Class of 2009 - 36 Recruits
Thursday, February 5th, 2009Yesterday was the annual college signing day where players from high schools across the country aim to sign letters of intent at the schools that they really want to play for. This year, GVSU brought in 36 recruits for one of the largest classes ever. They set out this year to bring in recruits at the QB position as Iciek is entering his senior year with no clear replacement in the roster. Besides the QB position, Martin has said in years past( and this year was no different), you can never have enough linemen. If you have enough linemen then you will also have enough of the skilled positions that you really need to support the rest of the team.
The event was held at the Football Center and was webcasted to the world via gvsulakers.com at 3 PM yesterday. The Sports Information department provided a press release of the signing class including short bios of each of the players (as something new this year). The press release can be found here on gvsulakers.com in PDF format. I also took some rough notes during the QA and video highlights portion of the event and they can be found below.
Martin seemed very excited about the class and said that the best years for these kids are yet to come. It sounds like the only recruit that would look towards fighting for a starting spot in the 2009 season would be Ryan Stokes at the placekicker position but Martin did say that things could change as summer practice unfolds in August.
Class of 2009 Laker Signing Class
Brogan Bibler DB 5-10 175 Rockford, Mich. Jake Carra OL 6-3 270 Traverse City, Mich./Central Taylor Copacia QB 6-4 195 Utica, Mich./Eisenhower DeMarco Donaldson DB 5-10 178 Southfield, Mich./Lathrup Nick Duronio DL 6-4 225 Romeo, Mich. Dave Fortin LB 6-0 180 Livonia, Mich./Franklin Zach Galloway DB 6-2 185 Tecumseh, Mich. Brent Geers Ath. 5-11 170 Grand Rapids, Mich./South Christian Austin Green OL 6-3 255 Lapeer, Mich./East Brandan Green WR 5-9 155 Linden, Mich. Isiah Grimes QB 6-6 218 South Haven, Mich. Micheal Hatcher WR/DB 5-10 173 Dearborn, Mich. Derrell Haygood OL 6-2 257 Southfield, Mich./Lathrup Charles Hill RB 6-0 175 Hazel Park, Mich. Hersey Jackson RB 6-0 220 Allendale, Mich. Lucas Kozuch DE 6-2 220 Bay City, Mich./Western Jordan Kaufman DB 6-3 190 Ubly, Mich. Eric LaBuhn OL 6-5 290 Ubly, Mich. Suave Lavallis DB 5-9 172 Orchard Lake, Mich./St. Mary's Andrew Longo WR 6-0 170 Allendale, Mich. Kenny McDaniel DL 6-2 265 Muskegon, Mich./Muskegon Heights Anthony Mullins RB 6-0 183 Plymouth, Mich./Salem Heath Parling QB 6-2 180 Plymouth, Mich./Salem Kyle Partlo QB 6-1 177 Midland, Mich/Dow Darryl Pitts WR 6-2 185 Detroit, Mich./Southeastern Michael Ratay RB 5-8 186 Geneva, Ill. Gerrit Rauch DB 6-1 190 Portage, Mich./Central Denzel Rodgers DE 6-2 220 Clinton Twp., Mich./Clintondale Albert Saleh LB 6-1 190 Dearborn, Mich. Billy Seiler RB 5-7 170 Alsip, Ill./Marist Ryan Stokes K 5-9 155 Merrillville, Ind. Tony Stramaglia WR 6-1 190 Orland Park, Ill./Carl Sandberg Ed Vushaj TE 6-4 219 Walled Lake, Mich./Western Lavelle Walker DB 5-10 170 Lansing, Mich./Everett Reggie Williams DB 5-9 170 Lansing, Mich./Everett Donavan Wilson DB 5-11 170 Detroit, Mich./Southeastern
My Rough Press Conference Notes
Questions/Answers
Greg Johnson
Do you set out with a goal # in mind?
- No we looked for QBs, Linemen and Kickers but we will take as many as we can afford.
You got 12 of the top 100 from MI high schools; feeling good about the quality?
- yes definitely like what these kids have done but they will really prove themselves 2-3-4 years down the road.
Hersey Jackson - high in rankings before hurt - did you stay on? or surprised?
- One of the coaches was at the game. got a text. awful for the kid but thought maybe it was a door. yoche spent some time with some of allendales coaches. tracked him along but he was kind of waiting for someone at the end and no one did. it was quite easy. very excited to have him here.
Maybe reconsider redshirt?
- We don’t determine that but his size strength and speed will let him match up but transitions will be the determinant.
Tom Cleary
There were a few places where we got 2 players; is this unusual?
- ya its not normal but it happens. two kids from ubly is definitely not normal. when we go in to recruit, we go for what we want.
Bridge gap between GV and 1AA with them having full scholarships?
- we try to sell everything. football, school and west michigan. the $ is not everything in the equation. just because they can give more, doesn’t mean they like you more. our asst coaches do a great job at selling the GV degree and spending in west michigan over some place that isn’t as great. plus the success is a key.
Success like Carr aren’t just diamonds in the rough. could you get a guy that is as good as any D1?
- yes in my 9 yrs here we’ve always had at least one player make it to a NFL camp. the type of kids we recruit are the kind of guys that might be there in 5-6 years with us.
Unknown Speaker
Any holes or weak spots?
- Not really but its hard because I don’t really think in those terms but rather in the program as a whole. We have lots of players coming back and if someone steps up and doesn’t redshirt then great.
Kyle Schwerin
4 out of state. same as last years. result of more talented pool in MI or larger number with splitting scholarships?
