LOGAN, Utah - When Leki Uasike started at linebacker for Utah State in the season opener against Weber State, the senior was getting his first live reps for the first time in four years.

The long layoff didn't seem to bother Uasike, though. That's because the 5-foot-9, 230-pound native of Hurst, Texas, recorded a team-best nine tackles in helping the Aggies roll to a 45-6 victory over the Wildcats.

"It was weird," admitted Uasike. "A big thanks goes out to the defensive line being able to hold up the offensive line, which allowed me to make some plays. That's pretty much it. The defensive line did their job and allowed me to find the lanes and make tackles."

Uasike followed that performance up by recording seven tackles at USC. Not too shabby for a guy who wasn't even on scholarship at the beginning of fall camp.

"Hard work pays off and he's a great example of that because he didn't complain," said Utah State co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Kendrick Shaver. "He was a walk-on, but he never came into the office and complained. He attended every workout, he was here in the summer and just did everything that was asked of him. His hard work finally paid off and now he's producing on the field. He's a young man that has a great knack and IQ for football."

After earning first-team all-Southwest Junior College Football Conference honors as a sophomore at Cisco College in Abilene, Texas, Uasike served an LDS Church mission in Guatemala from 2012-14.

Upon returning home, Uasike decided to bring his football skills to Utah State, where he walked on. He redshirted during his first season with the Aggies in 2014, but did not play in 2015 due to an injury. Now that he's finally back playing, Uasike is relishing every moment he gets out on the field, especially since he gets to share it with his little brother, Mohelika, who is in his freshman season.

"He was being recruited by other schools, but this was the only school we could play at together," said the older Uasike sibling, who at 25 is the second-oldest player on the team behind only junior offensive lineman Jarom Ioane. "That was our plan and it has been our parents' dream for us to play on the same team. It is a blessing to be able to play with each other because we're five years apart."

Two other Aggies, both junior college transfers, as well, who have made the most of their senior seasons are defensive ends Edmund Faimalo and Siua Taufa.

Faimalo feels especially blessed to be out on the field for the Aggies considering he was one of five people injured in a car accident on June 26, 2015.

Faimalo, current teammates Travis Seefeldt and Adewale Adeoye, former teammate John Taylor, and former Aggie softball player Sarah Vasquez were all returning to Logan from an outing at Newton Reservoir, a popular recreational area in Cache Valley. Seefeldt was behind the wheel when the Chevy Tahoe he was driving was struck on the driver's side by a semi-truck loaded with 52,000 pounds of milk. The truck pushed the Tahoe more than 75 yards before the two vehicles finally came to rest.

All five Aggies were hospitalized for various amounts of time.

"I broke all of the ribs on my left side and broke my collar bone," Faimalo said. "There was a metal piece that went through my foot, so I had a hole in my foot, and then I had internal bruising all throughout my body and a minor concussion."

Despite that, Faimalo returned to the gridiron last season and played in 12 games for the Aggies, recording 11 tackles and one quarterback hurry.

"It's a miracle; it really is a great blessing," Faimalo said. "You start to treasure life a lot more, especially the little things. You just wake up every day thanking God that you're still here. Nothing is promised to you and nobody ever thought we would get hit in an accident, especially like that. It taught me to value the little things in life and to be grateful for the things that we do have, like being able to walk. I'm back practicing and playing, and it's a miracle that I'm even running and doing everything that I am today."

Faimalo played at both Sacramento State and Riverside (Calif.) City College before transferring to Utah State, where he redshirted during his first season in 2014.

Through the first 11 games of his senior season, the 6-2, 280-pound native of Riverside, Calif., has recorded 25 tackles, including a career-high four stops against both Fresno State and New Mexico.

"I love having him around," said co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach Frank Maile. "His work ethic is through the roof. He's explosive, he's physical and he's very coachable. It's a blessing to be able to coach him."

The exact same thing can be said for Taufa.

"He doesn't talk a whole lot, but he leads by example," Maile said. "Some people might look at him as undersized, but he's explosive and plays big, and that's why we recruited him. He's very coachable and does everything we ask him to do."

The son of Paula and Tila Taufa is currently in his third season with the Aggies after transferring from Diablo Valley Community College in Pleasant Hill, Calif. Since arriving at Utah State in 2014, he has played in all 37 games, recording 54 total tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks. Against Arkansas State, Taufa recovered his first fumble and returned it 10 yards.

"Being a veteran this year and knowing what to do and helping out the younger guys has been really fun," Taufa said.

One of the big reasons both Taufa and Faimalo chose to come to Utah State was because of the family-oriented environment.

"Coach Maile was the one who recruited me and talking to him, I felt like this was the right place," Taufa said. "I also have family that live in Bountiful and I wanted to move closer to them."

Added Faimalo: "Seeing how everybody wrapped their arms around me was great. The coaches were great and the love Utah State has, it was too good to pass up."

For Faimalo and Taufa, one of their most memorable moments in an Aggie uniform came during the 2014 campaign, when Utah State traveled to Provo and shocked No. 18 BYU 35-20. The Cougars came into the game with a perfect 4-0 mark.

"It was crazy to silence them and just to see the atmosphere," Faimalo said. "Once you learn the in-state rivalry and how much those games mean, it is incredible. It was just crazy to witness the whole stands and all the BYU fans silent. That was one of the most memorable moments. I didn't play in the game, but being in that atmosphere was incredible."

Taufa played that night and recorded one tackle against the Cougars.

"Everybody doubted us and nobody thought we had a chance," Taufa said. "They kept calling us the little brothers and we let them know that day who the big brother was."

Faimalo, who is majoring in interdisciplinary studies and minoring in sociology, will make history when he graduates from Utah State this December.

"I'll be the first in my family to ever receive a college degree on either side," Faimalo said.

The son of Travis and Emma Faimalo already knows what the future holds in store for him.

"I am going to go home and take care of my mom," he said. "I recently found out that she has breast cancer, so that is my future plan, to take care of her once I am done at Utah State."

Taufa, who is fluent in three languages - English, Spanish and Tongan - will also graduate in December with a degree in sociology.

Uasike is majoring in exercise science and on track to graduate from Utah State in the spring of 2017. Just like his teammate Taufa, he is fluent in English, Spanish and Tongan.

What does the future hold in store for the son of Taimi and Viviena Uasike?

"To get married," he said with a laugh.

Does he have any prospects?

"I'm dating around," Uasike said. "The right one hasn't come along yet."