MWC Recruiting Roundup 2-5-18

Welcome to the final days of the 2018 recruiting season. This was the last weekend for official visits and the last opportunity for coaches to have face to face contact with recruits. Due to the December signing period, many teams were not recruiting down to the wire like in past years. Before this year, this was a weekend where schools were often filled with visitors and schools were battling with one another to secure that last weekend visit with an athlete. That being said, teams are still active and putting in hard work on the recruiting trail. In particular, San Jose State and Air Force did great work this week, securing 3 and 5 commits respectively. The Spartans commits this week are some of their best of this class and they should certainly make a big jump in the MWC Recruiting Rankings, which will be released in next week’s edition of the roundup.

A Note on Air Force Recruiting

If you have been following along with our recruiting roundups, you may have noticed that the Falcons have secured a plethora of commitments in this class. In January alone, they have close to (if not over) the 25 commits that is the maximum for recruiting classes. How is Air Force able to recruit so many players? MWCConnection asked Brent Briggeman, who covers the Air Force sports beat for The Gazette in Colorado Springs. Here’s what he had to say:

“At a service academy, players are not paid, so there are no need for scholarships. In a way, everyone is a walk-on. Air Force also has a one-year prep school, and many of the recruits will go there. During which time they are still recruitable by other schools.

The prep school is separate from AFA and plays mostly a Juco schedule, as well as other prep schools. They can’t play for Air Force while there. As with any school there is attrition. In past years, players will say they are going to AFA and even sign (which is non-binding), but they won’t end up getting into the school. Others will back out before reporting or will quit during basic training. This is why their signing day classes are usually at 100+.”

Commitment Spotlight

QB Haaziq Daniels (Air Force)

“I committed because I love the school and the opportunity that comes with it. The coaches, they genuinely care for all the players and their futures. Also, what they are doing in the near future for the program is really cool to see. The main coach who has been recruiting me is Major Ross Weaver and we have a good relationship. We talk on about a weekly bases and he’s really shown interest in me over the past few months. Has always complimented me as a good player that would fit well in the system and also a good person to be a future leader in the Air Force. Also i’ve been able to develop a relationship with the OC/QB coach and he’s really a good guy as well. They both really just want the best for me and my family. Once there, I think that I can bring a great mindset, leadership, a great understanding of the game, very dynamic play style and a overall be a great teammate with a humble spirit.”

FB Zach Burrola (Air Force)

“A big part of my decision was looking at the future, life after football. Air Force gives me the opportunity to be set for the rest of my life after playing the game. As well as the beautiful scenery in Colorado Springs and the tremendous facilities Air Force has. It was just the best decision for me and my family overall. Coach Miller and Coach Cambell (RB coaches) are really great guys who want to win and want me to succeed. They were the only Division 1 team to believe in me and have faith in me to play on their team and be successful while doing it. They are all great people who have a firm drive to get W’s on Saturdays and develop men out of the kids they coach. I’ll be playing Full-Back for them. They really like that I am a big athlete. They saw my talent at linebacker, my leadership qualities, my passion for the game, that I’m not afraid of contact, have a nose for the ball and great football IQ.”

CB Anthony Diaz (Air Force)

“The main reasons why I chose Air Force was because of the great opportunity to play great football, get an outstanding education, and most importantly help serve my country through whichever medical profession I will continue in. I’m looking to study either as a Physician or a Physician Assistant, and my father is a civilian engineer in the Air Force. I always thought it was coolest thing seeing how it all works and the respect that was taught to me about our the men and women who serve this country to keep us safe, I’m excited to be part of that. My relationship between myself and the coaches almost feels like a family. Whether it’s an offensive or defensive coach, they all showed great support and examples of what being a man in this world is like. They like my hard work ethic, my enthusiasm with the game, and how I put the team first before any of my own goals or objectives. They are bringing me in as a cornerback and I’m ready to get after it.”

RB Kairee Robinson (SJSU)

“I committed for a lot of reasons, but a few of them were: that it’s close to home, they have a good business school, their beyond football program, and I feel that I could come in and make an impact sooner rather than later. I have a pretty good relationship with all the coaches. I also talked to the players about the coaches and they all like them and don’t have any problems with them. The guys on the team said the coaches do a lot for them. The staff has told me they like my jump cut, speed, and power. They said I can come and play early on special teams and what not, but I want to get there and start right away. There are two seniors leaving at RB and they said it’s open to whoever earns the spot.”

