Fresno State Athletics
Hill Adds 21 Recruits
2/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 3, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. -
Calling it the fastest class in his tenure, head coach Pat Hill announced the signing of 20 high school players and one junior college quarterback who will join the squad in the fall.
Bios of the 2010 Signees in PDF Format 
Of the 21 new additions to the program, nine come from Valley high schools. The Valley products include athletes Isaiah Burse who combined for nearly 3,500 total yards at Modesto Christian High School, outstanding defensive back Edward Dillihunt from Tulare Union, two players from Saint Mary's High in Stockton, receiver Josh Harper and quarterback Marcus McDade, Bakersfield lineman John Ogelsby and Mariposa tight end Cody Wichman. Two of the newest Bulldogs have tremendous speed, Fairfield defensive back Anthony Riggins and Elk Grove receiver Jalen Saunders, who have been timed in at 10.7 in the 100-meters.
The Bulldogs also signed the top high school punter in the nation in Bakersfield's Matt Darr. Darr had originally committed to USC, but when Pete Carroll left for the NFL, Darr set his sights on remaining in the Valley to play for the Bulldogs and outstanding special teams coach John Baxter.
The class features some world-class speed at skilled position players, something Hill and his staff stressed in this group of recruits.
"We definitely improved our perimeter speed on both sides of the ball," said Hill. "With more and more teams spreading the ball all over the field, I felt like we needed to improve our team speed. We always want to do that, but with this class we made great strides. We have a lot of players who can run and played a lot of different positions in high schools, which gives them great position flexibility."
Of the recruits, Hill signed four players who played quarterback in high school, and an outstanding group of receivers. According to one scouting service, Fresno State landed three of California's top 12-rated receivers.
"I'm really pleased with our 2010 recruiting class," said Hill. "Our coaching staff did an outstanding job over the last 12 months putting together this group of student-athletes. The reputation of the Fresno State football program both on and off the field over the past decade is highly respected throughout the state of California and especially the Valley. This fact, along with great community support and the outstanding educational opportunity that Fresno State provides gives us as coaches something very special when talking to high school prospects. The process is truly a group effort."
Fresno State completes the 2009 signing class at 10:44 a.m.
Derron Smith, Defensive Back, 5-11, 170, Banning, Calif. (Banning HS) (Duh-ron)
An explosive athlete who played quarterback, safety and was his team's punter at Banning ... rated as the ninth-best defensive back prospect and 35th best player in California ... finished the season with 109 tackles, including a season-high 18 against Beaumont ... had six interceptions with 159 yards in returns ... broke up 12 passes ... recovered three fumbles, returning one 94 yards for a touchdown ... averaged 23.3 yards per punt return ... had a 79-yard return against San Jacinto ... had 87 tackles and three interceptions for a junior, which he returned for 125 yards, with a long of 86 yards for a TD against Fontana ... rushed for 1,579 yards, 13 touchdowns and averaged 8.7 yards per carry ... best game was 265 yards on 18 carries and four touchdowns against Vista del Lago ... had 186 yards on 15 carries in his final game of the season .... ran for 1,091 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior ... threw for more than 2,300 yards and 12 touchdowns combined during his junior and senior seasons ... 1,129 yards and three touchdowns ... combined to score 18 touchdowns as a senior ... averaged 39.23 yards a punter and had a long of 65 yards ... was named the MVP of his team and defensive MVP of the Mountain Pass League ... first-team All-CIF ... recruited by Nebraska, San Diego State, UNLV and Nevada, all offered him scholarships ... a standout on his high school basketball team, averaging more than 17 points per game ... an excellent student and smart player... Head Head coach Pat Hill: "Derron is a tremendous athlete who could play a lot of different positions for us. We project him in the defensive back field because of the way he plays the ball, but I think he will be valuable on our special teams as well. He's always around the ball and makes plays all over the field. Derron is an excellent student and we are very excited to have him join our program."
