Football signs strong 2008 class

February 06, 2008

ASU signed 27 student-athletes to national letters of intent Feb. 6 to study and participate in football, head coach <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/erickson_dennis00.html… Erickson</a> announced.<separator></separator> The 2007 Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year assembled what is largely recognized as one of the school's most talented signing classes in the past 25 years and consists of elite athletes from the states of Arizona, California, Colorado and Nevada.<separator></separator>Similar to the Sun Devils' tremendous improvement on the field in Coach Erickson's first season in Tempe, the reigning Pac-10 Conference Co-Champions skyrocketed up the national recruiting rankings, as only two teams ranked in the nation's top-20 signing classes of 2008 improved more from 2007 than ASU has, jumping from 38th last year to 16th this season (Scout.com).<separator></separator> "<a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/erickson_dennis00.html… Erickson</a> is one of the best college football coaches in America," SuperPrep magazine founder Allen Wallace said. "He has turned around the Arizona State program. He's the kind of coach who inspires kids. He's proven he's got what it takes still and that his team plays hard for him. What we're seeing now (with ASU's highly-ranked signing class) is acknowledgement of one of the nation's greatest coaches, bottom line."<separator></separator> ASU's Class of 2008 includes:<separator></separator><ul><li>Eleven players each ranked within the nation's top-25 prospects at his position: Ryan Bass (No. 2 all-purpose running back, Rivals.com), Lawrence Guy (No. 7 defensive tackle, Scout.com), Gerell Robinson (No. 8 all-purpose athlete, Rivals.com), Jarrell Barbour (No. 8 safety, Rivals.com), Kemonte Bateman (No. 11 wide receiver, SI.com), Jamaar Jarrett (No. 12 defensive end, ESPN Scouts, Inc.), Zach Schlink (No. 14 offensive guard, Rivals.com), Andrew Sampson (No. 18 offensive guard, ESPN Scouts, Inc.), Brandon Magee (No. 21 weak side linebacker, Scout.com), Steven Figueroa (No. 21 tight end, Rivals.com), Shelly Lyons (No. 21 strong side linebacker, Scout.com).</li><li>Eight of Arizona's most talented high school products and one native junior college transfer with four years to play three at ASU. </li><li>Five highly-rated junior college transfers, including three mid-year transfers already on campus, all of which are expected to contribute in 2008.</li><li>Four players ranked among the nation's top-100 overall high school prospects (Guy, No. 67, Scout.com; Bateman, No. 77, SI.com; Robinson, No. 77, Rivals.com; Bass, No. 91, Rivals.com).</li><li>Two USA Today All-Americans (Bass and Robinson) and two U.S. Army All-American Game participants (Guy and Robinson).</li><li>Twelve offensive and defensive linemen and several all-purpose athletes able to play multiple positions on offense, defense and special teams. <separator></separator> <separator></separator></li></ul> <a name="barbour" title="barbour"></a>Jarrell Barbour, WR, Fr., 6-3, 190, Peoria, Ariz. (Centennial HS) One of Arizona's most versatile athletes and a highly ranked prospect on a national level...enjoyed a remarkable high school career as a wide receiver, defensive back and returns specialist...tall with long arms...was recognized as a PrepStar All-American as a senior...listed as the No. 52 wide receiver in the country and the No. 7 overall player in the state of Arizona by Scout.com...rated as the No. 10 all-purpose athlete in the nation and the No. 3 overall prospect in the state of Arizona by SuperPrep...ranked as the No. 8 safety in the nation, No. 2 player in the state of Arizona and is listed as the No. 139 player in the nation among the "Rivals 250" list on Rivals.com...ranked as the No. 2 wide receiver and the No. 6 cornerback in the state of Arizona in the preseason by 24-7 Football.com...rated as the No. 4 overall player in the state of Arizona by the Arizona Republic...ranked No. 45 overall and the No. 9 wide receiver on Scout.com's Southwest Top 100 Players list...regarded as the No. 2 athlete in the state of Arizona, the No. 4 athlete in the West region and the No. 31 athlete in the nation by ESPN Scouts, Inc....was named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's "Western 100" list as an all-purpose athlete...was a nominee for "Best in the West" recognition by the Long Beach Press-Telegram...earned All-Arizona and First-Team 5A All-State honors by the Arizona Republic as a senior...during his three-year varsity career at Centennial, he caught 64 passes for 1,368 yards (21.4 avg.) with 22 touchdown catches and carried 50 times for 485 yards (9.7 avg.) with five rushing touchdowns on offense, and defensively he totaled 116 tackles (82 solo), 14 interceptions, 12 pass deflections and three fumble recoveries...scored 34 total touchdowns during his Centennial career...had six career games with 75 or more receiving yards and three games over 100 receiving yards...the Coyotes posted a combined record of 38-3 during his three-year career, including a 27-1 record during the school's back-to-back state championship run in 2006 and 2007...caught 28 passes for 590 yards (21.1 avg.) with 10 touchdowns as a senior to go along with 67 rushing yards on seven carries on offense, as well as 33 tackles (26 solo) and 11 interceptions (230 return yards) and four pass deflections...ranked fifth overall in the state in interceptions...also had four touchdowns on defensive and special teams returns for the 13-1 5A-II Arizona State Champion Coyotes...caught three passes for a season-high 100 yards with two scores against La Joya Community on Nov. 9, 2007...scored three total touchdowns against North High School on Sept. 20, 2007...as a junior on the 14-0 5A-II Arizona State Champion Centennial squad in 2006, he posted 24 receptions for 505 yards (21.0 avg.) and 10 touchdowns, carried 43 times for 418 yards (9.7 avg.) with five rushing touchdowns and totaled 41 tackles (26 solo), five pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and one interception on defense...carried eight times for a career-high 107 yards with two scores against rival Peoria High School on Oct. 6, 2006...caught five passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns against Ironwood High School on Oct. 27, 2006...totaled five receptions for a career-best 123 yards with a score against Sunnyside High School on Dec. 2 in the state championship game...as a sophomore in 2005, he caught 12 passes for 273 yards (22.8 avg.) with two touchdown grabs and tallied 42 tackles (30 solo) with three pass deflections, two interceptions and one fumble recovery on defense...scored three times on defensive and special teams returns in 2005...was also heavily recruited by several prominent schools including Michigan, Nebraska and Oklahoma...committed to the Sun Devils on Aug. 22, 2007...coached by Richard Taylor at Centennial High School.<separator></separator><a name="bass" title="bass"></a>Ryan Bass, RB, Fr., 5-10, 200, Corona, Calif. (Centennial HS) Elite-level talent and one of the most accomplished running backs in the nation...one of the main highlights of ASU's 2008 class with explosive potential...accumulated incredible statistics during his career at Centennial...one of the most dangerous scoring threats in high school football over the past three years...has tremendous speed and the durability to carry the ball 20 to 30 times a game...one of the most highly-acclaimed players in the country in 2007, he was named a Parade All-American and earned Second-Team All-USA honors by USA Today...was also recognized as a PrepStar All-American as a senior...was named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's "Western 100" list...earned Second-Team All-America honors by EA Sports as a multi-purpose athlete...earned honorable mention recognition among the Long Beach Press-Telegram's "Best in the West" list...tied for second in the nation in rushing touchdowns (47) as a senior, 11th in carries (345) and 14th in rushing yards (2,608)...had more rushing touchdowns as a senior than any player on the West coast and ranked fourth in the state of California in both carries and rushing yards in 2007...finished 12th in the nation in rushing touchdowns as a junior (36), 30th in rushing yards (2,351) and 36th in total carries (294)...ranked fourth in the state of California in rushing touchdowns as a junior, 10th in rushing yards and 13th in total carries...joins prep teammates Shelly Lyons and Brandon Magee among ASU's Class of 2008...ranked as the No. 31 running back in the nation by Scout.com...rated as the No. 2 all-purpose running back in the nation and the No. 91 overall player in the "Rivals 100" list by Rivals.com...rated as the No. 32 running back in the nation, the No. 31 overall prospect in the "California/Nevada/Hawaii 150" region and the region's No. 5 running back by SuperPrep...also listed as the No. 2 running back in the state of California and the state's No. 10 overall prospect by Rivals.com...named First-Team All-Southern California as a senior by GoldenStatePreps.com, and was also named Southern California Offensive Player of the Year...listed as the No. 4 running back in the state of California and the state's No. 25 overall player by Scout.com...rated as the No. 6 running back in the West region and the No. 42 overall player by Scout.com...listed as the No. 2 running back in the West and the No. 22 prospect at the position in the nation by ESPN Scouts, Inc....a tremendously efficient running back that improved significantly as a receiver during his high school career...was Centennial's offensive focal point during his career...ranked No. 4 among running backs nationwide among Rivals.com's list of those "Best in Space" and No. 4 among all "Home Run Threats"...appeared in 38 games at Centennial during the 2005-07 seasons, carrying 894 times for 7,096 yards (7.9 avg.) with 117 touchdowns...averaged 186.7 rushing yards-per-game for his career...added 28 career receptions for 324 yards (11.6 avg.)