Feb. 1, 2012
2012 SIGNING DAY TIMELINE | QUOTES
Arizona State University has signed 23 student-athletes to national letters of intent Wednesday to study and participate in football, head coach Todd Graham announced.
Coach Graham's first signing class at ASU provides the Sun Devils with excellent talent on offense, defense and special teams and includes players from multiple states across the country as well as outside the United States' borders.
The class consists of 14 freshmen, eight juniors and one sophomore. Three of the juniors are midyear transfers already on campus that will participate in spring practice.
ASU's 2012 signing class includes:
- Players from eight different states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Texas, Washington) and one from Canada.
- Eight high school players ranked among the nation's top-40 at their position: D.J. Foster (Rivals.com, No. 5 ATH), Easton Wahlstrom (Scout.com, No. 5 LS), Evan Goodman (Scout.com, No. 16 OT), Stephon McCray (ESPN, No. 21 OG), Salamo Fiso (Rivals.com, No. 26 LB), Richard Smith (Scout.com, No. 31 CB), Matthew Rowe (ESPN, No. 37 OLB).
- Six junior college signees ranked in the nation's top-100: RB Marion Grice (SuperPrep, No. 5 overall), CB Oliver Johnson (SuperPrep, No. 21 overall), LB Steffon Martin (Rivals.com, No. 34 overall), DL Mike Pennel (Rivals.com, No. 36 overall), DL Jake Sheffield (SuperPrep, No. 57 overall), WR Alonzo Agwuenu (SuperPrep, No. 62 overall).
- 12 defensive players, 11 offensive players and one specialist.
- Four defensive linemen, four linebackers, three defensive backs, three offensive linemen, three running backs, three wide receivers, two tight ends and one long snapper.
| ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL 2012 NATIONAL LETTER OF INTENT SIGNING CLASS | |||||
| Name | Pos. | Yr. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown/Previous School |
| Alonzo Agwuenu | WR | RS-Jr.# | 6-4 | 210 | Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills HS/Mt. San Antonio JC |
| Josiah Blandin | WR | Fr. | 6-4 | 185 | Long Beach, Calif./Polytechnic HS |
| Terrell Davis | RB | Fr. | 6-0 | 215 | Victoria, B.C, Canada/Mount Douglas Senior Secondary |
| Salamo Fiso | LB | Fr. | 6-1 | 220 | Long Beach, Calif./Polytechnic HS |
| D.J. Foster | RB | Fr. | 6-0 | 190 | Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro HS |
| Evan Goodman | OL | Fr. | 6-4 | 290 | Lakeland, Fla./Lakeland Senior HS |
| Marion Grice | RB | Jr. | 6-0 | 210 | Houston, Texas/Nimitz HS/Blinn CC |
| Jaxon Hood | DL | Fr. | 6-1 | 290 | Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton HS |
| Oliver Johnson | CB | Jr. | 6-2 | 200 | Woodland Hills, Calif./Taft HS/Pierce College |
| Milo Jordan | DL | Fr. | 6-2 | 275 | Corona, Calif./Centennial HS |
| Kody Kohl | TE | Fr. | 6-3 | 220 | Gilbert, Ariz./Mesquite HS |
| Steffon Martin | LB | Jr. | 6-2 | 230 | Indianapolis, Ind./Pike HS/Arizona Western College |
| Stephon McCray | OL | Fr. | 6-4 | 300 | Fresno, Calif./Bullard HS |
| William McGehee | OL | So. | 6-6 | 300 | Plano, Texas/Prestonwood Christian Academy/Navarro CC |
| Carlos Mendoza | LB | Fr. | 6-1 | 220 | Westlake Village, Calif./Oaks Christian HS |
| Viliami Moeakiola | S | Fr. | 6-1 | 205 | Euless, Texas/Trinity HS |
| Mike Pennel | DL | RS-Jr.# | 6-5 | 340 | Aurora, Colo./Grandview HS/Scottsdale (Ariz.) CC |
| Darwin Rogers* | TE | Jr. | 6-4 | 255 | Chicago, Ill./Leo Catholic HS/Arizona Western College |
| Matthew Rowe | LB | Fr. | 6-2 | 220 | Long Beach, Calif./Polytechnic HS |
| Jake Sheffield* | DL | Jr. | 6-4 | 280 | Aurora, Colo./Gateway HS/College of the Desert |
| Richard Smith | WR | Fr. | 5-9 | 161 | Long Beach, Calif./Polytechnic HS |
