Tag: Gerold Bright

2020 NFL Draft Profile: Utah State RB Gerold Bright

USU RB Gerold Bright has been a solid player who may get a shot at the NFL.

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2020 NFL Draft Profile: Utah State RB Gerold Bright

Will Bright be the next Utah State running back to be selected?

Contact/Follow @SamMcConkie & @MWCwire

Can the scrappy converted RB make it to the league?

Gerold Bright was nothing if not infectiously upbeat and consistent in his time with the Utah State Aggies.

After redshirting the 2015 season, Bright played wide receiver and had mixed success. He clearly showed explosive potential in his limited touches and toughness in his stride. Late in the 2017 season, he changed over to being a running back full time and provided juice to a then-inconsistent offense.

The 2018 season is when Bright solidified his presence as a playmaker. In tandem with his rushing partner Darwin Thompson, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, Bright churned out 888 yards and 10 touchdowns on 141 carries. His strong production helped keep Thompson (and Bright himself) fresh so he could eclipse the 1,000-yard mark that year. Though he may not have been the feature back like Thompson, Bright’s contributions to USU’s offense cannot be understated as he was a key part of the 2018 team’s success.

In 2019, Bright put together another strong campaign by rushing for 921 yards and nine touchdowns on 182 carries. Though the numbers weren’t quite as good as 2018, Bright nonetheless put the team on his shoulders at different times and helped grind out some close games. His best effort undoubtedly came against Colorado State where he seemed nigh unstoppable. Had Jaylen Warren been able to stay consistently healthy, Bright may have been able to hit 1,000 yards for the year.

With the right mindset and a big smile, Bright may yet convince an NFL team to take a chance on him, whether he gets drafted late or not.

Height – 5′ 9″

Weight – 187 pounds

Wingspan – 71 7/8″

Arm Length – 29 1/2″

Hand Size – 9 1/8″

40-Yard Dash – 4.52 seconds

Strengths

Bright has consistent production and strength in his runs. He can move the pile when needed and he rarely makes mistakes. He also has versatility as a pass catcher, which may widen his appeal to an NFL team looking to add an athlete to their roster. Being unselfish and having a great attitude are excellent attributes to have heading into the NFL Draft.

Weaknesses

Bright showed a bad habit in 2019 of trying to make something out of nothing. Regardless of what the defense gave him, he would often try and run around tacklers ran than through them, where he had considerably more success. This leads to his occasional mistakes and makes him predictable to opposing defenses, especially if the offensive line doesn’t play up to its potential.

Draft Prediction

With his skill set, Bright could very well end up as a seventh-round pick or possibly as a high priority free agent. His good hands make him valuable as a pass catcher if he can consistently produce. Most draft sites have him going undrafted, which isn’t an unreasonable prediction based off of his track record. He’s a bit smaller than prototypical NFL backs. He also doesn’t have the same star power and production of his former teammate Darwin Thompson.

Bright had an outspoken desire to win during his Aggie career. He’ll have to grind and stay patient the same way to get a shot in a rookie camp or tryout.

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Utah State Football: Aggies’ Best moments from 2019

Best plays and moments from USU’s up and down season from 2019.

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Utah State Football: Aggies’ best moments from 2019

Counting down the top moments from USU football

What was the best moment?

Contact/Follow @SamMcConkie & @MWCwire

The 2019 season had some genuinely great moments for USU’s football team. Despite an up and down year with stretches of unbridled frustration, the Aggies did put together some incredible plays and keyed up a few noteworthy wins. Without further ado, let’s look at the best of the best this season had to offer for Aggie fans.

1. Beating SDSU on the road

San Diego State had themselves a rock solid season, getting to 10-3 and winning a bowl against Central Michigan in what would be Rocky Long‘s last game an Aztec. San Diego State nabbed a good road victory against UCLA (a school they had historically not beaten until this tilt) and fielded a truly stifling defense, holding their initial opponents on the schedule to 0, 14, and 10 points.

The Aggies came to town looking for their first win against SDSU since 1967. USU dominated the first half of the game and held a 23-3 lead to begin the third quarter. The rest of the game would see the Aggies blow several big plays on defense and allow the chippy Aztecs to get within six points in the closing minutes.

