Fresno State Athletics
Football Signs 26 to National Letters of Intent
2/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 6, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State head football coach Pat Hill announced today the signing of 26 student-athletes to national letter of intent.
"This is definitely the best recruiting class we have had since I took over," Hill said. "We've got an outstanding group of athletes who were very high on our recruiting list. It's exciting for us to capitalize on having played in three consecutive bowl games and all of the national exposure we got last year."
Headlining the signees are seven players who hail from the San Joaquin Valley. In addition, the Bulldogs dipped into Southern California for 15 recruits. Each member of Fresno State's 2002 incoming class is from California.
"Locking up the Central Valley is what we've always been about," said Hill. "We feel very good about the players from around the area we signed. We expect each to make an impact on Bulldog football. But we are also excited about the quality of players we got from up and down the state. We've got guys coming in from Sacramento, the Bay Area, the Los Angeles area and San Diego. It's clear that Fresno State football is becoming a known quantity throughout the state."
Following is a list of the 2002 signees, followed by a brief profile of each:
Dwayne Andrews, Linebacker, 6-0, 240, Los Angeles, Calif. (Locke HS)
Rated as the No. 21 inside linebacker in California by Rivals.com and 99th best prospect in the West by Superprep Magazine ... finished 2001 with 127 tackles, one interception and four sacks ... high school teammate Richard Marshall is also a member of Fresno State's recruiting class.
Tim Bessolo, Quarterback, 6-3, 215, Lakewood, Calif. (Los Alamitos HS)
Passed for 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns while only throwing three interceptions all season ... guided his team to a 9-3-1 record as a senior ... ran for 150 yards and three touchdowns ... an excellent student ... recruited by California, Illinois and Northwestern ... will not enroll at Fresno State until the spring semester of 2003 ... coached by John Barnes ... last name is pronounced buh-SOLO.
Christian Carlson, Linebacker, 6-2, 205, Merced, Calif. (Merced HS)
A three-year letterwinner ... made 136 tackles his senior year, including 86 solos ... finished his MHS career with 336 tackles ... was named Defensive Player of the Year by the Merced Sun-Star ... had three sacks and one interception as a senior ... was his team's captain and most valuable player ... first-team All-Central California Conference as a senior.
Jordan Christensen, Quarterback, 6-3, 185, Fresno, Calif. (Clovis HS)
One of the top quarterbacks in California as a prep senior ... was Fresno State's top quarterback recruit ... completed 233-of-348 passes (.670) for 3,299 yards and 38 touchdowns ... only threw four interceptions, one every 87 pass attempts ... Christensen's passing yards and touchdowns were both the second highest totals in section history ... named the Tri-Rivers Most Valuable player ... selected as the Fresno Bee All-Star first-team quarterback ... rated as the 49th best college prospect and seventh best quarterback in California by Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting ... guided Clovis High School to a 10-3 record and to the Yosemite Division Large School championship game ... coached by Larry Kellom.
Rodney Davis, Running Back, 5-8, 210, Dos Palos, Calif. (Fresno City College)
Played two years at Fresno City College ... played in 20 games, 10 each year ... was a first-team All-Valley Conference honoree ... had 90 carries for 688 yards and five touchdowns last year ... also came out of the backfield to catch 11 passes for 95 yards ... displayed his all-around capabilities by completion three halfback passes in three attempts, all of which went for touchdowns ... finished his FCC career with 1,001 rushing yards and 217 receiving yards ... was a star at Dos Palos High School ... his brother, Marque, plays wide receiver for the Bulldogs.
Robbie Dubois, Running Back, 5-10, 205, Mission Viejo, Calif. (Mission Viejo HS)
Finished as Orange County's second all-time leading rusher with 6,857 yards and 92 touchdowns ... led his team to a No. 2 ranking in the state and a section championship ... had 2,738 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2001 ... rated the 147th best prospect by Superprep Magazine ... participated in the CalFla Bowl All-Star Game ... teammate Ryan Powdrell also signed with the Bulldogs ... last name is pronounced doo-BWAH.
Kawika Edwards, Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 300, Sonoma, Calif. (Santa Rosa JC)
Helped anchor an offensive line that gave time to a passing offense that ranked among California's best ... played in just four games due to a shoulder injury last year ... possesses very quick feet, according to his junior college coach, Keith Simons ... first name is pronounced "kuh-VEE-kuh."