| Easton Wahlstrom* | LS | Fr. | 6-2 | 240 | Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain HS |
| Chris Young | S | Jr. | 6-2 | 220 | Seattle, Wash./Auburn Senior HS/Arizona Western College |
#-has already utilized redshirt season
Alonzo Agwuenu
WR · RS-Jr. · 6-4 · 210
Chino Hills, Calif./Chino Hills HS/Mt. San Antonio JC
One of the nation's most prolific junior college wide receivers... comes to ASU at a position of need due to the losses of seniors George Bell, Aaron Pflugrad, Gerell Robinson and Mike Willie... rated the No. 62 overall junior college prospect in the country by SuperPrep... caught 73 passes for 1,025 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2011... helped lead Mt. San Antonio to the California College Athletic Association championship game with an 11-2 record... earned California Community College Football Coaches Association All-Region 1V All-California First-Team Offense honors in 2011... was named the Championship Offensive Player of the Game in Mt. San Antonio's victory over Cerritos in the Southern California championship game... runs a 4.48 40-yard dash... will have two years of eligibility to play at ASU... was offered by Colorado, Mississippi and Oregon out of high school and was also recruited by Arizona, California, Nevada, San Diego State and UCLA... was an All-Sierra League selection as a junior with 42 receptions for 690 yards and seven touchdowns... his brother, Kenny, played collegiately at the University of Nevada and his cousin, Obum Gwacham, currently plays for Oregon State... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from Akron, Kentucky, Nevada, Oregon State, Utah State and Western Michigan... was also heavily recruited by Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas Tech as a sophomore at Mt. San Antonio... "I've always been an ASU fan," said Agwuenu. "I love the school there and their program."... coached by Robert Jastrab at Mt. San Antonio College... verbally committed to ASU on Dec. 21, 2011.
Josiah Blandin
WR · Fr. · 6-4 · 185
Long Beach, Calif./Polytechnic HS
Tall receiver with the ability to provide a potent size advantage in the pass game... earned All-West Region honors by PrepStar and is rated the No. 87 overall recruit in the state of California by SuperPrep... ranked by ESPN as the nation's No. 67 wide receiver prospect... listed by Rivals.com as the nation's No. 89 wide receiver recruit and rated by Scout.com as the nation's No. 113 wide receiver prospect... recorded 21 receptions for 329 yards (15.7 avg.) with two touchdowns as a senior in 2011... finished second on the team in receiving behind fellow ASU signee Richard Smith... tallied career-highs of five catches for 79 yards with a touchdown against Narbonne on Sept. 23, 2011... totaled 78 receiving yards on two catches with a touchdown against Cabrillo on Nov. 10, 2011... caught 14 passes for 214 yards (15.3 avg.) with two touchdowns as a junior in 2010... ranked third on the team in receiving... hauled in a season-high four passes totaling 32 yards with a touchdown against Lakewood on Oct. 8, 2010... caught seven passes for 122 yards (17.4 avg.) as a sophomore on varsity in 2009... posted season highs of four catches for 64 yards against Lakewood on Oct. 9, 2009... that Lakewood team included current Sun Devils Kevin Anderson and Rashad Wadood... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada and Oregon State... verbally committed to the Sun Devils on April 4, 2011... . "I loved the school, the facilities, the coaching staff... everything was just perfect," said Blandin. "[My official visit] was great, I felt right at home."... was coached by Raul Lara at Poly High School.
