OGDEN -- The fax machine will be busy today in the Weber State football office.
Today is the first day that junior college and high school players can officially send in their national letters of intent to play for the college of their choice. The Wildcats are expecting an exciting 2010 signing class after making the Division I FCS playoffs for the second straight season.
Among the 19 players expecting to sign with the Wildcats are 11 Utah high school players, including one whose father is a Wildcat.
Sage Stireman, a receiver out of Bonneville High School who was also a punter, will follow in his father's footsteps and become a Wildcat.
"I've always wanted to go to Weber State, even when I was little," Stireman said. "The last couple weeks I actually didn't know if I was going to go to Weber because I didn't feel strong about it. But recently I have felt strong, so I'm going to Weber."
His father, Dave, played quarterback for the Wildcats and finished his career in 1985, and knowing that his dad had success as a Wildcat was a huge factor in Stireman's decision.
"He's been a great example for me over the years and I've seen tapes of him playing there and that made me want to go there so bad," Stireman said.
Stireman, who said he thinks if he gets the chance he'll be able to contribute right away, is excited to stay close to home. Even though he had some interest in Utah State and Southern Utah, his mind was mostly set on Weber State.
That made his dad happy.
"We're obviously very excited," Dave said, "We're happy with his decision. We hoped first hed have a chance to go and if things worked out he could go and play there."
Five other recruits expected to sign today are also staying close to home.
Kicker Josh Kealamakia, who prepped at Syracuse High School, is one of those and will likely be looked at to contribute right away since the Wildcats lost punter Mike Snoy to graduation and kicker John Williams is not returning to the team.
Defensive end Helam Heimuli (Bountiful), running back Tanner Hinds (Davis), wide receiver Alex Knowles (Mountain Crest) and linebacker James Taylor (Bear River) also made the decision to sign with nearby Weber State.
Other Utah signees are likely to include wide receivers Caden Andersen (Rich) and Erik Walker (Park City), running back Alema Key (Springville), and offensive linemen Cash Knight (Park City) and Tyson Tiatia (Timpview).
Other signees should include cornerback Xavian Johnson, Cheyenne High School (Nev.), receiver Shaydon Kehano, Castle High School (Hawaii), running backs David Knowles, Hug High School (Nev.) and Haini MoiMoi, Mahtomedi High School (Minn.) and offensive linemen Alex Land, Edmond Santa Fe High School (Okla.), Shelton Robinson, Highland High School (Idaho), Jiniki Timoteo Leilehua High School (Hawaii) and junior college transfer Joel Turrubiates, Bakersfield JC (Calif.).
WSU will hold its signing day party at 6 p.m. today at Stewart Stadium. Fans can hear coach Ron McBride talk about this year's recruits.
Utah State, Utah and BYU will also announce their 2010 recruiting classes today. Aggies coach Gary Andersen has said he is pleased with the early verbal commitments going into signing day.
For Brian Kelly, Lane Kiffin and Derek Dooley, the first priority at their new jobs was just keeping it together.
Keeping together the recruiting class, that is.
Coaching changes at Notre Dame, Southern California and Tennessee have added intrigue to the end of the recruiting season as three of the nation's marquee programs have scrambled to hold on to their blue chippers.
"This is maybe the most suspenseful recruiting season in the 12-plus years I have been doing it," said Jeremy Crabtree, national recruiting editor for Rivals.com.
The Associated Press contiributed to this report.
Comments