RUNNING BACK
Returning players: Robert Briggs, Rahsul Faison, Corbin Cottle
2023 players not returning: Jaydon Bailey (transferred to Texas State), Sione Finau (graduation), Reggie Foster (transferred to Saint Thomas University), Cooper Jones (transferred to boise state),
2024 post-spring ball attrition: Davon Booth (transferred to Mississippi State), Sam Gamino (left team)
2023 total production lost: 16 games, 7 starts, 134 carries, 850 yards, 7 touchdowns
2023 total production returning: 24 games, 6 starts, 198 carries, 1,156 yards, 7 touchdowns
2023 total production transferring in (transfer portal/junior college): 11 games, 11 starts, 136 carries, 1,295 yards, 12 touchdowns
New Faces in 2024:
Jonathan Baird 6’0″ 215 (NR) – byu – (Preferred Walk-on; 3 years to play 3)
2023 (RsFr.) Stats: Did not see any action at byu
2020 (Fr.) Stats: Redshirted at byu
Offers from: byu (PWO)
Primary recruiter: UNKNOWN
https://www.hudl.com/profile/853204/Jonathan-Baird
Nick Floyd 5’11” 200 (NR) – Mount San Antonio CC, CA – (3 years to play 2)
2023 (So.) Stats: 136 carries 1,295 yards 12 TDs; 14 receptions 85 yards
2022 (Fr.) Stats: 58 carries 310 yards 3 TDs; 4 receptions 23 yards 1 TD
2020 (Fr.) Stats: 19 carries 112 yards at Dixie State University
Offers from: Alabama A&M, Lamar, Northern Arizona, Robert Morris, Stephen F. Austin
Primary Recruiter: Nick Paremski, Jimmy Beal
https://247sports.com/Player/nick-floyd-46147538/
https://www.hudl.com/profile/8169860/Nick-floyd
Derrick Jameson 6’0″ 217 (NR) – Iowa Central CC, IA – (3 years to play 3)
2023 Stats: Did not see any action
2022 Stats: Redshirted at Iowa Central Community College
2021 (HS Sr.) Stats: 1,592 yards 24 TDs
2020 (Jr.) Stats: 38 carries 352 yards 4 TDs
Offers from: None
Primary recruiter: Jimmy Beal
https://www.hudl.com/profile/11847593/Derrick-Jameson-JR
Tre Kofe 5’11” 195 (247 2*) – Corner Canyon HS, UT – (Preferred Walk-on)
2021 (Sr.) Stats: 75 carries 639 yards 7 TDs; 10 receptions 142 yards 3 TDs
2020 (Jr.) Stats: 85 carries 682 yards 8 TDs; 4 receptions 42 yards 1 TD
2019 (So.) Stats: 189 carries 1,537 yards 16 TDs; 8 receptions 99 yards 2 TDs
2018 (Fr.) Stats: 27 carries 70 yards
Offers from: Idaho, Idaho St, La Verne
Primary recruiter: DJ Tialavea
https://247sports.com/player/tre-kofe-46099440/
https://www.hudl.com/profile/11360188/Tre-Kofe
Herschel Turner 5’9″ 173 (247 3*) – Mount Diablo HS, CA
2023 (Sr.) Stats: 177 carries 3,027 yards 42 TDs; 2 receptions 49 yards
2022 (Jr.) Stats: 133 carries 911 yards 14 TDs; 26 receptions 280 yards 2 TDs
2021 (So.) Stats: 80 carries 450 yards 5 TDs; 75 receptions 775 yards 7 TDs
Offers from: Air Force, Army, Missouri, North Texas, Portland St, UNLV, utah, Washington St, Wayne St, Yale
Primary Recruiter: Blake Anderson, Jimmy Beal
https://247sports.com/player/herschel-turner-46133625/
https://www.hudl.com/profile/14725016/Herschel-Turner-Jr
2024 OUTLOOK
RAHSUL FAISON
Senior Rahsul Faison is poised to have a big final season in an Aggie jersey. In his first season as an Aggie last season, he played in 13 games with 3 starts and toted the rock 118 times for 736 yards and 5 touchdowns. During his 4-year career at Utah State, Snow Junior College, Marshall University, and Lackawanna Community College he has played in 22 games with 3 starts and carried the ball 206 times for 1,091 yards and 11 touchdowns.