Terrell Davis
RB · Fr. · 6-0 · 215
Victoria, B.C, Canada/Mount Douglas Senior Secondary
Tough, powerful runner with excellent ball control... will be the only Canadian native on the ASU roster... ranked by Scout.com as the nation's No. 101 running back recruit... runs a 4.52 40-yard dash... rushed for 1,355 yards on approximately 150 carries with 20 touchdowns without fumbling as a senior in 2011... helped lead Mount Davis to the province's AAA championship... surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in each of his four years of high school football... also played linebacker, punter and kicker in high school... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from Idaho and Washington State... was also recruited by Arkansas, Oregon, Oregon State and Washington... verbally committed to the Sun Devils on Jan. 8, 2012.
Salamo Fiso
LB · Fr. · 6-1 · 220
Long Beach, Calif./Polytechnic HS
Tenacious and aggressive linebacker... regarded as a very talented sideline-to-sideline linebacker that is also effective in coverage... was an All-Pac-5 Division selection as a senior and was named the Moore League Defensive Most Valuable Player... earned California All-State Division I honors by MaxPreps... played in the postseason Cal State All-Star Game... earned All-West Region honors by PrepStar and is rated the No. 42 overall prospect in the state of California by SuperPrep... rated by Rivals.com as the nation's No. 26 linebacker prospect and the No. 63 overall recruit in the state of California... listed by ESPN as a four-star prospect and the nation's No. 32 outside linebacker recruit... regarded by Scout.com as the country's No. 33 outside linebacker recruit... totaled a team-high 127 tackles (67 solo) as a senior in 2011... added 4.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery... ranked third on the team in sacks... averaged 10.6 tackles per game... had seven games with double-digit tackles... recorded a career-high 15 tackles (nine solo) against Mission Viejo on Sept. 23, 2011... tallied 14 total tackles on two occasions... only played in four games as a junior due to injury... collected 28 tackles and two sacks... posted a season-high 11 tackles including 2.0 sacks against Woodrow Wilson on Oct. 29, 2010, his last game of the season... totaled 62 tackles, three interceptions and one sack as a sophomore in 2009... posted a season-high eight tackles on two occasions... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from Arizona, Nebraska, Colorado and UCLA... was also recruited by California, USC and Washington... verbally committed to ASU on April 7, 2011... "My (Junior Day) visit to Arizona State was great," said Fiso. "It really looked like Long Beach just with no water. It felt like home. I really liked hanging out with all the players too."... coached by Raul Lara at Poly High School.
D.J. Foster
RB · Fr. · 6-0 · 190
Scottsdale, Ariz./Saguaro HS
One of the most illustrious offensive performers in Arizona high school football history... one of the nation's most well-rounded all-purpose athletes and is the total package in terms of his ability as a runner and a receiver... his senior season effort stands among the most outstanding individual campaigns of any performer in state history... set an Arizona state single-season record with 60 total touchdowns as a senior... he also set state marks for rushing yards in a game, touchdowns in a game, touchdowns in a career, points in a career and points in a season... has sensational change of direction and cutback skills, accelerates seamlessly and has spectacular burst... can run with equal potency whether toward the sidelines or through the tackles... the most highly-acclaimed offensive prospect from the state of Arizona to sign with ASU since wide receiver Gerell Robinson in 2008... is a highly qualified receiver out of the backfield and was a standout defensive back in high school... was chosen by the Arizona Republic as the Big Schools Player of the Year in 2011... was named the 2011 Tribune Football Player of the Year by the East Valley Tribune... earned All-Arizona honors at running back as a senior in 2011 and as a defensive back as a junior in 2010... is a product of the same high school program as current Sun Devils Corey Adams, Kody Koebensky and Max Smith as well as former ASU defensive end Kyle Caldwell... regarded as a five-star prospect by Max Preps... rated the top prospect in the state of Arizona, the No. 2 all-purpose athlete in the country and the nation's No. 43 overall recruit by SuperPrep... tabbed as the nation's No. 4 all-purpose athlete and the No. 57 overall recruit by PrepStar... ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 5 all-purpose athlete in the nation, the No. 71 overall prospect in the country and the No. 2 recruit in the state of Arizona... listed by Scout.com as the No. 12 running back in the country and the nation's No. 104 overall prospect... rated by ESPN as the No. 21 running back prospect in the nation, the No. 33 overall player in the region and the No. 4 overall prospect in the state of Arizona... rushed for over 5,000 yards during his high school career... recorded 234 carries for 3,058 yards (13.1 avg.) with 54 rushing touchdowns as a senior in 2011... added 13 receptions for 250 yards (19.2 avg.) with five touchdowns... recorded 24 tackles on defense with two pass deflections, one interception and one fumble recovery... saw action on kickoff returns and punt returns as well... helped lead Saguaro to the Arizona Division III State Championship... rushed for at least 125 yards in every game he played as a senior with eight contests over 200 rushing yards... scored at least one rushing touchdown in every game he played and had four or more rushing scores in eight games... had a performance against Sunrise Mountain on Nov. 4 that earned him national acclaim in Sports Illustrated magazine after he totaled 508 rushing yards on 20 carries with 10 rushing touchdowns, setting state records for single-game rushing yardage and rushing touchdowns... carried 23 times for 295 yards with five touchdowns against Arcadia on Oct. 21, 2011... totaled 272 rushing yards on 19 carries with six rushing touchdowns against Thunderbird on Sept. 2, 2011... carried 24 times for 291 yards with three touchdowns against Sabino on Nov. 19, 2011... had a season-best 96 receiving yards on two receptions with one touchdown in addition to 125 rushing yards on only nine carries with three scores against Tempe on Sept. 9, 2011... rushed for 1,421 yards with 22 touchdowns, caught 43 passes for 740 yards and four touchdowns and also posted 60 tackles and seven interceptions as a junior on Saguaro's 4A-I State Champion squad in 2010... earned Second-Team All-Region honors as a sophomore in 2009 after rushing for 545 yards and 10 touchdowns while also adding 457 receiving yards... was an All-Region defensive back as well after tallying 31 tackles and one interception... "The plays [ASU runs are] pretty much the same plays that I ran in high school for the last few years," said Foster. "I'm just excited to be part of the program and help out."... coached by John Sanders at Saguaro High School... "I'm excited to stay home and represent for Arizona," said Foster. "I've got a lot of support here that I can't find anywhere else and I'm excited to go to work."... verbally committed to ASU on Jan. 27, 2012... "I have a lot of trust in the coaching staff [at ASU]," said Foster. "I know that if the players [at ASU] are working as hard as the coaches, something special is going to happen."... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from schools including Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, California, Colorado, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Stanford, UCLA, USC and Washington.
Evan Goodman
OL · Fr. · 6-4 · 290
Lakeland, Fla./Lakeland Senior HS
One of the nation's premier offensive tackle recruits... is very aggressive and tenacious and has stellar body control and balance... has superior athleticism and fires off the ball... has the quickness to engage defenders and keep them off balance... has a limitless future at either tackle position... one of the most highly-coveted high school offensive line prospects to sign with ASU in recent years... regard as a four-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals.com and Scout.com... listed by Scout.com as the No. 16 offensive tackle prospect in the country and the nation's No. 112 overall recruit... ranked as the No. 21 offensive tackle recruit in the country by ESPN... tabbed by Rivals.com as the No. 30 offensive tackle recruit in the country and the state of Florida's No. 41 overall prospect... the younger brother of ASU redshirt freshman offensive lineman Devin Goodman... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from schools including Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, LSU, Miami (Fla.), Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, South Carolina and UCLA... verbally committed to ASU on Aug. 1, 2011... "I really like Arizona State and I enjoy talking to the coaches," said Goodman. "I think I could be really successful there and I know the coaches there will help me a lot and let me improve. My brother factored into my decision some but this was my decision."... coached by Bill Castle at Lakeland High.