Jaron Fairman, Athlete, 6-1, 185, Covina, Calif. (South Hills HS)
Was Most Valuable Player of his conference ... All-Valley first team selection ... named All-CIF Division 9 first team and All-CIF Southern Section ... was a Cal-Hi Sports all-state pick ... took back three punts for touchdowns and had a 20.9 return average ... caught 26 passes for a 24.3 average as a senior ... as a defensive back, made three interceptions and had 84 tackles ... first name is pronounced juh-RON.
Joe Fernandez, Wide Receiver, 5-10, 165, Morgan Hill, Calif. (Saint Francis HS)
A first-team All-WCAL selection ... caught 22 passes for 323 yards and four touchdowns as a senior ... his junior year, he pulled in 32 passes for 457 yards and five touchdowns ... as a defensive back, had made two interceptions, including one for a touchdown ... had two games with two touchdowns this year ... was his team's Most Valuable Offensive Player ... son of Mervin Fernandez, who played at San Jose State and for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.
Kyle Goodman, Linebacker, 6-0, 215, Clovis, Calif. (Buchanan HS)
Defensive team captain as a junior and senior ... helped lead the 2000 BHS team that won the section title ... was presented with the "Bear Award" by Buchanan High for leadership, athletics and academic excellence ... possesses a 4.06 GPA ... missed part of his senior season due to injury, although he still registered 60 tackles, three sacks, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries ... runs a 4.65 40-yard dash ... rated as one of the best linebackers in the West by Prep Star Magazine ... No. 130 prospect in the West by Superprep Magazine ... one of the top 215-pound wrestlers in the state.
Alan Goodwin, Linebacker, 6-2, 220, Inglewood, Calif. (Morningside HS)
Was a first-team All-Ocean League selection ... had seven catches for 117 yards as a receiver his senior year ... starred as a linebacker, making 127 tackles, three fumble recoveries and three pass deflections.
Louis Leonard, Defensive Lineman, 6-4, 332, Compton, Calif. (Verbum Dei HS)
Had 106 tackles, including 58 solos, his senior year ... compiled seven sacks,18 tackles for loss and four fumble recoveries ... was first-team All-CIF and all-league ... named to the Los Angeles Times' All-Central City first team.
Mike Lingua, Punter, 6-0, 190, Canyon Country, Calif. (Canyon HS)
Played just one year of high school football ... tried out for football at the behest of Canyon High School head coach Harry Welch, who highly recommended him to the Bulldog program ... was a first-team All-Foothill League selection ... is a goalie for the CHS soccer team ... known for his exceptionally powerful leg ... average hang time on punts is 4.5 seconds ... averaged over 40 yards per punt this year ... last name is pronounced LEEN-gwah
Chuckie Linman, Athlete, 6-0, 190, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Edison HS)
A versatile athlete who played running back and safety at Edison High School ... ran for more than 900 yards, averaging 8.7 yards per carry and 10 touchdowns ... had 85 tackles last season ... coached by Dave Huntington ... last name is pronounced LIN-man.
Richard Marshall, Defensive Back, 5-11, 170, Los Angeles, Calif. (Locke HS)
Rated as the 63rd best prospect in the West by Superprep Magazine ... ran a 4.4 40-yard dash ... made 62 tackles and three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown ... his uncle, Arthur Warren, played for the Bulldog in 1992 ... told Superprep, "I've always wanted to go [to Fresno State]."
James Martin, Offensive Lineman, 6-4, 305, Fresno, Calif. (Fresno City College)
A dominating player who should make an immediate impact for the Bulldogs ... a first-team Junior College All-American ... selected as the league player of the year by the coaches, a rarity for an offensive lineman ... will be a junior at Fresno State in the fall ... coached by Tony Caviglia ... graduate of Clovis West High School.
Vincent Mays, Defensive Back, 5-11, 200, Rancho Cordova, Calif. (Hiram Johnson HS)
One of the most highly recruited defensive backs in California ... rated as the 12th best overall prospect and top defensive back in the state by Max Emfinger's Blue Chip Recruiting ... helped his team to an 11-2 record ... was an outstanding running back, rushing for 2,143 yards and scoring 36 touchdowns ... was even more dominating on defense, recording 85 tackles, seven sacks, forced seven fumbles, blocked three kicks and had two interceptions ... selected Fresno State over Illinois and Arizona ... coached by Mike Dimino.