According to 247sports coming out of Snow Junior College (UT), Faison was rated as the 11th-best junior college running back nationally, and the 5th-best junior college prospect in Utah. He chose the Aggies over offers from Albany, Arkansas State, Bryant, Jackson State, Southern Utah, and Stony Brook.
At 5-foot-11 205 pounds, Faison is the big back that Aggies fans often clamor for. He has deceptive lateral quickness for a back his size and he can use that to bounce runs outside where he can bowl over or bounce off smaller defensive backs. He can reach full speed in just a couple of steps which allows him to accelerate through openings. His excellent field vision helps him find extra yardage that other backs might not.
ROBERT BRIGGS
Junior Robert Briggs is coming off a strong spring performance and is looking forward to seeing his workload increase. Last season he played in 11 games with 3 starts and carried the ball 80 times for 420 yards and 2 touchdowns. During his 2-year career at Utah State, he has played in 21 games with 3 starts and carried the ball 154 times for 773 yards and 3 touchdowns.
According to 247sports coming out of Bellville High (TX), Briggs was rated as the 1,825th-best player nationally, the 79th-best athlete, and the 144th-best prospect overall in Texas. He chose the Aggies over an offer from Houston Christian.
Briggs is a powerful compact runner who switches to another gear once he gets downfield and can run vertically. He is a patient runner who waits for plays to develop and shakes off tackles around the line of scrimmage. His forte is getting outside of the tackles and shaking free with slippery open-field moves. He is also able to add value in the passing game, thanks to his ability to line up as a receiver, and that can add a new wrinkle to the offense making him more difficult to defend.
NICK FLOYD
Nick Floyd is a junior college transfer who will enter the 2024 season as a junior with three years to complete his final two seasons of eligibility. Last season he started in all 11 games and carried the ball 136 times for 1,295 yards and 12 touchdowns. For his effort last season, he was named a California Community College first-team all-American. During his 3-year career at Mount San Antonio Community College and Dixie State, he has played in 26 games with 11 starts totaling 213 carries, 1,717 yards, and 15 touchdowns.
Coming out of Mount San Antonio Community College (CA), Floyd chose the Aggies over offers from Alabama A&M, Lamar, Northern Arizona, Robert Morris, and Stephen F. Austin.
Floyd has a skill set that makes him a ready-made college running back. Despite his smaller stature, he has a great build. His strong lower body allows him to bounce off would-be tacklers and maintain his balance. He has a heightened sense for the game, as he has developed the ability to change speeds deceptively, to set up opposing defenders as he approaches, and cause them to miss as he blows by them. He also has good hands and can come out of the backfield as a receiving threat, which adds another facet to his game.
HERSCHEL TURNER
True freshman Herschel Turner will join the Aggies in time for summer ball and get to work fighting to move up the depth chart. During his senior season of high school ball last year, he had a season for the ages, starting all 11 games and turning his 177 carries into 3,027 yards and an incredible 42 touchdowns. For his effort last season, he earned first-team all-state and offensive MVP honors. During his 3-year high school career, he saw action in 30 games with 20 starts and carried the ball 390 times for 4,388 yards, and 61 touchdowns. His cousin Robert Freeman is an Aggie wide receiver.
According to 247sports coming out of Mount Diablo High (CA), Turner was rated as the 102nd-best running back nationally, and the 115th-best prospect overall in California. He chose the Aggies over offers from Air Force, Army, Missouri, North Texas, Portland State, UNLV, utah, Washington State, Wayne State, and Yale.
