SAN DIEGO – San Diego State football head coach Brady Hoke announced that 23 student-athletes have committed to the Aztecs on the first day of the early signing period on Wednesday.
The NCAA approved the early signing period in 2017, which runs this year from Dec. 16-18. The mid-year 2-4 (junior college) transfer signing period also commenced today and lasts through Jan. 15, 2021, while the regular signing period is slated for Feb. 3-April 1, 2021.
SDSU's early signing class is a balanced one with 12 on offense and 11 on defense. The 23-player class also features 10 from the state of California, six from Texas, two from Nevada, and one apiece from Arizona, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri and Washington. In all, 22 of the 23 prospects are high school seniors, while the other is a Power 5 transfer. Additional signees could be added in the coming days.
"We're excited about the 23 guys that we signed today," Hoke said. "We worked hard to recruit guys who fit our culture of toughness - mental and physical. We evaluated our needs and think that we have addressed those needs. Nothing is ever certain, but we feel very good about the young men we have recruited and we've recruited them in a manner that we're going to create competition at all positions. At the same time there are some guys who'll benefit from the development that (assistant athletic director - strength & conditioning) Adam Hall and our guys on the strength staff (provide). We're really happy and excited about the class, and (we) look forward to getting them on campus."
Of the 12 signees on offense, four are offensive lineman - Ilaisa Gonebure (Rocklin, Calif./Rocklin High), Christian Jones (San Luis Obispo, Calif./San Luis Obispo High), Zavier Leonard (Arlington, Texas/Sam Houston High) and Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli (San Diego/Mater Dei High). Three are tight ends - Cameron Harpole (Plano, Texas/Prosper High), Gus McGee (Newburyport, Mass./Christopher Columbus High (Fla.)) and JP Murphy (Danville, Calif./San Ramon Valley High) - and two apiece are quarterbacks - Will Haskell (Glendale, Ariz./Ironwood High) and Jalen Mayden (Sachse, Texas/Sachse High/Mississippi State) - and wide receivers - Joshua Nicholson (Grand Prairie, Texas/South Grand Prairie High) and Phillippe Wesley II (Grandview, Mo./St. Bernard High (Calif.)). San Diego State also signed one running back in Cam Davis (Dallas, Texas/South Oak Cliff High).
On the defensive side of the ball, five of the 11 signees are defensive backs - Noah Avinger (Cerritos, Calif./Servite High), CJ Baskerville (North Richland Hills, Texas/Richland High), Jaiden Brown (San Diego/Helix High), DJ Bryant (Oakland, Calif./San Leandro High) and New Zealand Williams (Carson, Calif./St. Bernard High) - with four checking in as linebackers - Brady Anderson (Bakersfield, Calif./Liberty High), Zyrus Fiaseu (Las Vegas/Liberty High), DJ Herman (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman High) and Dominic Oliver (San Jose, Calif./Valley Christian High). The other two on defense, meanwhile, are defensive lineman in Darrion Dalton (Apple Valley, Minn./Saguaro (Ariz.)) and Pa'a Ewaliko (Seattle/Ballard High).
SDSU is 4-4 on the season with its four losses coming to teams that have combined to go 26-4 (.867). Additionally, three of San Diego State's opponents are currently inside the top 25 of the College Football Playoff Rankings.