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Logan • College football coaches use preseason camp, in part, to become familiar with their new players.

At Utah State this year, it works both ways.

Coach Matt Wells hired six new assistants in the offseason, following a 23-21 loss to Akron in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl that dropped the Aggies' record to 6-7.

The new staff members include assistant head coach Mike Canales, co-defensive coordinator Frank Maile, offensive line coach Steve Farmer, cornerback coach Julius Brown, linebacker David Kotulski and special teams coach Stacy Collins.

So far, so good.

"They've done a great job of bringing in guys who are players' coaches," said senior center Austin Stephens. "They are the kind of coaches that feed off the players. …

"It seems like they've bought into what we had going. They haven't tried to change everything. They throw in their nicks and twists but, for the most part, they bought into what was already going on here."

Defensive end Ricky Ali'ifua agrees.

Referring to co-defensive coordinators Kendrick Shaver and Maile, he said, "The players love them. I know they do because I've asked them how they feel about the coaching change. Couldn't be happier. Not that there was anything wrong with the coaches last year. But there's always turnovers — with players and coaches — and you have to roll with it."

Social media rule change 'silly'

The NCAA has implemented new rules allowing football coaches to retweet, like and share the social media activity of recruits.

According to Wells, "there is a lot of silliness involved in it," but he plans to use new policy to promote his program, stay in touch with potential players and keep Aggie fans informed.

"… If a kid is going to judge his likes or retweets to his self worth, first of all he has character issues and second of all those things are not going to end up in a scholarship offer," Wells said. "That value should be minimized, but it helps in giving a shout-out to a kid. It's an electronic form of writing a hand-written letter."

Myers beefs up for starting role

Kent Myers, a junior from Rowlett, Texas, started training camp as the Aggies' No. 1 quarterback.

When he arrived at Utah State in 2014, Myers weighed 180 pounds. As a freshman, he played 185 but, today, he's up to 205.

"I've really been working on my body," he said.

Myers believes the added weight will help him deal with the wear-and-tear of the Aggies' schedule, which includes a game at Southern Cal on Sept. 10.

"I can't go into USC at 185," he said. "That's not good for me to be running the ball and in the pocket. … I'm much more confident at 205."

An accomplished runner, Myers has focused in the offseason on his passing game.

"I've been working on the deep ball. I've been working with a lot of guys on the placement of the ball and what the receivers are supposed to be doing," he said. "… I've been really dialing in on the little things."

Holt update

On May 14, Utah State freshman defensive lineman Brady Holt was critically injured in an auto accident on I-15 near Willard.

He remains hospitalized.

"He is still fighting his tail off," Wells said. "He has small, small victories every day. It is like watching grass grow everyday. Sometimes it is hard to see, but he is a young man who is fighting for his life. … He is alive and fighting and getting a little bit better all the time and he's in our hearts and in our prayers."

Briefly

Utah State works in full pads for the first time on Wednesday. Two-a-day practices begin Friday. … In all, 105 players reported for the start of training camp, including 12 starters and 38 letter-winners. … So far, Wells has been pleased by the work of sophomore punter Aaron Dalton. "He will have a good season," Wells said. Dalton is a sophomore from Viewmont High School in Bountiful. He averaged 41.3 yards on 72 punts last year. … Utah State's fleet of running backs, led by senior Devante Mays, has also gotten off to a fast start. According to Wells, the group has "performed at a high level."

Twitter: @sluhm