...averaged 23.5 carries-per-game...had 22 career games with 20 or more carries, nine games with 30 or more, three games with over 40 and surpassed 50 carries once in his career...scored at least one touchdown in 35 of 38 games and had 32 games with multiple touchdowns...had a career-high six rushing touchdowns on three occasions, ran for five touchdowns six times and had 17 games with at least four scores...ran for at least 100 yards in 33 of 38 games, surpassed 200 yards in 17 games, had three games with over 300 rushing yards and surpassed 400 yards once...as a senior in 2007, he totaled 2,608 rushing yards on 345 carries (7.6 avg.) with 47 touchdowns...averaged 173.9 rushing yards-per-game...also caught 16 passes for 197 yards (12.3 avg.) with one score...carried 20 or more times in seven games and 30 or more times in three games...had season-highs of 43 carries for 326 yards against Mater Dei on Oct. 4, 2007...added four rushing touchdowns and a season-long run of 65 yards in that game...scored at least one touchdown in all 15 games he played in 2007...had 13 games with multiple touchdowns and eight games with four or more rushing scores...ran for a season-best five touchdowns on two occasions...ran for 100 or more yards in 13 of 15 games on the year and surpassed 200 rushing yards in six games...carried 37 times for 206 yards and four touchdowns against Crespi on Sept. 14, 2007...totaled 294 rushing yards and five touchdowns on only 15 carries against Carter on Nov. 16...enjoyed a phenomenal junior season in 2006, carrying 294 times for 2,351 yards (8.0 avg.) and 36 touchdowns...averaged 213.7 rushing yards-per-game...added seven catches for 89 yards (12.7 avg.)...totaled eight games with 20 or more carries, three games with 30 or more carries...had a career-high 52 carries for 277 yards and four touchdowns against Santiago on Oct. 20, 2006...scored in 10 of 11 games on the year, and in those 10 games he had at least two touchdowns in each...had four or more touchdowns in five games...scored a career-best six times against Valencia in the opener on Sept. 1, 2006, adding a season-best 293 yards on 38 carries...ran for at least 100 yards in all 11 games and surpassed 200 rushing yards in six games...had an incredible sophomore season in 2005, rushing 255 times for 2,137 yards (8.4 avg.) and 34 touchdowns...averaged 178.1 rushing yards-per-game...added five catches for 38 yards...had seven games with 20 or more carries, three games with at least 30 carries...had a career-high 401 rushing yards on a season-high 40 carries and six rushing touchdowns against Rancho Cucamonga on Sept. 29, 2005...scored at least one touchdown in 10 of 11 games, had nine games with multiple touchdowns, and set a career-best with six rushing touchdowns on two occasions...ran for more than 100 yards in nine games and over 200 yards in five games...carried 29 times for 307 yards and four touchdowns against Clovis West on Oct. 7, 2005...scored six times and added 246 rushing yards on 32 carries against Temescal Canyon on Nov. 25, 2005...also considered Arizona, Fresno State, Louisville, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi and Nebraska...committed to the Sun Devils on Jan. 13, 2008, the same day Lyons and Magee pledged to ASU...coached by Matt Logan at Centennial High School<separator></separator><a name="bateman" title="bateman"></a>Kemonte Bateman, WR, Fr., 6-1, 176, Los Angeles, Calif. (Crenshaw HS) One of the most prolific wide receivers in the state of California and ranked among the nation's very best at his position...is a tremendous threat after the catch and has excellent hands and speed...a very well-rounded receiver with incredible potential...has elite agility to make defenders miss...shows great body control...can make difficult catches and take a short play for long yardage...has break-out ability as a special teams returns specialist...listed as a four-star prospect by Scout.com and Rivals.com...ranked as the No. 14 wide receiver and No. 71 overall prospect in the nation by PrepStar's "Class of 2008 Top-135 Dream Team"...listed as the No. 70 overall player and the No. 11 wide receiver in the country by Sports Illustrated...joins Crenshaw teammate Clint Floyd as members of ASU's 2008 signing class...ranked as the No. 99 overall player in the country among the "Rivals 100" list on Rivals.com...was named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's "Western 100" list...was nominated for "Best in the West" honors by the Long Beach Press-Telegram...listed as the No. 4 wide receiver in the West region by ESPN Scouts, Inc....also regarded as the No. 17 receiver in the country, the No. 6 wide receiver in the state of California and the state's No. 32 overall player by Rivals.com...rated as the No. 35 wide receiver in the country by Scout.com...rated as the No. 32 wide receiver in the country, the No. 20 overall prospect in the "California/Hawaii/Nevada 150" region and the region's No. 3 wide receiver prospect by SuperPrep...also ranked as the No. 4 wide receiver and the No. 23 overall player in the state of California and the No. 4 wide receiver and the No. 35 overall player in the West region by Scout.com...was one of the stand-outs of the 2008 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl, being named as the participant that is "Best After the Catch", a "Special Teams Stud" and earned honorable mention recognition among the categories of "Fastest Player" and "Best Hands", all presented by Rivals.com...joined fellow Sun Devil signees Steven Figueroa and Andrew Sampson on the West roster at the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl...notched more than 1,000 receiving yards as a senior...caught 63 passes for 800 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior...hauled in 56 passes for 464 yards and five scores as a sophomore in 2005..."I love the atmosphere, the fans, the intensity and the coaches (at ASU)," says Bateman. "It's everything I wanted."...also considered California, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Oregon and UCLA...committed to the Sun Devils on Oct. 28, 2007...coached by Robert Garrett at Crenshaw High School.<separator></separator><a name="carr" title="carr"></a>Deveron Carr, CB, Fr., 6-0, 185, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral HS) Tremendous athlete with blazing speed...ran a 4.34 40-yard dash at Scout.com's Los Angeles Combine, the seventh fastest time among all participants in the 15 nationwide camps...earned First-Team 4A All-State honors at defensive back as a senior by the Arizona Republic...a superb overall athlete, he bench presses 255 pounds, squats 400 and power cleans 225...very intriguing prospect that has exhibited tremendous upside and potential due to his excellent size and versatility...garnered a significant hike in recruiting attention after his phenomenal camp performances coupled with an excellent senior season...rated as the No. 5 running back in the state of Arizona and the state's No. 20 overall prospect by SuperPrep...earned All-West Region honors by PrepStar...rated as the No. 5 cornerback in the state of Arizona by ESPN Scouts, Inc.... also starred at running back for Chaparral...listed as the No. 89 running back in the nation and the No. 20 overall player in the state of Arizona by Scout.com...rated as the No. 5 defensive back in the state of Arizona and the state's No. 24 overall prospect by Rivals.com...as a senior in 2007, collected 22 tackles (17 solo), 12 pass deflections and three interceptions...he also led Chaparral in rushing with 108 carries for 991 yards (9.2 avg.) and nine scores...caught eight passes for 141 yards (17.6 avg.) and two touchdowns...totaled 1,567 all-purpose yards (120.5 per game)...averaged 33.3 yards on 12 kickoff returns...had a season-best 83-yard run against Marana High School in the season opener on Aug. 24...had two 100-yard rushing games, against Phoenix Shadow Mountain High School (137 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries) and against Scottsdale Saguaro High School (119 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries) in the state semifinal playoff game...attended Cesar Chavez High School in Laveen, Ariz., as a junior...appeared in only two games due to injury in 2006, but incredibly had 268 rushing yards on only 26 carries (10.0 avg.) and three touchdowns...carried 11 times for 185 yards and three touchdowns in the season opener against Tempe Marcos de Niza High School...had a 98-yard scoring run against the Padres...followed by recording 15 carries for 83 yards against Mesa Dobson High School before missing the remainder of the 2006 season..."I like that ASU is close to home and I love the coaching staff," says Carr "My mom was on the trip with me and she really liked it...this visit was a 10 out of 10."..."I just fell in love with the academics (at ASU)," says Carr. "I really like what (Associate Athletic Director) Jean Boyd does with the academics. That was a big factor in my decision."...chose ASU over Arizona...committed to the Sun Devils on Dec. 2, 2007, shortly after watching on the sidelines as an official visitor during ASU's victory over rival Arizona...attended the same high school as current Sun Devil and First-Team All-Pac-10 honoree <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/williams_kyle00.html">… Williams</a>...coached at Chaparral High School by Charlie Ragle, a former ASU football graduate assistant.