Feb. 1, 2006
RENO, Nev. -- Twenty-four student-athletes have signed National Letters-of-Intent with the University of Nevada football program, Head Coach Chris Ault announced today on the first day of the signing period. The emphasis was on size and athleticism at every position.
"This class features all the necessary ingredients needed to move our program forward. There was an emphasis of size at all positions, from linemen to defensive backs and wide receivers. However, I feel the best feature of this class is their athleticism and speed," Ault said.
Seventeen prep players were signed in addition to five freshmen transfers and two junior college signees. The five players who signed in December are included in today's list of signees.
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"This class features all the necessary ingredients needed to move our program forward. There was an emphasis of size at all positions, from linemen to defensive backs and wide receivers. However, I feel the best feature of this class is their athleticism and speed," Ault said.
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Among the signees highlighting the class are John Romero (6-4, 295, DL) and Kevin Basped (6-6, 235, DL/LB, Sacramento, Florin High School) on defense as well as Rob Sullivan (6-4, 275, OL) and Mike DeMars (6-2, 315, OL) on offense. Romero is from Tucson, Ariz., Salpointe Catholic High School and was a two-time, first-team all-state selection and three times named first-team All-Region. He is ranked as one of the best lineman recruits in the country. Sullivan hails from Orinda, Calif. (Miramonte High School) and earned first-team All-Northern California honors in addition to being named Northern California "Cream of the Crop". DeMars, the younger brother of Pack linebacker Jason DeMars, is from Sacramento CC where he was All-Central Valley Conference and will have three years of eligibility remaining. He inked in December during the mid-year college transfer signing period.
Other key signees include Adam Liranzo, Dontay Moch, Virgil Green, Colin Kaepernick, Brandon Fragger, Courtney Randall, and Chris Wellington. Liranzo (6-4, 210, DB) was a first-team All-CIF selection as a defensive back at St. Bonaventure High in Ventura, Calif. He played on the top-ranked team in the state and had a 40-2 career record with St. Bonaventure. Moch (6-1, 220, DB) is another big defensive back and was first-team all-state at Hamilton High in Chandler, Ariz. He was a first-team all-region selection and played on two state championship squads in 2004 and 2005 in addition to winning the state 200-meter title in track last spring. Green (6-4, 210, WR) from Tulare, Calif., and Tulare Union High, was a first-team All-East Yosemite League selection and named to the first-team All-Area Central Section squad. Kaepernick (6-5, 190, QB) from Turlock, Calif., and Pittman High School, was a first-team All-District, All-Conference, and All-Academic selection. He was named the Central Cal Conference MVP and participated in the Berkeley and Las Vegas "Elite 11" camps. He was 112-188 and 1,954 yards with just six interceptions and 25 touchdowns as a senior. Fragger (5-9, 195, RB) from Pleasant Hill, Calif., and College Park High School, who gained 1,785 yards for an 8.64 yards per carry average and scored 23 touchdowns was also named Northern California "Cream of the Crop". Randall (5-10, 215, RB) is a four-year letterman from Rialto, Calif., Eisenhower High School, who rushed for over 1,200 yards, earned All-Citrus Belt League honors three times and twice was named All-Area.
Transfer signees who are expected to play key roles are speedy Marko Mitchell (6-4, 190, WR) and Jerome Johnson (6-1, 265, LB). Mitchell, who will have three years of eligibility, played at Mesa CC and earned first-team all-conference as well as first-team all-district accolades. He had 34 receptions for 719 yards, eight touchdowns in averaging 21.1 yards per catch and played his prep ball at Sumter County High School in York, Ala. Johnson, who will also have three years of eligibility left. The two-time All-City selection in Los Angeles at Dorsey High comes to the Pack via West L.A. CC.
Also signing as prep standouts were John Bender (6-8, 335, DL); Marshane Haynes (6-2, 180, ATH) Ryan Coulson (6-3, 220, LB) from Elk Grove, Calif.; Mike Gallett (6-6, 295, OL); Dustin Pappas (6-1, 230, LB); and Omar Rawashdeh (6-6, 315, OL). December signees include A.J. Slater (Jr., 6-5, 305, OL), Sam Stewart (So., 6-3, 275, DL) and Devon Walker (Jr., 6-0, 175, DB, Cerritos CC). They will be joined by two freshmen junior college transfers who signed today and will each have three years of eligibility remaining. They are Mundrae Clifton (6-1, 295, DL, Southwestern College), who hails from San Diego, and Mitchell.
Four grayshirts, who signed institutional letters of grant-in-aid and are expected to enroll next January as incoming freshmen, include: Josh Morrow (6-4, 200, WR, Mountain Ridge High School, Glendale, Ariz.); Jared Silva (5-10, 220, LB, St. Louis High School, Honolulu; Mark Berry (6-0, 200, DB, Granite Bay High School, Granite Bay, Calif.; and Daiveun (DAY-vee-un) Chapman (6-2, 210, ATH, Corona High School, Riverside, Calif.).