Cody Wichman, Tight End, 6-5, 275, Mariposa, Calif. (Mariposa HS)
Played on the offensive line and as tight end for Mariposa ... had 11 receptions for 131 yards ... averaged 11.9 yards and scored a touchdown ... longest gain was for 29 yards ... had a single-game of 42 yards over Delhi ... named a Modesto Bee All-Star ... named Co-Outstanding Lineman ... "He's just scratched the surface of his potential, and I'm really excited for him," Bob Kelly ... comes from the same high school that produced NFL All-Pro and former Bulldog All-American Logan Mankins ... also a standout basketball player for the Grizzlies. Head coach Pat Hill: "Cody is a big man and a very good athlete. He's got great growth potential and I'm anxious to get him in our program and watch him grow and develop.
Fresno State's signings as of: 10:31 a.m. PT
Jalen Saunders, Wide Receiver, 5-10, 170, Elk Grove, Calif. (Pleasant Grove HS)
A big-play threat who can make dynamic catches and eat up yardage after the catch ... averaged nearly 19 yards per catch and scored 11 receiving touchdowns on 46 receptions ... had 871 yards receiving as a senior in 10 games ... has six receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns against Lincoln High of Stockton, Calif. ... had three catches, all for touchdowns, and 112 yards against Laguna Creek ... rushed for 410 yards and averaged 8 yards per carry and scored six touchdowns ... averaged over 15 yards every time he touched the ball, with nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards and 22 total touchdowns ... averaged more than 27 yards on kick returns ... first-team selection to Sacramento Bee All-Metro team ... was selected the All-Purpose Player of the Year in the Delta River League ... one of the first players to commit to the Bulldogs in the fall ... an outstanding sprinter who clocked a 10.78 time in the 100 meters and a 22.15 in the 200 meters as a junior ... was recruited by Washington, Washington State and UNLV. Head coach Pat Hill: "Jalen has the skills to be an excellent receiver in our program. He's got the speed and toughness we like. He's a burner with the ball in his hands. He has game-breaking speed."
E.J. Schexnayder, Running Back, 6-1, 210, Riverside, Calif. (John W. North HS)
A pounding, physical back with good speed ... rushed for 630 yards, 8 touchdowns and averaged 6.8 yards per carry in the first five games ... had 21 carries for 186 yards and three touchdowns against Kaiser Fontana ... scored four touchdowns against rival Riverside Poly in a has the ability to break tackles with his punishing running style and creates separation from defender when in the open field ... a running style reminiscent of former Bulldog standout Lonyae Miller ... selected first-team All-Big VIII League as a senior ... played in the Inland Empire All-Star Classic ... rushed for 958 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior while averaging 6.8 yards per carry... recruited by San Diego State, Utah, Washington and Colorado State. Head coach Pat Hill: "E.J. is a fast and powerful back and the kind of running back who we love to have in our program. He fits the mold of the good Bulldog backs we've had recently. He's a downhill runner who has the strength to move the pile. He's got good speed when he breaks free."
Greg Watson, Athlete, 5-11, 185, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Rancho Cucamonga HS)
Helped Rancho Cucamonga to a 10-3 finish in 2009 ... a two-way player playing quarterback and defensive back ... had 161 completions in 279 attempts for 2,704 yards ... averaged 208 per game ... threw for 23 touchdowns ... had a season-high 372 yards against Temecula Valley ... had two games with over 300 yards ... rushed for 663 yards with 111 carries and 11 touchdowns ... named first-team All-Baseline league and Max Preps second-team all-state ... rated by one serviced as the 88th best player in California ... Rancho Cucamonga Coach Nick Baiz said. "He can run and he can catch. He's just an athlete. And he just turned 16. He should be a junior age-wise. So he's going to keep growing. For me it's great because he's so hungry right now. He wants to prove to people that he can play at the next level, and there's no doubt in my mind he can." ... also recruited by Oregon. Head coach Pat Hill: "Greg will be used as a quarterback and I see him more like an Ebahn Feathers, however he has played in a pro-style system which I like."