<separator></separator><a name="carr2" title="carr2"></a>Terell Carr, CB, Jr., 5-9, 170, Tulsa, Okla. (Pasadena City College) Speedy, athletic cornerback that joins ASU as a midyear junior college transfer and will participate in spring drills...will compete to replace departed starter <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/tryon_justin00.html">J… Tryon</a>...has three years to play two at ASU...one of three midyear junior college transfers to sign with ASU and joins former Pasadena CC teammate Tom Njunge as Sun Devil signees...ranked as the No. 3 junior college cornerback in the nation by JCFootball.com...rated as the No. 82 overall junior college player in the nation among SuperPrep's "SuperPrep JUCO 100" list...listed as a four-star prospect by Scout.com...was featured by JCFootball.com as one of the top junior college cornerbacks in the nation entering the 2007 season...listed as the No. 55 overall prospect among junior college transfers by Rivals.com...was named First-Team All-Mission Conference and earned All-State honors in 2007...led the Mission Conference in interceptions, pass breakups and total passes defended as a sophomore...as a sophomore at Pasadena City College in 2007, he tallied 45 tackles (29 solo), seven interceptions, 13 pass deflections, one fumble recovery and one tackle-for-loss...attended Santa Monica (Calif.) College in 2006...primarily played wide receiver and caught 28 passes for 333 yards...also returned kickoffs and punts...signed with Missouri State before electing to attend Santa Monica College...participated in the Manhattan NIKE Training Camp in May of 2005 while in high school and tied for the fastest electronically-timed 40-yard dash at 4.37 seconds...prepped at Charles Page High School in Sand Springs, Okla...."I was real comfortable (at ASU), especially after meeting with the academic advisors," says Carr. "I just knew that was the place for me. I sat down with Coach Erickson and (he's) a good man and a great coach. I was feeling the atmosphere and I know I'm going to have a chance to come in and compete for a starting job."...chose ASU over West Virginia, Minnesota and South Florida...committed to ASU on Dec. 2...coached by Kenny Lawler at Pasadena City College.<separator></separator><a name="elway" title="elway"></a>Jack Elway, QB, Fr., 6-3, 200, Denver, Colo. (Cherry Creek HS) Talented passer with a terrific football pedigree...son of former NFL Most Valuable Player and Hall of Famer John Elway...has a big arm and makes difficult passes look easy...was recognized as a PrepStar All-American as a senior...has tremendous upside...possesses all the key intangible qualities of a great quarterback...enters college the same size his father was when he began his NFL career...was named to the "Western 100" list by the Tacoma News-Tribune...ASU head coach <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/erickson_dennis00.html… Erickson</a> was an assistant coach under Elway's grandfather (also named Jack) at San Jose State University from 1979-81...his father was his position coach at Cherry Creek...widely considered to be the top quarterback in the state of Colorado...listed as the top skill position player and the No. 6 overall player in the state of Colorado by Scout.com...ranked as the No. 51 quarterback in the nation by Scout.com...regarded as the No. 9 quarterback and the No. 59 overall player in the Midlands region by Scout.com...listed as the No. 4 quarterback and the No. 38 overall player in the Midlands region by SuperPrep...rated as the No. 1 quarterback in the state of Colorado, the No. 14 quarterback in the Plains region and the No. 59 passer in the nation by ESPN Scouts, Inc....ranked as the No. 14 overall prospect in the state of Colorado by Rivals.com...completed 149-of-264 passes (55.8 pct.) as a senior for 2,182 yards...had 24 touchdown passes with only four interceptions during the regular season...threw for four touchdowns in four games and surpassed 250 passing yards four times also as a senior...had a season-best 297 passing yards against Eaglecrest on Oct. 19, 2007, the night before he gave his verbal pledge to ASU...had at least one touchdown pass in 10 of 11 games on the season...added three rushing touchdowns...led Cherry Creek in total offense in 2007... "The coaches are the biggest reason why I ended up committing (to ASU)," says Elway. "The coaches really surpassed my expectations and made me feel really comfortable on my visit. Coach Olson and Coach Erickson are the reasons I decided to commit."...chose ASU over LSU and Oregon...committed to the Sun Devils on Oct. 20, 2007...coached by Gary Critchett at Cherry Creek High School.<separator></separator><a name="figueroa" title="figueroa"></a>Steven Figueroa, TE, Fr., 6-5, 225, Tempe, Ariz. (Desert Vista HS) Arizona's finest true tight end as a senior and the first commitment of the Sun Devils' 2008 class, giving his verbal pledge to ASU on June 5, 2007...has excellent hands and blocking ability...uses height and athleticism to be a tremendous red zone threat...works very well as a slot receiver and on the line of scrimmage...makes difficult catches in traffic and can absorb tackles...earned All-West Region honors by PrepStar as a senior...causes frequent mismatches due to his combination of size and speed...ranked as the No. 28 tight end in the nation and the No. 13 overall player in the state of Arizona by Scout.com...rated as the No. 2 tight end in the state of Arizona and the state's No. 13 overall prospect by SuperPrep...was named to the "Western 100" list by the Tacoma News-Tribune...ranked as the top tight end in the state of Arizona in the preseason by 24-7 Football.com...rated as the No. 10 overall player and the No. 2 tight end in the state of Arizona by the Arizona Republic...earned honorable mention 5A All-State recognition by the Arizona Republic...listed as the No. 2 tight end in the state of Arizona, the No. 8 tight end in the West region and the No. 32 tight end in the nation by ESPN Scouts, Inc....rated as the No. 21 tight end in the nation, the No. 2 tight end in the state of Arizona and the state's No. 11 overall prospect by Rivals.com...participated in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl and was joined by fellow ASU signees Kemonte Bateman and Andrew Sampson on the West squad...a three-year varsity letterman and starter at Desert Vista...attended the same high school that produced former Sun Devil All-American <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/miller_zach00.html">Za… Miller</a>, currently with the Oakland Raiders, as well as his brother <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/miller_brent00.html">B… Miller</a>, a recently graduated two-year starter for the Sun Devils...is a Tempe native...participated in the Arizona-Sonora Bowl along with prep teammate Zeb Togiai...joins Togiai as members of ASU's signing class and also played youth basketball with fellow signee Patrick Jamison...also one of the state of Arizona's top throwers with a junior season-best shot put of 60' ½" and a discus throw of 173' 9" ... selected to The Arizona Republic Boys All-Arizona Track and Field Team for the shot put ... a member of the Desert Vista High School boys track and field team that won the Nike Web National high school title in 2007...totaled 34 catches for 524 yards (15.4 avg.) with eight touchdowns during his prep career...caught 18 passes for 222 yards (12.3 avg.) with four scores as a senior, helping lead the Thunder to the 5A-I Arizona State Championship game...had a season-high four catches, one for a touchdown, against Brophy Prep in the state championship game on Dec. 8, 2007...caught three passes for 39 yards and two scores against Yuma High School on Oct. 12, 2007...recorded 13 receptions for 208 yards (16.0 avg.) with four touchdown grabs as a junior...totaled three receptions for 94 yards (31.3 avg.) with one score as a sophomore in 2005...selected ASU over Colorado State, Nebraska, Oregon State, San Diego State and UNLV...coached by Dan Hinds at Desert Vista.<separator></separator><a name="floyd" title="floyd"></a>Clint Floyd, ATH, Fr., 5-10, 180, Los Angeles, Calif. (Crenshaw HS) Multi-dimensional athlete that has the ability to excel on offense or defense...played quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back at the high school level and will compete for time at either wide receiver or in the secondary at ASU...has standout ball skills and playmaking abilities regardless the position he plays...adds experience of having played quarterback to benefit his mental approach to the game...had an impressive performance at Scout.com's 2007 Los Angeles Combine, especially in his 40-yard dash timing...earned All-West Region honors as a senior by PrepStar...was largely evaluated as a cornerback by recruiting services but has extensive experience on both sides of the ball...rated as the No. 4 cornerback in the state of California, the No. 7 cornerback in the West region and the No. 52 cornerback in the nation by ESPN Scouts, Inc...joins Crenshaw teammate Kemonte Bateman as members of ASU's 2008 class...has excellent speed (4.47 40-yard dash) and the physical tools to become a nightmare for opposing players...listed as the No. 28 cornerback in the nation by Scout.com...listed as the No. 60 overall prospect and the No. 4 cornerback in the "California/Hawaii/Nevada 150" region by SuperPrep...rated by Scout.com as the No. 4 cornerback and the No. 78 overall player in the West region...also listed by Scout.com as the No. 4 cornerback and the No. 54 overall player in the state of California...regarded as the No. 4 cornerback in the State of California, the No. 6 cornerback in the West region and the No. 52 cornerback in the nation by ESPN Scouts, Inc...as a senior in 2007, he recorded 1,654 all-purpose yards with 18 touchdowns on offense and totaled 78 tackles, 11 pass breakups, five interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery on defense...totaled over 600 receiving yards with eight touchdown catches as a junior in 2006...was a member of Crenshaw's 2005 City Section championship team...chose ASU over Oregon, UCLA and Washington and committed to the Sun Devils on Oct. 28, 2007...he and Bateman both pledged to ASU after visiting for the Sun Devils' victory over No. 18 California in front of a sold-out Sun Devil Stadium crowd..."I knew I wanted to come to ASU for a while," Floyd said shortly after committing to the Sun Devils. "I had a great time hanging out with the players and seeing the school."...coached by Robert Garrett at Crenshaw High School.