OL Max Barth (SJSU)

“I committed to San Jose State because they have a great computer engineering school, it’s close to home, and the coaching staff is the best I’ve come across during this process. It’s been pretty clear that they want what’s best for me no matter what that is. For me, my education is the most important aspect to me in a school and I’ll be all set with that going here. The coaches have to me that I’ll most likely be playing tackle and playing early is a definite possibility.”

DT Adam Lopez (Nevada)

“The first day me and Coach Norvell met, I knew he believed in me. Then when I met the rest of the coaching staff and a couple of the players you can tell the program is built on family and that’s what I want to be a part of a family. Our relationships are great! I feel confident in each and every one of the staff, that they will help me become a better man inside and outside the life of football. The coaches really like my size my leadership, as well as my hunger and my passion for the game. At any college level football program, you’re going to have to compete for a spot. It’s not fun if it’s handed to me. I play Defensive Tackle and that’s where they want me to play. Go Wolfpack!”

Recruiting Tidbits

Offers:

• RB Kenyon Sims was offered by SDSU
• JUCO DL Steven Mason was offered by SDSU
• 2019 RB Alec Pell was offered by Colorado State
• 2020 ATH Hunter Sellers was offered by Colorado State
• DE Eteru Ane was offered by SJSU
• 2020 ATH Daniyel Ngata was offered by SJSU
• 2019 WR/DB Caleb Nelson was offered by SJSU
• 2019 TE Skylar Loving-Black was offered by SJSU and Nevada
• JUCO OL/DL Joey Capra was offered by Nevada
• 2019 OL Beau Taylor was offered by Nevada
• 2019 DB Kyu Kelly was offered by Nevada
• 2019 TE Preston Heldege was offered by Nevada
• 2019 OL/DL Troy Fautanu was offered by Nevada
• 2019 DE/TE Henry Kahihifo was offered by Nevada
• LB Mitch Medina was offered by Utah State
• 2019 OL Enokk Vimahi was offered by Utah State
• 2019 DL Tuia Tupuola was offered by Utah State
• 2019 LB Maninoa Tufono was offered by Utah State
• 2019 OL Miles Tafuna was offered by Utah State
• 2019 DE Keith Randolph was offered by Wyoming
• 2019 ATH Zach Larrier was offered by Fresno State
• 2019 S Jacob Turner was offered by Boise State
• LB Chase Bradley was offered by Air Force

Commits:

• RB Kairee Robinson committed to SJSU
• OL Max Barth committed to SJSU
• LB Junior Fehoko committed to SJSU
• JUCO DL Adam Lopez committed to Nevada
• OL Dallas Holliday committed to Boise State
• FTB Zach Burrola committed to Air Force
• S Dru Jacobs committed to Air Force
• OL Victor Buenrostro committed to Air Force
• CB Anthony Diaz committed to Air Force
• QB Haaziq Daniels committed to Air Force
• LB Chase Bradley committed to Air Force
• JUCO QB Tanner Darling committed to New Mexico
• DT Aaron Faumui committed to Hawaii
• OL Solo Vaipulu committed to Hawaii
• OL Kavesz Sherard committed to Colorado State
• ATH Thomas Pannunzio committed to Colorado State
• OL Karter Shaw committed to Utah State
• QB Ryan Marquez committed to Wyoming
• OL/DL Tristen Lee committed to Wyoming

Decommits:

• OL Dallas Holliday decommitted from Colorado State
• JUCO RB Isaiah Floyd decommitted from New Mexico
• WR Jarick Caldwell decommitted from UNLV

In-home visits:

• Boise State visited: Steven Mason, Austin Alexander, Kahuku HS, Mountain Pointe HS, Delta JUCO, Higley HS, Chaparral HS, Oakland HS, Chaminade HS.
• New Mexico visited: Mayfair HS
• UNLV visited: Phillip Hill
• Utah State visited: South Oak Cliff HS

Visits:

• LB Creedyn Foulger visited Utah State
• DE Brandon Derrow visited Colorado State