Washington’s Sean McGrew is tripped by Arkansas State’s Anthony Switzer, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Seattle. Elaine Thompson, Related Press
In Anthony Switzer, Utah State had its alternative for Justin Rice, and that's saying one thing.
Rice was a standout for the Aggies final season, as he was at each cease throughout his school profession. He was the kind of participant that solely comes round sometimes, a coach on the sector who successfully directs your complete protection and who typically then goes rogue solely to make the precise play again and again.
And the Aggies had discovered his alternative in Switzer, an Arkansas State switch.
Switzer might not be Rice, however Utah State couldn’t have requested for a greater participant. Of all of the standouts throughout spring camp, Switzer was the spotlight.
“Switz was taking part in lights out,” Utah State defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda mentioned. “He's large time.”
After which, similar to that, Switzer was unavailable.
The striker tore his ACL throughout the Blue vs. White recreation to shut out spring ball, an harm that, based on the Mayo Clinic, typically takes athletes “eight to 12 months or extra earlier than (they) can return to their sports activities.”
“That was the most important damper of the primary six months (of the yr),” Banda mentioned. “Shedding him was robust.”
There was a normal expectation that Switzer would miss your complete 2022 season after which return with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Which may not be the case anymore.
In response to Utah State coach Blake Anderson, Switzer is forward of schedule in his restoration, placing an in-season return inside the realm of risk.
“He did tear his ACL in that (spring) recreation and had surgical procedure instantly following spring ball,” Anderson mentioned. “He's properly on monitor and forward of schedule bodily. I'd like to get him again on the finish of the season for 4 video games, however that's being slightly optimistic.”
As of now the Aggies may use him.
The striker place — a hybrid security/linebacker — remains to be up for grabs, although there's potential there with gamers like Kaleo Neves, Wes Wright and diamond-in-the-rough Omari Okeke.
Anderson famous that the very best factor for Switzer — and the Aggies in the long term — may be for him to overlook your complete season.
“If we do lose him for your complete season,” Anderson mentioned, “clearly he'll profit from it in the long term.”