<separator></separator><a name="gasu" title="gasu"></a>Spencer Gasu, DL, Jr., 6-2, 295, Tustin, Calif. (Santa Ana College) Athletic defensive lineman with excellent size...is very quick off the snap and excels in run pursuit...runs a 4.8 40-yard dash, an excellent time for a player his size...bench presses over 330 pounds...listed as a four-star prospect and the No. 6 junior college defensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com...ranked as the No. 53 overall junior college player in the nation among SuperPrep's "SuperPrep JUCO 100" list...rated as the No. 13 defensive tackle and the No. 97 overall prospect among junior college transfers by Rivals.com...will join the Sun Devils in the fall and compete to replace departed starter <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/marquardt_michael00.ht… Marquardt</a> at defensive tackle...has three years to play two at ASU...earned Second-Team All-America honors as a sophomore at Santa Ana...appeared in 12 games in 2007, totaling 26 tackles (17 solo) seven tackles-for-loss, one sack and one pass breakup...was named First-Team All-State and First-Team All-Mission Conference...was presented Santa Ana's "Don of the Year" Award for his performance on the gridiron... had a season-high seven tackles (four solo) against rival Fullerton College and five tackles (three solo) against Orange Coast College...appeared in seven games as a freshman in 2006, recording 11 tackles (nine solo) with four sacks...had three total tackles and two sacks in the season opener against Compton College...greyshirted at Mt. San Antonio College in 2005 before transferring to Santa Ana...a 2005 graduate of Valencia (Calif.) High School...totaled 48 tackles (40 solo), five sacks and one blocked kick as a senior at Valencia in 2004...played along the defensive line and at tight end in high school...earned All-League honors during his freshman and sophomore seasons...named conference Lineman of the Year his senior season and was named team Defensive Most Valuable Player as a senior...chose the Sun Devils over California, Oregon and Utah... "(ASU's Coach Erickson) wants to build a national champion, and he's been there before so he knows how to get there," says Gasu. "ASU was the Pac-10 Conference Co-Champion (in 2007), and they had a shot winning a national championship in his first year. He's a hall of fame coach."...gave his verbal pledge to ASU on Dec. 21, 2007...coached by Geoff Jones at Santa Ana College and Mike Marrujo at Valencia High School.<separator></separator><a name="germany" title="germany"></a>Eugene Germany, DE, RS-Jr., 6-4, 270, Pomona, Calif. (Mt. San Antonio College) An elite talent that has been regarded as one of the nation's top defensive forces at both the high school and junior college levels...brings experience to ASU from having played both FBS and junior college football...is a phenomenal pass-rusher, whether lined up along the interior or the edge of the defensive line...will join the Sun Devils in the fall and has two years to play two at ASU...is one of five junior college transfers to sign with ASU...incredibly athletic with excellent size...listed as the No. 73 overall player and the No. 15 defensive end in the nation among junior college transfers by Rivals.com...in his only season at Mt. San Antonio in 2007, he helped lead the Mounties to its first berth in the California Community College championship game since 1970 and earned Region IV All-State First-Team honors...started 12 games during the 2007 season and totaled 36 tackles (26 solo), 18.0 tackles-for-loss, 9.5 sacks, 13 quarterback hurries, three pass deflections and one fumble recovery...registered a season-high 2.5 sacks against Saddleback on Nov. 10, 2007 and a season-best 3.0 tackles-for-loss against Moorpark on Nov. 24, 2007 ...played at the University of Michigan during the 2004-05 seasons, redshirting in 2004 and playing in eight games as a freshman in 2005...originally signed a letter of intent with USC out of Pomona High School in 2004 but did not attend the school...was regarded as a four-star prospect and the No. 86 overall player in the nation among the "Rivals 100" list on Rivals.com in 2004...also rated as the No. 3 strong side defensive end in the country, the No. 9 overall prospect in the state of California and the No. 6 "Super West Top 60" player by Rivals.com...was listed as the No. 33 defensive end in the nation by Scout.com in 2004...held scholarships from schools including Kansas State, Oregon State and Tennessee as a high school prospect...totaled 166 tackles and nine sacks during the 2002 season, along with 14 catches for 321 yards (22.9 avg.) and four touchdowns as a tight end on offense...also played basketball at Pomona High School..."I'm excited to be a Sun Devil," says Germany. "I liked the campus and everything, especially the weight room. Coach Erickson just talked to me about this chance I have here and I'm taking it real seriously." ...chose ASU over Marshall and UCLA and committed to the Sun Devils on Jan. 20, 2008...coached by Robert Jastrab at Mt. San Antonio College.<separator></separator><a name="guy" title="guy"></a>Lawrence Guy, DL, Fr., 6-5, 270, Las Vegas, Nev. (Western HS) Big, athletic defender and one of the finest, most versatile defensive linemen in the country...unquestionably the most talented player in the state of Nevada...an excellent pass-rushing force along the defensive line...can play either defensive end or tackle...has tremendous speed for his size, running a 4.8 40-yard dash...causes fits for opposing offensive linemen and wreaks havoc in the backfield for quarterbacks and ballcarriers...is regarded as having incredibly light feet and is excellent in pursuit...has the ability to dominate the line of scrimmage with his aggressive, physical style of play...has the frame to add size and be a weapon at defensive tackle...listed as the No. 67 overall player in the nation by Scout.com...was recognized as a PrepStar All-American as a senior...earned Second-Team All-America honors by EA Sports...was named to the Tacoma News-Tribune's "Western 100" list...earned First-Team "Best in the West" honors by the Long Beach Press-Telegram...listed as the No. 12 defensive lineman in the nation, the No. 10 overall prospect in the "California/Hawaii/Nevada 150" region and the region's No. 1 defensive tackle by SuperPrep...ranked as the top defensive tackle and the No. 14 overall player in the West by Scout.com...also listed as the No. 7 defensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com...ranked as the No. 1 defensive tackle in the state of Nevada, the No. 3 defensive tackle in the West region and the No. 23 prospect at the position in the nation by ESPN Scouts, Inc....listed as the No. 161 overall prospect in the nation among the "Rivals 250" list on Rivals.com...also rated as the No. 1 overall player in the state of Nevada and the No. 13 defensive tackle in the country by Rivals.com...ranked as the No. 5 "Best Athlete" and No. 5 "Pass Rusher" among all defensive tackle prospects nationwide by Rivals.com...appeared in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, joining fellow Sun Devil signee Gerell Robinson on the West team...career totals included 238 tackles (171 solo), 30.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries in his three seasons playing for Western High...had nine career games with multiple quarterback sacks...recorded three career games with 15 or more total tackles, 13 games with 10 or more tackles and 17 games with at least eight total stops...as a senior in 2007, he totaled 102 tackles (69 solo), 15.5 quarterback sacks and one fumble recovery...averaged 12.8 tackles-per-game...totaled a career-best 22 tackles (13 solo) with 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery against Mojave on Sept. 14, 2007...collected 18 tackles (12 solo) with three sacks against Spring Valley on Oct. 25, 2007...had a career-high four sacks in addition to 12 total tackles (10 solo) against Coronado on Sept. 7, 2007...recorded five games with multiple sacks...led Western High with 89 total stops (67 solo) as a junior in 2006, adding 12.0 quarterback sacks and one fumble recovery...averaged 8.9 tackles-per-game...recorded a season-high 17 tackles (eight solo) and a sack against Palo Verde on Oct. 6, 2006...posted three sacks in two games...tallied 47 tackles (35 solo), 3.0 sacks and one fumble recovery as a sophomore in 2005...had 13 total tackles (10 solo) and two sacks against Sierra Vista on Sept. 23, 2005..."This program (ASU) was the best fit for me," says Guy. "They had a great season (in 2007) and they'll be even better next year and I wanted to be a part of that."...chose ASU over Arizona, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon and Tennessee...committed to the Sun Devils on Dec. 19, 2007...coached by Brian Murphy at Western High School.<separator></separator><a name="jamison" title="jamison"></a>Patrick Jamison, OL Fr. 6-5 290 Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton HS) Local product that is one of six players to have committed to ASU before the start of the 2007 season and the first offensive lineman to pledge to the Sun Devils...has excellent size to play guard or tackle...a very smart player that is technically sound...has great footwork...has elite strength as well, bench pressing over 350 pounds...also squats 475 and power cleans 275...earned All-West Region honors by PrepStar...predominately saw action at right tackle in high school...was widely considered one of two elite offensive line prospects in the state of Arizona, joining fellow Sun Devil signee Zach Schlink...rated as the No. 1 offensive tackle in the state of Arizona by ESPN Scouts, Inc....also ranked as the No. 6 offensive tackle in the West region and the No. 36 offensive tackle in the country by ESPN Scouts, Inc....earned All-Arizona and First-Team 5A All-State honors from the Arizona Republic as a senior...earned honorable mention 5A All-State recognition by the Arizona Republic as a junior helping lead Hamilton to the 5A-I Arizona State Championship...was a former youth basketball teammate of fellow 2008 signee Steven Figueroa...rated as the No. 2 offensive lineman in the state of Arizona and the state's No. 11 overall prospect by SuperPrep...a key component of one of the state's best offensive attacks while at Hamilton...rated as the No. 2 offensive lineman and the No. 10 overall prospect in the state of Arizona by Rivals.com...also listed as the No. 35 offensive tackle in the country by Rivals.com...comes to ASU via one of the state of Arizona's powerhouse high school football programs which has produced several excellent Sun Devils in recent years including current players <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/munns_gerald00.html">G… Munns</a>, <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/parker_colin00.html">C… Parker</a>, <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/smith_david00.html">Da… Smith</a> and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/taylor_kerry00.html">K… Taylor</a>, as well as former ASU All-American and current NFL All-Pro <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/suggs_terrell00.html">… Suggs</a>...joins prep teammate Gerell Robinson as 2008 Sun Devil signees...is one of eight Hamilton graduates to have signed with Arizona State since 2004...listed as the No. 40 offensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com...also rated as the No. 2 offensive tackle in the state of Arizona (behind fellow Sun Devil signee Zach Schlink) and the state's No. 9 overall prospect by Scout.com...rated as the No. 2 offensive lineman and the No. 8 overall prospect in the state of Arizona by the Arizona Republic...chose ASU over teams including Arizona, Oregon State, Tennessee and UCLA..."I have been an ASU fan for a while," says Jamison. "I know a lot of people who are ASU alumni and a lot of Hamilton's best (football) players go there."