas, the team's third-string quarterback who had never thrown a pass college prior to Saturday, went 11-of-20 for 171 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

With the Aggies trailing 7-0, Legas made an immediate impact with a 62-yard touchdown to Deven Thompkins on his first-career pass attempt.

On the next possession, Legas helped engineer an 11-play, 85-yard drive that was capped by a 15-yard rushing touchdown by Tyler to give Utah State the lead for good at 14-10.

Legas came up big again near the end of the third quarter with a five-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Bowling.

The Aggies looked to be on the verge of tacking on another score late in the fourth quarter, but Tyler fumbled near the goal line, and the Beavers recovered the ball in the end zone. It didn't make much of a difference, however, as Hunter Reynolds came up with an interception to seal the win.

Thompkins finished with six receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown, while Bowling had four catches for 51 yards and a score. It was Utah State's first win in a bowl game since 2018.

Oregon State finishes the season 7-6. Chance Nolan completed 21-of-30 passes for 263 yards and an interception. Jesiah Irish had 26 rushing yards and scored the team's lone touchdown.