The first thing that stood out to me about Turner is he has a low center of gravity, and lower body strength and those two traits alone allow him to constantly be fighting for extra yards to extend the play. He is a tough back who is very comfortable running between the tackles. Once he sees a hole his quick initial burst of speed and good field vision helps him get past the line of scrimmage in a hurry. Once he reaches his top speed at the second level, he has a mixed bag of sudden cuts and changes of direction which make him a threat to take it to the house every carry.
DERRICK JAMESON
Derrick Jameson is a junior college transfer who will enter the 2024 season as a sophomore with three years of eligibility remaining. Jameson did not see any action while attending Iowa Central Community College (IA). During his 2-year career at Maple Grove High (MN), he rushed for 1,944 yards and 28 touchdowns.
The Aggies were Derrick’s first and only scholarship offer and he chose the Aggies just three weeks after being officially offered.
Jameson is a powerful runner who is a threat to break free for an explosive play every time he touches the ball. He does a good job waiting for the running lanes to open up and then bursts quickly through them once he makes his cut. He possesses good speed in the open field and knows how to follow blockers or angle himself away from defenders.
CORBIN COTTLE
Redshirt freshman preferred walk-on Corbin Cottle adds depth to the position. Cottle was a very accomplished high school running back. As a senior at Bountiful High School (UT) in 2022, he had his senior season cut short by an injury after just 6 games as he was only able to record 57 carries for 327 yards and 2 touchdowns. During his 3-year high school career for the Braves, he saw action in 28 games with 16 starts and carried the ball 271 times for 2,070 yards, and 27 touchdowns.
Cottle is good at quickly hitting a hole and accelerating to top speed in a matter of steps. He displays good field vision and can bounce to the outside with a one-step cut. His break-away speed is probably his best attribute. This past spring he also showed he can run between the tackles and displayed some power to his running style. Cottle has been a nice in-state addition for the Aggies.
JONATHAN BAIRD
Preferred walk-on Jonathan Baird is a transfer from byu who will enter the 2024 season as a sophomore with three years of eligibility remaining. As a senior at Mead High (WA) in 2019, he pulled in 34 receptions for 535 yards and 5 touchdowns. During his 2-year high school career for the Panthers, he caught 61 passes for 842 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Baird is a strong capable runner. He can often make one cut, hit the hole, and get upfield. He is a versatile player and because of his solid burst of speed, he can add value to the running attack if the opportunity arises. His excellent field vision helps him to determine which move to make next quickly. He is also a very capable pass catcher and could be a threat out of the backfield in that capacity as well.
TRE KOFE
Adding depth to the position is true freshman preferred walk-on Tre Kofe. As a senior at Corner Canyon High (UT) in 2021, Kofe started in all 14 games and carried the ball 75 times for 639 yards and 7 touchdowns. During his 4-year high school career for the Chargers and Hillcrest High (ID), he played in 42 games with 30 starts and totaled 376 carries for 2,928 yards and 31 touchdowns.
According to 247sports coming out of Corner Canyon High (UT), Kofe was rated as the 200th-best running back nationally, and the 68th-best prospect overall in Utah. He chose the Aggies over offers from Idaho, Idaho State, and La Verne.
Kofe is a great pick-up as an in-state walk-on. He sees the opening at the line of scrimmage very well. Once the hole opens up, he can make one cut and get into the second level of the defense quickly. He has respectable speed and is rarely caught from behind once he is in the open field. He will likely spend the 2024 season redshirting.
PROJECTED 2024 PRESEASON DEPTH CHART
RUNNING BACK
3 Rahsul Faison (5-11, 205, Sr., 1L, NR)
2 Robert Briggs (5-6, 180, Jr., 2L, 3*)
24 Nick Floyd (5-10, 190, Jr., JC, 3*)
21 Herschel Turner (5-9, 180, Fr., HS, 3*)
22 Derrick Jameson (6-0, 215, So., JC, NR)
29 Corbin Cottle (5-9, 195, RsFr., RS, NR)
30 Jonathan Baird (6-0, 215, So., TR, NR)
00 Tre Kofe (5-11, 195, Fr., HS, 2*)
Coming Up On Wednesday: Linebacker