‘A different type of focus for him’: Utah’s Braden Pegan has a sensational day against his former team

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Utah receiver Braden Pegan downplayed facing his former team in Saturday’s postgame press conference following the Utes’ 33-0 win over the Utah State Aggies.

“I love those guys over there, but we don’t prepare for any team differently,” Pegan said. “It’s nameless, faceless opponents every week, so (when) we have a game we’re going to come out and try and and win no matter who it is. Ball was falling our way today and it was exciting to see.”

Though a Power Four player going up against the former Group of Six team that helped launch his career is the furthest thing from any sort of “revenge game,” Pegan definitely wanted to have a good showing against his former team.

“You want to see him have success against anyone, but you could see a different type of focus for him in this one. He really wanted to perform well,” Utes coach Morgan Scalley said.

Added quarterback Devon Dampier: “I knew this was a big game for BP, going against some guys that he used to be with.”

Pegan’s time in Logan marked a turning point in his college career. Recruited by Utah out of high school, the California native chose to stay home and play for UCLA instead, but had a tough time seeing the field.

He registered just one catch in three seasons in Westwood and knew he needed a change of scenery and a place where he could regularly play.

He found that in Bronco Mendenhall’s program at Utah State.

“I came from LA, so it was a huge culture change. I had to adapt a lot of things just outside football, but I think it helped me grow so much just being in a different environment,” Pegan said of his time in Logan earlier this year.

Offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven was the first OC to truly believe in Pegan, which helped Pegan grow tremendously. Pegan became Utah State’s go-to receiver in a breakout season last year, putting up 926 yards and five touchdowns on 60 receptions from former Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes.

“It was so fun. He is a baller. He was a great leader, great guy to play under. It was my first year being actually out on the field and doing stuff. He helped me out a lot and helped us make some good plays and win some games, put up some points,” Pegan said of Barnes earlier this year.

When McGiven became Scalley’s offensive coordinator with the Utes, Pegan knew he wanted to keep playing in his offense and transferred to Utah.

With Pegan’s combination of speed, 6-foot-3 size, sure hands, ability to line up anywhere on the field and knowledge of McGiven’s offense, he was the favorite to be Utah’s WR1 this season.

So far, he’s lived up to that title, especially in Saturday’s win.

From the opening snap, it was clear that Pegan was going to have a special game.

He was the only receiver to catch the football during Utah’s nine-play, 75-yard drive to start the game, which ended with a 28-yard touchdown pass to him from Dampier. The former Aggie was already up to 45 yards and a score on the first drive alone.

The Dampier-to-Pegan connection didn’t slow down from there, with Pegan receiving a game-high 11 targets (the next closest receiver, Ricky Johnson, had five). Pegan finished the game with eight receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns — the second-most-productive game of his career.

“He’s a hard worker during practice. I mean, the same plays we ran out there are the same plays we called during practice and we were efficient all week,” Dampier said.

“So if you’re going to play him one-on-one, that’s kind of what’s going to happen. The ball’s going to find him and plays are going to be made.”

The highlight of the afternoon for Pegan and the Utes came in the close to the first half. After a three-and-out, Utah was forced to punt, but the ball touched an Aggie and ended up in the hands of Nate Tilmon to give the Utes another chance in USU territory.

On third and 8, Dampier loaded up for a shot to the end zone and threw it to Pegan, who was flanked by two defenders. Pegan was able to get his body between the defenders, leap and make the 37-yard touchdown grab — his most impressive catch of the season.

“I mean, if you go shake his hand, he’s got really big hands. Receivers, you want to have really big hands. I wish I had those hands. I was a body catcher. I was black and blue, but he can go get it with the best of them,” Scalley said.

“I mean, unbelievable at tracking the ball, at body position, using that to his advantage. Really good run after catch today as well. So happy for that young man.”

Through three games, Pegan leads the Utes with 235 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 15 receptions and has lived up to expectations.

“He’s everything and more,” Scalley said earlier this week. “I love that kid, love how he’s progressed.”

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