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Logan • Cache Valley 1, Los Angeles 0.
That's the score regarding the final season of football eligibility for Utah State offensive lineman Ben Wysocki, a graduate transfer from UCLA who exchanged the fast pace of L.A. for small-town Logan.
Wysocki spent four seasons at UCLA, including one as a redshirt in 2011. He earned his undergraduate degree in 3 1/2 years before deciding to move to Utah with his wife and 1-year-old daughter.
"I had a great career [at UCLA] and played a lot," Wysocki said. "But I didn't start. I was a rotating offensive lineman."
As part of his search for a new school, Wysocki sent a video to the Mountain West Conference. He caught the eye of Utah State coaches and, when the Aggies offered him a chance to play, he accepted.
"It was a perfect fit — with the recruiting trip and my family and everything," Wysocki said. "It's very family-oriented up here and that was always going to be a big part of where I was going."
Asked how his wife is adapting to the move, Wysocki smiled behind his Paul Bunyan-like beard and said, "She definitely likes the change of pace. … Los Angeles is a very, very big concrete jungle. It's not the [best] place for a 1-year-old."
On the field, the move to Utah State has paid off, too.
Wyoscki has played 141 snaps at left guard in the Aggies' first two games — a 12-9 win over Southern Utah and a 24-14 loss at Utah.
"The fact he is a mature, older guy that's played in Pac-12 games and been successful, that helps," said Utah State coach Matt Wells. "He jumped right in and our guys have wrapped their arms around him. He's learned what we're doing and he's been a great addition. … His versatility has helped a lot."
Utah State plays its second consecutive Pac-12 opponent on Saturday, when the Aggies visit Washington. Unlike his new teammates, Wysocki has experienced playing in Husky Stadium.
"You just have to come out fast on them because they fly around," he said. "If you come out fast against them and get them on their heels, that's how you beat them."
UCLA defeated Washington last season in Seattle, 44-20.
"They're a great team," Wysocki said. "They're going to come out hard and they're going to throw all kinds of stuff at us. But we'll be ready. … We're going to have to hit them in the mouth first. That's how you beat that team."
Utah State's offensive line play has been up-and-down in the opening two weeks of the season.
The Aggies managed only 250 total yards, went 1-for-15 on third downs and punted 14 times in the narrow win over Southern Utah. But at Utah, they finished with 373 yards, scored two touchdowns, reached the red zone four times and punted only five times.
"The biggest thing for us from an offensive standpoint was to come out aggressive and out-physical their D-line the whole night and we did that," Wysocki said. "We just have to finish better …. and we've got to fix a few things.
"It was a great opportunity, for me, to play against a Pac-12 team again. The goal was to play harder and faster than them and I think we achieved that. We just have to finish in the end zone on some of those key drives."
Twitter: @sluhm —
About Ben Wysocki
Hometown • Seal Beach, Calif.
High school • Los Alamitos (Calif.)
Position • Offensive line
Height • 6-4
Weight • 295
Career • A graduate transfer from UCLA. … Has one year of eligibility remaining. … Started 22 games in high school. … As a senior, his team finished 8-3 overall and 5-0 in conference. … Ranked as the No. 40 offensive guard prospect in the country by ESPN before signing with the Bruins. … Redshirted in 2011. … Played offensive guard, offensive tackle and on special teams at UCLA. … Has played 141 snaps in Utah State's first two games. —
Utah State at Washington
Saturday, 3 p.m.
TV • Pac-12 Network