Boise State transfer looks for a ‘few good returns’ against former Utah State teammates

This weekend is Boise State’s homecoming, meaning Saturday evening’s sold-out game against Utah State at Albertsons Stadium will be packed with families, old friends and nearly forgotten memories.

There probably will be conversations about the uniform combination — orange jersey, blue pants, orange helmet — that the Broncos will wear for the first time since Kellen Moore’s senior day in 2011.

For redshirt senior Cooper Jones, there will be other kinds of conversations and a different sort of homecoming atmosphere.

Jones, who’s listed as a wide receiver and has operated as a punt returner this season, played at Utah State for four years before transferring to Boise State.

“I’m definitely looking forward to this week,” Jones said Wednesday. “I’ve got some of my best friends that I’ve played with for four years there. So we’ve been texting this week, and it should be a fun week.”

Utah State inside linebacker Cole Joyce is one of those guys Jones has been chatting with. The pair used to be roommates in Logan, and with Joyce also playing on special teams, Jones said there’s sure to be “some trash talk.”

Jones has returned five punts for the Broncos this season. He didn’t play in the opener against Georgia Southern but has appeared in every game since. He had a season-high 22-yard return against Oregon.

Jones is still waiting to pop that “big one” on a punt, though — the kind that can turn the tide of a game. He’d love for that to come this weekend, and it could happen — not just because the Aggies rank 90th in the nation on punt return defense, but because he might know what to expect.

“I’m hoping that I can get a few good returns in,” Jones said. “Me and their punter, Stephen Kotsanlee, we would work out in the summer. I probably caught over 500 punts from him.”

Jones won’t be the only one facing off against former teammates. After spending last year at Boise State and making two appearances, redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Tiller transferred to Utah State.

“I know for (Jones), he’s just excited to go help our team win on Saturday,” Boise State coach Spencer Danielson said Thursday. “Even for us, CJ Tiller is over there. I haven’t talked to him yet, but I wish nothing but the best for him.

“That’s where college football is, with transfers and people leaving, even in conference. There’s always going to be some of that crossover, and it’s just the nature of the game.”

Spending his final year at Boise State means something extra for Jones. The Elko, Nevada, native said Wednesday that he always wanted to play for the Broncos. His uncle, Tim Gilligan, was a wide receiver and punt returner at Boise State from 2000 to 2003.

Jones said his dad also was a punt returner, and their attitudes influenced him.

“Our rule has always been no fair catches,” Jones said.

“If I can even get a yard, I’m not calling a fair catch. That just goes back to laying my body out on the line. I’ve kind of accepted the fact that I might get smacked a few times, but whatever I can do to help the team.”