Utah State led nation in five different statistical categories in 2018

Utah State linebacker David Woodward (9) holds up the football after intercepting a pass in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Honolulu. Utah State safety Jontrell Rocquemore (3) signals his team has position of the football. (AP Photo/Eugene Tanner)

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State finished the 2018 season ranking among the top-20 teams in the nation in 24 statistical categories and led the nation in five of those, including scoring drives under one minute (29), turnovers forced (32), passes intercepted (22), kickoff returns (30.30 yards per return) and three-and-outs forced (5.7 per game).

The Aggies were also second in the nation in scoring (47.5 points per game) and non-offensive touchdowns (10), third in average margin of victory (25.3 points per game), turnover margin (+1.08) and defensive touchdowns (6), fourth in sacks allowed (0.77 per game), eighth in winning percentage (.846), 10th in blocked kicks (4), 11th in total offense (497.4 yards per game), 12th in third down conversion percentage (.473), 14th in passes had intercepted (6) and team passing efficiency (154.39), 16th in third down conversion percentage defense (.330), 17th in passing offense (294.2 yards per game) and tackles for loss allowed (4.69 per game), 19th in team passing efficiency defense (113.76), and 20th in completion percentage (.652).

Utah State averaged 47.5 points per game to rank second in the nation behind Oklahoma (48.4 ppg). The Aggies also ranked first in the MW and 11th in the nation in total offense (497.4 ypg), second in the MW and fourth in the nation in sacks allowed with 10 (0.77 ppg), third in the MW and 14th in the nation in passing efficiency (154.4), third in the MW and 17th in the nation in passing offense (294.2 ypg), third in the MW and 20th in the nation in completion percentage (.652), and third in the MW and 31st in the nation in rushing offense (203.2 ypg).

The Aggies were second in the MW and 12th in the nation with a third down conversion percentage of 45.3 (85-181), and third in the MW and 30th in the nation with a fourth down conversion percentage of 60.0 (6-10).

Utah State finished second in the Mountain West and 23rd in the nation with an average of 7.3 tackles for loss per game. USU also ranked second in the MW and 19th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (113.8), third in the MW and 42nd in the nation in sacks with 32 (2.46 pg), fifth in the MW and 33rd in the nation in scoring defense (22.2 ppg), sixth in the MW and 51st in the nation in total defense (379.5 ypg), seventh in the MW and 41st in the nation in rushing defense (143.0 ypg), and seventh in the MW and 77th in the nation in passing defense (236.5 ypg). The Aggies’ defense also averaged 5.7 three-and-outs per game to rank first in the nation, and ranked third in the MW and 16th in the nation in third down conversion percentage allowed at 33.0 (71-215).

Utah State forced 32 turnovers (22 interceptions, 10 fumbles) this year to lead the nation. USU also led the nation with 22 interceptions, was fourth in the MW and 36th in the nation with 10 fumble recoveries, and first in the MW and third in the nation in turnover margin (+1.08).

With 32 turnovers this season, USU has now forced 173 turnovers in its last 88 games, including at least one turnover in 70 of its last 88 games. The Aggies have also recorded 88 interceptions in their last 75 games, including at least one pick in 44 of their last 75 games and multiple interceptions in 26 of their last 75 games. Overall, USU forced three-or-more turnovers five times this year and in 22 of its last 63 games.

Utah State was second in the Mountain West and third in the nation with six defensive touchdowns. Senior S Gaje Ferguson returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown at No. 11 Michigan State. Senior CB Deante Fortenberry returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown against New Mexico State. Junior LB Tipa Galeai returned an interception 56 yards for a touchdown at BYU. Sophomore S Shaq Bond returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown against New Mexico. Senior S Aaron Wade returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown at Colorado State. And, senior S Jontrell Rocquemore returned an interception 32 yards for a touchdown at Colorado State. Overall, USU has scored 22 defensive touchdowns in its last 72 games.

The Aggies finished the season first in the nation in kickoff returns at 30.3 yards per return. USU also ranked fifth in the MW and 63rd in the nation in punt returns (9.1 ypr), ninth in the MW and 92nd in the nation in kickoff return defense (21.7 ypr), and 10th in the MW in net punting (35.2 ypp).