Fresno State's signings as of: 10:23 a.m. PT
John Ogelsby, Defensive Line, 6-4, 212, Bakersfield, Calif. (Highland HS)
Was the captain of the Scots defense as an inside linebacker ... will likely move down to the line for the 'Dogs ... has experience playing on the line ... also played offense as a wide receiver and punted ... named to the First-Team All-Southeast Yosemite League Football Team as a linebacker by MaxPreps... also named First-Team All-League by the Bakersfield Californian ... totaled 104 tackles in senior season (10.4 tackles per game) ... 62 solo tackles, 42 assists ... had 22 tackles against Chavez in 2009 ... totaled seven sacks ... blocked one punt, blocked two field goals and forced two fumbles ... had eight receptions and 25 carries in 2009 ... scored three rushing touchdowns ... junior season was as productive as senior season ... had 105 totals tackles, 63 solos ... named All-Area by Bakersfield Californian in 2008 ... had 63 tackles as a sophomore on senior varsity ... also threw shot put and discus for Highland ... coached by Tim Hartnett ... "John is a big, strong, physical guy and he loves to run and hit. He can play at a number of positions. He made big plays for us all year," Hartnett said. Head coach Pat Hill: "I love the way John plays. He's a physical player who plays very hard. He's got the potential to be excellent part of defense. He's explosive and quick and plays with great passion."
Anthony Riggins, Defensive Back, 5-11, 185, Fairfield, Calif. (Rodriguez HS)
A versatile athlete with track-star speed and incredible strength ... played both tailback and cornerback for the Mustangs ... was the Solano County Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Back of the year in 2009 ... named to the All-Solano County Athletic Conference Football First Team ... named to the 2009 All-City Team by The Daily Republic - twice ... Riggins was an All-City cornerback and tailback in 2009 ... had three 100-yard rushing games as a tailback ... all three came in conference play ... faced All-City receiver Chris Braodnax (Vanden HS) in 2009 ... Broadnax only had one catch facing Riggins ... ran for 891 yards on 126 carries as a senior, averaging 7.1 yards per carry ... scored six touchdowns in 2009 ... was his team's top power clean and squat lifter ... also ran track for the Mustangs ... excelled at the 100-meter dash ... ran a 10.77 100-meter in 2009 ... also recruited by Arizona, California, Nevada, San Diego State and UNLV ... coached by Fred Kelley ... "Anthony Riggins is a talented and gifted athlete that will learn and respect the game as he grows as a student-athlete," Kelley said. Head coach Pat Hill: "Anthony is a tough, physical defensive player. He's very fast and explosive. He's got the measurable that a lot of our good defensive backs have had over the years and I expect he will fit right in our program."
Leslie Rogers, Running Back, 6-1, 185, San Diego, Calif. (Point Loma HS)
A gifted tailback ... also played defensive back at Point Loma ... had an incredible junior season for the Pointers ... named First-Team All-League by San Diego Union Tribune after junior year ... rushed for 1,517 yards on 183 carries and 16 touchdowns ... averaged 8.3 yards per carry and 138 yards per game ... as a sophomore on the senior varsity squad, led all rushers with 179 carries for 1,183 yards and 13 touchdowns ... named a Top 100 Sophomore in 2007 by San Diego Union-Tribune ... best game in high school came in 2008 ... Rogers rushed for 316 yards and three touchdowns against Monte Vista ... suffered a knee injury at the end of his junior season ... missed nearly half of the Pointers games in 2009 ... still managed more than 900 yards ... named Second-Team All-League after senior year ... also ran track for Point Loma ... also recruited by Cal, Miami (Fla.), San Diego State, UCLA and USC ... coached by Mike Hastings ... "Leslie is a high-impact guy. He is tremendously talented. He has been a three-year varsity starter at running back and he has been a game-breaker," Hastings said. Head coach Pat Hill: "Although he missed a lot of his senior season, Leslie is a special athlete and a special young man. He's explosive and makes big plays."
