Falcons mess with Texas for football recruits
About a third of Air Force’s 2010 recruiting class hails from Texas.
And that’s no surprise, as the Falcons’ roster already has a distinct Texas flavor. Thirteen of the 44 players listed as offensive and defensive starters for last season’s Armed Forces Bowl hail from the Lone Star State. Three assistant coaches (Ron Burton, Blane Morgan and Jemal Singleton) are assigned to recruit the state. And three straight trips to the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth have increased the Falcons presence.
But while the Falcons always will consider Texas – along with Georgia and Ohio – their most fertile recruiting territories, they also have made inroads in Arizona.
Academy recruits won’t sign binding letters of intent on Wednesday, which is National Signing Day, and the academy does not release names of recruits because of the ongoing congressional appointment process. However, The Gazette has confirmed the players have committed to attend the academy.
Included among them are linebacker Austin Arias (Peoria, Ariz./Centennial High) and offensive tackle Jacob Ehm (Scottsdale/Chaparral High), both of whom are listed as three-star recruits by Scout.com, and tight end Sean Craig (Tucson/Salpointe Catholic), who is listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com. Nearly all the remaining players in Air Force’s class are listed as one- or two-star recruits.
“The area’s grown so much probably over the last 10 years or so,” Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said of Arizona. “And what you’ve found is there are some really good school systems down that way, too.”
Calhoun also noted that Phoenix is a direct, easy flight from Colorado Springs.
Richard Taylor, Arias’ coach at Centennial, said Air Force has increased its presence in Arizona “the last couple of years.”
“I think that continuous recruiting and rapport they’ve built up is finally paying off for them,” he said.
Air Force also had an unusually strong year in Washington, where they landed a pair of linebackers – Riley Carr (Mill Creek/Jackson High), a four-year starter, and Seth Kline (Yakima/Eisenhower High), a three-star recruit, according to Rivals.com – all-state running back Anthony Meray (Spanway/Bethel High), who rushed for 2,003 yards as a senior, and guard Jake Welch, another four-year starter and all-state selection.
Overall, Calhoun said the recruiting class of just fewer than 40 players is the smallest of the four he’s brought to the academy. But he said it’s a quality group as Air Force has been “a lot more selective.” And he added that the academy did not lose any commitments after defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter left last month to take the same job at Texas A&M. Assistant Tony Sampson took over recruiting DeRuyter’s territory in California.
Air Force landed a pair of top players from Colorado – Heritage quarterback Mitch Griebel, the 4A Player of the Year, who led Littleton to a state title, and Greeley West defensive tackle A.J. Frieler, a Denver Post All-Colorado selection.
AIR FORCE RECRUITS
Pos; Name; Hometown (High School); Ht., Wt. (40 time if available)
DE; Moshood Adeniji; Garland, Texas (Garland High); 6-2, 225
First-team all-district lineman plays “with great leverage” and “really good technique,” HS coach said.
MLB; Austin Arias; Peoria, Ariz. (Centennial); 6-0, 215
Two-time league defensive player of the year is a three-star recruit, according to Scout.com.
CB; Fred Blow; Humble, Texas (Atascocita High); 5-10, 170
Athletic corner who can play bump-and-run coverage; Made District 5A-19 all-academic team.
WR; Stacey Blunt; Dublin, Ohio (Scioto High); 6-1, 173
An honorable mention AP all-Central District Division II selection
Ath; Dylan Bungum; Dodge Center, Minn. (Triton High); 6-4, 200
“Rangy” athlete did a little bit of everything in high school and could project as an OLB
OLB; Riley Carr; Mill Creek, Wash. (Henry M. Jackson High); 6-0, 225
Four-year starter at linebacker made 87 tackles as senior; Also scored 24 TDs as a RB
WR; Clayton Cooper; Springtown, Texas (Springtown High); 6-2, 190
Caught 50 passes for 754 yard and six TDs and rushed for 601 yards and six TDs
TE; Sean Craig; Tucson, Ariz. (Salpointe Catholic High); 6-3, 220/4.69
A three-star recruit according to Rivals.com, Craig was a team captain and all-conference performer
S; Christian Cummings; Jefferson City, Mo. (Jefferson City High); 5-10, 185
A District 6 all-state second-team selection.
DB; Martinez Davis; Madisonville, Ky. (North Hopkins); 5-10, 170
Named honorable mention all-state by Louisville Courier-Journal
TE; Ben DeMarr; Phoenix (Mountain Pointe High); 6-4, 203
Helped pave the way for two RBs to combine for 3,508 rushing yards and 51 TDs in 12-1 season.