...committed to the Sun Devils on July 26, 2007...coached by Steve Belles at Hamilton High School.<separator></separator><a name="jarrett" title="jarrett"></a>Jamaar Jarrett, DE, Fr., 6-5, 250, San Marcos, CA (Mission Hills HS) Tall, strong defensive lineman with the physical tools to be an imposing defensive end...one of the top overall players in the San Diego area...listed as the No. 1 defensive end in the state of California, the No. 12 defensive end in the nation and the No. 2 defensive end in the West region by ESPN Scouts, Inc....was also a standout offensive lineman for Mission Hills...is regarded as a very coachable prospect with a great work ethic and tremendous upside...has excellent body control and physical balance...was a four-year starter and two-time All-League selection for Mission Hills High...was an All-Combine selection following his impressive performances at the 2006 Scout.com Los Angeles Combine, where he posted a 26-inch vertical leap and an eight-foot, one-inch broad jump among other excellent exhibitions of athleticism...listed as the No. 35 defensive end in the nation by Scout.com...rated as the No. 5 defensive end and the No. 52 overall prospect in the "California/Hawaii/Nevada 150" list by SuperPrep...ranked as the No. 4 defensive end and the No. 45 overall prospect in the state of California by Scout.com...also ranked as the No. 8 defensive end and the No. 67 overall prospect in the West region by Scout.com...listed as the No. 5 defensive end in the state of California and the state's No. 53 overall prospect by Rivals.com...also rated as the No. 21 strong side defensive end by Rivals.com...earned All-West Region honors by PrepStar...listed as the No. 4 defensive end in the state of California in the preseason by SuperPrep...recorded 42 tackles and four sacks as a senior, helping lead the Grizzlies to the CIF-San Diego section finals...faced constant double- and triple-teams because of his dominant ability to reach ballcarriers...totaled 83 tackles and nine sacks as a junior...earned All-League honors...chose ASU over California, Colorado, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon and Washington...committed to the Sun Devils on national letter of intent signing day, Feb. 6, 2007...coached by Chris Hauser at Mission Hills High School.<separator></separator><a name="johnson" title="johnson"></a>Keelan Johnson, ATH, Fr., 6-0, 200, Mesa, Ariz. (Mesa HS) One of the top all-around athletes in the state of Arizona...has the ability to play running back, wide receiver and defensive back...a local product that looks forward to playing for his home team...may play offense or defense at ASU...has great speed and athleticism and starred from sideline to sideline for Mesa High School...rated as the No. 9 running back in the state of Arizona and the No. 96 running back prospect in the nation by Scout.com...earned All-West Region honors by PrepStar...listed as the No. 6 running back in the state of Arizona and the state's No. 22 overall prospect by SuperPrep...also rated as the No. 22 overall player in the state of Arizona by Scout.com...listed as the No. 22 all-purpose athlete in the West region by ESPN Scouts, Inc....earned honorable mention 5A All-State recognition by The Arizona Republic as a junior and as a senior...was listed as the No. 19 overall player in the state of Arizona by the same publication...listed as the No. 3 defensive back in the state of Arizona and the state's No. 18 overall player by Rivals.com...as a senior in 2006, he led Mesa High with 16 total touchdowns and was the team's leading rusher and receiver...carried 92 times for 761 yards (8.3 avg.) with 11 touchdowns and caught 19 passes for 324 yards (17.1 avg.) with two scores...led the Jackrabbits with 1,279 all-purpose yards (116.3 per game)...totaled 59 tackles (28 solo) with three interceptions at defensive back...also played basketball at Mesa High..."ASU is doing really well under coach Erickson and I think that will continue," says Johnson. "I really liked my visit to ASU and I have a lot of friends and family here."...chose the Sun Devils over Arizona and Nebraska...coached by Kelley Moore at Mesa High School.<separator></separator><a name="johnson2" title="johnson2"></a>Kyle Johnson, OL, Fr., 6-7, 287, Norco, Calif. (Norco HS) Promising prospect with tremendous upside...will be the tallest Sun Devil on the roster when he joins the team in the fall...has the frame to add additional bulk to become a towering presence on the offensive line...likely to play offensive tackle...earned All-West Region honors as a senior by PrepStar...the third Norco High School prospect to sign with ASU in the past two seasons, joining former prep teammates <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/gerhart_garth00.html">… Gerhart</a> and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/tello_adam00.html">Adam Tello</a> from ASU's 2007 class...rated as the No. 37 offensive tackle in the nation and the No. 7 offensive tackle in the West region by ESPN Scouts, Inc....playing offensive tackle, he is ranked as the No. 7 prospect in the state of California and the No. 69 prospect in the country and is also rated as the No. 92 overall player in the state of California by Scout.com...listed as the No. 60 offensive tackle in the nation by Rivals.com, the No. 17 offensive lineman in the state of California and the state's No. 82 overall prospect by Rivals.com...rated as the No. 107 overall prospect and the No. 17 offensive lineman in the "California/Hawaii/Nevada 150" region by SuperPrep...chose ASU over Colorado, Oregon State and San Diego State...committed to the Sun Devils on Oct. 14, 2007...coached by Todd Gerhart at Norco High School.<separator></separator><a name="jones" title="jones"></a>Otis Jones, DL, Fr., 6-2, 275, Lawndale, Calif. (Leuzinger HS) Active lineman that enjoyed an excellent senior season in the trenches...has tremendous strength and power, posting a 345-pound bench press...has a very quick step of the line of scrimmage...gained tremendous momentum in recruiting attention late in his senior year and has the potential to be a significant contributor at the college level...can play multiple positions along the defensive line...ranked as the No. 12 defensive tackle and the No. 148 overall player in the West region by Scout.com...listed as the No. 8 defensive tackle in the state of California in the preseason by SuperPrep...rated as the No. 71 defensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com...listed as the No. 72 defensive tackle in the country by Rivals.com...listed as the No. 147 overall prospect and the No. 10 defensive tackle in the "California/Hawaii/Nevada 150" region by SuperPrep...played both defensive tackle and offensive guard at Lawndale...as a senior, he collected 73 tackles (51 solo), 7.0 sacks, eight quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries...had five games with at least eight total tackles...posted a season-best 3.0 sacks against Culver City on Nov. 16, 2007...during his junior season in 2006, he totaled 30 tackles (16 solo), with 2.0 sacks and two quarterback hurries...selected ASU over Colorado, Iowa State, Oregon, UCLA and Washington State...committed to ASU on Jan. 13, 2008... "It was a real cool visit (to ASU). I liked hanging out with the linemen and the coaches," says Jones. "The way they have everything planned out in the program impressed me."... coached by Deon Toliver at Leuzinger High School.<separator></separator><a name="jordan" title="jordan"></a>Josh Jordan, CB, Fr., 5-10, 170, Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman HS) The first defensive commitment among ASU's 2008 class, pledging on June 25, 2007...playing cornerback, he is ranked as the top player at the position in the state of Nevada, No. 9 in the West region and No. 65 in the country by ESPN Scouts, Inc....combines excellent speed and technique to be a well-rounded defensive back...earned All-West Region honors as a senior by PrepStar...ranked No. 147 on Scout.com's "Top 150 Players in the West" list...listed as the No. 66 cornerback in the country by Scout.com...ranked as the No. 103 overall prospect and the No. 11 cornerback in the "California/Hawaii/Nevada 150" region by SuperPrep...rated as the No. 1 defensive back in the state of Nevada and the state's No. 7 overall player, as well as the No. 57 cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com...as a senior, he totaled 31 tackles (21 solo), eight pass deflections, three interceptions and a blocked field goal on defense, while carrying eight times for 56 yards and catching three passes for 44 yards in limited action on offense...also returned punts...was credited with 58 tackles with five interceptions and four fumble recoveries as a junior and 47 tackles with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries as a sophomore..."Josh is a fierce competitor," says Bishop Gorman head coach David White. "He plays the corner how it should be by being physical and having the ability to cover."