BYU Cougars quarterback Jaren Corridor (3) throws towards USU, with Aggies’ defensive finish Byron Vaughns (11) bearing down at LaVell Edwards Satdium in Provo on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret Information
Byron Vaughns is difficult to overlook.
Even on a area with 21 different gamers, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Utah State defensive finish stands out, each for his tendency to discover a means into the opposition’s backfield in addition to for his revelry after a play.
Ask any Aggies defender and so they’ll let you know, Vaughns is considered one of Utah State’s emotional leaders, and Thursday evening his antics drew the ire of the 50,000-plus followers, to say nothing for the lots on social media.
Vaughns was flagged for a late hit on BYU quarterback Jaren Corridor within the third quarter of the Aggies’ 38-26 loss to the Cougars in Provo. Utah State was assessed a 15-yard penalty and Corridor performed the remainder of the sport, but when the following boos have been any indication, BYU followers thought it was a grimy play by Vaughns.
Even choose Aggie followers took umbrage with how Vaughns responded to the cacophony of boos that echoed all through LaVell Edwards Stadium afterward, as he threw his arms up within the air repeatedly, egging Cougar followers on.
The factor is, Vaughns likes being the villain. It's a position he relishes in, as he did throughout the Battle for the Previous Wagon Wheel.
“I do get pleasure from being a villain,” Vaughns stated. “After I hit the quarterback (Corridor), I didn’t assume it was soiled. I’m by no means making an attempt to harm anyone and I hope no person tries to harm me.
“Soccer is sport, now we have lives to stay, however after I hit the quarterback I heard the followers and thought ‘OK, I like being booed.’”
A Texas native, Vaughns admittedly doesn’t have an actual stake within the rivalry between BYU and Utah State. Lots of his teammates do, although, so Vaughns was obliged to take part.
“I don’t actually perceive the rivalry, however I do know my teammates hate BYU and I'm going to journey with them so I hate BYU,” he stated.
Vaughns is inarguably considered one of Utah State’s greatest defenders. He completed with 5 tackles and two quarterback hurries Thursday in his return from a excessive ankle sprain that saved him out of Utah State’s loss to UNLV.
He is without doubt one of the causes Utah State is without doubt one of the greatest groups within the nation in recording tackles for loss (coming into Thursday, the Aggies have been tied for No. 7 in TFLs amongst FBS applications, averaging 8.8 per sport).
And he solely desires the Aggies to get higher on that entrance.
“We must be extra bodily,” Vaughns stated. “As an alternative of coming down and making an attempt to set the sting we have to run via a grown man’s face. In entrance of his spouse and youngsters which are on the sport and stand over him after we do it.
“That's how I really feel we should always do. A decent finish ought to by no means be capable of block a defensive finish. If a good finish strains up in entrance of me, I hope his spouse and youngsters are within the stands.”
Vaughns’ ardour is a boon for the Aggies, even when he does nothing to endear himself to opponents or their followers going ahead.
“There's a chippy-ness to me,” he stated.
The Aggies will let you know they're higher off for it.