San Diego State quarterback Jordon Brookshire (4) runs away from Utah State defensive end Nick Heninger (42) in the first half during an NCAA college football game for the Mountain West Conference Championship, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/John McCoy)
LOGAN, Utah – Four of Utah State’s former football players received invitations to NFL Rookie Mini Camps following the conclusion of the 2022 NFL Draft this past weekend. Jaylin Bannerman will attend the New York Giants camp, Brandon Bowling will attend the Chicago Bears camp, Nick Heninger will attend the Tampa Bay Buccaneers camp and Carson Terrell will attend the Green Bay Packers camp.
Utah State also had three former players ink NFL free agent contracts Saturday night as Savon Scarver signed with the Chicago Bears, Deven Thompkins signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Derek Wright signed with the Carolina Panthers.
Bannerman, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound defensive end from Pickerington, Ohio (Pickerington HS/Arizona Western JC), played in 22 games with two starts during his two years at Utah State as he recorded 29 tackles, which included 2.0 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss, to go along with two pass breakups. As a senior in 2021, Bannerman had 22 tackles, which included 2.0 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss, to go along with one pass breakup.
Bowling, a 5-9, 185-pound wide receiver from McKinney, Texas (Boyd HS/Arkansas State), played in all 14 games and made six starts in his only season at Utah State as he finished the year with 56 receptions for 835 yards (14.9 ypr/59.6 ypg) and 10 touchdowns to rank second on the team in each category. In fact, his 10 touchdown receptions are tied for the seventh-most in a single season in school history. He also had three 100-yard receiving games during the season, including a career-high 154 yards on eight catches at No. 19 San Diego State in the Mountain West Championship Game. Bowling also tied his career high with two touchdown catches against the Aztecs, including one for 58 yards, which is his career-long reception.
Bowling spent his first four collegiate seasons at Arkansas State and earned honorable mention all-Sun Belt Conference honors in 2020. Overall, he played in 46 games during his career with 15 starts and caught 138 passes for 1,713 yards (12.3 ypr) and 19 touchdowns.
Heninger, a 6-2, 235-pound defensive end from South Jordan, Utah (Bingham HS/Utah), earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors after starting all 14 games in 2021 and finishing fourth on the team with 75 tackles (31-solo, 44-assist). He also led the team in sacks (9.0), tackles for loss (21.5) and forced fumbles (5), and was second on the team with five pass breakups, to go along with one fumble recovery. He finished the year third in the MW and seventh in the nation in tackles for loss per game (1.54), fourth in the MW and ninth in the nation in fumbles forced per game (0.36), and fifth in the MW and 45th in the nation in sacks per game (0.64).
Heninger was named the Defensive MVP of the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl as he had a career-high 3.0 sacks and a career-best 5.0 tackles for loss as part of his seven total tackles in Utah State’s 24-13 win against Oregon State, as those 5.0 tackles for loss are tied for the second-most in a single game in MW history.
For his career, Heninger played in 57 games with 19 starts and had 162 tackles, which included 18.0 sacks and 40.0 tackles for loss, to go along with nine pass breakups, nine forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. Heninger, who also earned honorable mention all-MW honors in 2020, was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American as a senior.
Terrell, a 6-5, 240-pound tight end from Lehi, Utah (Lehi HS) played in 12 games, making eight starts as a senior in 2021 and finished the season with 11 receptions for 113 yards (10.3 ypr) and two touchdowns. For his career, Terrell played in 53 career games with 24 starts and caught 48 passes for 516 yards (10.8 ypr) and four touchdowns.
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