WILDCAT SPORTS NEWS Media Relations Office * Weber State University 2702 University Circle * Ogden,Utah 84408-2702 SID Office FAX Number: (801) 626-6490 INTERNET WEB SITE: www.weberstatesports.com WEBER STATE SIGNS 21 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS AND 4 JUNIOR COLLEGE PLAYERS TO FOOTBALL LETTERS OF INTENT (For Release on Wednesday, February 4, 2009) OGDEN, UTAH - Weber State University head football coach, RON McBRIDE, announced the signing of 21 high school and four junior college players to national letters of intent to play football for the Wildcats in 2009. Linemen and defensive backs accounted for 16 of the 24 players signed. My number one recruiting priority when I took this job in 2005 was to establish strength and depth on the offensive and defensive lines, and that s still my priority. Those two areas are where games are won and lost. said McBride. We ve got good groups in both of those areas, now we are making sure we kept depth. You can never have too many linemen. McBride also pointed out the need for good defensive backs, especially in the pass-happy Big Sky Conference. We now have a good mixture of veterans and youth in our defensive secondary, McBride said. We ve brought in a couple of junior college players to come in and fill some vacancies and the four freshmen are going to be good players for us down the road. The breakdown show of the 25 players signed, 15 are on the defensive side and 10 on offense. Utah led the way with eight players and followed by Oklahoma with four. Three each came from California, Hawai i and Idaho. Of the five recruiting classes I ve had here, this one is the most athletic, said McBride. There is a tremendous amount of speed and quickness in this group and most of them are multi-sport athletes. Our success this past season has paid some great dividends. Many of these players turned down bigger programs, or maybe more successful programs on our level, to come to Weber State. I am very please with my staff and the effort they put into making this a successful recruiting class. The Wildcats open up 2009 Spring football camp on Saturday, March 28. The Spring football game is tentatively set for Saturday, April 18. PAUL GRUA Assistant Media Relations Director Office: (801) 626-7414 E-Mail: PGRUA@WEBER.EDU BRAD LARSEN Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations Office: (801) 626-6010 Cell: (801) 698-9548 E-Mail: BLARSEN3@WEBER.EDU DARIN HOGGE Assistant Media Relations Director Office: (801) 626-6012 E-Mail:DHOGGE@WEBER.EDU
2009 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL SIGNEES High School Seniors (21) NAME POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL Jordan Adamczyk QB 6-0 185 Canyon Country, California Canyons Josh Booker RB 6-0 205 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Putnam City North Jordan Clemente WR 6-4 215 Tooele, Utah Tooele Darren Denucci OL 6-5 250 Bountiful, Utah Bountiful Robbie Diamond DB 6-0 165 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Putnam City Jordan Egbet TE 6-3 205 Orem, Utah Orem Tony Epperson DB 6-4 200 Park City, Utah Park City Jared Goody OL 6-5 260 Pocatello, Idaho Highland Jarred Henry LB 6-1 205 Columbia, Missouri Rock Bridge Breck Lewis QB 6-5 185 Spanish Fork, Utah Spanish Fork Damion McMiller LB 6-2 215 Stockton, California Lincoln Quaid Morris DB 6-0 185 Nampa, Idaho Nampa Bijon Mostoufi DT 6-0 275 Honolulu, Hawai i Kaiser Danny Mullarkey DE 6-3 220 Phoenix, Arizona Desert Vista Willie Okwuonu DB 6-0 180 Edmond, Oklahoma Edmond Santa Fe Shane Oliverson OL 6-3 240 Preston, Idaho Preston Trevor Pletcher DE 6-2 225 Edmond, Oklahoma Edmond Santa Fe Ethan Rasmussen DB 6-1 180 Hyrum, Utah Mountain Crest Logan Taele DT 6-2 235 St. George, Utah Dixie Hunter Thomson DL 6-2 265 Waialua, Hawai i Waialua Adam Sagapolutele-White DT 5-11 275 Waipahu, Hawai i St. Louis JUNIOR COLLEGE TRANSFERS (4) NAME POS HT WT CL HOMETOWN HS / JC *Jordan Brown DB 6-2 190 Jr. Brigham City, Utah Box Elder / Snow (UT) #Pierce Cook DB 5-9 160 Jr. Merrit Island, Florida Merrit Island / Fresno CC *Steve Halverson LB 6-0 225 So. Elk Grove, California Elk Grove / American River *Vai Tafuna FB 6-1 240 Jr. Mesa, Arizona Mesa / Mesa CC *Enrolled for 2009 Spring Semester at Weber State #Will enroll for 2009 Fall Semester
