Days after taking over the post as Blake Anderson's new defensive coordinator at Utah State, Nate Dreiling is set to make a key addition to the USU defensive staff.
Sources tell FootballScoop that Dreiling is adding Jalen Ortiz, a familiar face in the Mountain West Conference who worked the 2022-23 seasons on Ken Wilson's Nevada Wolf Pack staff.
Interestingly, Ortiz had just been formally introduced to the New Mexico State staff of Tony Sanchez. He had welcomed Ortiz as the program's new cornerbacks coach just nine days ago.
In addition to his work at Nevada and cup of coffee at NMSU, Ortiz worked under Mario Cristobal at Oregon and also had logged time on staff at Wyoming Craig Bohl.
Ortiz started his playing career at UCLA, finished at Wyoming and them jump-started his career at his alma mater.
Utah State's Anderson has dramatically overhauled his Aggies staff heading into the 2024 season, his fourth atop the program.
After an incredible 11-win debut campaign at Utah State in 2021, Anderson has posted back-to-back losing seasons with the Aggies -- though he has helped the program earn bowl bids in all three seasons.
Utah State is scheduled to open its 2024 campaign at home Aug. 31 against FCS program Robert Morris; the Aggies then face massive back-to-back non-conference money games at USC and Utah.