... ""I love the honesty and the integrity of the coaches (at ASU)," says Jordan. "They never pushed me off to the side and always answered any question I had. I have a great relationship with (ASU's staff) and I'm happy that I'm going to play for them...everything is just the prefect situation for me. It's close to home and obviously the weather isn't a factor coming from Las Vegas."...chose ASU over Oregon and Stanford among others.<separator></separator><a name="lyons" title="lyons"></a>Shelly Lyons, LB, Fr., 6-2, 225 Corona, Calif. (Centennial HS) One of the top defenders from one of the finest teams in California last season...has excellent size and projects as a strong side linebacker...a versatile player that excels in pass coverage and run pursuit...listed as the No. 2 strong side linebacker in the West region and the No. 24 strong side linebacker in the country by Scout.com...also ranked as the No. 150 overall player in the West region by Scout.com...joins prep teammates Ryan Bass and Brandon Magee as members of ASU's 2008 signing class...rated as the No. 98 overall player in the state of California and the state's No. 14 linebacker by Rivals.com...listed as the No. 141 overall prospect and the NO. 17 linebacker in the "California/Hawaii/Nevada 150" region by SuperPrep...participated in the 2007 Long Beach NIKE Combine, and was among the camp's best overall athletes, placing in the top-five among linebackers in shuttle speed (4.72 seconds) and vertical leap (29 inches)...was a defensive star for the Huskies during his three seasons at Centennial, totaling 205 tackles (41 solo) with 8.0 sacks, five quarterback hurries, three pass deflections, three interceptions and one fumble recovery...ranked second on the team in total tackles as a senior in 2007, collecting 101 total stops (26 solo)...averaged 7.8 tackles-per-game...ranked second on the squad in sacks (behind fellow Sun Devil signee Brandon Magee) with 5.0, adding three pass deflections, two interceptions, two quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery...totaled more than 10 tackles in six games on the year and tied his career-high of 12 total tackles in four games...posted 84 tackles (13 solo) as a junior...averaged 7.0 tackles-per-game...added 3.0 sacks, three quarterback hurries and one interception...had five games with eight or more tackles and recorded a season-high 11 total stops on two occasions...saw action at punter for the Huskies, averaging 37.8 yards on four punts...collected 20 tackles (two solo) as a sophomore in 2005...had a season-high six total stops against Temescal Canyon on Nov. 25, 2005...chose ASU over Fresno State, San Diego State, UNLV and Utah...committed to the Sun Devils on Jan. 13, 2008, along with Bass and Magee...coached by Matt Logan at Centennial High School<separator></separator><a name="magee" title="magee"></a>Brandon Magee, LB, Fr., 6-0, 230, Corona, Calif. (Centennial HS) One of the fastest linebackers in the nation that brings a vital element of speedy aggressiveness to the Sun Devil defense...compares to recently graduated Sun Devil linebacker and 2007 First-Team All-Pac-10 recipient <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/james_robert01.html">R… James</a>...exhibited his phenomenal physical gifts at multiple scouting camps and combines in California...is also a standout baseball player and may play both at ASU...an incredible overall athlete, he bench presses 350 pounds, squats 450 and power cleans 235...weighing close to 230 pounds, he ran a 4.44 40-yard dash at the Los Angeles Scout.com Combine, the second-fastest time by a linebacker in all of Scout.com's 15 combines across the country...uses his speed, strength and instincts to be a vicious blitzer from the weak side...led Centennial High School in sacks as a junior and as a senior...listed as the No. 18 all-purpose athlete in the West region by ESPN Scouts, Inc....rated as the No. 58 overall prospect and the No. 8 linebacker in the "California/Hawaii/Nevada 150" region by SuperPrep...participated in the 2007 Long Beach NIKE Combine and was one of the standout performers of the camp, recording the fastest 40-yard dash time among linebackers, as well as the most bench press repetitions (27) and highest vertical leap (35 inches) among those at his position...earned All-West Region honors as a senior by PrepStar...joins prep teammates Ryan Bass and Shelly Lyons as members of ASU's 2008 signing class...rated as the No. 4 weak side linebacker in the West region and the No. 21 weak side linebacker in the nation by Scout.com...also listed as the No. 52 overall player in the state of California and the No. 75 overall player in West region by Scout.com...rated as the No. 26 outside linebacker in the country, the No. 3 linebacker in the state of California and the state's No. 44 overall player by Rivals.com...saw action on varsity all four years and totaled 193 tackles (60 solo), 11.0 sacks, seven quarterback hurries, three pass deflections and two fumble recoveries...had 13 career games with seven or more tackles and eight games with more than 10...totaled 86 tackles as a senior (26 solo)...averaged 7.2 tackles-per-game...led the team with 7.5 sacks...added five quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and one pass deflection...had seven games with seven or more tackles as a senior and three games with 10 or more total tackles...had a season-high 12 tackles (two solo) in addition to 1.5 sacks against Valley View on Oct. 12, 2007...posted 57 total tackles as a junior (17 solo)...averaged 8.1 tackles-per-game in 2006...added a team-high 3.5 sacks and two quarterback hurries...only appeared in seven games on the year, but collected at least eight tackles in four games...had a career high 14 tackles (four solo) in a 36-34 win over Norco High School on Nov. 10, 2006...that Norco team featured current Sun Devils <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/gerhart_garth00.html">… Gerhart</a> and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/tello_adam00.html">Adam Tello</a>, as well as fellow 2008 ASU signee Kyle Johnson...recorded 11 total tackles on two occasions...totaled 48 tackles (17 solo) as a sophomore in 2005...averaged 4.0 tackles-per-game and added two pass deflections...recorded a season-high 12 tackles (three solo) against Clovis West on Oct. 7, 2005 and posted 10 tackles (five solo) against Rancho Cucamonga on Sept. 29, 2005...added two tackles in limited duty on varsity as a freshman in 2004..."I really liked (ASU)," says Magee. "The facilities, wow. The people and coaches were great; everything was. I knew that's where I wanted to go after talking to the linebackers coach (<a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/bray_craig00.html">Cra… Bray</a>) and hearing everything he had to say. He told me to come in there with speed at linebacker and be ready to go."...chose ASU over Arizona, Louisville, Nebraska, Tennessee and Washington State...committed to the Sun Devils on Jan. 13, 2008, along with Bass and Lyons...coached by Matt Logan at Centennial High School.<separator></separator><a name="njunge" title="njunge"></a>Tom Njunge, OL, Jr., 6-5, 280, Pasadena, Calif. (Pasadena City College) Big, powerful lineman that joins ASU for spring practice and looks to help replace five departed senior offensive linemen from 2007...joins ASU as an offensive tackle, where the Sun Devils must replace both starters and the top reserve from last season...rated as the No. 11 offensive line prospect and the No. 81 overall player among junior college transfers by Rivals.com...one of three midyear junior college transfers among the 2008 class, and the only offensive player among the group...has three years to play two at ASU...was a junior college teammate of fellow signee Terell Carr...is considered an excellent pass blocker...two-year starter at PCC...earned honorable mention All-Mission Conference honors as a sophomore...was a key blocker among the state's top-ranked offense and passing team...de-committed from Boise State to attend ASU and was also recruited by Kansas State...attended Muir High School in Pasadena, Calif...."The whole academic presentation (at ASU) is impressive," says Njunge. "My parents like (ASU) a lot, it's close to home and I like the Pac-10 Conference." ...committed to ASU on Dec. 15, 2007...last name is pronounced "nunn-G"...coached by Kenny Lawler at Pasadena City College and by Ken Howard at Muir High School.