LOGAN — When asked what his top concern was going into fall camp, USU coach Mick Dennehy said he'd be interested to learn who would be the program's next great running back. However, before discussing candidates to replace Emmett White in the backfield, Dennehy noted the challenges the Aggies face at defensive end.
Two words: youth and inexperience.
"We've got to get a couple of young defensive ends ready to go," said Dennehy. "I feel good about the kids we have there, but if Nate Putnam ends up redshirting it means that we have very, very few snaps there."
Putnam, a 6-foot-6, 234-pound junior with 20 games of experience, has shoulder trouble and hasn't been able to lift weights on a consistent basis. Unless absolutely necessary, he'll redshirt this season.
That means the void left by graduated seniors Ryan Duncan and Nick Onaindia, who combined for 218 career tackles, will be filled by a junior college transfer, an inexperienced sophomore and three freshmen.
"I feel good about the kids but I don't think they're ready to go yet," said Dennehy. "We're going to have to force feed the heck out of them and just live with them.
"There's some talent there. There's some great young players," he continued. "On the flip side of the concern is we've got most of them for five years. That's pretty exciting — the end product of that."
Junior college transfer Justin Jackson is the leading candidate to main the left end position, while sophomore Jeremy Guenter tops the depth chart on the right side. Guenter is the only USU defensive end with Div. I experience. He appeared in seven games last season and had eight tackles, including one sack.
True freshmen John Chick (right) and Jake Stewart (left), as well as redshirt freshman Jim Fackrell (left), are the others expected to compete for playing time.
GOOD NEWS: USU quarterback Jose Fuentes has quietly racked up eight school records during his tenure with the Aggies. The senior is also closing in on six other marks — including career passing yards. According to research conducted by official at Louisville, his 5,900 yards over three seasons places him fifth among active Div. I quarterbacks.
"That's really surprising. I didn't know that," Fuentes said upon hearing the news. "That's pretty cool."
QUICK DEPARTURE: USU assistant coach Mike Lynch didn't know what to make of a new walk-on who announced he was quitting right after passing a physical and eating lunch. The player had yet to participate in a single practice.
"I don't know why he quit," Lynch told sports information director Mike Strauss. "Maybe the brutality of walking to the cafeteria was too much for him."
EXTRA POINTS: USU coaches have penciled in a scrimmage for Saturday morning at 8 a.m. . . . Punter Steve Mullins is listed as a second team preseason All-American by The Sporting News . . . Wide receiver Kevin Curtis is a third team selection by the Football News and Athlon. Street & Smith's magazine projects the USU senior as the 2002 Independent Player of the Year . . . Single-game and season tickets can be purchased online at www.UtahStateAggies.com. . . The Aggies open the season Aug. 31 at home against Utah.
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com