LOGAN — It has been 50 years since Utah State last had a player selected in the first round of the NFL draft. You have to be back to 1970, when the New England Patriots selected defensive tackle Phil Olsen with the fourth overall pick.
“If we just talk about sheer athletic ability, he can make all the throws and he can adjust the throws. He’s quite a good athlete and I think what he does is he plays the game of football with really good angles.” — Utah State coach Gary Andersen on QB Jordan Love
Superstar linebacker Bobby Wagner was a second-round pick (2012). Nick Vigil and Kyler Fackrell (2016) were three-round selections. Robert Turbin (2012) lasted until the fourth round, while Darwin Thompson was on the board until the sixth round in last year’s draft. Go back further and there are plenty of other notable Aggies who were drafted, including third-round picks Chris Cooley, Kevin Curtis and Hal Garner, as well as second-round selection Rulon Jones. But for 50 years, no Aggie has been selected with one of the first 30 picks in the draft.
Jordan Love is here to change that.
Love has drawn comparisons to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, has been called the draft’s greatest unknown and had his merits as a signal-caller weighed for and against over and over again in the buildup to the draft. He is expected to be a first-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft — when in the round is up for debate — given his franchise quarterback potential.
“His size, mobility and arm talent combined with his 2018 flashes could be a winning hand that leads a team into the future,” NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein writes, “or a siren’s song of erratic play and unfulfilled potential.”
Utah State head coach Gary Andersen worked with Love for just one season, but in that time he saw firsthand why Love is such a tantalizing NFL prospect.
“If we just talk about sheer athletic ability, he can make all the throws and he can adjust the throws,” Andersen said in an interview with CBS Sports. “... He’s quite a good athlete and I think what he does is he plays the game of football with really good angles.”
Beyond his physical attributes, Love has proven himself more than adept in the mental aspect of the game too.
“This young man has been through a lot in his life and he’s handled it extremely well,” said Andersen. “... The kid has just grown up in an environment of dealing with things. If it’s adversity, he’ll deal with it. If it’s great, he’ll deal with it. He stays pretty even if you will. He’s an even-keeled kid.”
While Love headlines Utah State’s draft class, and in this case headlines feels inadequate, he isn’t the only Aggie who may hear their name called over the weekend. As many as five Aggies could be selected, including linebacker David Woodward, defensive end Tipa Galeai and placekicker Dominik Eberle, all of whom have been “drafted” in various mock drafts, almost exclusively in the draft’s later rounds.
Woodward is the closest thing to a sure bet, thanks to his All-America level production as a sophomore and junior.
“He’s a fantastic player,” said Andersen. “We’ve been around some great linebackers in our careers, and, obviously, a bunch of those guys are still playing in the NFL. Guys like Bobby (Wagner), (Kyler) Fackrell and (Zach and Nick Vigil). Those guys. Now, we have David.”
Galeai’s chances hinge on a team falling in love with his athleticism and playmaking ability, while Eberle’s record-breaking career — he is arguably the greatest kicker in Mountain West Conference history — speaks for itself.
Other draft hopefuls from USU include tight end Caleb Repp, defensive back DJ Williams and running back Gerold Bright, to name a few.
With just two selections over the course of the three-day draft, Utah State will have matched its best draft since 2016, when Nick Vigil and Fackrell were taken. If three or more Aggies are selected, the 2020 class would be USUs best since 2012.
No matter what, though, the class will be remembered for Love.
“Jordan has been a great student-athlete and a tremendous teammate,” said Andersen. “We are excited for his future in the NFL.”
Utah State’s NFL draft and free agent hopefuls
- Jordan Love (quarterback)
- David Woodward (linebacker)
- Tipa Galeai (defensive end)
- Dominik Eberle (placekicker)
- Caleb Repp (tight end)
- DJ Williams (cornerback)
- Gerold Bright (running back)
- Siaosi Mariner (wide receiver)