<separator></separator><a name="pickens" title="pickens"></a>A.J. Pickens, WR, Fr., 5-10, 175, Chino, Calif. (Don Lugo HS) All-purpose weapon that starred all over the football field as a prep standout...compares to recently graduated Sun Devils' do-it-all athlete <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/burgess_rudy00.html">R… Burgess</a>...projects to be a slot receiver at the college level and is a talented returns specialist...a phenomenal playmaker...ranked as the No. 10 wide receiver in the West region and the No. 87 receiver in the country by ESPN Scouts, Inc...rated as the No. 60 all-purpose athlete in the country and the No. 74 overall player in the state of California by Rivals.com... earned All-West Region honors as a senior by PrepStar...rated as the No. 100 overall prospect and the No. 11 wide receiver in the "California/Hawaii/Nevada 150" region by SuperPrep...rated as the No. 86 wide receiver in the nation, the No. 8 wide receiver in the state of California and the No. 10 receiver in the West region by Scouts, Inc....listed No. 142 on Scout.com's Top 150 Players in the West list...during his three years at Don Lugo High, he carried 244 times for 1,843 yards (7.6 avg.) with 19 touchdowns and caught 38 passes for 446 yards with three scores...accumulated 3,234 career all-purpose yards...totaled 63 tackles (33 solo) with one pass deflection and one interception during his prep career and averaged 34.3 yards on 24 kickoff returns and 12.8 yards on six punt returns...had 25 total touchdowns...lead the team as a senior with 10 total touchdowns and paced the squad with 102 carries for 930 yards (9.1 avg.) and nine scores...added 14 receptions...totaled a team-high 1,184 all-purpose yards (107.6 per game)...collected 19 tackles (15 solo) with one pass deflection and one interception...averaged 47.0 yards on three kickoff returns as a senior...led Don Lugo High as a junior with 14 total touchdowns...paced the squad with 120 carries for 808 yards (6.7 avg.) and 10 scores...caught 21 passes for 316 yards (15.6 avg.) with three touchdowns...tallied a team-best 1,494 all-purpose yards (149.4 per game)...posted 24 total tackles (10 solo)...averaged 28.42 yards on 12 kickoff returns, including a 99-yard touchdown return, and also returned punts...ranked second on the team with 556 all-purpose yards as a sophomore in 2005...carried 22 times for 105 yards (4.8 avg.) and caught three passes for 61 yards...totaled 20 tackles (eight solo)...averaged 38.0 yards on nine kickoff returns and 12.0 yards on four punt returns...chose ASU over Arizona, Oregon State and Washington..."I love everything about (ASU)," says Pickens. "The coaches, the players, the surroundings, the academics; and it helps that it's close to home."...committed to the Sun Devils on Jan. 2, 2008...coached by Greg Setlich at Don Lugo High School<separator></separator><a name="robinson" title="robinson"></a>Gerell Robinson, WR, Fr., 6-4, 210, Phoenix, Ariz. (Hamilton HS) Exciting, versatile athlete and the top football player in the state of Arizona...made an impact all over the field, seeing time as a dual-threat quarterback, wide receiver, safety and on special teams...a highly-heralded prospect on the national level, he earned Second-Team All-USA honors as an all-purpose athlete by USA Today...has elite size and athleticism for the wide receiver position and has incredible potential to be a game-breaking target for Sun Devil passers...comes to ASU via one of the state of Arizona's powerhouse football programs which has produced several excellent Sun Devils in recent years including current players <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/munns_gerald00.html">G… Munns</a>, <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/parker_colin00.html">C… Parker</a>, <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/smith_david00.html">Da… Smith</a> and <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/taylor_kerry00.html">K… Taylor</a>, as well as former ASU All-American and current NFL All-Pro <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/suggs_terrell00.html">… Suggs</a>...joins prep teammate Patrick Jamison as 2008 Sun Devil signees...is one of eight Hamilton graduates to have signed with Arizona State since 2004...rated as the No. 77 overall player in the nation and the No. 1 player in the state of Arizona by Rivals.com...ranked as the No. 9 all-purpose athlete and the No. 91 overall prospect in the nation among PrepStar's "Class of 2008 Top-135 Dream Team"...also listed as the No. 8 all-purpose athlete in the country by Rivals.com...regarded as the No. 111 overall player in the nation by SuperPrep and is ranked as the No. 119 player in the country in the "ESPN 150" list on ESPN.com...earned Third-Team All-America honors as a multi-purpose athlete by EA Sports...earned First-Team "Best in the West" recognition as a utility player by the Long Beach Press-Telegram...was recognized among the "Western 100" list by the Tacoma News-Tribune...rated as the No. 13 all-purpose athlete in the nation and the No. 2 all-purpose athlete in the West region by ESPN Scouts, Inc....listed as the No. 78 overall prospect in the country and the No. 14 wide receiver by Scout.com...ranked as the No. 1 player in the state of Arizona by Scout.com...listed as the top safety in the state of Arizona in the preseason by 24-7 Football.com...rated as the No. 2 overall player in the state of Arizona by the Arizona Republic...ranked as the No. 4 wide receiver and the No. 18 overall player in the Southwest by Scout.com...rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Arizona and the No. 13 wide receiver in the nation by SuperPrep...was chosen among the nation's most elite high school football players to appear in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he saw significant action playing safety...earned All-Arizona honors by the Arizona Republic...rated as a four-star prospect by both Rivals.com and Scout.com...Hamilton posted a 25-2 record during his two years as a Husky...as a senior in 2007, he was an all-purpose offensive threat, completing 47-of-80 passes (58.8 pct.) for 843 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions, while also carrying 65 times for 543 yards (8.4 avg.) with four touchdowns and he caught 26 passes for 524 yards (20.2 avg.) with nine scores...caught a touchdown pass in nine games on the season...completed six-of-seven passes for 145 yards and two scores, ran for 46 yards on only three carries and caught two passes for 59 yards with a touchdown reception against Buena High School in the season opener on Aug. 24, 2007...combined for 99 rushing and receiving yards and two scores against eventual state champion Brophy Prep on Aug. 30, 2007...caught two passes for 107 yards, including an 86-yard touchdown catch against Mountain Pointe High School on Sept. 28, 2007...carried nine times for 137 yards with two total scores against Gilbert High School on Oct. 5, 2007...as a member of Hamilton's 13-1, 5A-I State Champion squad in 2006, Robinson was primarily featured on defense, collecting 49 total tackles (29 solo), eight interceptions, seven pass deflections, with one quarterback hurry and one fumble recovery...recorded a season-high six tackles twice...had two interceptions in two games...in limited action on offense as a junior, he carried three times for 15 yards and caught one pass for six yards...as a sophomore at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, he led the Thunder in passing by completing 56-of-108 attempts (51.9 pct.) for 812 yards with five touchdowns and eight interceptions, while also rushing 100 times for 394 yards (3.9 avg.) with two touchdowns and he caught three passes for six yards and two scores...led Desert Vista with 1,206 yards of total offense in 2005...was a teammate of fellow Sun Devil signee Steven Figueroa while at Desert Vista as a sophomore... "(Deciding which college to attend) was a tough choice but I ended up making the right one," says Robinson. "(ASU is) a hometown school and Coach Erickson and (wide receivers) Coach (Eric) Yarber were the main two reasons why, because of the way that they have worked with their receivers in the past."...chose the Sun Devils over Notre Dame and Oregon, and had a host of scholarship offers from many of the nation's elite programs including Colorado, Florida, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Tennessee, UCLA and USC...announced his commitment on Jan. 5, 2008 on national television at the U.S. Army High School All-America Game in San Antonio, Texas... "Coach Yarber has coached wide receivers in college that are now stars in the NFL," says Robinson. "He also coached in the NFL so he knows what it takes to get there and I know he can help me improve my skills and get to the next level."...coached by Steve Belles at Hamilton High School.<separator></separator><a name="sampson" title="sampson"></a>Andrew Sampson, OL, Fr., 6-4, 280, Aurora, Colo. (Overland HS) Powerful, intimidating lineman with an aggressive mean streak...a weight room stand-out with an excellent work ethic...bench presses 330 pounds, squats 455 and power cleans 285...prides himself on his attitude toward improving and his will to be the best...plays every snap at a high level of intensity...will likely play guard at the college level but has the versatility to play elsewhere along the offensive line, having played tackle in high school...plays with an excellent base and uses superb hand placement to strike defenders...excels at both run blocking and in pass protection...earned All-Midlands Region honors as a senior by PrepStar...was ranked among the Tacoma News-Tribune's "Western 100" list...has the mobility to get down and field and block at the next level...finishes defenders until the whistle blows...listed as the No. 18 offensive guard in the nation by ESPN Scouts, Inc....also rated as the No. 1 offensive guard in the state of Colorado and the No. 4 offensive guard in the Plans region by ESPN Scouts, Inc....rated as the No. 33 offensive guard in the nation by Scout.com...listed as the No. 41 offensive guard in the country by Rivals.com...also rated as the No. 1 offensive guard and the No. 7 overall player in the state of Colorado by Rivals.com...rated as the No. 29 offensive guard in the nation, the No. 1 guard in the Midlands region and the region's No. 22 overall prospect by SuperPrep...listed as the No. 5 overall player and the No. 2 offensive lineman in the state of Colorado by Scout.com...also ranked as the No. 3 offensive guard and the No. 45 overall prospect in the Midlands region by Scout.com...listed as one of eight "Top 5A Football Players" in the preseason by the Rocky Mountain News...appeared in the 2008 Offense-Defense All-American Bowl, along with fellow Sun Devil signees Kemonte Bateman and Steven Figueroa on the West roster...earned First-Team All-Centennial League honors and First-Team All-City recognition as a senior...chose ASU over Colorado State, Utah and Washington and committed to the Sun Devils on Oct. 28, 2007...coached by Tony Manfredi at Overland High School.