New OC Heupel just latest transition as Aggies prep for 1st scrimmage


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LOGAN — Former Oklahoma offensive coordinator Josh Heupel showed this offseason that it doesn't take long to land on your feet.

Just three months after being let go by the Sooners, Heupel ascended to the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator position at Utah State in time to lead the Aggies during spring football practices.

Now he's putting the same speed and urgency into the Aggie offense.

The Aggies are barely a week into spring camp under third-year head coach Matt Wells — only three days into practicing with full pads — and will test themselves in their first open scrimmage Friday at 3:15 p.m. MDT at Romney Stadium. The annual blue-versus-white spring game is scheduled for April 11 at 2 p.m.

Going back to Utah isn’t such a bad thing for the former Snow College quarterback who finished runner-up in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 2000 — and was recruited to Utah State before then-Sooners assistant Mike Leach lured him to Norman, Oklahoma.

“I think people across the country recognize the success Utah State has had here the last handful of years,” Heupel told the media Thursday. “They recognize the job that the coaching staff has done, the type of players that have come out of here, the success they’re having at the NFL level. Ultimately, this program has transitioned from one conference to another and it’s transitioned extremely well. It’s poised to continue to climb, and the reason that I wanted to be a part of this is, obviously, the success that it’s had here recently.”


I think people across the country recognize the success Utah State has had here the last handful of years. They recognize the job that the coaching staff has done, the type of players that have come out of here, the success they're having at the NFL level. Ultimately, this program has transitioned from one conference to another and it's transitioned extremely well. It's poised to continue to climb, and the reason that I wanted to be a part of this is, obviously, the success that it's had here recently.

–Utah State offensive coordinator Josh Heupel


The 36-year-old Heupel presided over arguably the greatest offensive system in Oklahoma football history, ranking among the top 20 in the nation in scoring offense in three of Heupel’s four seasons as offensive coordinator. He helped mentor quarterbacks like 2008 Heisman winner Sam Bradford.

Now, he takes the reigns of an offensive system that includes three bowl-winning quarterbacks in Chuckie Keeton, Darell Garretson and Kent Myers, as well as Oregon transfer Damion Hobbs.

“Great players all have some core characteristics that are extremely similar,” Heupel said. “Their physical attributes can all be different.

“They push themselves to be better physically day in and day out. These guys are all that; they’re wired.”

With the talent overload at quarterback ahead of the 2015 season, Myers has made the move to wide receiver — and Heupel said he’s fitting in well with his unique athleticism and knowledge of the offense.

“I wasn’t real excited about it at first and I told him that,” Heupel said of his initial thoughts on Myers’ move. “But we talked about it and looked at it offensively as a staff and with coach Wells, that’s something that he felt passionate about.

“We’re six days into it and he’s shown some real flashes of doing some positive things. There are some fundamental things that he’s got to continue to get better at, but I appreciate his unselfishness.”

Heupel’s offense will see about 100 plays of a two-hour live scrimmage Friday, including situations from their own 1-yard line, inside the red zone, and a period starting at the offense’s 40-yard line.

No matter the situation, the new Aggie coordinator expects a fast, exciting style of football.

“Hopefully, we’re going to play smart and take care of the football,” he said. “We’re going to spread the ball around, we’re going to play fast, and it’s going to be a physical brand of football.

“We want to hone in on the personnel that’s going to give us a chance to be successful, the personnel that’s consistent and we can count on. That’s going to dictate some of the personnel groupings that we’re in and a little bit of the schemes that we’re going to run, but I think it will be an exciting brand of football.”

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Sean Walker

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