Along with handing out individual awards, a highlight video recapping the year was shown, as was a video honoring USU's senior class, which tied the 1962 senior class for the most wins in school history with 26.
USU's defense ranked seventh in the nation in scoring defense (15.4 ppg), tied for sixth nationally in sacks (3.23 pg), eighth in the nation in pass efficiency defense (104.4), 13th in the country in rushing defense (113.8 ypg), 14th in the nation in total defense (322.1 ypg), and 32nd in the nation in passing defense (208.3 ypg).
Of its 52 academic all-WAC selections, Utah State had 18 student-athletes from football honored, along with 11 student-athletes from soccer, eight from both women's cross country and volleyball, and seven from men's cross country.
Aggie Football Family Fun Day, sponsored by Macey's Foods
HONORS: Third-Team Phil Steele's College Football Preview Preseason All-WAC (2012); Collegefootballperformance.com Honorable Mention Defensive Back of the Week (Oct. 17, 2011); Academic All-WAC (2010, 2011).
UTAH STATE: Will be the leader of a defensive unit that returns seven letterwinners and 12 players with experience in the program... A versatile, athletic defensive back who can play either cornerback or safety positions... Has a great motor and plays extremely hard... Has adapted well to college football after running track at BYU.
2011 (JR): Emerged in 2011 as the leader of the secondary for Utah State, finishing the season third on the team with 86 total tackles, including one for a loss... Posted a career-high 16 tackles against Idaho in a double-overtime win... Was nominated for WAC Defensive Player of the Week after his 13 tackles and one pass break-up performance at Hawai`i, that sparked the Aggies' late season winning streak... Also had six pass break-ups which was tied for the third-best on the team... Recovered a fumble and forced a fumble during the season... Had three double-digit tackle outings in a four-game span with 13 stops in Hawai`i game, and then after six tackles against San Jose State, had career-stop day at Idaho with 16, then 10 against Nevada... Recorded a career-high three pass break-ups against San Jose State.
2010 (SO): Appeared in all 12 games, starting one and making 17 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss on the season... Racked up six tackles (five solo, one assist) against Nevada... Also forced one fumble versus Idaho.
PREVIOUS SCHOOL: Competed in track & field at BYU, helping the Cougars to the 2009 Mountain West Indoor and Outdoor Championships... Competed in the 200m and 400m, running season-best times of 23.30 in the 200m and 48.47 in the 400m, as well as the 4x400m relay team, part of the four-some that ran a school-record time 3:06.60 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships... Earned all-Mountain West academic honors.
HIGH SCHOOL: Was the Region 5 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Sky View (Utah) High School, as well as garnering first-team all-state honors at safety by the Salt Lake Tribune in helping lead the Bobcats to the 4A state championship... Logged 113 tackles with 24 pass break-ups... Also amassed 1,719 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns in playing safety, wide receiver, punt returner and kick returner... Also saw part-time action at quarterback, throwing for 262 yards on 17-of-36 passing with three touchdowns... On the track, was a seven-time state placer, a seven-time Region 5 placer and a three-time region champion... Was the 4A state 400m champion, running a school-record 47.90... Region 5 champion in the 200m and 400m... A member of the Sky View HS honor roll.
PERSONAL: Born Nov. 13, 1989... Son of Lorell and Lonetta Brady... Has five sisters and four brothers... Sister, Macken, played on the Utah Valley soccer team... Majoring in human movement science... Married Samantha Murray in May, 2012.