<separator></separator><a name="schlink" title="schlink"></a>Zach Schlink, OL, Fr., 6-4, 300, Peoria, Ariz. (Centennial HS) Unanimously rated as the top offensive lineman in the state of Arizona by all recruiting services...starred for one of the state's top high school teams, helping Centennial claim back-to-back state championships...can play both offensive guard and tackle and likely projects to play guard at ASU...ranked as the No. 5 offensive guard in the West region and the No. 15 guard in the nation by ESPN Scouts, Inc...also recognized as the top offensive guard in Arizona by ESPN Scouts, Inc....considered to be a nasty, physical "throw back" type of offensive lineman...bench presses over 350 pounds...rated as the No. 1 offensive lineman and the No. 5 overall player in the state of Arizona and the No. 14 offensive guard in the nation by Rivals.com...has a mean streak and finishes blocks soundly...combines tenacity with sound technical abilities to be a well-rounded lineman...earned All-West Region honors as a senior by PrepStar...was ranked among the Tacoma News-Tribune's "Western 100" list...excels equally in run blocking and pass protection...a four-star prospect by both Scout.com and Rivals.com...rated as the No. 232 overall player in the nation by Scout.com...listed as the No. 1 offensive lineman in the state of Arizona and the state's No. 7 overall prospect by SuperPrep...listed by Scout.com as the No. 22 offensive tackle in the nation...ranked as the No. 1 offensive lineman in the state of Arizona in the preseason by 24-7 Football.com...earned First-Team 5A All-State honors by the Arizona Republic as a junior...listed as the No. 1 offensive lineman and the No. 7 overall player in the state of Arizona by the Arizona Republic...regarded as the No. 3 offensive tackle and the No. 40 overall player in the Southwest by SuperPrep...was a member of Centennial's back-to-back Arizona 5A-II State Champion teams in 2006 and 2007...earned First-Team All-Region, All-5A and All-State honors as a junior... "After looking at all of my options, ASU is where I wanted to go," says Schlink. "After thinking it over, I feel it is the best place for me. I am comfortable with the coaching staff and it is close to home. It is the best fit for me."...chose ASU over Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Stanford and UCLA among several other prominent programs...committed to the Sun Devils on Aug. 18, 2007...coached by Richard Taylor at Centennial High School.<separator></separator><a name="tabach" title="tabach"></a>Max Tabach, S, So., 6-2, 205, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Glendale CC) Playmaking defensive back that joins ASU after one season playing local junior college football...rated as the No. 80 overall junior college player in the nation among SuperPrep's "SuperPrep JUCO 100" list...enjoyed a record-setting senior season at Scottsdale (Ariz.) Saguaro High School and has added nearly 40 pounds of mass to his frame since his prep days...very rangy defender that runs a 4.5 40-yard dash and covers a tremendous amount of ground with a tall frame...excels on punt and kickoff returns...a die-hard Sun Devil fan who confesses the day he received a scholarship from ASU as "one of the best days" of his life...one of three midyear junior college transfers to join the Sun Devils for spring practice and has four seasons to play three at ASU...regarded as the No. 8 junior college safety in the nation by Scout.com...looks to be a future fixture in the defensive secondary for the Sun Devils, as the team's projected top three safeties in 2008 will be seniors...totaled 70 tackles and four interceptions playing as a true freshman for the Gauchos in 2007...during his three-year career at Saguaro, he totaled 89 tackles (43 solo) and 18 interceptions, caught 37 passes for 688 yards (18.6 avg.) and eight touchdowns, returned 20 kickoffs for 458 yards (22.9 avg.) and returned 45 punts for 444 yards (9.9 avg.)...had at least one interception in 12 career games and had four games with multiple interceptions...as a high school senior at Saguaro High School, he led the nation and set an Arizona state 4-A high school record with 16 interceptions for the state champion Sabercats...was named by the Arizona Cardinals and Wells Fargo as the Arizona "High School Player-of-the Week" after a sensational performance against Greenway High School on Oct. 20, 2006 in which he caught four passes for a phenomenal 211 yards and three scores, had two interceptions as well as a 34-yard punt return...added 42 tackles as a senior on defense, as well as 28 catches for 567 yards (20.3 avg.) with six touchdowns as a wide receiver...was Saguaro's top punt returner, totaling 326 yards on 32 punt returns (10.2 avg.) and 237 yards on eight kickoff returns (29.6 avg.)...had at least one interception in 10 of 14 games on the year...had three interceptions in two games and two picks in a pair of contests as well...had a season-high six total tackles in two games...notched 29 total tackles (18 solo) as a junior in 2005, in addition to two interceptions and one fumble recovery on defense, as well as nine catches for 121 yards (13.4 avg.) and two scores at wide receiver and 11 kickoff returns for 216 yards (19.6 avg.) on special teams...recorded 18 total tackles on varsity as a sophomore in 2004..."I was born and raised in (Arizona) and I've always been a Sun Devil fan," says Tabach. "ASU has a great (football) program and Coach Erickson showed that he has the program on the rise...ASU is definitely where I want to be."...attended the same community college as current Sun Devil linebacker <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/wooten_morris00.html">… Wooten</a> and former <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/tillman_pat00.html">Pat Tillman</a> Pac-10 Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/robinson_dale00.html">… Robinson</a>...committed to ASU on Jan. 6, 2008..."I love (ASU's) coaches," says Tabach. "I met (Coach) Erickson and I really liked him a lot. I'm looking forward to working with Coach Bray and the other coaches there for three years. It made my commitment that much easier. I can't wait to get in there."...chose ASU over Arizona and Boise State...last name is pronounced "TAY-back"...coached by Mickey Bell at Glendale Community College and by Mike Reardon at Saguaro High School.<separator></separator><a name="togiai" title="togiai"></a>Zeb Togiai, DL, Fr., 6-3, 265, Phoenix, Ariz. (Desert Vista HS) The top senior defensive lineman in the state of Arizona and a versatile athlete...powerful competitor who bench presses 315 pounds, squats 405 and power cleans 250...ranked as the No. 61 defensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com...rated as the No. 1 defensive lineman and the No. 13 overall player in the state of Arizona and the No. 34 strong side defensive end in the country by Rivals.com...also listed as the top defensive tackle in the state of Arizona and the state's No. 18 overall player by Scout.com...listed as the No. 1 defensive lineman and the No. 13 overall player in the state of Arizona by the Arizona Republic...can play defensive tackle or end...ranked as the top senior defensive tackle in Arizona in the preseason by 24-7 Football.com...rated as the No. 1 defensive end in the state of Arizona and the No. 18 player at the position in the West region by ESPN Scouts, Inc....rated as the No. 1 defensive lineman and the No. 18 overall prospect in the state of Arizona by SuperPrep...earned Second-Team 5A All-State honors by the Arizona Republic as a senior...joins prep teammate Steven Figueroa as members of ASU's signing class...earned All-West Region honors as a senior by PrepStar...participated in the Arizona-Sonora Bowl in January of 2008 and was joined by Figueroa on the Arizona squad...totaled 57 tackles (26 solo) as a senior at Desert Vista, helping lead the Thunder to the 5A-I Arizona State Championship game...also recorded three sacks, one pass deflection and one fumble recovery...posted a season-high 10 tackles along with a 13-yard sack against Mesa High School on Sept. 7, 2007...recorded 1.5 sacks against Yuma on Oct. 12, 2007...saw time as a blocking tight end as well...attended Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix as a junior, posting 32 tackles (six solo) with a team-high four sacks...totaled a career-high 12 tackles against Desert Vista on Oct. 26, 2006, his final game at Mountain Pointe before transferring...tallied four total stops including two sacks against Marcos de Niza on Oct. 13, 2006...chose ASU over Arizona, San Diego State and Washington State..."I want to be part of the family (at ASU)," says Togiai. "I love (defensive line) Coach (Grady) Stretz, he knows what he is teaching. I want to be taught by him."...committed to the Sun Devils on June 25, 2007...last name is pronounced "tuh-GUY"...coached by Dan Hinds at Desert Vista High School.<separator></separator><a name="tuitea" title="tuitea"></a>Toa Tuitea, DE/TE, Fr., 6-4, 250, Westminster, Calif. (Westminster HS) Versatile player that will either play defensive end or at tight end as a Sun Devil...rated as the No. 69 defensive tackle in the country by Scout.com...listed as the No. 50 strong side defensive end in the nation by Rivals.com...has the physical tools to develop into a great tight end...in two seasons at Westminster, he totaled 116 tackles (56 solo), 18.0 sacks, 14 quarterback hurries and three pass deflections...had eight games with at least seven tackles and four games with multiple sacks...led Westminster High in tackles as a senior, collecting 74 total stops (40 solo)...added a team-high 12 sacks, four quarterback hurries, one pass deflection and one fumble recovery...has a career-high 12 total tackles twice...had a career-best 3.0 sacks against Valley on Oct. 6, 2007...had three games with multiple sacks and seven games with at least seven tackles...also caught two passes for 23 yards at tight end...totaled 42 tackles (16 solo) as a junior, adding 10 quarterback hurries, six sacks and two pass deflections...had a season-high 2.0 sacks against Orange on Oct. 13, 2006 and a season-best eight total tackles (three solo) against Segerstrom on Oct. 20, 2006...also caught six passes for 51 yards on the year...chose ASU over Arizona, Hawaii, Vanderbilt and Washington State...committed to the Sun Devils on Jan. 13, 2008...last name is pronounced "too-ih-TAY-uh"...coached by Ted McMillen at Westminster High School.