...BY STATE ARIZONA... 2 CALIFORNIA... 3 FLORIDA... 1 HAWAI I... 3 IDAHO... 3 MISSOURI... 1 OKLAHOMA... 4 UTAH... 8 2009 WEBER STATE FOOTBALL SIGNEES (Junior College Transfers) *currently enrolled at WSU and will participate in 2009 Spring practice %Will attend WSU in Fall of 2009 *JORDAN BROWN - Defensive Back 6-2, 190 Junior - Brigham City, Utah (Box Elder HS / Snow (Utah) JC)... Comes to Weber State after a solid two-year career at Snow Junior College in Ephraim, Utah where he played for Coach Steve Coburn.... The Badgers were 21-3 in his career appearing in two Top of the Mountains Bowl games.... Snow was 11-1 in 2008.... Led Snow in interceptions with four in 2008, returning two of them for touchdowns (48 and 98 yards).... Averaged 27.8 yard per kickoff return and returned one 97 yards for a touchdowns.... Led Snow in Tackles with 125 (62 unassisted) and ranked second in NJCAA.... Two-time Western States Football League defensive player of the week.... 2008 All-Western States League First Team defensive back.... Lettered in football, basketball and track at Box Elder High.... Played for Coach Wes Roesler.... First Team All-State Class 4A.... Had 143 career tackles for the Bees (100 unassisted), with 11 interceptions. He returned three of those interceptions for a touchdown and had a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown.... Helped Box Elder to state 4A boy s track and field championships where he placed in the javelin, long jump and anchored the 4x400 meter relay team... Was on the boy s basketball team which advanced to the state 4A championship game his senior season....position Offense (10) Wide Receiver... 1 Offensive Line... 4 Tight End... 1 Quarterback... 2 Running Back... 1 Fullback... 1 Kicker... 0 Defense (15) Defensive Line... 5 Linebackers... 3 Defensive Backs... 7 Punter... 0 %PIERCE COOK - Cornerback 5-9, 160 - Merritt Island, Florida (Merritt Island HS / Fresno City College)... Will join the Wildcats in for Fall camp in August.... :Played for Coach Tony Caviglia at Fresno City College.... Helped the Rams to the Silicon Valley Bowl in 2008.... Played both running back and defensive for Coach Patrick Campbell at Merritt Island High.... Was ran a standout runner in the 400 meters where he ranked in the top 10 in the state of Florida his senior season. *STEVE HALVERSON - Linebacker 6-0, 225 Sophomore - Elk Grove, California (Elk Grove HS / American River JC)... Comes out of Coach Dave Hoskins program at Elk Grove High.... Played at American River Junior College for Coach Jerry Haflich.... Physically strong and has excellent reaction in picking up the ball carrier.... Is expected to come in and battle for a starting position during 2009 Spring drills. *VAINGAMALIE (Vai) TAFUNA 6-1, 240 Junior - Mesa, Arizona (Mesa HS / Mesa Community College)... Played two seasons at Mesa Community College for coach Dan Dunn and Coach Mike Jacobs.... Brings the same physical presence to the fullback spot as did Marcus Mailei who was a starter their for the past four season for the Wildcats.... Helped the Thunderbirds to the 2007 Valley of the Sun Bowl championship and a number eight ranking in the NJCAA.... Honorable Mention all-state, and First Team All-East Valley Region his senior year at Mesa High for Coach Bill McKane.... Is enrolled at WSU for the 2009 Spring semester and will participate in 2009 Spring football drills.