- probably more talented. sometimes there are more good players for D2 than for Big Ten or 1AA. Our asst’s don’t get the credit for what they do on the road. They are starting to win battles before its they start. Some good players are only visiting GV and they don’t look anywhere else.
Video Highlights
Isiah Grimes
6′7″ can move. no option QB. good BBall player. played in wing T for 3 yrs. big senior year. huge numbers with Holland Christian coach. can throw pretty much anything you want him to do.
Heath Parling
QB plymouth athletic very competitive. d1 offer to Army. can both run and throw. also played defense. good playing on team without success. fits in our offense. very excited.
Kyle Partlo
rugby tough versatile. smart. can do a lot athletically. sister is GV student.
Brent Geers
local from south christian. great program. won’t be QB but good athlete. offensive or defensive skill player. outstanding student.
Hersey Jackson
local kid from allendale. state 100m speed. smooth. big strong. there are reasons that he had D1 offers. expected to run track this year. bigger and more physical. good balance.
Anthony Mullins
bigger physical back that can run. could play TB RB S Nickel. been through a lot in his life. has lots of reason to not be successful but has. 2 sports. very proud he was interested. tremendous athleticism.
Billy Seiler
really fast. not very tall. explosive. one of 2 fastest in the class. could play defense but RB slot returner because of speed. deceptively strong.
Michael Ratay
48 TD’s in senior year. “absolutely ridiculous” over 3000 total yards. all everything back. could be S or Nickel. great HS and great family.
Donavan Wilson
detroit southeastern versatile. played both ways in HS. he will definitely turn heads.
Charles Hill
versatile. TB and outside linebacker. very physical player that like contact. makes something out of nothing. great balance. can do lots of things on the football field.
Dave Fortin
best player on their team. can probably play multiple skill positions. very physical for his size.
Reggie Williams
reggie doesnt need me to tell you much about what he does. great feet/balance. definitely not a QB. already penciled in on D but O might not be bad either. unbelievable competitior. playmaker. “kinda ridiculous” lots of arguments over him in years to come. obviously not fun to play against in HS.
Michael Hatcher
didnt get to many camps but potential to do great things. skill guy. explosive. great hands. stuck with us even though some D1 people wanted him to come look. arguments with D/O for him as well. RB WR DB
Brandan Green
fasted punter ever. little school and great players can come from anywhere. no one wants to believe he is as fast as he is. WR Slot Corner. If you give him the space, he will make plays for you. Long stride as he isn’t very tall. Strong for his size. Great balance.
Sauve Lavallis
big strong fast with good ball skills. looking at corner. taller kid. can cover man but also zone. made lots of big time plays. did punt returns in HS. tremendous balance/athleticism.
Tony Stramaglia
bigger outside reciever. ran 10.8 100m. outsiding hands and great balance. offered in May. turned down five or six 1AA. appreciative that he stuck to his commitment. he is excited to play and we are excited to have him
Darryl Pitts
outside WR. can play the ball over his head. played against some of the best kids in MI and was dominate. will get faster in the time. one thing you can’t coach is following the ball in the air and he is tremendous at that.
Andrew Longo
know him for a long time. skinny little kid. been in our camp for years. try-hard kid. got bigger as the years pasted in HS. great relationship for years. good friends with hersey.
Zach Galloway
S LB or offense. good ball skills. explosive. will figure out what he can do when he gets here but lots will work. loved his ability to make plays.
DeMarco Donaldson
could play either side. made tons of plays. wants to compete at the highest level. played lots of positions and did well everywhere.
Brogan Bibler
safety. will be talking about. wasn’t touted but at the end of the day he will probably be one of the better players out there. nose for football and loves to get hit.
Lavelle Walker
loved him on his visit. looking at DB S Corner. good run defender. helped his team with a successful year. definitely GV type of player.
Jordan Kaufman
good bball player as well. played QB in HS but WR S LB here. made tons of players with great career here. love kids that make plays in HS and believe their best days are ahead.
Gerrit Rauch
dual sport (baseball). turned down D1 baseball. family are season ticket holders. excited to have him come here. may end up playing baseball here before his days are done.
Albert Saleh
skill guy. can run/catch. played with hatcher in HS.
Derrell Haygood
big physical kid. offensive linemen. played lots of positions in HS. good motor. will be a great player when he settles into one position
Denzel Rodgers
big strong physical. ticketed for linemen but maybe TE as well. had lots of D1 offers interested late but stuck with commitment.
Nick Duronio
physical interior linemen. all state wrestler. tremendous motor. ability to track the football and go go go. plays at 240 and wrestles at 215. we think the off season might see 260.
Kenny McDaniel
commited to Eastern and dropped by new staff. played inside LB. big physical. 260. over 27 inches. 4.9 60m. probably down linemen and 290 here.
Lucas Kozuch
in camp for 3 years. loves GV. incredible motor. always going and competetive. lots football.
Ed Vushaj
highly touted. waited for msu but never got offer. big TE.
Eric LaBuhn
LT from Ubly. very physical. loves to finish blocks
Austin Green
big boy up front. 6 4 and extremely athletic. will be a very big person some day.
Jake Carra
oline prospect. big athletic. likes to finish blocks. good on his feet.
Ryan Stokes
hope espn.com is right. 28 fieldgoals in senior year. tons of kickoffs out of the endzone. extremely accurate. also punts. excited about opportunity to come and kick in some big games. might compete for starting kicking job right when he gets here.
I will try to dig up any video highlights that I can find on these guys and post it so you can see some of the reasons for offering to the kids that they did.
Next on my list is trying to get the rest of the 2008 season photos up! and… go! 