Dec. 16, 2009
SAN DIEGO - San Diego State head football coach Brady Hoke announced Wednesday the addition of four student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent to play football for the Aztecs.
The four players signed with San Diego State on the first day of the junior college signing period. Junior college students who will earn their degree in time to enroll at a four-year school in the spring may sign National Letters of Intent through Jan. 15. All four players will attend San Diego State this spring and will participate in spring football.
The Aztecs added four linemen, two on the offensive side of the ball (Grossmont College right tackle Juan Bolanos and a left guard from Allan Hancock College, Riley Gauld) and two defensive ends (Navarro College's Blake Chavis and Sierra College's Perry Jackson).
"We are very excited about the addition of these four student-athletes to the Aztec Football family," San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke said. "Coming in late to the recruiting class last season, we focused on skill athletes, knowing that with a full-year to recruit, we could work on recruiting the offensive and defensive fronts.
"We look for all four student-athletes to come in and add depth to the competition level," Hoke said. "They will bring speed and toughness to each position group."
Bolanos, a right tackle from El Cajon, Calif., originally signed with San Diego State out of high school. A three-star recruit who participated in a junior college all-star game, he is listed as the sixth-best junior college offensive tackle prospect in the nation by one recruiting service.
"We are excited that Juan chose to sign with us after originally signing to attend San Diego State out of high school," Hoke said. "He will provide immediate competition at right tackle. He is a physical, come-off-the-ball offensive lineman."
Gauld, a left tackle from Santa Maria, Calif., can play multiple positions on the offensive line. He played under the radar in high school before hitting a growth spurt while at Allan Hancock College. Tennessee is among the many schools that showed interest in him.
"Riley is a physical left tackle or left guard that fits with our philosophy with regard to running the ball," Hoke said. "We expect he will bring a lot of competition to the offensive line."
Chavis, a defensive end from Corsicana, Texas, originally signed with Texas A&M out of high school. A three-star recruit, he was rated the 24th best defensive end prospect in the nation coming out of high school by one recruiting service.
"Blake is the type of defensive end that should fit well with Coach Long's defensive system," Hoke said. "He has the speed to be able to get to the quarterback, which is an area we would like to improve on as a team from last season. We feel it is important to be able to get pressure on the quarterback and both Blake and Perry can help us accomplish that."
Jackson, a defensive end from Roseville, Calif., is rated as a four-star prospect and the nation's 30th-best junior college recruit by one media outlet. He suffered an ACL injury in the first game of his 2009 season but is expected to make a full recovery and will have three years of eligibility remaining.
"Our hope is that by the middle of spring ball, Perry will be able to participate in individual drills," Hoke said. "He is a speed defensive end that can put tremendous pressure on the quarterback."
The regular football signing day period is Wednesday, Feb. 3.
2010 San Diego State Football Mid-Year Junior College Signing Class
Juan Bolanos
Right Tackle, 6-7, 340
El Cajon, Calif. (Mount Miguel High/Grossmont College)
Originally signed with San Diego State out of high school in Feb. 2007... Participated in the Triumphant Sports Junior College All-American Game in Chandler, Ariz... One of two players in the game singled out as top offensive linemen... Labeled a three-star prospect by Rivals.com and Scout.com... Listed as the sixth best offensive tackle junior college prospect in the country by Scout.com and one of just 13 players at his position to earn a rating of three stars or higher by that recruiting service... A captain this season on the Grossmont team, Bolanos was a member of the preseason J.C.Grid-Wire/J.C.Football.com All-American team... He helped lead his team to an 8-3 record... He started two seasons at Grossmont... In high school, he was a first-team all-CIF and second-team all section by the San Diego Union-Tribune as a senior at Mount Miguel High under head coach Tom Karlo... Named to the Grossmont South League first team last year... Was voted the Matadors' lineman of the year in 2006... Also was a member of his school's wrestling, volleyball and golf teams... Chose SDSU out of high school over scholarship offers from Arizona State, Colorado State, Louisville, UNLV and Washington State... Also took an official visit this year to Nevada.
Blake Chavis
Defensive End, 6-6, 235
Corsicana, Texas (West Brook High/Navarro College)
Originally signed with Texas A&M out of high school... Was also recruited by Iowa, Arizona and Missouri out of high school... Considered a three-star recruit by Rivals.com... Was rated as the nation's 18th-best tight end prospect out of high school by Scout.com... Rivals.com listed him as the 24th-best defensive end and the 76th-best recruit at any position in the state of Texas in the 2008 recruiting class... Rivals lists his 40 time as 4.9... Was an Associated Press Class 5A second-team all-state selection in 2007... Brother, Billy, was part of Texas A&M's 2007 signing class... Choose San Diego State over Kansas, Toledo and New Mexico.
Riley Gauld
Left Guard, 6-5, 299
Santa Maria, Calif. (Santa Ynez High/Allan Hancock College)
Played right tackle in junior college but will likely play his natural position, left guard, at San Diego State... Earned second-team all-conference honors and co-offensive lineman of the year accolades as a freshman at Hancock College... Also received offers from Nevada, UNLV and New Mexico State.
Perry Jackson
Defensive End, 6-2, 250
Roseville, Calif. (Laguna Creek High/Sierra College)
Rivals.com lists Jackson as a four-star recruit and the 30th-best junior college prospect nationally and the fifth-best defensive end prospect in the country... Scout.com lists him as the nation's 12th-best prospect at defensive end... Those accolades came despite suffering a season-ending injury in the first game of his sophomore season... Suffered ligament damage and has undergone surgery... He will transfer in as a sophomore, giving him three years of eligibility left... He is expected to be able to have limited participation in spring practice... His freshman season at Sierra, he recorded 70 tackles and two sacks... Averaged double-digit tackles in 2006 at Laguna Creek High... Recorded 18 tackles against Nevada Union... Recovered two fumbles against Monterey Trail... Had a 3.75 core grade-point average in high school... Also received scholarship offers from Utah, Iowa State and Colorado State.