Frisco Bowl to provide an unlooked for homecoming for a select few Utah State Aggies

Utah State Aggies cornerback Cam Lampkin (18) intercepts a ball intended for BYU Cougars wide receiver Aleva Hifo (15) in the end zone during the second half of a football game at Maverik Stadium in Logan on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. BYU won 42-14. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News

Tipa Galeai, Ajani Carter, Cam Lampkin and Mohelika Uasike are the only Aggies who call Texas home, out of 109 athletes

LOGAN — What do senior defensive end Tipa Galeai, junior offensive lineman Mohelika Uasike, freshman wide receiver Ajani Carter and freshman cornerback Cam Lampkin have in common?

For one, they play football for Utah State University and as such will be headed to Frisco, Texas, on Dec. 16, along with the rest of the Aggies ahead of the 2019 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl.

Unlike their fellow Aggies, though, the trip to Frisco will be a special one for Galeai, Uasike, Carter and Lampkin.

After all, as the only Texans on the Utah State roster — four out of 109 total athletes — the trip to Frisco will be an unlooked for, but much appreciated homecoming.

“It will be really cool for those kids,” Utah State head coach Gary Andersen said. “They get to go back home and play in Texas. It will be a great opportunity for them to have family there. It is exciting for our team”

For Galeai, a native of Euless, Texas, it will also be his final college football game, along with 12 other seniors and junior quarterback Jordan Love — who announced his intention to enter the 2020 NFL draft on Tuesday.

After transferring to Utah State from TCU and sitting out an NCAA-mandated season, Galeai has been a stalwart defender for the Aggies and has recorded 48 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, a fumble recovery and seven quarterback hurries this year.

Lampkin has been the other major contributor for Utah State from Texas this season. The freshman defensive back has racked up 10 tackles, an interception and two pass breakups this year. Carter, meanwhile, has appeared in all 11 games, mostly on special teams, while Uasike has seen limited reps after transitioning from the defensive to offensive line.

Galeai, Lampkin (Mesquite, Texas) and Uasika (Euless) are all from the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area, while Carter is from Houston.

“For those kids to go back home and have family and friends around them, that will be a special experience for them,” said Andersen.

Bowl game prep: In case you were curious as to the Aggies’ game plan for bowl preparation, Andersen provided a detailed layout, beginning on Monday, Dec. 9, and finishing on Friday, Dec. 20.

“We started Monday. Our young players practiced, while the older guys came out and ran and moved around, and started watching tape on their own or with their position coaches that were here.

“A lot of the coaches were already out on the road recruiting, so we will get them back in here. … The introduction on Kent State was on Tuesday. It was like a Monday practice for us during the season. We are off on Wednesday due to finals and other things that are out there, but it is be a major prep day for our coaches as we get them back off the road.

“Thursday will be like a Tuesday practice during the season. We’ll work ourselves through the week and practice Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Sunday will be a brief practice, which would be like a Friday on a game week.

“We’ll travel on Monday and then have a couple of more days of practice at the bowl site.”

2019 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl

Utah State (7-5) vs. Kent State (6-6)

Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

Friday, Dec. 20, 5:30 p.m. MST

TV: ESPN 2

Radio: KZNS AM 1280

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