Marcus McCauley, Defensive Back, 6-1, 180, Sacramento, Calif. (Cordova Senior HS)
Played running back, safety, wide receiver, cornerback and kick returner for his high school team, which advanced to the Division II semifinals ... an all-city selection ... selected Fresno State over Oregon, Washington and California ... considered one of the Sacramento area's best all-around talents by the Sacramento Bee ... also excels as a basketball player ... from the same area as Vincent Mays, also a Bulldog recruit.
Adam Messick, Offensive Lineman, 6-7, 290, West Covina, Calif. (South Hills HS)
Named first-team All-San Gabriel Valley as a senior ... only gave up one sack the entire 2001 season ... helped lead his team to an 11-2 record ... running behind Messick, South Hills' running back gained over 1,200 yards this year ... was team captain ... named a San Gabriel Valley scholar-athlete ... honorable mention all-region by Prep Star Magazine ... last name is pronounced MESS-ick.
Ricky Miller, Linebacker, 6-4, 240, Tustin, Calif. (Tustin HS)
One of the top linebackers in California as a prep senior ... played fullback and linebacker at Tustin High School (7-3), rushing for 950 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns .. had 50 tackles and four sacks ... an excellent athlete who was recruited by Oregon State, UCLA and Wisconsin ... coached by Myron Miller.
Ryan Powdrell, Athlete, 6-0, 240, Laguna Hills, Calif. (Mission Viejo HS)
Led his team to a 14-0 record ... Mission Viejo won the CIF and ranked second in the state ... had 98 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions ... ran a 4.65 40-yard dash ... was selected the league MVP, CIF defense MVP and first-team All-Orange County ... won the Big Hitter Award in 12 of 14 games ... played fullback on offense ... recruited by San Diego State ... coached by Bob Johnson.
Josh Sherley, Defensive Back, 6-0, 170, Bakersfield, Calif. (Bakersfield HS)
Was a two-time all-area pick as a defensive back ... helped lead Bakersfield High to a 13-0 record and a section championship last year ... made 98 tackles and had five interceptions in 2001, two of which he returned for touchdowns ... in addition to being a standout defensive back, he also caught 34 passes for 634 yards and seven touchdowns as a senior ... named Defensive Player of the Year by the Bakersfield Californian ... listed as one of the top defensive back prospects in California by Prep Star Magazine ... also an exceptional wrestler, currently ranked No. 1 in the state at 160 pounds.
Johnny Sotelo, Defensive Lineman, 6-4, 250, Laguna Creek, Calif. (Laguna Creek HS)
Roshon Vercher, Athlete, 5-11, 230, Bakersfield, Calif. (Bakersfield HS)
A team leader on a BHS team that went 13-0 and won the section title ... played fullback and linebacker ... had 40 carries for 222 yards in 2001, scoring five touchdowns ... as a linebacker, was first-team all-area ... an honorable mention all-region selection by Prep Star Magazine ... first name is pronounced row-SHON.
Paul Williams, Wide Receiver, 6-2, 190, Avenal, Calif. (Avenal HS)
An excellent athlete who continues a great family tradition at Fresno State ... selected first-team Fresno Bee All-Star as a defensive back ... scored 18 touchdowns last season had 953 receiving yards ... had 13 interceptions as a defensive back ... had three kick returns for touchdowns ... the brother of former Fresno State All-American and secondary coach J.D. Williams ... brother, Curtis, played safety at Washington ... recruited by UCLA and Washington ... selected league defensive player of the year ... was selected first-team all-league as a sophomore and junior ... an all-league selection in basketball as a junior ... excelled as a sprinter, reaching the Valley finals in 100 and 200 meters last season ... had the top time in the 200 meters for a time last season ... ... coached by Jon Arrendondo.
Kyle Young, Offensive Lineman, 6-5, 300, Fallbrook, Calif. (Fallbrook Union HS)
Chosen first-team all-area by the San Diego Union-Tribune ... big, physical player who can play multiple position on the offensive line ... chose Fresno State over Colorado, San Diego State, Colorad State and Kansas State.