(High School Seniors) JORDAN ADAMCZYK - Quarterback 6-0, 185 - Canyon Country, California (Canyons HS)...Last name is pronounced: a-dom-check.... First Team All-Foothill League.... Played for Coach Chris Varner.... Had a single game best 402 yards passing and five touchdowns. JOSH BOOKER - Running Back 6-0, 205 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Putnam City North HS)...One of the top running backs in Oklahoma Class 6A in 2008.... Rushed for over 1,100 yards in 2008 and averaged 9.4 yards per carry.... Putnam City North is one of the perennial high school powers in the state of Oklahoma.... Named to the Oklahoma Top 50 list.... Named all-city, all-conference, all-district and all-state.... Played under Coach Bob Wilson.... Cross town rival with WSU fellow signee Robbie Diamond of Putnam City High and good friends as well. JORDAN CLEMENTE - Wide Receiver 6-4, 215 - Tooele, Utah (Tooele HS)...Honorable Mention all-state class 4A for Coach Ray Groth.... First Team all-region as a wide receiver and defensive back.... Has excellent hands and coaches feel he will become bigger and stronger on the collegiate DARREN DENUCCI - Offensive Line 6-5, 250 - Bountiful, Utah (Bountiful HS)...2008 First Team Utah Class 4A all-state.... Two-year starter for Coach Larry Wall s Braves.... Played in the Offense-Defense high school all-star game in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina last month.... Has tremendous size and strength coming out of high school. ROBBIE DIAMOND - Cornerback 6-0, 165 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Putnam City HS)... Putnam City is one of the strongest high school football programs in the state of Oklahoma year in and year out.... Played for Coach Mark Little.... Good friends with fellow WSU signee Josh Booker who played at cross town rival Putnam City North HS.... Named the 2008 Metro Conference Player of the Year.... Class 6A-2 all-district.... Played wide receiver and defensive back.... Had three interceptions and 96 tackles in 2008 along with 13 receptions for 187 yards and three touchdowns. JORDAN EGBERT - Tight End 6-3, 205 - Orem, Utah (Orem HS)... Had 48 receptions for 680 yards and three touchdowns for Coach Robert Steele s Orem High Tigers. In 2008.... Earned First Team Class 4A honors.... Named First Team all-region and to the Elite 11 in Utah County.... Named to the Academic all-region team as well. TONY EPPERSON - Defensive Back 6-4, 200 - Park City, Utah (Park City HS)...Named First Team All-State Class 3A.... Had 44 total tackles in 2008 and over 400 receiving yards for Coach Brandon Matich s Miners.... Park City advanced to the 2008 Class 3A semifinals. JARED GOODY- Offensive Line 6-5, 260 - Pocatello, Idaho (Highland HS)... Helped lead his Highland High Rams to the 2008 state title.... Played under Coach Gino Mariani.... Named First Team all-state and all-region. JARRED HENRY - Linebacker 6-1, 205 - Columbia, Missouri (Rock Bridge HS)...Has solid athletic skills.... Played for Coach A.J. Ofodile.... Will most likely play on the outside.... First Missouri high school player to sign with Weber State under Coach Ron McBride. BRECK LEWIS - Quarterback 6-5, 185 - Spanish Fork, Utah (Spanish Fork HS)...A versatile quarterback for Coach Matthew Christensen s Spanish Fork Dons.... Threw for 2,890 yards and 33 touchdowns in 2008, and rushed for over 600 yards.... Named First Team All-State Class 5A.... MVP of his region and named All-Utah Valley MVP.... Alltime top ten in the state of Utah in passing yards and touchdowns. DAMION McMILLER - Linebacker 6-2, 215 - Stockton, California (Lincoln HS)...Two year starter for Coach Tim Rubiales.... Earned all-conference honors his junior and senior seasons and all-state honor in 2008.... Quick, athletic feet who gets to the ball carrier in a hurry.