University of Nevada 2006 Football Signees High School (17) - Listed Alphabetically
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl.-Exp. | Hometown (High School) |
| Kevin Basped | DL/LB | 6-6 | 235 | Fr.-HS | Sacramento, Calif. (Florin H.S.) |
| John Bender | DL | 6-8 | 335 | Fr.-HS | Alberta, Canada (Cochrane H.S.) |
| Ryan Coulson | LB | 6-3 | 220 | Fr.-HS | Elk Grove, Calif. (Elk Grove H.S.) |
| Brandon Fragger | RB | 5-9 | 195 | Fr.-HS | Pleasant Hill, Calif. (College Park H.S.) |
| Mike Gallett | OL | 6-6 | 295 | Fr.-HS | Phoenix, Ariz. (O'Connor H.S.) |
| Virgil Green | WR | 6-4 | 210 | Fr.-HS | Tulare, Calif. (Tulare Union H.S.) |
| Zach Hanson | OL | 6-8 | 305 | Fr.-HS | Linden, Calif. (Linden H.S.) |
| Marshane Haynes | ATH | 6-2 | 180 | Fr.-HS | San Diego, Calif. (Bonita Vista H.S.) |
| Colin Kaepernick | QB | 6-5 | 190 | Fr.-HS | Turlock, Calif. (Pittman H.S.) |
| Adam Liranzo | DB | 6-4 | 210 | Fr.-HS | Ventura, Calif. (St. Bonaventure H.S.) |
| Dontay Moch | DB | 6-1 | 220 | Fr.-HS | Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton H.S.) |
| Dustin Pappas | LB | 6-1 | 230 | Fr.-HS | Sonoma, Calif. (Sonoma Valley H.S.) |
| Courtney Randall | RB | 5-10 | 215 | Fr.-HS | Rialto, Calif. (Eisenhower H.S.) |
| Omar Rawashdeh | OL | 6-6 | 315 | Fr.-HS | Sacramento, Calif. (Sheldon H.S.) |
| John Romero | DL | 6-4 | 295 | Fr.-HS | Tucson, Ariz. (Salpointe Catholic H.S.) |
| Rob Sullivan | OL | 6-4 | 275 | Fr.-HS | Orinda, Calif. (Miramonte H.S.) |
| Chris Wellington | WR | 6-1 | 185 | Fr,-HS | Woodland Hills, Calif. (Taft H.S.) |
Junior College Transfers (2) With Two Years of Eligibility - Listed Alphabetically
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl.-Exp. | Hometown (High School) |
| A.J. Slater | OL | 6-5 | 305 | Jr.-JC | Newport Beach, Calif. (Santa Ana CC/Newport Harbor H.S.)$ |
| Devon Walker | DB | 6-0 | 175 | Jr.-JC | Cerritos, Calif. (Cerritos CC/Gahr H.S.)$ |
Junior College Freshmen (5) With Three Years of Eligibility - Listed Alphabetically
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Cl.-Exp. | Hometown (High School) |
| Mundrae Clifton | DL | 6-1 | 295 | So.-JC | San Diego, Calif. (Southwestern College/Mira Mesa H.S.) |
| Mike DeMars | OL | 6-2 | 315 | So.-JC | Sacramento, Calif. (Sacramento CC/River City H.S.)$ |
| Jerome Johnson | LB | 6-1 | 265 | So.-JC | Los Angeles, Calif. (West L.A. CC./Dorsey H.S.)$ |
| Marko Mitchell | WR | 6-4 | 190 | So.-JC | York, Ala. (Mesa (Ariz.) CC/Sumter County H.S.) |
| Sam Stewart | DL | 6-3 | 275 | So.-JC | Tustin, Calif. (Santa Ana CC/Tustin H.S.)$ |
$Signed Dec. 2005
| Total Signees: | 24 | | By Platoon: | |
| High School: | 17 | | Offense: | 12 |
| Sophomore JC Transfers: | 2 | | Defense: | 11 |
| Freshmen JC Transfers: | 5 | | Athlete: | 1 |
| By Position: | | | Pronunciations: |
| Offensive Line: | 6 | | Kevin BASS-ped |
| Defensive Line: | 5 | | DAY-vee-un Chapman |
| Defensive Back: | 3 | | KAA-lun CAP-ur-nick |
| Linebacker: | 3 | | Don-TAY MOKE |
| Wide Receiver: | 3 | | Duh-VON Walker |
| Running Back: | 2 | | OH-mar Ruh-WASH-day |
| Quarterback: | 1 | | |
| Athlete: | 1 | | |
| By State/Province: | |
| California: | 19 |
| Arizona: | 3 |
| Alabama: | 1 |
| Alberta, Canada | 1 |
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