Feb. 6, 2008

Allendale, Mich. - Grand Valley State University head football coach Chuck Martin announced the signing of 20 student-athletes to attend and play football for the Lakers in the fall of 2008.

"Our coaching staff did another outstanding job of identifying talent and then recruiting those kids to be a part of Grand Valley State University and our football program," said fourth-year head coach Chuck Martin. "We always want to recruit the state of Michigan first and I am extremely happy with what we were able to get from our home state," added Martin.

Grand Valley State signed 18 players from the state of Michigan, one from Ohio and one from Illinois. The Lakers signed 12 players on the offensive side of the ball and eight on the defensive side of the ball.

"I am so impressed with the quality of the student-athlete we are able to recruit to Grand Valley State," added Martin. "Our name recognition enables us to get in on some players that are being recruited at the Division I level," added Martin.

GVSU returns 42 letterwinners in 2008, including seven starters on offense and five on defense. GVSU is 91-6 the last seven years with four NCAA DII National Championships (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) and five title game appearances (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006). The Lakers are 94-6 in their last 100 games dating back to the sixth game of the 2000 season.

Name                Pos  Ht    Wt   Hometown/High School
Matt Armstrong      OG   6-3   290  Lansing, Mich./Sexton
Andrew Biedenbender OL   6-4   270  Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
Sam Burchyett       WR   6-1   185  Ann Arbor, Mich./Saline
Jarrod Cox          SS   6-1   190  Port Clinton, Ohio
Chris Crawford      QB   6-0   180  Muskegon, Mich.
Dominic Cundari     OL   6-2   290  Traverse City, Mich./West
Zac Dreffs          DB   5-10  175  Elk Rapids, Mich.
Jarren Harrison	    RB   5-10  185  Ferndale, Mich.
John Kaminski       OL   6-2   295  Joliet, Ill./Joliet Catholic Academy
Charles Martin      DL   6-2   255  Macomb, Mich./Dakota
John Orlando        WR   6-0   175  Shelby Twp., Mich./Utica Eisenhower
Chad O'Shell        RB   5-10  175  Sterling Heights, Mich./Warren DeLaSalle
Mac Parker          OL   6-1   270  Muskegon, Mich.
Myron Puryear       RB   5-10  180  Canton, Mich./Plymouth
Matt Sanders        DB   6-3   200  Farmington Hills, Mich./Farmington
Ricky Shorkey       LB   6-3   210  Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley
Erik Thompson       RB   6-1   180  Pontiac, Mich./L'Anse Creuse North
Luther Ware         RB   5-10  194  Bay City, Mich./Central
Israel Woolfork     WR   6-3   175  Livonia, Mich./Franklin

Enrolled in January
Jeff Alexander      DB   6-0   190  Battle Creek, Mich./Central
Cam Bramer          Ath  6-1   220  Olivet, Mich./Central Michigan
Keioshe Jones       DL   6-2   305  Venice, Calif./West L.A. College
Nick Lawrence       LB   6-3   235  Brighton, Mich./Bowling Green State