Fresno State's signings as of: 10:14 a.m. PT
Josh Harper, Wide Receiver, 6-1, 187, Stockton, Calif. (Saint Mary's HS)
All around explosive offensive weapon ... rated by one service as the 51st best prospect in the state of California regardless of position and the 8th-best receiver ... tall athletic receiver with great hands ... precise route runner not afraid to take a hit ... played multiple positions in high school including wide receiver, safety, running back, punt returner and kick returner ... racked up 164 receptions for 2,669 yards and 28 receiving touchdowns in his high school career ... had 67 reception for 1,024 yards, 10 touchdowns and snagged five interceptions his junior season ... impact returner averaging an amazing 19.6 yards per punt return ... established as a heavy hitter on defense ... had a career high 10 catches for 216 yards and three touchdowns and 120 rushing yards against Los Banos on September 26 ... Named All-State underclassmen in both football and basketball his junior year ... was 1st Team Junior All-State team - multipurpose, 1st Team All-League-WR, Nike Camp Palo Alto-MVP- WR, 1st Team All Section-Defensive Back, 2nd Team All State-Defensive Back--- Max Preps and 3rd Team Cal-Hisports All State Team-WR his junior season ... Named First Team All-Nor-Cal wide receiver, First Team All-Area wide receiver, All-TCAL Most Valuable Player and All-TCAL offensive player of the year his senior season ... projected as one of the top high school wide receiver recruits in the country ... father is former San Francisco 49ers receiver Willie Harper ... recruited by Cal, Arizona, Arizona State, Nevada, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, Washington and Washington State. Head coach Pat Hill: "Josh was one of the most highly sought after receivers in California. He's got all of the skills to become a big-time college receiver at Fresno State. He's explosive, a great route runner, and the complete package as a receiver. I believe this young man can become a big part of the great legacy of wideouts at Fresno State."
Marcus McDade, Quarterback, 6-3, 190, Stockton, Calif. (Saint Mary's HS)
Rocket arm quarterback ... scout.com experts say he "makes throws that some NFL QB's cant" ... threw for 2,435 passing yards averaging 202.9 yards per game ... rated by one service as the 26th-best player in California ... connected on well over half his passes maintaining a 58.3 completion percentage ... threw 31 touchdown passes with only two interceptions ... boasted a 128 QB rating his senior year ... showed evasive mobility adding 228 rushing yards along with 5 rushing touchdowns ... AMP recruiting ranked him among the top five in the country in quarterback arm strength ... Named First Team All-Tri-City Athletic League Football Team ... was outstanding Offensive Player of the Year ... teammate WR Josh Harper, also a Bulldog recruit, was awarded Offensive Player of the Year ... coach says "McDade has a nice combination of arm strength and accuracy" ... also recruited by Oregon, Oregon State and Washington. Head coach Pat Hill: "Marcus is a very talented quarterback who has a big-time arm and ability to make plays. He makes good decisions on the field as his high touchdown low interception ratio proves. He's honed his skills and loves the game of football. I look forward to watching him develop as a pro-style quarterback."
Fresno State's signings as of: 10:07 a.m. PT
Davon Dunn, Athlete, 5-11, 175, San Diego, Calif. (Lincoln HS) [Dave-on]
Played for Lincoln High School and went 6-4-1 in 2009 with the Hornets ... used as a wide receiver, running back, cornerback and kick returner ... rated as the 36th best player in California as a high school senior by one scouting service and the fifth-best receiver ... as a senior he had 75 carries for 560 yards ... ran for an average 7.47 yards per carry ... scored six rushing touchdowns ... had 22 receptions for 451 yards and two touchdowns ... had a kick return average of 33.83 yards and a punt return average of 57.5 ... named first-team all-league, All-CIF, second-team all-state ... also ran track and holds the school 100 meter record ... his father, David Dunn, played for Fresno State from 1993-94 and was one of the best kick returners in Bulldog history ... father is second in Fresno State history in overall kickoff return average (No. 61, 1,639 yds, 26.9 avg.) and fourth in kickoff return for a season (1994, No. 35, 1,013 yds, 28.9 avg.) ... father was drafted by the Bengals in 1995 and spent seven seasons in the NFL playing for the Bengals (1995-98), Steelers (1998), Browns (1999) and Raiders (2000-01) ... comes from the same high school that produced NFL stars Marcus Allen and Tyrell Davis and former Bulldogs Dwayne Wright and Dominic McGuire, who are in the NFL and NBA respectively... "Davon is an athlete," Lincoln coach Ron Hamamoto said. "Long story short, he can do it all. He's got great hands, speed. He grew up around the game so he knows it well. He could play right away." ... recruited by Arizona, Cal, SDSU, Washington, UCLA, Oregon and Utah. Head coach Pat Hill: "Davon is an explosive football player who has the ability to play several positions. He has what I like to call position flexibility. He has a great change of direction and is electrifying when he touches the football. It's great to have him in our program. His father, David, was a great Bulldog and had a fine NFL career. We look forward to continuing that legacy."
