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Logan • Utah State's late recruiting push paid off in big ways for the Aggies as they celebrated their 2015 signing class.

USU needed offensive linemen and talent for the secondary to make up for key losses in departing seniors such as Kevin Whimpey, Brian Suite and Frankie Sutera.

They took care of those needs and more with a class Utah State coach Matt Wells believes has a lot of potential.

Wells said he likes to recruit guys with chips on their shoulders.

"As a head coach, you want players who feel like they have something to prove," he said. "This is the place that celebrates their blue-collar mentality."

Among the highlights from Wednesday's signing frenzy were the additions of offensive linemen Viliamu Auwae, a 6-foot-5, 270-pounder out of Hawaii , and Ben Wysocki, a 6-foot-4, 285-pound transfer out of UCLA who can play right away.

While Auwae could be the future star of the offensive line, Wysocki should bring immediate help. Wysocki played sparingly for the Bruins, but will be expected to step in right away and contribute in his one remaining season of eligibility.

"I told him it's kind of like a Kentucky basketball player, but on the back end," Wells joked of Wysocki's limited time remaining.

Defensively, the critical need was in the secondary where the Aggies lose safety Brian Suite, corner Rashard Stewart and safety Frankie Sutera to graduation.

USU's answer to their losses came in the way of Cameron Haney, a corner out of Los Angeles, Calif., who turned down several offers from Pac-12 schools.

As a senior, Haney had 33 tackles along with 29 passes defended. He also rushed for 350 yards on 35 carries and five touchdowns and returned six kickoffs for 199 yards.

Wells said he didn't want to put pressure on incoming freshmen, but compared Haney to freshman corner Jalen Davis who started last season.

The Aggies signed three linebackers: Daniel Langi from Bingham H.S., Joe Riggins out of Florida and Mason Tobeck out of Washington. Riggins was a late addition whose learning curve could be very quick, Wells said.

"We don't know where he is going to be, but he can play all four positions," Wells said.

For the skill positions, the Aggies signed receiver Chad Artist, a speedster at Logan H.S., Gerold Bright, an athlete out of Escambia, Fl., and Cade Smith, a dual-threat quarterback out of West Salem, Ore.

Bright could be a sleeper in the group as he could help the Aggies in a number of ways. He is listed as a receiver, but in high school he showed skills at various positions, rushing for 1,520 yards on 164 carries with 21 touchdowns and completing 51 of 80 passes for 710 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions.

His career best was a 311-yard, four touchdown performance on 30 carries.

"He is in the same mold as JoJo," Wells said, comparing Bright to JoJo Natson who is used in a number of positions. "He'll play slot for us and right now with four senior receivers, it's a good time be a young receiver at Utah State."

Even though the Aggies are loaded at quarterback, they didn't ignore that position with USU signing Cade Smith, a dual threat quarterback out of Oregon.

Wells said Smith impressed the coaches during a summer camp, noting he threw well on the run.

"He has a lot of moxie and toughness," Wells said.

Sounds like a good description for the Aggies' whole class.