QUAID MORRIS - Defensive Back 6-0, 185 - Nampa, Idaho (Nampa HS)...Younger brother of current Weber State men s basketball player Trevor Morris (6-9, 235 Soph. Center).... Played for Coach Scott Wooldridge at Nampa High.... Played both quarterback and defensive back.... Rushed for 1,260 yards and threw for over 1,300 yards in 2008 and had 15 rushing touchdowns.... Earned Second Team all-state honors and was the all-area player of the year. BIJON MOSTOUFI - Defensive Tackle 6-0, 275 - Honolulu, Hawai i (Kaiser HS)...Nameis pronounced: BEEjhon MOES-to-fee.... Born in Iran and moved to the Islands as a young child... Earned all-state honors both on the field and in the classroom.... Played for Coach Pat Samsones.... Named to the Hawai i All-Star team. DANNY MULLARKEY - Defensive End 6-3, 220 - Phoenix, Arizona (Desert Vista HS)...Played for Coach Dan Hinds.... The Desert Vista Thunder are a perennial high school powerhouse in the state of Arizona each season.... Team finished second in the state championship game his junior season.... Named all-region, all-city and all-state class 5A.... Named his team s defensive MVP in 2008.... Has good speed and quickness. WILLIE OKWUONU - Cornerback 6-0, 180 - Edmond, Oklahoma (Edmond Santa Fe HS)... Last name is OH-kwan-oo... Comes to Weber State along with high school teammate Trevor Pletcher.... Played for Coach Dan Cocannour.... Named to the Oklahoma Top 50 list.... Named to the all-edmond, all-big City and all-state teams and to the Oklahoma Top 50 list.... Broke the Edmond High single season record with 10 interceptions in 2008... Named his league s defensive player of the year.... Member of the National Honor Society.... Earned all-state honors in soccer as well. SHANE OLIVERSON - Offensive Line 6-3, 240 - Preston, Idaho (Preston HS)... Played for Coach Sean Marlow.... Named First Team all-state as an offensive lineman and Second Team as a defensive lineman.... Named the Cache Valley offensive and defensive lineman player of the year.... Highly skilled lineman who has the body frame to become much bigger and stronger.... Comes from an athletic family, his brother, Shawn, is a 6-10 center for Louisiana Tech.... Intends to major in Physical Therapy. TREVOR PLETCHER - Defensive End 6-2, 225 - Edmond, Oklahoma (Edmond Santa Fe HS)...Played for Coach Dan Cocannour.... Broke his school s single season record for quarterback sacks and tackles for loss.... Named to the Oklahoma Top 50 list.... Was a high school teammate with Willie Okwuonu who also signed with the Wildcats for 2009. ETHAN RASMUSSEN - Defensive Back 6-1, 180 - Hyrum, Utah (Mountain Crest HS)... Played under Coach Mark Wooten.... Named First Team All-State Utah Class 4A.... Had 35 total tackles and four interceptions as a defensive back and 648 receiving yards as a wide receiver.... Helped the Mustangs to the 2008 4A state semifinal game LOGAN TAELE - Defensive Tackle 6-2, 235 - St. George, Utah (Dixie HS)...Named Second Team All-State Utah Class 4A in 2008.... Two-year starter for the Dixie High Flyers....Last name is pronounced TIE-ell-eh.... High school coach was Blaine Monkers.... Three-year letterman in football and track.... Coaches like his physical potential to become bigger and stronger on the collegiate HUNTER THOMSON - Defensive Line 6-2, 265 - Waialua, Hawai i (Waialua HS)...Played for Coach Lincoln Barrit.... Two-year starter on the defensive line.... Solid physical strength and is expected to become bigger and stronger on the collegiate ADAM SAGAPOLUTELE-WHITE - Def. Tackle 5-11, 275 - Waipahu, Hawai i (St. Louis HS)... Played for Coach John Hao at perennial Hawaiian high school power St. Louis High, the same school which produced WSU quarterback Cameron Higgins.... Served as the team captain for the annual Samoa Bowl.