Sophomore WR Savon Scarver led the nation in 2018 in kickoff returns (33.7 ypr) and tied for second in the nation with his two kickoff returns for touchdowns (0.15 pg).

Junior PK Dominik Eberle led the Mountain West and was fourth in the nation in scoring (10.8 ppg), first in the MW and ninth in the nation in field goals made (1.69 pg), third in the MW and 37th in the nation in field goal percentage (.786), as he was 22-of-28 on the season, and seventh in the MW and 69th in the nation in points responsible for with 141 (10.8 pg).

Senior DE Adewale Adeoye tied for second in the MW and tied for sixth in the nation with three fumbles recovered (0.23 pg).

Sophomore WR Jordan Nathan tied for first in the MW and tied for sixth in the nation with one punt return for touchdown (0.07 pg), and was third in the MW and 32nd in the nation in punt returns (8.3 ypr).

Sophomore S Baron Gajkowski tied for first in the MW and tied for sixth in the nation with one punt return for touchdown (0.07 pg).

Junior RB Darwin Thompson was first in the MW and 13th in the nation in yards per carry (6.8), second in the MW and 20th in the nation with 14 rushing touchdowns (1.1 pg), third in the MW and 14th in the nation in total touchdowns with 16 (1.2 pg), fifth in the MW and 51st in the nation in scoring (7.4 ppg), fifth in the MW and 56th in the nation in rushing (80.3 ypg), and fifth in the MW and 65th in the nation in all-purpose yards (107.3 ypg).

Sophomore LB David Woodward was first in the MW and 11th in the nation with 134 tackles (11.2 pg), eighth in the MW in forced fumbles with two (0.15 pg), ninth in the MW in tackles for loss with 12.5 (1.0 pg), and 10th in the MW in sacks with five (0.4 pg).

Sophomore QB Jordan Love finished the season first in the MW and 10th in the nation in passing efficiency (158.3), second in the MW and eighth in the nation in passing touchdowns with 32 (2.5 pg), second in the MW and 10th in the nation in points responsible for with 234 (18.0 pg), third in the MW and 31st in the nation in completion percentage (.640), fourth in the MW and 13th in the nation in passing (274.4 ypg), fifth in the MW and 20th in the nation in total offense (279.2 ypg), and fifth in the MW and 26th in the nation in completions (20.5 pg).

Galeai was first in the MW and 12th in the nation in sacks with 10.5 (0.81pg), tied for fourth in the MW in forced fumbles with three (0.23 pg), tied for eighth in the MW in tackles for loss with 14.0 (1.1 pg), and 47th in the MW in tackles with 64 (4.9 pg).

Junior RB Gerold Bright was third in the MW and 25th in the nation in yards per carry (6.3), fourth in the MW and 57th in the nation in rushing touchdowns with 10 (0.8 pg), fifth in the MW and 40th in the nation in total touchdowns with 13 (1.0 pg), sixth in the MW and 88th in the nation in rushing (68.3 ypg), and ninth in the MW in all-purpose yards (91.1 ypg).

Junior CB DJ Williams tied for first in the MW and tied for 16th in the nation with four interceptions (0.31 pg), and tied for third in the MW and tied for 30th in the nation in passes defended with 15 (1.2 pg).

Wade tied for first in the MW and tied for 16th in the nation with four interceptions (0.31 pg).

Rocquemore tied for seventh in the MW and tied for 63rd in the nation with three interceptions (0.23 pg), and 36th in the MW with 73 tackles (5.6 pg).

Senior WR Ron’quavion Tarver finished fifth in the MW and 50th in the nation with eight receiving touchdowns (0.6 pg), and seventh in the MW and 63rd in the nation with 66 receptions (5.1 pg).

Senior WR Aaren Vaughns was third in the MW and 30th in the nation in yards per reception (17.61).

Senior WR Jalen Greene was seventh in the MW and 85th in the nation in yards per reception (15.66), and 10th in the MW and 99th in the nation with six receiving touchdowns (0.5 pg)

Senior LB Chase Christiansen was 14th in the MW and 96th in the nation with 100 tackles (7.7 pg).

And, Ferguson was 35th in the MW with 74 tackles (5.7 pg).

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