Skip to main content

Aggies Struck Gold with Rayshad Lewis

By. Jacob Sorenson

Coming in to the 2016 season, and newly moved to Logan, Utah I had no idea what to expect from Utah State. A much improved Aggies team, at least from the time I last saw them play, prior to the Gary Anderson era. One thing I did know prior to the season opener was that during recruiting, the Aggies had landed the son of an NFL icon. Rayshad Lewis, a 5'10" cornerback and slot receiver from Orlando, Florida was set to come to Utah to highlight his skills.

When I first heard that Rayshad had chosen Utah State over ten or more other schools I couldn't wait to see see him on the field. It didn't take long. Thursday, the 1st of September against Weber State, he caught 3 passes for 26 yards and nearly showcased his breakaway speed on one end around that landed the true freshman a big ovation from the stands.

Devonte Mays also showcased the backfield which Utah state has created over the past few years. The depth at running back is not something the Aggies fall short on by any means. Mays alone set the Aggies off for 208 yards rushing on only 18 carries against Weber, accumulating just under half of Utah State's total rushing yards. The tandem of Lewis, Van Leeuwen, and Houston catching balls, and Mays running should set the Aggies on the right foot to a big season.


Perhaps the most perplexing aspect of Lewis's addition to the Aggies is his ability to outrun most college corners and still lay big blocks when the ball isn't in his hands. Countless times against Weber, Lewis destroyed the opposing receiver with blocking skills as to those of veteran receivers. His skill set could certainly set him up for an NFL career like that of Julian edelmen or Jordy Nelson. The only college stars that come to mind when thinking of Rayshad comparisons would be Britton covey who played for the University of Utah in 2015, the Rodriguez brothers from Oregon state years ago, and Hunter Renfrow of Clemson. The speed and ball handling ability of Rayshad should scare any opposing defense.

Some credit of the ability to find Rayshad this season with the the depth on offense that Utah State sports. Although they still can improve in depth just like the majority of Utah teams, the Aggies are better offensively now than in years past, including recent seasons of 10 or 11 wins. The Aggies have so much to look forward to in Rayshad even with the 10 games remaining on the schedule. The 4 running back system, depth at receiver, and a tight end corp that looks to improve upon last season, the Aggies are nothing short of a contender for the Mountain West Conference championship.

Although they did lose to USC on Saturday and by a much larger margin than predicted, the Aggies have nothing to hang their heads on. A Trojan's team that was blown out by Alabama should come back at home with a fiery performance, one that likely set them up for major contention in the PAC-12 South. The Aggies did however see another standout game from Rayshad, who caught 4 passes for 34 yards.

Lookout for the speedy wideout and occasional back to bust out a large play this weekend against Arkansas State. In games to come he should see much more action as Kent Meyers continues to acclimate to the variety of targets. The Aggies should be full of hope this season, and no doubt could end up with a 10 or 11 win regular season and notable bowl game. As for now, the vision is fixed on rising stars.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I'm a bandwagon Seattle Mariners fan

By Damon Chlarson Yes, you read that right. I hopped on the bandwagon when I was nine years old during their record-setting 116-win season in 2001. Ichiro was the AL MVP and Rookie of the Year. Lou Pineilla was AL Manager of the Year.  Bret Boone led the league in RBI. Heck, even Safeco Field was home of the all-star game. It was quite the time to be alive in the Pacific Northwest. Bret Boone, all-star second baseman and probable steroid user, encapsulated all that was cool for the time. He had the quarterback smile. He had the frosted tips like he sung in Sugar Ray. He had forearms the size of Mississippi. But most of all, Bret Boone knew how to bat flip, and bat flip he did on 37 home runs that season. He bat flipped, and he admired his home runs. Sometimes he would bat flip and it would be a warning track shot. But that man loved his job, and I emulated it. Much has been said recently regarding players criticizing those who admire their homeruns....
Post a Comment
Read more

My Fantasy Football Logos

 Here are a list of the logos I've made for my own fantasy football leagues:
Post a Comment
Read more

A new Era in BYU Football, Rivalry comeback in Vegas turned Vegas Bowl into high profile matchup

Kalani Sitake Following its two year hiatus, the Holy War was back. In two weeks of upheaval the beloved in state match between the Utes and Cougars brought many to their feet. The lead up to the game was filled with turmoil. A mix of coaching changes, brutal conversation, and even question of preparation and desire to play have led the headlines. Reports from ESPN, CBS college sports, and other credible sites mentioned the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl as the most intriguing match up of the bowl season. In rank of importance, the bowl game was ranked top 5 in the nation. Not only was the bowl game an in state rivalry, but the regional match had national attention as Bronco Mendenhall is sending his talents to the ACC and Virginia. Unlike most bowl games, it started out with a horrid thud. The five consecutive drives leading to five consecutive turnovers left the stadium in mere silence. The first quarter alone, lasting over an hour in total, had less than 100 yards of offense,...
Post a Comment
Read more