FOOTBALL: Long recruits 21 players to SDSU
Eric Shannon, Sports Editor
Issue date: 2/7/08 Section: Sports
San Diego State football head coach Chuck Long isn't stupid.
One look at what his team lost to graduation, and it's obvious what holes need to be filled.
Which is exactly why six of the 21 players Long signed to national letters of intent are along the offensive line.
"We addressed the offensive line position because of the void there," Long said. "They are a massive group. We are really excited about the guys up front."
SDSU lost four starters along last year's offensive line, including three who had more than 30 starts in their career.
But this is something Long predicted. Seven of the 22 players he signed last year were along the offensive line.
"We were still short in that area," Long said. "We feel that we needed two years to shore that up, and we feel like we've done that now."
The Aztecs do bring more balance in this recruiting class, however, signing 11 players on offense, eight on defense and two special-teamers. It is also the first time since 2003 that SDSU has signed a player in every position group.
Although Long signed a mix of positions, he didn't go after many different locations. Seventeen of the 21 recruits are from California.
Long has also kept his reputation of focusing on high schoolers. He signed only three junior transfers, and has signed a total of seven in his three years with the Aztecs.
"We feel California is a great state to recruit," Long said. "That's where we start, and that's where we get a majority of our players."
For the second year in a row, SDSU has put together one of the better recruiting classes in the Mountain West Conference. According to rivals.com, last year the Aztecs had the second-best recruiting class in the MWC, and this year they followed it up with the third-best class.
The class is headlined by four three-star recruits - offensive linemen Jimmy Miller and Taylor Wallace, linebacker Colin Shumate and quarterback Drew Westling. The junior college transfers, Wallace, Westling and defensive back Davion Mauldin, could have the best chance at making an immediate impact, although anything is possible.
"Who knows how this is all going to play out this fall," Long said. "There are always those nice surprises that you get during training camp that you didn't expect coming in."
One look at what his team lost to graduation, and it's obvious what holes need to be filled.
Which is exactly why six of the 21 players Long signed to national letters of intent are along the offensive line.
"We addressed the offensive line position because of the void there," Long said. "They are a massive group. We are really excited about the guys up front."
SDSU lost four starters along last year's offensive line, including three who had more than 30 starts in their career.
But this is something Long predicted. Seven of the 22 players he signed last year were along the offensive line.
"We were still short in that area," Long said. "We feel that we needed two years to shore that up, and we feel like we've done that now."
The Aztecs do bring more balance in this recruiting class, however, signing 11 players on offense, eight on defense and two special-teamers. It is also the first time since 2003 that SDSU has signed a player in every position group.
Although Long signed a mix of positions, he didn't go after many different locations. Seventeen of the 21 recruits are from California.
Long has also kept his reputation of focusing on high schoolers. He signed only three junior transfers, and has signed a total of seven in his three years with the Aztecs.
"We feel California is a great state to recruit," Long said. "That's where we start, and that's where we get a majority of our players."
For the second year in a row, SDSU has put together one of the better recruiting classes in the Mountain West Conference. According to rivals.com, last year the Aztecs had the second-best recruiting class in the MWC, and this year they followed it up with the third-best class.
The class is headlined by four three-star recruits - offensive linemen Jimmy Miller and Taylor Wallace, linebacker Colin Shumate and quarterback Drew Westling. The junior college transfers, Wallace, Westling and defensive back Davion Mauldin, could have the best chance at making an immediate impact, although anything is possible.
"Who knows how this is all going to play out this fall," Long said. "There are always those nice surprises that you get during training camp that you didn't expect coming in."
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