Feb. 4, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format | 2009 Signing Class Roster | 2009 Signing Class Bios | 2009 Signing Day Notes
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke announced Wednesday the names of 20 student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent to play football next season for the Aztecs.
All 20 signees come from the high school ranks and 19 of the future Aztecs reside in California. The signing class is comprised of 10 defensive players and 10 offensive players.
"I think the character of the kids in this class and their passion to play might make this a really good class in time," Hoke said. "The student-athletes we are bringing in understand the value of a degree as well as the teamwork and accountability that are needed."
There is a definite theme of athleticism in the 2009 class on both sides of the ball. Of the 10 defensive players in the class, four play cornerback and four others play safety. On offense, the Aztecs added four wide receivers and three running backs.
"We thought we had some immediate needs in the skill areas that we were able to address," Hoke said. "On defense, we wanted to address the secondary and on offense, we were looking to add personnel at the wide receiver and running back positions."
The Aztecs added eight players in the defensive secondary. The four new corners are Aarein Booker (San Bernardino, Calif./San Bernardino High), Preston King (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Tesoro High), Gabe Lemon (Orange, Calif./Lutheran High) and Colin Lockett (Diamond Bar, Calif./Diamond Bar High).
At safety, the Aztecs added Marcus Andrews (Los Angeles, Calif./Crenshaw High), Nat Berhe (Colton, Calif./Colton High), Eric Pinkins (Sacramento, Calif./Inderkum High) and Khalid Stevens (Pacific Palisades, Calif./Palisades High).
"We really needed to concentrate on the secondary," Hoke said. "We were looking for corners who could play man coverage and safeties who can defend the run and play downhill. I believe we signed players who will help us to be able to accomplish that."
Rounding out the defensive signees are a pair of linebackers - Jacob Driver (Carlsbad, Calif./La Costa Canyon High) and Nick Tenhaeff (Atascadero, Calif./Atascadero High).
On offense, the Aztecs located four local prep wide receivers with good size, including players standing 6-4 and 6-3. Brandon Chambers (San Diego, Calif./Mira Mesa High), Marven Jones (San Diego, Calif./Kearny High), Leon McFadden (Bellflower, Calif./St. John Bosco High) and Osmond Nicholas (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside, Calif.) were the four receivers who signed with SDSU.
"We have senior wide receivers who will be graduating (next year), so we tried to address some of those needs with some local wide receivers who are very good football players," Hoke said.
San Diego State signed three running backs, its most since landing three backs in 2003. Ronnie Hillman (La Habra, Calif./La Habra High), Walter Kazee (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon High) and Anthony Miller (Dallas, Texas/Carter High) all signed National Letters of Intent to attend SDSU.
The Aztecs added a pair of quarterbacks in Jake Bernards (Valencia, Calif./West Ranch High) and Colton Morrison (Oceanside, Calif./El Camino High). The other offensive slot was filled by tight end Gavin Escobar (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic High).
Hoke, who was announced as San Diego State's 17th head football coach on Dec. 16, said that he and his staff felt welcomed in the recruiting circles on their first trip out representing the Scarlet and Black.
"The coaches on this staff will do a tremendous job of extending themselves and reaching out to high school and junior college coaches," Hoke said. "I think people have a high regard for San Diego State University, both academically and athletically."
One area that Hoke's staff did not tap into due to the late start was the junior colleges ranks, which is an area the staff will look to fill specific needs in the future.
"In recruiting, when you miss the early signing day with junior college athletes, it is hard (to catch up)," Hoke said. "You want the junior college kids to come in and go through the winter program and go through spring ball. When you sign junior college players, you expect them to play. They will be a part of our program in the future, but this year with the late start (recruiting), we didn't think it was the right formula for us."
Despite the fact that the class is entirely made up of high school signees, Hoke said the incoming players will have every opportunity to earn immediate playing time.
"The best players are going to play," Hoke said. "There is no entitlement to anyone. The guys who work the hardest and come in prepared will play."