Marion Grice
RB · Jr. · 6-0 · 215
Houston, Texas/Chester W. Nimitz HS/Blinn CC
Unanimously regarded as the top junior college running back in the nation... versatile runner that combines power and speed into a formidable arsenal out of the backfield... also reliable in the pass game... listed by Rivals.com as the No. 5 overall junior college prospect in the country... ranked the No. 5 overall junior college prospect and the nation's top junior college running back by SuperPrep... rated a four-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com... comes to ASU with three years to play two... totaled 2,221 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns over two junior college seasons at Blinn... was tabbed as a Second-Team NJCAA All-American as a sophomore in 2011 after carrying 174 times for 1,052 yards with 16 rushing touchdowns... was listed as the top running back in the Southwest Conference in the preseason by JCFootball.com... earned First-Team All-Southwest Junior College Conference honors as a freshman in 2010 after rushing for 1,169 yards and 17 touchdowns... graduated from Houston's Chester W. Nimitz High School in 2010... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from Arizona, Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, Kansas State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Purdue, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Utah and Western Kentucky... committed to ASU on Feb. 1, 2012, National Letter of Intent Signing Day... coached by Ronny Feldman at Blinn Community College and by Robert Toomer at Nimitz High School.
Jaxon Hood
DL · Fr. · 6-1 · 290
Chandler, Ariz./Hamilton HS
Earned the 2011 Curley Culp Award, presented to the top high school defensive lineman in the state of Arizona by the National Football Foundation Valley of the Sun Chapter and named after the legendary Sun Devil lineman... earned All-Arizona honors as a senior by the Arizona Republic... joins several Hamilton products to sign at ASU including current Sun Devil Anthony Jones and former ASU stars Gerald Munns, Colin Parker, Gerell Robinson and NFL All-Pro and college football's single-season quarterback sacks record holder Terrell Suggs... is the son of former Arizona Cardinals star defensive lineman Eric Swann... rated by Scout.com as the No. 100 defensive tackle prospect in the country... bench presses 355 pounds, power cleans 335 and squats 575... totaled 100 tackles, 32 quarterback hurries, 23 tackles-for-loss, 13.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and one blocked field goal as a senior on Hamilton's state runner-up team... highly productive for a defensive lineman, he had at least seven tackles on nine occasions... posted a season-high 10 tackles against Desert Ridge on Nov. 18, 2011... registered nine tackles four times throughout the year... tallied more than one sack on five occasions... notched a season-best 2.5 sacks against Chandler on Nov. 10, 2011... earned Second-Team All-Region honors as a junior after collecting 38 tackles with 5.5 sacks on Hamilton's state champion squad... recorded a season-high five tackles on three occasions... "The campus [at ASU] has beautiful buildings like the library and great facilities like the [Verde Dickey Center]," said Hood. "I really like the weight room and the strength and conditioning plan they have there."... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from Air Force, Arizona, Boston College, Fresno State, Tulane and Washington State... was also heavily recruited by Michigan State and Washington... "I am very impressed with the [coaching] staff," said Hood. "I like the new standards coach Graham is bringing in and how he views life. Coach Graham wants to take ASU to the Rose Bowl and that has me fired up."... committed to ASU on Feb. 1, 2012, National Letter of Intent Signing Day... coached by Steve Belles at Hamilton High School.