Lester Fontenette, Linebacker, 6-2, 207, San Diego, Calif. (Madison HS) [Fon-ten-eht]
A versatile player who played a number of positions ranging from quarterback, running back, wide receiver, linebacker and defensive back ... quick and elusive ... has great size and speed ... can make plays with both his arm and legs... good field leader according to coaches ... played QB in high school but is projected to play linebacker ... as starting QB led his team to a 10-2 season, threw 14 touchdown passes with only one interception throwing for 1,245 passing yards and added 1,223 rushing yards for 10 touchdowns ... named Offensive Player of the Year for the All-Central League his senior year ... runs a 4.5 in the 40 ... benches 280 pounds and squats 420 pounds ... played basketball his sophomore year ... former teammate is Bulldogs running back Robbie Rouse ... was also recruited by Nevada, San Diego, Washington, and Washington State. Head coach Pat Hill: "Lester is another big-time athlete that has great position flexibility. He played quarterback in high school but we were able to watch him for two years in our summer camp and I feel like he will make an impact on our team early in his career."
Kelly O'Brien, Quarterback, 6-6, 210, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Foothill Junior College)
Has incredible size for a quarterback at 6-foot-6 ... comes to Fresno State after one year at Foothill Junior College and still has three years of eligibility left ... led the Owls to an 8-3 record last season ... team scored 28.5 points per game ... Foothill College was ranked No. 6 in Northern California ... posted a 115 quarterback rating ... threw for 1,218 yards and 15 touchdowns in nine games ... best game came against No. 12 Diablo Valley ... threw for 306 and four touchdowns ... played high school football at Loyola High School in 2006 ... a late bloomer physically, he sat two seasons attending school and worked on his skills before enrolling at Foothills... as a senior, led the team with 748 passing yards and six touchdowns ... son for former NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Ken O'Brien (Jets and Eagles) who holds several club and NFL records in an 11-year career. Head coach Pat Hill: "Kelly has the tools to be an excellent quarterback. I like his size and arm strength and especially his accuracy. He hasn't played a lot of football in his life, but he has a lot of intangibles that could make him a big part of our team. He is a raw talent with a huge upside. His development will be a key for the growth of our team."
Fresno State's signings as of: 9:55 a.m. PT
Edward Dillihunt, Defensive Back, 6-0, 190, Tulare, Calif. (Tulare Union HS)
One of the premier athletes in the Valley ... a multi-dimensional player who helped Tulare Union to an 11-1 finish ... played wide receiver, safety and punt/kick returner for the Redskins ... named EYL Specialist of the Year ... two-time Fresno Bee All-Star ... named Most Outstanding Player on the Visalia Delta Times all-county team ... made the Max Prep Sports All-State team ... had 54 carries for 599 yards and an average of 11.09 yards per carry ... rushed a single-game high of 125 yards over Monache ... had 34 catches for 748 yards with an average of 22 yards ... had a single-game high of 191 yards over Porterville ... scored a total of 18 touchdowns (10 rushing and 8 receiving) ... on the defensive side of the ball had 24 tackles and 2.2 tackles per game ... recorded one sack in 2009 ... scored a single-game high of five touchdowns against Mt. Whitney ... also plays basketball ... "He's the best punt returner I've seen in my life, absolutely incredible. He's one of those guys you sit back and go, `wow.' It got to the point where teams just kicked it out of bounds. He probably accounted for 14 points a game in special teams. He's hard working, polite and respectful. He'll play [in the NFL] on Sunday," Tulare coach Darren Bennett .... recruited by ASU, Nevada, UNLV, WSU and SDSU. Head coach Pat Hill: "Edward is a player we targeted a while ago. I knew he was going to be something special and he's one of the best all-around players we've seen in the area in a long time. He's a great person and I believe he can be a leader in our program. As a player on the field, his great accomplishments speak for themselves. He's reminds our staff of James Sanders (N.E. Patriots) as a player."
