Feb. 6, 2008

2008 Texas State Football Signees

SAN MARCOS - Texas State head coach Brad Wright and his coaching staff signed 22 student-athletes to national letters of intent on Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.

In addition to the players signed Wednesday, Texas State has three transfer student-athletes already enrolled for the spring semester who will also join the team in 2008.

"This one was our first real recruiting class that we started from scratch and took it all the way to signing day," said Wright. "Our guys did a good job getting out there and we feel like we addressed the needs we needed to address."

Defense was a primary focus of the signing class, with 17 members of this recruiting class playing on that side of the ball. Texas State lost three starters on the defensive line as well as half of its starting secondary to graduation.

"We really hit the defensive end and safety position where we had losses due to graduation," said Wright. "We're excited about this talented group coming in because they really fit our needs on defense, and we were able to fill some immediate needs with experienced junior college transfers."

The 2008 class includes three defensive tackles as well as six newcomers who play in the secondary.

"We brought in three defensive lineman who will challenge our returners for playing time in the fall," said Wright. "In the secondary we brought in good, physical players at the safety position and a pair of cornerbacks who are speed guys, something we felt we needed."

Overall, Wright has no doubts about the quality of the 2008 class and the impact they'll have as Bobcats.

"We got help where we needed help, and we're going to have guys from this class who will play a lot of football here at Texas State."

Texas State 2008 Signing Class
Trevor Barry, DE/TE, 6-4, 215, Waller, Texas (Waller High School)
Joplo Bartu, WR/OLB, 6-2, 203, Hockley, Texas (Waller High School)
Daniel Bernard, OG, 6-3, 320, Colton, Calif. (Colton High School)
Darius Bolden, WR, 6-0, 175, Houston, Texas (Cypress Falls High School)
Ralston Dews, OL/DT, 6-1, 340, Tyler, Texas (Robert E. Lee High School)
Benjamin Follis, P, 5-11, 190, Arlington, Texas (Martin High School)
Tim Hawkins, QB, 6-2, 195, Corpus Christi, Texas (Carroll High School)
Charles Holmes, LB, 6-3, 237, Austin, Texas (Bowie High School)
Spencer Jergins, TE/DE, 6-4, 230, New Braunfels, Texas (New Braunfels High School)
Jamil Kazen, TE/DL/LB, 6-3, 255, Boerne, Texas (Boerne High School)
Byron Kirkling, LB, 6-2, 200, DeBerry, Texas (Carthage High School)
Brian Lilly, LB, 6-0, 215, Denison, Texas (Denison High School)
Dominick Maddox, DB, 5-11, 190, Converse, Texas (Judson High School)
Jason McLean, DB, 5-11, 200, San Antonio, Texas (Madison High School)
Jeff McVaney, ATH, 6-2, 220, Houston, Texas (Strake Jesuit)
Darryl Morris, CB, 5-10, 175, San Antonio, Texas (Warren High School)
Mishak Rivas, RB/WR, 5-7, 160, Weslaco, Texas (Weslaco High School)
Zeke Schexnider, DE/TE, 6-3, 223, Groves, Texas (Port Neches-Groves High School)
Michael Schneeweis, OL/DT, 6-3, 335, Anaheim, Calif. (Fullerton College)
Carl Swain, RB, 5-10, 180, Refugio, Texas (Refugio High School)
Jonathan Ward, DE, 6-1, 220 Lumberton, Texas (Lumberton High School)
Mario Wiggins, Jr., DB, 6-1, 190, San Antonio, Texas (Madison High School)