Feb. 6, 2008
SAN DIEGO -
2008 SDSU Signing Day Central
2008 SDSU Football Signing Class Press Release in PDF Format
2008 SDSU Football Signing Class Notes in PDF Format
2008 SDSU Football Signing Class Roster in PDF Format
2008 SDSU Football Signing Class Bios in PDF Format
2008 SDSU Football Signing Day Press Conference Quotes in PDF Format
San Diego State head coach Chuck Long announced Wednesday the names of 21 student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent to play football next season for the Aztecs.
Long said the program addressed its immediate concern by signing six offensive linemen, and yet was able to sign a player at every position, marking the first time an Aztec signing class has had at least one player in all nine player position groups since 2003.
"We are excited about the class coming in," Long said. "We have addressed every position and we came close to having an even amount of recruits on both sides of the ball. We addressed the offensive line position because of the void there. It is our biggest offensive line yet. They are a massive group. We are really excited about the guys up front, but we feel that we have good skill position players to complement that group. We went after guys who are winners and have great work ethic and I believe we were successful."
Long, who is entering his third season at San Diego State, also was able to remain true to his philosophy of signing a class made up of primarily high school athletes. Of the 21 players signed, 18 come from the high school ranks. In Long's three Aztec classes, San Diego State has signed 60 players, 53 of whom came from high school.
"I think any program will become better the longer you can have players in it," Long said. "The longer they are in place, the better off they are going to be. I like the way we are going, building our program through the high school ranks first."
Another theme for the 2008 recruiting class is that of local talent. Of the 21 players, 17 reside in California, with two players from Hawaii and Colorado and one from Nevada. This marks the fifth consecutive recruiting class to include a player from the Hawaiian Islands, the fourth straight year with at least one player from the Silver State, while eight players from Colorado have signed with SDSU since 2005.
"I have been very pleased with our California recruiting and we are very happy with the San Diego County men who we are getting this year," Long said. "Even within our county, we are going to make sure they fit with our program. Nonetheless, we are not afraid to go outside the state."
San Diego State's recruiting class features three junior college transfers expected to compete for playing time immediately. Quarterback Drew Westling (Mission Viejo, Calif./Southwestern College) is currently enrolled at SDSU and will begin practicing with the Aztecs in the spring. He is joined by defensive back Davion Mauldin (Compton, Calif./Cerritos College) and offensive lineman Taylor Wallace (Encino, Calif./El Camino College).
Joining Wallace on the offensive line are freshmen Nik Embernate (Yucaipa, Calif./Yucaipa High), Alec Johnson (Denver, Colo./J.K. Mullen High), Brian Milholland (San Diego, Calif./Helix High), Jimmy Miller (Denver, Colo./J.K. Mullen High) and Erik Quinones (Canyon Lake, Calif./Temescal Canyon High).
This marks the second consecutive season the Aztecs have signed at least six offensive linemen. All six of the offensive linemen that the Aztecs signed are 6-3 or taller and the average incoming weight is 293 pounds.
Other players making up the 11 players on the offensive side of the ball are wide receiver Malcolm Culver (Palmdale, Calif./Palmdale High), running back Ramon Judkins (Los Angeles, Calif./Beverly Hills High), wide receiver Dominique Sandifer (Gardena, Calif./Beverly Hills High) and tight end D.J. Shields (Bonita, Calif./Bonita Vista High).
In addition to Mauldin, seven other defensive players signed with the Aztecs on Wednesday. Linebacker Rob Andrews (Pleasanton, Calif./Foothill High), outside linebacker/defensive end J.J. Autele (Waipahu, Hawaii/Punahou School), defensive lineman Jerome Long (Los Osos, Calif./Morro Bay High), linebacker Colin Shumate (Las Vegas, Nev./Las Vegas High), defensive lineman Henry Simon (Chula Vista, Calif./Eastlake High), defensive back Josh Wade (San Diego, Calif./Point Loma High) and outside linebacker Ross Williams (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Mission Viejo High) will join the Aztecs in 2008.
In addition, for the first time since 2004, San Diego State signed a specialist. The Aztecs inked both a punter/kicker Brian Stahovich (Solana Beach, Calif./Cathedral Catholic High) and long snapper Aaron Brewer (Fullerton, Calif./Troy High).
It didn't take long for the 2007 recruiting class to make an impact. Last season, five SDSU true freshmen played (Vincent Brown, Dey Juan Hemmings, Romeo Horn, Neil Spencer and Alston Umuolo) and, including the redshirt freshmen class (the 2006 recruiting class), four players started at least six games a year ago (Vincent Brown, Trask Iosefa, Andrew Preston and B.J. Williams).
"We are not afraid to play young guys and that can impact a recruiting class in a positive way," Long said. "That has been a plus for us with regard to recruiting. Players know they have a chance to play immediately."
Long said that he is once again pleased with the recruiting class as well as the reception that he and his staff have received on the road.
"We are making some great inroads with the high schools and junior colleges in California," Long said. "The fact that they see your face more makes a difference. Knowing the landscape has helped us identify student-athletes quicker. We have established a very proactive approach to recruiting."