Ofa Fifita, Linebacker, 6-0, 215, San Bernardino, Calif. (Arroya Valley HS)
Strong and physical player ... wreaked havoc on defense and special teams recording 133 tackles with a 12.1 per game average, caused six fumbles, had one interception, blocked two field goals and a punt and corralled the quarterback for seven sacks as a senior ... had 363 career tackles with 213 solo tackles ... benches 305 and squats 365 ... reports a 32-inch vertical leap ... maintained a 3.4 GPA his senior year ... scored a 1300 on the SAT's ... plans on majoring in business ... also recruited by Hawaii, Nevada, UNLV, San Jose State and Colorado State. Head coach Pat Hill: "Ofa's a hitter who brings great passion and a physical toughness to the field every day. He's always around the football and makes plays all over the field. His style of play is passionate and high energy."
Fresno State's signings as of: 9:48 a.m. PT
Isaiah Burse, Athlete, 5-11, 180, Modesto, Calif. (Modesto Christian HS)
An extremely gifted all-around athlete with the ability to have an impact at multiple positions for the Bulldogs... played both ways for the Crusaders and led his team to a 15-0 season and the CIF Small School State Championship... offensively he finished the season with 1,771 yards passing, completing 77-of-130 passes and 27 touchdowns... rushed for 1,826 yards on 195 carries and 26 touchdowns... defensively he posted 90 tackles on the season, seven sacks, and five interceptions... during the season he was named U.S. Air Force Player of the Week and ESPN Rise CalHiSports.com Boys Student Athlete of the Week... in the CIF Small School State Championship, Burse led his team to victory completing 8-of-10 passes and threw three touchdowns while running for 135 yards and a touchdown... on defense he had eight tackles, and two sacks... named Max Preps Small School State Player of the Year, Modesto Bee's Player of the Year, and 2009 Sac Joaquin Section MVP... in his high school career Burse rushed 545 times for 4,003 yards and 61 touchdowns... he completed 363-of-637 passes for 6,890 yards and 87 touchdowns... also currently plays basketball for Modesto Christian at guard... off the field/court performs well in the classroom with a 3.4 GPA and plans to study Kinesiology... quoted saying "I've never had anyone else on the top of my list but Fresno State"... Modesto Christian coach Mike Parsons said, "He's very quiet and humble and leads by example...if he doesn't see an effort he likes, he's not afraid to communicate it to the other guys and the coaches"... recruited by Arizona and Kansas State. Head coach Pat Hill: "Isaiah was one of the best all-around players in the state this past season. He's a physically gifted athlete who can dominate games. He's the type of athlete who wants the ball in crunch time and the type we need to get the ball in his hands in a variety of ways. He's a special young man and I believe will make an impact on our team early in his career."
Victor Dean, Wide Receiver, 6-5, 200, San Diego, Calif. (Lincoln HS)
A great athlete who played wide receiver and safety for Lincoln High School ... a big-play receiver who helped the Hornets to a 6-4-1 finish ... recorded five games with over 100 yards receiving and two games with over 300 yards ... had a single-game high of 329 receiving yards against Mission Bay ... recorded 55 catches for 1,491 yards with an average of 22 yards per reception ... scored 21 touchdowns during senior season ... named All-CIF, all-league and All-San Diego team ... 12th best receiver in California by one recruiting service ... also named to the Cal Hi All-State team and Max Prep Sports all-state team ... during his junior year he had 28 catches for 740 yards and six touchdowns ... member of the Hornets basketball team averaging 13.3 points per game ... comes from the same high school that produced NFL stars Marcus Allen and Tyrell Davis and former Bulldogs Dwayne Wright and Dominic McGuire, who are in the NFL and NBA respectively... also recruited by SDSU, Arizona, Colorado State and Washington. Head coach Pat Hill: "Because of his size, Victor is unlike any receiver we've had before. He is very tall with long arms and can go get the ball. He's an explosive athlete with great speed and leaping ability. He's also put together some amazing highlights as a basketball player. He is a weapon that we haven't had here in my time because of his size and leaping ability."