Dominik Eberle missed a sure game-winning kick and SDSU appeared to be on the way to a crushing comeback… until Ryan Agnew decided to sprint backward chasing down a wayward snap. Years of blown chances in close games wouldn’t nip the upset-minded Aggies this time.

Altogether, it was a roller coaster game with a terrific ending, which makes this the best win USU got in 2019.

2. David Woodward‘s Strip-six vs CSU

In what turned out to be an incredibly wet and gusty evening, USU weathered the storm (no pun intended) against the feisty if beleaguered Colorado State Rams. Though Utah State went on to win the game 34-24, there were a lot of mistakes along the way that prolonged the fight and kept all in attendance nervous.

The offense didn’t click much despite a great rushing attack from the Aggies. Jordan Love threw a pick-six and Bright lost a fumble early in the game. Late in the game and with a tenuous lead propping up the Aggies, linebacker David Woodward decided he had enough. He forcefully stripped the ball from Rams’ runner Marvin Kinsey and returned it eight yards for the game-clinching score. Great stuff from a stud defender.

3. Eric Munoz vs Wyoming

In another nail-biting game, USU toppled the Wyoming Cowboys in dramatic fashion. Former walk-on linebacker Eric Munoz had his coming out party in Logan with a sturdy 13 tackle, two-interception performance against a resilient Cowboy offense.

After the game ended, Munoz had a memorable and tear-filled press moment where he detailed his struggles to make it in college. The former walk-on went on to earn a scholarship less than a week later. Great win and a great person helped make it possible for USU.

4. Eberle kicks Fresno State to the curb

The Aggies have had a long and painful history of missed opportunities, especially when it comes to field goal kicking. Against Fresno State, Dominik Eberle ensured Utah State would get a needed walk-off win. It was not only the first game-winning kick in Eberle’s storied career with the Aggies, but it was also the first time since 1998 the Aggies had won a game on a last-second field goal.

So, THAT is what it feels like to win one of these things.

5. Scarver just returns kickoffs for touchdowns

In an otherwise forgettable game, Savon Scarver racked up his fifth kickoff return for a touchdown in his career. This set the school record, passing the previous mark of four that was set by Kevin Robinson. The blocking and coverage downfield was flawless and the junior speedster made it look easy against the Wolf Pack. Aggie fans are fortunate they have this guy around for one more season. Enjoy him, Aggie nation.

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USU Football: Keys to victory over Kent State

Aggies and Golden Flashes square off in third annual Frisco Bowl for bragging rights

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USU looks to end season on strong note against Golden Flashes

Bowl Season: Utah State (7-5) vs Kent State (6-6)

When: Friday, December 20th, 2019 – 5:30 pm MST

WHERE: Toyota Stadium; Frisco, Texas (20,500)

TV: ESPN2

STREAMING: Sling TV – Get a seven-day free trial.

RADIO: Utah State radio broadcast on 1280 the zone (1280 AM), 1280thezone.com / Tunein.com

ODDS (via ESPN): Utah State -6.5

Three Keys to a Utah State victory

1. Get excited

It’s no secret just how uninspired and unmotivated USU looked against New Mexico in the regular season finale. Yes, Utah State won the game by double digits, but they didn’t look good for much of it. Thanks to a quick avalanche of mistakes and turnovers by New Mexico, the Aggies posted a dominant second quarter. However, the Aggies got outscored in the second half. In the final quarter, they didn’t score at all and looked like they were just trying to get out of Albuquerque as soon as possible.

Against Kent State, a flat performance could prove costly and end this season on a sour note. Kent State is going to a bowl game for the first time since 2012, and this is just their third bowl appearance in school history. The Golden Flashes are going to be plenty motivated to win this game and snap their winless postseason streak. Coming into the game, they’ve won three in a row, all within one possession. USU has done well in close games themselves this season, so they must take this upset-minded team seriously and come out swinging.

