QUARTERBACK
Returning players: None
2023 players not returning: Ezra Harris (transfer portal), Zeke Payne (transfer portal), Levi Williams (graduation)
2024 post-spring ball attrition: McCae Hillstead (transferred to byu), Cooper Legas (transferred to Tulsa)
2023 total production lost: 267 completions, 432 attempts (61.8%), 3,203 yards, 35 touchdowns, 18 interceptions
2023 total production returning: None
2023 total production transferring in (transfer portal/junior college): 165 completions, 301 attempts (54.8%), 1,689 yards, 12 touchdowns, 15 interceptions
New Faces in 2024:
Bryson Barnes 6’1″ 209 (247 3*) – university of utah – (2 years to play 2)
2023 (So.) Stats: 142 completions 242 attempts 1,702 yards 12 TDs 11 INTs; 90 carries 265 yards 3 TDs
2022 (RsFr.) Stats: 37 completions 57 attempts 430 yards 4 TDs 2 INTs; 20 carries 116 yards
2021 (Fr.) Stats: 1 completion 1 attempt 23 yards 1 TD; 1 carry 10 yards; Redshirted at university of utah
2020 (Fr.) Stats: Did not see any action at university of utah
Offers from: UNKNOWN
Original offers from: utah (PWO), Utah State (PWO), Washington St (PWO)
Primary recruiter: Blake Anderson
https://247sports.com/player/bryson-barnes-46097926/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UDanarNx0A
Jacob Conover 6’1″ 205 (247 3*) – Arizona State University – (2 years to play 2)
2023 (So.) Stats: 11 completions 38 attempts 130 yards 3 INTs
2022 (RsFr.) Stats: 0 completions 1 attempt
2021 (Fr.) Stats: 5 completions 10 attempts 45 yards; Redshirted at byu
2020 (Fr.) Stats: COVID year did not see any action
Offers from: UNKNOWN
Original offers from: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona St, byu, Memphis, Mississippi, Nevada, Northwestern, Oregon St, South Carolina, Utah State, Washington St
Primary recruiter: Blake Anderson
https://247sports.com/player/jacob-conover-46037707/high-school-188133/
https://www.hudl.com/profile/2201651/JACOB-CONOVER
Spencer Petras 6’5″ 231 (247 3*) – University of Iowa – (1 year to play 1)
2023 (Sr.) Stats: Injury Redshirt at the University of Iowa
2022 (Jr.) Stats: 157 completions 281 attempts 1,725 yards 5 TDs 5 INTs
2021 (So.) Stats: 165 completions 288 attempts 1,880 yards 10 TDs 9 INTs
2020 (So.) Stats: 140 completions 245 attempts 1,569 yards 9 TDs 5 INTs
2019 (RsFr.) Stats: 6 completions 10 attempts 25 yards
2018 (Fr.) Stats: 0 completions 1 attempt
Offers from: UNKNOWN
Original offers from: California, Colorado St, Cornell, Fresno St, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisville, Nevada, Oregon St, San Diego St, San Jose St, Syracuse, UNLV, Wyoming
Primary Recruiter: Blake Anderson
https://247sports.com/Player/spencer-petras-93297/high-school-178576/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUCZvvUGm9w
CJ Tiller 6’1″ 205 (247 3*) – boise state university – (4 years to play 4)
2023 (Fr.) Stats: 12 completions 21 attempts 117 yards 1 INT
Offers from: James Madison
Original offers from: California, boise st, Northern Arizona, San Diego St, San Jose St, Utah St, Washington St
Primary recruiter: Blake Anderson, Hayden Kingston
https://247sports.com/player/cj-tiller-46100764/
https://www.hudl.com/profile/12954084/CJ-Tiller
2024 OUTLOOK
SPENCER PETRAS
University of Iowa graduate senior transfer Spencer Petras will use his final season of eligibility in 2024. Petras missed the 2023 season with a shoulder injury. Still, before the injury, he had started in 31 of 37 games during his 5-year career at Iowa and has passed for 468 completions in 825 attempts (56.7%), for 5,199 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions.
According to 247sports coming out of Marin Catholic High (CA), Petras was rated as the 421st-best player nationally, the 19th-best quarterback, and the 50th-best prospect overall in California. He originally held offers from California, Colorado State, Cornell, Fresno State, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisville, Nevada, Oregon State, San Diego State, San Jose State, Syracuse, UNLV, and Wyoming.
Petras has a strong arm and has developed a nice touch on deep passes, which is a must to succeed in the Aggies offensive scheme. He has a keen sense in the pocket and can keep his eyes downfield while feeling out the opposing pass rush while continuing to look downfield for an open receiver. His sound footwork is what makes his maneuverability in the pocket possible. He is mobile enough to roll out of the pocket to avoid trouble but will not be much of a threat to run. Petras brings a ton of experience playing against excellent football teams with him to Logan and that will bode well for him in his bid to earn playing time. He was named the Aggies starting quarterback just before the close of spring camp.
