Of the 95 players that were donning helmets, practice jerseys and shorts Tuesday, 25 will be seniors, 25 will be juniors, 20 will sophomores and 25 are freshmen.
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.
2012 (RS-FR): Played in all 13 games... Earned second-team all-WAC honors after ranking tied for third on the team and tied for ninth in the conference with 5.0 sacks (0.38 pg)... Also ranked fifth on the team and 20th in the WAC with 6.5 tackles for loss (0.50)... Finished the season tied for first on the team among defensive linemen with 35 tackles... Also led the team with two blocked kicks during the season as he blocked an extra point at Wisconsin (9/15) and a 43-yard field goal attempt at No. 19 Louisiana Tech (11/17)... Also had three quarterback hurries and one pass breakup on the year... Recorded five-plus tackles in three-straight games during the end of the season as he had a career-high six tackles against Texas State (11/3), followed by five-tackle outings in back-to-back games against LTU and Idaho (11/24)... Had a career-high two sacks against Utah (9/7) and San Jose State (10/13)... Also had four tackles against both the Utes and Spartans... Was one of 32 players, including sophomore linebacker teammate Kyler Fackrell, named to the College Football Performance Awards National Freshman Performer of the Year Watch List... Earned academic all-WAC honors.
2011 (RS): Redshirted during his first season at Utah State.
HIGH SCHOOL: Earned second-team 4A all-state honors and named the Region 5 Defensive MVP at Sky View (Utah) High School after racking up 66 tackles and nine sacks during senior season... Played best game of the year in the season finale against Mountain Crest, tallying up 10 tackles and a season-high three sacks... Made 85 tackles and 12 sacks during junior season, earning him honorable mention all-state accolades... Finished high school career with 151 tackles and 21 sacks... Also carried the ball two times for 18 yards... Averaged 7.9 points per game during senior season on the basketball court for Sky View, as well as logging one shutout as the keeper for the Sky View soccer team... A member of Sky View's National Honor Society.
PERSONAL: Born Sept. 8, 1992... Son of John and Teresa Nielsen... Has four brothers and one sister... Majoring in pre-physical therapy.
CAREER HIGHS: Tackles: 6, vs. Texas St. (11/3/12); Sacks: 2, twice; TFL: 2, twice; Blocks: 1, twice.