2. Lean heavily on the run game

Gerold Bright has a great opportunity to finish his senior year with a bang. He’s rushed for a solid 827 yards and eight touchdowns through the regular season. Against an extremely poor run defense like Kent State’s, he should be able to have a career game. He may not eclipse his season-high of 179 rush yards against Colorado State, but a monster performance is very much within reach and would put him close to 1,000 yards for the year. If Jaylen Warren is finally healthy enough to consistently help out, both of these backs can do some heavy damage to the Golden Flashes.

3. Contain Dustin Crum

Though Kent State will be hard pressed to win a defensive struggle against the Aggies, they can give themselves an excellent chance at winning in a shootout. QB Dustin Crum fuels Kent State’s offense with a good arm and dangerous rushing ability. He not only leads his team in net rushing yards, he rarely makes mistakes. Crum set a school record by completing over 68 percent of his passes, and his 18:2 touchdown to interception ratio is one of the best in college football. The sheer number of yards he’s responsible for on the season may not look eye-popping, but he’s made every one of them count. 

This quarterback plainly has enough offensive balance to keep USU’s defense guessing. The Aggies have gotten burned on deep passes a lot this season, and that trend will continue unless the Aggie D-line can generate some much needed pressure. USU has only gotten a moderate number of sacks this season, coming in at 83rd in the NCAA with 22. It’s time for this defense to step up its game or risk getting an embarrassing loss.

Final Thoughts

USU has significantly improved its program in the last decade, making bowl games eight of the last nine seasons. Kent State is only in a bowl for the third time, having never won in the postseason. USU may look to end this decade on a winning note, but Kent State will be gunning for it extra hard.

This is going to be a close, hard-fought game. Even one or two mistakes could spell doom for either squad. In Jordan Love‘s last collegiate game, I expect him to have a convincing stat line burnished by a strong ground game from Bright and Warren. The Golden Flashes will never go away, but depth will come into play in the fourth quarter and the Aggies will come out and secure another trophy.

Utah State 38 – Kent State 34

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First look at USU vs Kent State in Frisco Bowl

Ags look to secure 8-win season against MAC foe Kent State in Frisco Bowl

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The what bowl?

The Aggies learned their bowl destination during Selection Sunday: USU will travel to Frisco, Texas to take on the Kent State Golden Flashes on December 20th.

This is a relatively new bowl game. It was originally the Miami Beach bowl until ESPN bought the rights to it in 2017. With that taken into account, the bowl has only been around for six seasons. This year’s sponsor is Tropical Smoothie Cafe. The name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but it’s about the kind of game Utah State deserves after a disappointing 7-5 season.

Kent Who?

Located in Kent, OH, the Golden Flashes have had an unimpressive 6-6 season. However, they do have an alright 5-3 mark in conference play, good for 2nd in the MAC east division. They’ve lost badly to all the teams they were supposed to lose to (at Wisconsin, at Auburn, at Arizona State) and they’ve beaten a couple of okay MAC teams (Buffalo, at Eastern Michigan). They had a shot to beat Toledo,  but couldn’t finish a 2-pt conversion. Though they didn’t win the game, they did beat Toledo out for a bowl berth. All in all, the Golden Flashes are decidedly middle of the pack in the top-heavy MAC.

Is there history between these teams and will the game be any good?

There is minimal history between Utah State and Kent State. These schools have met twice, with both contests in the 1970s. The Aggies lost in 1973 in Logan, but got revenge the following year on the road in a close one. The burning question is this, though: is this game going to be any good? Well, if stats are to be believed, it could turn out to be a surprisingly decent match-up.

Kent State has a wholly decent QB in Dustin Crumm. The signal-caller has passed for 2,333 yards with a strong 18-2 touchdown-interception ratio, a far prettier number than what Jordan Love has amassed for the Aggies this year. On the other hand, Crumm has also been sacked 39 times. That unfortunate stat is good for the bottom ten in the NCAA. Against a USU defense that has struggled to get pressure, it will be interesting to see which opposing unit produces better: the Golden Flashes’ offensive line or the Aggie defensive line.

Stopping the run has been a major issue for Kent State. They’ve given up 2,992 yards on the ground this season, which averages to over 5 yards per opponent rush. Matched up against USU’s middling 84th ranked rushing attack, the Aggies may actually have a few struggles if Jaylen Warren isn’t healthy enough to back up Gerold Bright. Time will tell when these teams clash on December 20th.

