It's been a quiet offseason for San Diego State -- for the past couple of minutes. Before that, it's been quite an offseason.

The last two months have been unlike any other in recent memory for the Aztecs. First, they went into December with unfinished business from their season -- beating Navy 35-14 in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Then, the coach Brady Hoke-to-Michigan watch came to the forefront, culminating with his official hiring in Ann Arbor on Jan. 12. SDSU responded quickly by promoting defensive coordinator Rocky Long, who then responded by filling out his coaching staff, keeping the recruits who committed to play for Hoke and rounding out the class that was announced on Feb. 2.

Fortunately for Long, the Aztecs had three-quarters of the 23-player class committed when the transition took place -- an feat unheard of during his 11-year tenure as head coach at New Mexico from 1998-2008.

"Most of these kids committed to the program; I think that's why they stayed with the program," Long said during his signing day news conference. "I don't think they are committing to any coach. Sometimes, the coach is important, but to be honest with you, the position coach is a lot more important than who the head coach is because the position coach spends the most time with (the players)."

Long, who stressed that few changes would be made during the coaching change, got a class based on athletic ability to correspond with the changing landscape of college football that spreads the field and emphasizes speed, rather than size.

"That was a philosophy that was here with the former coaching staff and a philosophy that will continue," Long said. "The game is getting faster, more athletic. The big brutes that just knock each other down are going by the wayside."

With signing day over, the Aztecs have a chance to catch their breath -- a brief one -- before getting back to the task of building a program that will challenge for an Mountain West Conference title.

At least Long, taking over a team that 9-4 last season, is closer to making that a reality than his recent predecessors were.

TOP OF THE CLASS

Micah Seau (The Bishop's School, Spring Valley, Calif.) -- People in the San Diego area might recognize the name "Seau." Micah Seau, a 6-foot-3, 225-pounder, is a three-star Rivals.com recruit. He's a first-team Sectionsports.com all-San Diego selection who led The Bishop's School to an undefeated season.

WR Paul Pitts (Los Osos High, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) -- He is a three-star recruit who has record a 10.8-second time in the 100 meters. He had 32 receptions for 501 yards and four TDs for Los Osos last season. Pitts had five receptions for 193 yards in the season finale against Upland.

RB Brandon Wright (Palos Verde High, Las Vegas) -- He is a three-star recruit and the No. 8-rated all-purpose back nationally by Rivals. He had 1,632 yards and 25 TDs for Palo Verde and chose the Aztecs because they're willing to give him a chance to play running back. He could become a nice complement to current SDSU star Ronnie Hillman.

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