Even with David Woodward gone, Utah State linebacker corps filled with familiar faces from all over the defense

Utah State linebacker Kevin Meitzenheimer (33) celebrates with linebacker Eric Munoz (38) after he made a tackle against Wyoming in an NCAA football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Logan, Utah. | Eli Lucero, The Herald Journal via Associated Press

LOGAN — There will be some familiar faces at linebacker for the Utah State Aggies this upcoming season.

Arguably none more so than a pair of middle linebackers — Kevin Meitzenheimer and Eric Munoz. Meitzenheimer started all 13 games last season and finished third on the team with 89 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.

“We are still going to be a four (players) down/three down team, but the outside linebacker crew is really important to us.” — Utah State coach Gary Andersen

Those numbers, while strong, fail to do him justice, however. Meitzenheimer was the quarterback of the Aggies’ defense, the team’s vocal leader on that side of the ball and more.

“Kevin was the vocal leader,” Utah State head coach Gary Andersen said. “Kevin was the vocal guy out there, and he’s continued to be able to do that.”

Munoz, meanwhile, famously burst onto the scene against Wyoming. The former walk-on earned a starting spot next to Meitzenheimer after David Woodward was lost for the season with an injury.

Together, the duo, who are best friends, became the face of USU’s linebacker corps.

“We had Kevin and Eric jump into that spot and they battled like crazy,” said Andersen.

Both players will be squarely in the mix come spring camp, which shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. They might not be the face of the Aggies’ linebackers anymore, though, because Utah State is going to see a massive influx of talent at that position.

At middle linebacker that includes Keegan Duncan, a transfer from Boise State. A former running back, Duncan is expected to battle with Meitzenheimer and Munoz on the inside.

“I am very confident in that,” said Andersen. “He has been with us, and is in the program. Every day, he is hungry to get better. He’s strong, physical and tough-minded. … He is a tremendous athlete. He can run and is long-levered. He is going to be a sideline-to-sideline player, which we want our linebackers to be, but yet, he can still be tough and physical. … He is a very rare talent in my opinion.”

Nell Redmond, Associated Press

Wake Forest running back Cade Carney, top, carries the ball for a first down against Utah State safety Troy Lefeged Jr. in an NCAA college football game in Winston-Salem, N.C., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019.

As large a role as Duncan might play, the greater change is coming at outside linebacker. The Aggies are moving contributors from both safety and defensive end to outside linebacker this season. One of those making the move is former starting safety Troy Lefeged Jr. A junior college transfer from Fullerton College, Lefeged was a standout performer last season for the Aggies, both at safety and nickel back.

He started all 13 games in 2019 and led the team with 104 tackles. He also tied for second on the team with two sacks and tied for fourth with six tackles for loss. Then there were forced fumbles (three), fumble recoveries (two) and pass breakups (four). Lefeged recorded double-digit tackles in five games, including a career-high 14 tackles against Kent State in the Frisco Bowl, and had least seven tackles in each of the Aggies’ final seven games.

“Troy was a tremendous player for us last year,” said Andersen. “He is tough and physical, and is becoming a student of the game, which, is, quite frankly the next step for him in his development. Troy is fearless. He’s a tremendous tackler, and he uses his physicality. He wants to be there, he wants to smack you every chance that he gets. Troy is really growing in that area, and will continue to do so.”

Eli Lucero, Associated Press

Boise State quarterback Jaylon Henderson (9) scrambles out of the pocket as Boise State’s John Ojukwu blocks Utah State defensive end Nick Heninger (42) during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Logan, Utah.

Also making the move to outside linebacker are Nick Heninger (32 tackles and a team-high five sacks), Elijah Shelton (23 tackles) and AJ Vongphachanh (17 tackles).

Andersen noted that the Aggies will still run both a 4-3 defense — or a 4-2-5 variant — and a 3-4 defense, but emphasized that the outside linebacker group will be of utmost importance.

“We are still going to be a four (players) down/three down team, but the outside linebacker crew is really important to us,” he said.

And with all the position changes, it is a group Andersen has high hopes for.

“They have a nice mix of older and younger players in that position,” he said.

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