Logan • It has hung in his locker every week for the past four years. The color schemes may have been different, but the number, the name on the back and the mascot on the front have been consistent.
And on Friday evening, he’ll put it on one last time.
Utah State junior quarterback Jordan Love will play his final game in an Aggies uniform when the team plays Kent State in the Frisco Bowl. Love recently decided to forego his final year of eligibility and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 2019 season has been a statistically down period for Love, who has thrown 16 interceptions to his 17 touchdowns and 3,085 passing yards. But for his last hurrah in a Utah State uniform, he wants to close out his career “with a bang.”
“Knowing that it’s my last game here as an Aggie, wearing that uniform, it’s really important for me to just go out there and ball out, and have fun with my brothers this last time,” Love said Friday during a news conference.
Love’s announcement came amid rumors that if he chose not to declare for the draft, he would leave Utah State and join another program as a graduate transfer. He dispelled those rumors and said he hadn’t communicated with any of the schools that were reportedly on his radar.
“I haven’t talked to any of those schools they had on there like Oklahoma, Houston and Texas Tech,” Love said. “So no, I don’t know where they got it from. But people are going to say what they want to say.”
Now that Love is officially headed to the draft, he’s not the only one thinking about going out the right way against Kent State. Aggies coach Gary Andersen said that Love should be considered a senior now that he’s leaving the program.
Because of that, everyone on the field — from the scout team to the starters — has to make sure their mentality is getting a win for those who are playing their last game as an Aggie, including Love, Andersen said.
“This is his last game,” Andersen said. “Because of that, it’s a major responsibility for every young man [for whom] it’s not their last game at Utah State to put their best foot forward.”
Several of Love’s teammates said they felt happy he declared for the draft and excited to see where his career goes. Wide receiver Caleb Repp said he was impressed by Love this season because despite having a new coaching staff, offensive line and set of receivers, he still played at a high level.
“I think this year kind of just didn’t prove how great he is,” Repp said. “I think he’s a great quarterback. He just slings that thing.”
Senior running back Gerold Bright said Love will be a great NFL quarterback one day. In terms of the bowl game, Bright feels it’s important that those who are playing their final contest go for the win.
“It’s all about the people who are stepping on that field for the last time wearing an Aggie jersey,” Bright said. “We have to send them out the right way.”
Redshirt junior linebacker Eric Munoz, a former walk-on who was recently given a scholarship, said the team would have liked to have Love back next season. But as far as wanting to send their star quarterback out on a high note, the feeling is mutual, Munoz said.
“Jordan wants to send us out with a win, too,” Munoz said.
Love will be considered one of the best quarterbacks to wear a Utah State jersey. But when asked how he wants to be remembered, Love, in his usual less-is-more demeanor, gave a matter-of-fact answer.
“I just want to be remembered for who I am,” Love said. “For being a quarterback who played here and did good things, won games, and whatever comes with it.”
