The most exciting player in Friday night's BYU-Utah State game was Aggie sophomore Emmett White. Every time White touched the ball, he picked up giant chunks of yardage against the nationally ranked Cougars.
After a 67-yard punt return for an apparent touchdown was called back in the first quarter, White returned a punt 25 yards. A few minutes later, he returned a kickoff 57 yards to set up a USU field goal.In the second half, he returned a punt 31 yards, another one eight yards. Late in the game, his 58-yard kickoff return set up another field goal, keeping the Aggies in the game.
For the day, he finished with 185 yards on just five returns and for good measure made four tackles playing defense on returns. For his effort, he earned Big West special teams player of the week honors.
"What a tremendous game he played," said USU coach Dave Arslanian. "Emmett sure stepped up and did his job."
White ranks in the top 10 in the country in three different categories. He's fourth in punt returns, seventh in kickoff returns and eighth in all-purpose running.
So will White get more chances to get his hands on the ball?
"We want him to get fewer kickoff returns, a lot more punt returns and cover a lot of kickoff returns," said Arslanian with a smile.
And what about running back?
"He needs to play more, but how do you take Demario (Brown) out?" said Arslanian. "Every time Emmett gets an opportunity, he gets better and better. We know he needs to play more. I'm sure proud of the job he's doing."
RECRUITING EDGE: Arslanian had the inside track on recruiting White since before he was even born.
Arslanian went to college with both of White's parents and played with Emmett's father on the Weber State football team.
"His father and mother and I were classmates together," he said. "I knew Emmett before Emmett knew himself."
White was recruited by several schools, including BYU and some Pac-10 and Big 12 schools, but is happy to be playing for Arslanian at USU. However, it might have been different if Arslanian was still at Weber State.
"It's a good thing he came to Utah State, because I don't think there's any way I would have gone to Weber State," he said.
NOT A TD: Some fans were upset that White's 67-yard punt return for an apparent touchdown was called back. It happened late in the first quarter when the Aggies already led 14-7. The play was called back because of a roughing the kicker penalty.
However, Arslanian had no problem with the TD being called back. In fact, he said even without the roughing penalty, which he said was a correct call, the play wouldn't have counted anyway. It turns out that White's knee touched the ground as he fielded the punt, and an official was trying to wave off the play as White weaved his way down field but couldn't be heard above the crowd noise.
LESS CLOUT: Arslanian said he had few problems with the officiating Friday night, even though his team picked up 11 penalties for 116 yards. He did say he couldn't compete with BYU coach LaVell Edwards, who he jokingly referred to as "The Godfather."
"Once coach Edwards put his two cents worth to some of those officials, they started to see it his way a little more," Arslanian said. "I don't say that in any disrespectful way because we both fight for the benefit of our team. But I think maybe he carries a little more clout than I do."
AGNOTES: Receiver Aaron Jones caught 10 passes for 195 yards Friday, giving him 36 catches for 522 yards this year. Jones ranks No. 4 in the nation in both receptions and receiving yards . . . Demario Brown should go over the 3,000-yard mark for career rushing yards this week. After getting 91 last week, he has 2,972 yards. He ranks fourth on USU's all-time list and sixth on the Big West list . . . Utah State has the third toughest schedule in the Big West and 48th toughest overall in the country. Nevada's is the toughest in the league and this week's opponent, Arkansas State, is second in the Big West and 40th in the nation . . . The Ags came out of the BYU game with only minor injuries.