RB; Jonathan Diaz; Temecula, Calif. (Chaparral High); 5-7, 165
Helped lead team to CIF-Southern Section Inland Division title.
C; Bobby Dunn; Carol Stream, Ill. (Glenbard North High); 6-2, 240
Dunn started at offensive tackle, but comes to Air Force as a long-snapping specialist.
OT; Jacob Ehm; Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral High); 6-6, 245
According to Scout.com, a three-star recruit with offers from Nevada, New Mexico and San Diego State
FB; Brandon Ellison; Friendswood, Texas (Clear Brook High); 6-0, 200
Prototype triple-option fullback rushed for 2,566 yards and 29 touchdowns as junior and senior
WR; Dillon Farley; Keller, Texas (Keller High); 6-5, 195
One of the top 50 recruits in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to the FW Star-Telegram
OT; Joe Frank; Moorpark, Calif. (Moorpark High); 6-4, 290
An all-Ventura County selection and the Marmonte League Lineman of the Year.
DT; A.J. Frieler; Greeley (Greeley West High); 6-5, 250/4.8
A Denver Post all-Colorado selection as an offensive lineman.
QB; Austin Gouldsmith; Grain Valley, Mo. (Grain Valley High); 6-1, 188
A second-team all-state Class 4 selection as an “athlete.”
QB; Mitch Griebel; Littleton (Heritage High); 6-0, 180
Colorado 4A POY led Littleton to state title; 33-5 as starting QB and holds 20 school records.
RB; Broam Hart; Alvarado, Texas (Alvarado High); 6-1, 194
Rushed for more than 4,700 yards in three seasons as an I-formation tailback.
OL; Drew Kerber; Blue Springs, Mo. (Blue Springs); 6-3, 280
Three-year starter and Kansas City Star all-Metro selection
LB; Seth Kline; Yakima, Wash. (Eisenhower High); 6-1, 215
Direct-in recruit was league’s defensive POY; Made 123 tackles, including 19 TFL, in ’09
WR; Al Lasker; Carrollton, Texas (Newman Smith High); 6-0, 167
AP 4A all-state second-team selection helped team to regional semifinal.
ATH; Jon Lee; Winder, Ga. (Apalachee); 5-10, 185
A three-star recruit, according to Rivals.com, he earned honorable mention Class AAAA all-state honors.
DT; Steven Lester; Mundelein, Ill. (Carmel High); 6-2, 265
Standout wrestler earned all-state special mention honors on the football field.
WR; Keith Link; Highlands Ranch (Rock Canyon High); 6-3, 210
Class 4A all-state honorable mention selection.
QB; Mike McNamara; Austin, Texas (St. Michael’s Academy); 5-11, 165
Running quarterback guided St. Michael’s to the playoffs.
RB; Anthony Meray; Spanaway, Wash. (Bethel High); 5-9, 185
First-team all-state selection rushed for 2,003 yards and set league record with 2,741 all-purpose yards.
CB; Brendan Murphy; Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral High); 5-9.5, 162
Helped lead team to 13-1 mark and state championship.
MLB; Joey Nichol; Leander, Texas (Cedar Park High); 6-1, 215
All-district player led Cedar Park to district title and possesses “tremendous instincts,” HS coach said.
K; Cody Rademacher; Austin, Texas (Westlake High); 5-10, 183
“Consistent,” according to HS coach; Made 31-yarder in OT of Texas Class 5A Division I state title game
OLB; Alberto Sanabria; Gainesville, Ga. (Gainesville High); 6-0, 190
Has “incredible range and a way of finding and making plays in space,” said HS coach.
OL; Tristian Turknett; Dallas (Skyline High); 6-2, 287
Second-team all-district performer
K; Steve Valadez; Arlington, Texas (Bowie High); 5-10, 175
Honorable mention all-state performer at punter
FB; Mark Weisman; Lincolnshire, Ill. (Stevenson High); 6-0, 210
Workhorse averaged 23 carries and rushed for 1,657 yards and 22 touchdowns in ’09.
OG; Jake Welch; Longview, Wash. (Mark Morris High); 6-3, 290
Four-year starter was 2A all-state selection in 2009
OT; Charlie Zemko; Tyrone, Ga. (Sandy Creek High); 6-3, 250
Honorable mention Class AAAA all-state performer
