Headlined by a quintet of players from the two-time state champion Oceanside Pirates, Brady Hoke announced a class of 27 recruits yesterday on National Signing Day. The largest Aztecs recruiting class since 2005 is the latest sign of Hoke’s attempt to cleanse the program of its losing ways.
“All programs have a blueprint of what they want to be,” said Hoke at a Montezuma Mesa press conference (video below), “The biggest thing for us is to recruit guys who have character. We want to recruit guys who come from winning programs.”
In that case, reaching out to John Carroll and Oceanside High is a natural start. The six-time defending CIF champions and two-time state champs are coming off a 13-0 season. The late addition of speedy cornerback/slotback Jerry Whittaker (who decommited from Arizona) to a group that already included linebacker Rene Siluano, cornerback King Holder, linebacker Jake Fely, and defensive lineman Kenneth Galea’i gives Hoke his first clear win in local recruiting.
Yes, the biggest fish in what might have been the best year for prep talent in San Diego history still left the pond. There are no obvious superstars like Tony Jefferson, Ricky Seale or Thomas Molesi in Hoke’s class. But you’ve got to start somewhere, and the class of 2010 for SDSU reflects months of hard work reconnecting with local prep coaches who had backed away in the Craft/Long era.
Watch video of Hoke’s press conference, an interview with Rocky Long and more after the jump:
24 of the 27 recruits in this year’s class come from California. The high school players come from teams with a combined record of 194-57, a .773 winning percentage. Those wins don’t transfer like AP credits onto the college transcripts, but Hoke believes that by recruiting players who have established the routine of winning, they will be more likely to pick up on his mantra at the next level.
Brady Hoke’s Opening Statement on Signing Day:
It’s no surprise that Hoke and his staff saw last year’s team as lacking in toughness. They won’t say that, but the recruiting of six defensive lineman and five offensive lineman is a ringing bell. The Aztecs needed to get more physical, more relentless…more Pirate-like.
The most immediate beneficiary should be defensive coordinator Rocky Long. Coach Long joined 619 Sports after the Hoke press conference for a 1-on-1 interview:
The class includes one quarterback, Adam Dingwell, and if you’re going to go looking for QBs, Texas is a good place to go. Dingwell comes from Rockwall, Texas and could be a heir to Lindley’s throne down the line. In the interim, the Aztecs will return excellent experience in the passing game, with DeMarco Sampson and Vincent Brown both coming back as targets for Lindley. They will be joined at wideout by athletic speedster Ezell Ruffin from Long Beach Wilson High School, and Madison High product David Lamar.
Watch Hoke answer questions from the San Diego sports media:
In his first year, Brady Hoke instilled a new attitude in the Aztecs football program, but for a lot of the kids, it didn’t completely take. After some promising moments SDSU fell flat at season’s end. Now, Hoke is bringing in his type of players to match his commitment to winning.
He’ll never be able to throw a fence around San Diego county, but one day he’s gonna rope one of the faster horses. For now, Hoke will have to settle for a pirate’s ship full of young talent.
