LOGAN, Utah – Utah State football had two players earn all-Western Athletic Conference honors, as voted on by the league’s nine coaches and announced Monday by the league office. Sophomore linebacker Bobby Wagner was named to the first team, while sophomore running back Robert Turbin was tabbed to the second team.(To see the complete release about All-WAC Teams and Players of the year,

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.)These are the first all-WAC honors for both Aggies and Wagner becomes the first USU player to earn first-team all-WAC accolades since kick returner Kevin Robinson in 2007. Wagner is the first defensive first-team selection since cornerback Jarret Bush and defensive end John Chick in 2005. Wagner is the first linebacker on the first team all-conference list since Jesse Busta earned all-Independent honors in 2002, while Brent Passey was the last actual first-team all-conference linebacker recognized with all-Big West kudos in 2000. Overall, this is the third-straight season an Aggie linebacker has been honor with all-WAC accolades, as Jake Hutton earned second-team honors in 2007 and 2008, while Paul Igboeli garnered second-team honors in 2008.Turbin is the first Aggie running back to earn all-WAC accolades of any kind and the first USU running back since David Fiefia earned second-team all-Sun Belt honors in 2003.”Both young men are extremely deserving of these honors,” USU head coach Gary Andersen said. “For Bobby Wagner and Robert Turbin to only be sophomores is a sign of their bright futures both as players and leaders of our program as we will build off this year’s success and continue to improve. They’re two of only eight sophomores recognized, so the future is bright for this league to continue its progress.” Wagner is the one of two sophomores on the first-team defense list, joined by fellow linebacker Adrien Cole of Louisiana Tech. Boise State’s quarterback Kellen Moore and offensive lineman Nate Potter are the lone sophomores on the first-team offense list, while Fresno State placekicker Kevin Goessling is the fifth sophomore on the first-team list. Turbin is the lone sophomore on the second-team offense list, while Boise State defensive lineman Billy Winn and Nevada’s linebacker James-Michael Johnson are the two sophomores on the second-team defense list.Wagner, a native of Ontario, Calif. (Colony HS), led the WAC with 115 tackles (53 solo, 62 assists), for a 9.6 tackles per game average. In WAC only games, Wagner also led the league with 71 total stops (35 solo, 36 assists) for an 8.9 pg average. Wagner currently ranks 22nd in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Wagner added seven tackles for loss, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass break-up.”It feels really good to be honored as one of the top players in the conference,” Wagner said. “This is a great honor because we’re recognized for all the hard work we did in the offseason. Wagner’s 115 tackles ranks as the second-most by a USU sophomore, as Johndale Carty holds the top spot with 138 stops as a sophomore in 1996. Wagner is the first sophomore to lead USU in tackles since David Gill’s 89 stops led the 1994 Aggies. Wagner’s 115 stops is the most by an Aggie defender since Robert Watts tallied 118 tackles in 2003. For his USU career, Wagner now has 166 tackles, needing 155 to crack into USU’s career top 10 tackles list.Turbin, a Fremont, Calif. (Irvington HS), ranks third in the WAC and 21st in FBS in rushing with 108.0 ypg, as well as third in the league and 33rd in the nation in all-purpose yards with 142.8 ypg, leading the conference’s running backs in receiving yards with 34.8 ypg. Turbin scored a WAC-high 18 TD’s, finishing with 110 points, the most for an offensive player in the WAC and the second-most overall. Turbin’s 9.2 ppg average is second in the WAC and 14th in the FBS. In the Aggies’ season-finale win over Idaho on Nov. 28, Turbin scored five TD’s with three rushing and two receiving scores, the most in a conference game since 2007.”You shoot for first team, but to get any all-conference honors is a great feeling for any player. I’m honored that the other coaches in the WAC recognized me with second-team honors,” Turbin said. “It’s a good feeling to be acknowledged, because that shows that all the hard work and extra hours put in pays off at the end of the day. While I didn’t get first-team honors this season, earning all-conference honors is one of my goals, now I just have to work hard for next year to get on the first-team list.”Turbin’s five TD’s tied a USU single-game record last done in 1956 by Jack Hill with five rushing TD’s. Turbin left his mark in several spots in the USU record books, as he became USU’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Aggie legend Emmett White in 2001. Turbin’s 1,296 yards rank him eighth on the Aggies’ single-season rushing list, right behind White’s 1,322 yards in 2000 at No. 7.”I couldn’t do some of the things I’ve done without the great coaches I’ve had and my offensive line blocking for me. Without them, some of these successes would have never happened,” Turbin said.Turbin’s 110 points scored this season is a USU record, topping the previous mark of 105 scored by Jack Hill in 1956, and only the second 100-point scorer. Turbin’s 18 total TD’s is also a school record, breaking the previous mark of 16 done three times, by White in 2001, Abu Wilson in 1996 and Roy Shivers in 1965.With 13 rushing TD’s this season, Turbin is tied for No. 7 on USU’s single-season rushing TD list with two marks by White, with 13 TD’s in both 2001 and 2000, as well as Tom Larscheid in 1960. Turbin’s 6.3 ypc average is tied for third on the single-season list with Larscheid’s average in 1961.For his career, Turbin now has 1,798 rushing yards, the first USU back with 1,500 for a career since White, who finished with 2,791 yards. Turbin’s 1,798 yards is currently No. 11 on the USU career rushing list, 22 behind Jack Hill’s 1,820 yards (1952, 55-56), at the No. 10 spot. With 21 career rushing TD’s, Turbin is tied for sixth on the Aggies’ career list with Louie Giammona (1973-75). Turbin’s 5.7 ypc average is fifth on USU’s career rushing list.With 28 career TD’s, Turbin is now tied for sixth on USU’s career total TD list with Kendal Smith (1985-88). Turbin’s 170 career points is tied for 10th on USU’s career points scored list with Rick Parros (1976-79).Kellen Moore of Boise State was the WAC Offensive Player of the Year, while Nevada’s defensive end Dontay Moch was the Defensive Player of the Year. Freshman wide receiver Brandon Wimberly of Nevada was the WAC Freshman of the Year while Boise State head coach Chris Petersen was chosen as the WAC Coach of the Year for the second season in a row. Conference champion Boise State led the league with seven first-team all-WAC honorees, while Fresno State placed six on the first team, in addition to Hawai‘i, Louisiana Tech and Nevada each placing three. Nevada placed a WAC-high seven players on the second team, while Boise State, Fresno State and Idaho had four apiece.Wagner, Turbin and the Aggies finished head coach Gary Andersen’s first year at the helm of the USU program with a 4-8 mark, USU’s most wins since 2002. Utah State finished 3-5 in WAC action, matching last season for top conference record in USU’s five seasons in the league.-USU-