Fresno State's signings as of: 9:33 a.m. PT
Sean Alston, Defensive Back, 5-10, 175, Alta Loma, Calif. (Los Osos HS)
Playing both sides of the football for the Grizzlies, Alston helped his team to a 9-5 record...was a key wide receiver, with 67 receptions for 1,127 yards his senior season and 11 scores... best game came against West Ranch gaining 178 yards on six reception for two touchdowns... Alston also contributed defensively with 27 total tackles on the season and two interceptions...was named 2009 All-CIF Team and All-Baseline League 1st Team...was a part of the 2009 Inland Empire All-Star Team...projected to play defensive back for the Bulldogs...was quoted saying "I've always seen myself playing in Fresno"...Alston plans to major in criminal justice...recruited by Wisconsin, UNLV, and Colorado State. Head coach Pat Hill: "Sean is a good football player who has a great change of direction and competed at a high level for Los Osos. He made a lot of plays on both sides of the ball. We see him as a corner back in our program."
Matt Darr, Punter, 6-2, 210, Bakersfield, Calif. (Frontier)
Rated as the No. 1 high school punter in the nation ... played in the prestigious U.S. Army All-America game ... selected first-team on the Max Preps All-America team ... also played linebacker at Frontier leading his team to an 11-2 record as a senior ... had 96 tackles, a team-high 79 of those solo ... had one interception, recovered two fumbles and blocked two punts ... averaged 42.91 yards per punt with a career-long of 71 ... has tremendous leg strength which generates incredible hang-time ... was the team's kicker and 35 of his 60 kickoffs went for touchbacks ... made 34 PATs and 11 field goals as a senior ... one of the premier athletes in the state of California ... averaged 46.26 yards per punt and had 93 tackles as a junior ... "Matt is the No. 1 punting prospect in the nation. He has the size, strength, and athleticism to be a dominating D-1 punter," said punting expert Chris Sailer after Darr won the punting competition at his "Top 12" camp ... won the state high school track meet in the shot put (62', 1.25") and discus (192'-0") as a junior ... those two wins scored enough points (20) for Frontier to claim the state team championship ... an excellent student with a 4.0 GPA ... recruited by USC, Alabama, LSU and Arizona State among others. Head coach Pat Hill: "We have never signed a special teams player with the raw natural ability that Matt has. He's a powerful player and has the ability to change a game by quickly by changing field position with one swing of his leg. We've had a great tradition of special teams players here at Fresno State who have excelled on the field and in the class room and Matt fits that mold. He's also planning to be major in agriculture and because of our great Ag school he chose Fresno State over the Trojans of USC."
Tyeler Davison, Defensive Line, 6-2, 280, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Desert Mountain)
Powerful and strong tackle, playing both sides of the ball...was named first team all-region as both an offensive and defensive lineman... as a junior was an all-city offensive tackle... in his high school career he posted 109 tackles and 13 sacks... best game came against San Luis when Davison recorded eight tackles and 1.5 sacks...quoted saying "I just really like all of the coaches and felt comfortable with all of the players. It just seemed like the right fit"... Desert Mountain coach Tony Tabor said, "Tyeler is a great kid with great character. On the field he has a great motor and great stability that he gets from being on the wrestling team"...as a junior wrestler went 15-4 and won two tournaments competing in heavy weight and is currently competing at the varsity level... recruited by UNLV, Arizona and Air Force. Head coach Pat Hill: "Tyeler is an outstanding student and a great young man. He plays with a lot of passion and has a great feel for the game. He's got all of the qualities we want in a Bulldog football player. I believe he can be a force inside for us on the defensive line."
Andrew Gustafson, Offensive Line, 6-5, 265, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral HS)
Strong and powerful player ... played both offensive and defensive line in high school ... team was 13-1 en route to the State Championship his senior season ... part of an offense that averaged 39 points per game ... blocked for a running back who now holds a high school rushing record in total yards ... coaches call him a "self-made player who made himself into a D-1 player by working his tail off," ...was also recruited by Air-Force, Arizona, Arizona State, New Mexico, UCLA, UNLV, Utah and Washington State. Head coach Pat Hill: "Andrew is a player who we think has a great upside. He's a big player with good footwork and I think will grow into an excellent offensive lineman of us. He's got a great work ethic and shown a real passion for the game."
More signings will be announced later this morning. Follow gobulldogs.com for details.