JACOB CONOVER
Jacob Conover is a transfer from Arizona State University who will enter the 2024 season as a junior with two years of eligibility remaining. Between stays with the Sun Devils and byu, Conover has appeared in 4 games during his 4- year career totaling 16 completions in 48 attempts (33.3%) for 175 yards and 3 interceptions.
According to 247sports coming out of Chandler High School (AZ), Conover was rated as the 317th-best player nationally, the 11th-best pro-style quarterback, and the 6th-best player in Arizona. He originally held offers from Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, byu, Memphis, Mississippi, Nevada, Northwestern, Oregon State, South Carolina, Utah State, and Washington State.
Conover has very good arm strength and an effortless velocity that allows him to throw outside the numbers. He has a quick, efficient release. His high school numbers show that he can complete passes with accuracy. He can adjust and quickly flick the ball out. He has an above-average ability to escape the pocket and continue looking downfield. He can make all the throws, it is just a matter of him putting it all together. I’m looking forward to seeing that happen at Utah State. He will be allowed to compete for the number two spot in fall camp.
BRYSON BARNES
Bryson Barnes is a transfer from the university of utah who will enter the 2024 season as a junior with two years of eligibility remaining. He started in 10 of the 11 games he played in 2024, completing 142 passes in 242 attempts (58.7%), for 1,572 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. During his 3-year career for the utes, he played in 24 games with 10 starts, completing 181 passes in 301 attempts (60.0%), for 2,025 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
According to 247sports Barnes is rated as the 405th-best transfer portal player in the country and the 50th-best quarterback in the transfer portal. Coming out of Milford High (UT), He originally held preferred walk-on offers from the university of utah, Utah State, and Washington State
For a player who began his collegiate career as a walk-on, Barnes has developed surprisingly well. He drops back, sets his feet quickly, and moves through his progressions looking for an open opportunity to throw. He has a pretty good deep ball and does a good job of hitting his receivers in stride to allow them to run after the catch. He is a respectable runner and can force opposing defenses to keep an eye on him to keep them honest. With the number of reps against top-flight competition he’s seen over the past two years, Barnes will be ready to compete for the backup spot in fall camp.
CJ TILLER
CJ Tiller is a transfer from boise state university who will enter the 2024 season as a redshirt freshman with four years of eligibility remaining. To preserve his redshirt season, he saw action in just one game as a bronco last season, completing 12 of 21 passes for 117 yards and an interception.
According to 247sports coming out of Rancho Cucamonga High School (CA), Tiller was rated as the 840th-best player nationally, the 40th-best quarterback, and the 73rd-best player in California. Tiller originally held offers from California, boise state, Northern Arizona, San Diego State, San Jose State, Utah State, and Washington State. Once he entered the transfer portal, he chose the Aggies over an offer from James Madison.
Tiller is a talented quarterback who caught the eye of P5 recruiters is senior year of high school. He has a strong arm and completes passes with accuracy. He excels at rolling out and completing passes while on the run. He throws a nice catchable ball even when he doesn’t step into throws. He has shown he can throw the deep ball with accuracy and keep his receivers moving forward. He is very mobile and able to escape the pocket and evade opposing defenders with ease. He should be able to pick up some yardage with his feet if needed. Tiller will be allowed to compete for the backup spot in fall camp but with four years of eligibility remaining he should have his eyes set on battling for the starting gig in spring ball of 2025.
PROJECTED 2024 PRESEASON DEPTH CHART
QUARTERBACK
7 Spencer Petras (6-5, 230, Gr-Sr., TR, 3*)
15 Jacob Conover (6-1, 205, Jr., TR, 3*)
16 Bryson Barnes (6-2, 205, Jr., TR, 3*)
10 CJ Tiller (6-1, 200, RsFr., TR. 3*)
Coming Up On Tuesday: Tight End
If I was on the Aggie football roster I’d enter the transfer portal and my best to talk every other team mate to do the same. Who wants to play for a school with a couple of women who, by all indications, fired a successful head coach with no justification other than what comes out of their mouths. Burn the whole program down and start new when Cantwell and Sabau are replaced by good people.
So much to download there Edwin. Sounds like you are sexist as you didn’t have to mention they are women except to demean them. I don’t think you know what “by all indications” means as there was an investigation that happened before they fired folks. I haven’t read the report of the investigation but I would assume that these ‘couple of women’ read the report and spoke to University HR and Attorneys before firing Blake and Co. This makes it much more than only ‘what comes out of their mouths.’ You must be upset anytime an AD fires any coach, it happens in college athletics all the time and it is the prerogative of the AD. I get that you think Blake is successful but there were many red flags in the program and success of the program over the last 2 years. Sounds like you are one of the Good Old Boys network that is satisfied with not moving forward and making the program better.