LOGAN, Utah-Thursday, Utah State football conducted its first practice of the fall season featuring 105 players in helmets, practice jerseys and shorts for a two-hour workout at USU’s practice fields.

This group consists of 18 returning starters, including 9 apiece on offense and defense and 48 returning lettermen, including 24 seniors.

Head coach Matt Wells, entering his sixth season, was pleased with what he saw, suggesting the Aggies are deeper than they were before, as well as “bigger, stronger and faster.”

The Aggies also return seven assistants from last season, including second-year offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach David Yost.

Under Yost’s leadership, the Aggies’ offense set single-season records in 2017 by scoring at least 50 points in three games and netting more than 500 yards of offense in four games.

Thursday’s practice was the first of 24 for the Aggies before the season opens August 31 at Michigan State.

The Aggies will have their first practice in pads August 7 and fans are invited out to Maverik Stadium to see the squad’s last scrimmage August 18 at 2:00 p.m.