Feb. 3, 2010
Complete Release in PDF format | 2010 Signing Class Roster | 2010 Signing Class Bios | 2010 Signing Day Notes | Press Conference Quotes
San Diego - San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke announced Wednesday the names of 24 student-athletes who have signed National Letters of Intent to play football next season at San Diego State.
Including the three players that originally signed in December, the 2010 recruiting class includes 27 student-athletes. Of those 27 players, 24 are from California, with Arizona, Nevada and Texas contributing one player each. The Aztecs add 14 players on offense, 12 players on defense and one kicker.
"You always look at recruiting as trying to better your football team," Hoke said. "We want to recruit guys who understand the value of a degree and can come in and compete to play. I believe we have done that."
Offensive coordinator Al Borges and defensive coordinator Rocky Long were both pleased with the quality of the 2010 class.
"I think (the incoming class) is awesome," Borges said. "I always have guarded optimism on signing day but we have some good kids. Some of these kids were recruited pretty heavily. The staff did a good job of recruiting. They are still going to have to prove themselves here and jump in competitively and show that they are the best. On paper it is an exciting proposition."
"They are very athletic and have good quickness and speed, all things we are trying to improve on," Long said. "It really helps to have a whole year to try and find some of those guys that fit into that scheme. I think we did a good job of bringing in some of those players."
One thing that jumps off the page is the success the 2010 SDSU signing class has enjoyed while in high school. The 21 high school players that signed with San Diego State on Wednesday went a collective 194-57 (77.3 percent) last season at the prep level. The six junior college players were equally successful last season, posting a record of 57-18 (76.0 percent).
"When you look at this class as a whole and the record of their high school teams, we are getting guys from winning programs and that's important," Hoke said. "There are a lot of guys in this class that come from those types of programs."
Hoke indicated that there were several positions that they targeted. San Diego State added five offensive linemen (including three from the junior college ranks), six players who can play on the defensive line (four defensive ends and two defensive tackles) and three running backs.
"We did a good job with our needs up front offensively," Hoke said. "We thought we needed more depth and competition on the offensive line and that we needed more depth at the running back position and competition there. We helped ourselves when you look at the defensive skill positions at corners and also up front with the defensive ends."
The five offensive linemen in the class include junior college transfers Joe Unga (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./San Antonio College), Juan Bolanos (El Cajon, Calif./Grossmont College) and Riley Gauld (Santa Maria, Calif./Allan Hancock College) as well Garrett Corbett (Sparks, Nev./Reed High) and Zack Dilley (Menifee, Calif./Paloma Valley High) out of the high school ranks.
"The number one priority we want in our guys is to be physical and we want guys up front to know that and love the weight room and understand what it takes in there," Hoke said. "I am really excited about all these guys."
San Diego State added four players at defensive end. Everett Beed (Phelan, Calif./Serrano High), Jordan Thomas (Redlands, Calif./Redlands High) and Cody Galea (Elk Grove, Calif.), who is also listed as a linebacker, will enter SDSU as freshmen next fall. The Aztecs also signed rising junior Perry Jackson (Roseville, Calif./Sierra College) during the junior college signing period in December. Jackson is currently enrolled at San Diego State.
Three running backs will join the program in the fall - two as freshmen and one as a junior. Dwayne Garrett (Scottsdale, Ariz./Chaparral High) and Adam Muema (Covina, Calif./Charter Oak High) will join transfer Deonte Williams (Roseville, Calif./Sierra College). Williams signed with Northern Arizona out of high school and was the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year in 2008 after rushing for 950 yards and two touchdowns prior to transferring to Sierra College.
Another position at which the staff added multiple players was cornerback. The Aztecs added three freshmen cornerbacks in King Holder (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside High), Mahbu Keels (San Diego, Calif./Mission Bay High) and J.J. Whitaker (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside High).
Rounding out the defensive side of the ball, SDSU added two defensive tackles, two linebackers and a safety. At tackle, the Aztecs welcome Kenneth Galea'i (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside High) and Dontrell Onuahu (La Quinta, Calif./La Quinta High). The linebackers joining the program are Jake Fely (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside High) and Josh Gavert (Lakewood, Calif./Mayfair High), while the lone safety is Rene Siluano (Oceanside, Calif./Oceanside High).
On offense, the Aztecs also inked three wide receivers, two tight ends and a quarterback. At receiver, David Lamar (San Diego, Calif./Madison High), Ezell Ruffin (Long Beach, Calif./Woodrow Wilson High) and Jay Waddell (Hesperia, Calif./Hesperia High) have joined the program. John Ghandour (La Habra, Calif./La Habra High) and Bryce Quigley (Appley Valley, Calif./Granite Hills High) are tight ends that signed with San Diego State, as well as quarterback Adam Dingwell (Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall High).
The lone specialist the Aztecs added is kicker Abele Perez (Chula Vista, Calif./Southwestern College).