I’m expecting a relatively even gridiron tilt. With that being said, I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if one team runs away with the score. Both of these teams have shown the propensity to get blown out in big games. Kent State hasn’t been bowling since 2012, so they’ll certainly have something to play for. USU needs to show up ready for a fight.

See you in Frisco. It beats freezing in Boise (sorry, Nevada).

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Boise State Clobbers Utah State, Ending Aggies’ Title Hopes

Aggies get embarrassed in home finale, lose division to Boise State

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Dismal performance from entire Aggie team

Utah State didn’t bother showing up in their own stadium with the Mountain Division on the line. Boise State showed up and showed why they’re the class of the conference, though, by winning 56-21.

Boise State received the ball to start and promptly drove down the field in under two minutes, going up 7-0. On USU’s first possession, they promptly failed to gain offensive rhythm (again) and punted away to the Broncos. It would be the first of many failed drive attempts for this Utah State offense.

After the Aggie defense forced a punt from the Broncos on their next offensive series, Utah State put together a very nice drive using Jordan Love‘s arm. The Aggies capped off their first touchdown drive with a sick one-handed catch by TE Caleb Repp. It would be only one a few highlights for the Aggies.

Late in the first quarter, with the game tied 7-7, USU got the ball back with some critical momentum. Jordan Love then promptly threw the momentum away with a pass to the flat that was nabbed by Boise defender Jalen Walker for a costly pick six. Boise State never looked back after this (and USU needs to burn that play from its playbook).

Boise State went on to score on five straight offensive drives. Utah State’s defense could not tackle and could not get any stops on third down, a continuation of an alarming trend they have seen this season. There were numerous times on the night where the Broncos’ running backs would easily slip past USU’s defensive line and linebackers. Oftentimes, these gains would be for 7+ yards, ensuring Boise State would have manageable offensive situations all night long for their third-string QB Jaylon Henderson.

At halftime, USU was down 35-7. By the end of the third quarter, it was 56-14. Jordan Love had an average night, throwing for 229 yards on 21-of-36 passes with a touchdown and one interception. Gerold Bright performed well below expectations, rushing for 51 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Adding insult to injury, DJ Williams got two unsportsmanlike penalties in the game, getting disqualified from the game and weakening an already battered secondary.

On the opposing side, Boise RB George Holani had himself a terrific game, rushing for 178 yards and two touchdowns. Backup QB Jaylon Henderson played like a season starter with 187 yards and three touchdown passes with no picks. The Broncos have superior team depth all around and it showed in this game. Utah State couldn’t contain or stop either of these players and the game was never close after the first quarter.

By the end of the night, USU had managed to score 21 points, but most of those came in garbage time with the game well out of reach. QB Henry Colombi ran in the final score of the night for USU and brought the game to a merciful close shortly after that.

Boise State won 56-21 and the remaining people in the stadium were mostly Bronco fans. It was a painful, but not terribly unsurprising end to the home slate of games for USU.

Few silver linings

The game was miserable, but the season has been about where I thought it would be. Assuming Utah State beats a terrible New Mexico team in the regular-season finale, USU will finish with back to back winning seasons. That’s a step in the right direction considering the Aggies had three losing seasons in a row from 2015-2017.

A win over New Mexico would also guarantee USU a bowl game. This will result in extra practices for the younger players on USU’s roster. Coupled with some rest, these bowl practices could prove to be rejuvenating for the team. Aggies will likely be matched up against a winnable opponent from the MAC or C-USA, a salve the Aggies could use after getting roughed up in November.

If nothing else, with all of their weaknesses exposed in this most recent loss, it will help shed additional light on the recruiting areas Gary Andersen needs to address. Focusing on this for next season along with getting as many reps as possible for the young players could pay off down the road. This team has talent, but they need to learn to put it all together.

Just a couple more wins will help ease the pain of some big missed opportunities this year. If Aggies can win out, we’ll all feel better for next year having taken our lumps in stride. And in this author’s case, because I foolishly bet against a fellow MWC beat writer on the outcome of this game, that means I’ll be taking a cream pie in the face.

You’ve earned the right to laugh, Raja (but watch out for basketball season)!

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