Oliver Johnson
WR · Jr. · 6-2 · 200
Woodland Hills, Calif./Taft HS/Pierce College
Versatile defensive back with great size... attended the same high school as ASU's sophomore quarterback Mike Bercovici as well as former Sun Devil and current NFL player Justin Tryon... rated as the No. 2 junior college cornerback in the country and the nation's No. 21 overall junior college prospect by SuperPrep... earned All-West Region honors by PrepStar... has experience at defensive back, wide receiver and on punt returns... ... only appeared in three games in 2011 due to injury, totaling seven tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass deflection... started three games as a freshman at Pierce, totaling 12 tackles and five passes defensed... signed with Missouri Western State College out of high school before attended Pierce... exceled on both offense and defense at Taft High... totaled 47 tackles, nine pass deflections, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as a senior in 2008... also caught 15 passes for 232 yards (15.5 avg.) with one touchdown... averaged 12.8 yards on 27 punt returns... caught a season-high six passes for 64 yards against Serra on Oct. 10, 2008... had a season-high eight tackles against San Pedro on Dec. 5, 2008... recorded five tackles on three occasions... caught eight passes for 77 yards and one touchdown as a junior in 2007... averaged 19.2 yards on 12 punt returns... totaled a City Section best eight interceptions and was named First-Team All-West Valley League... coached by Matt Kerstetter at Taft High School... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from New Mexico, New Mexico State and Texas Tech... was also recruited by Miami (Fla.), Mississippi, Oregon State and Utah... coached by Efrain Martinez at Pierce College.
Milo Jordan
DL · Fr. · 6-2 · 275
Corona, Calif./Centennial HS
Active defender with the ability to play multiple line positions... follows a long line of Centennial products to attend ASU, including current Sun Devils Michael Eubank, Brandon Magee and Will Sutton as well as former ASU linebackers Vontaze Burfict and Shelly Lyons... listed as the No. 91 overall prospect in the state of California by SuperPrep... regarded by Scout.com as the No. 74 defensive tackle recruit in the nation... listed by ESPN as the nation's No. 88 defensive tackle recruit... Centennial compiled a 26-3 record over his two varsity seasons... totaled 43 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles as a senior in 2011... posted a season-high seven tackles against Vista Murrieta on Dec. 9, 2011... totaled six tackles on two occasions... recorded 67 tackles as a junior in 2010... .added 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery...tallied a season-high 13 tackles against Birmingham on Sept. 10, 2010... posted eight tackles against King on Oct. 1, 2010... was a defensive leader on Centennial's 14-1 state runner-up team... was a teammate of ASU quarterback Michael Eubank in 2010... coached by Matt Logan at Centennial High School... "[My official visit] was phenomenal," said Jordan. "The coaches were great...they have an amazing school, a big school. Everything, it was all phenomenal. The team is cool, the people on the team are cool. It was great. Overall, everything about it was great."... verbally committed to ASU on Jan. 19, 2012.
Kody Kohl
TE · Fr. · 6-3 · 220
Gilbert, Ariz./Mesquite HS
Tough athlete that was a standout on offense and defense in high school... is the younger brother of Trevor Kohl, a senior and the top tight end on ASU's 2011 roster... an All-Arizona and First-Team All-Arizona Division I selection at tight end as a senior by the Arizona Republic... earned Second-Team All-Tribune honors by the East Valley Tribune... athletic for his position and runs a 4.6 40-yard dash... rated by Scout.com as the No. 79 tight end prospect in the nation... tabbed as the No. 25 overall prospect in the state of Arizona by SuperPrep... listed by ESPN as the No. 93 tight end in the nation, the No. 29 overall prospect in the state of Arizona and the No. 239 overall player in the region... was ranked as the No. 3 tight end in the state of Arizona in the preseason by 24-7 Football... totaled 29 catches for 506 yards and four touchdowns in 2011... added 60 tackles, 10 pass deflections, 8.5 sacks, two blocked field goals, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as an outside linebacker... had a career-high seven catches for 177 yards with one touchdown and added seven tackles and a sack against Gilbert on Sept. 16, 2011... registered 96 receiving yards on five receptions with a touchdown and also posted eight tackles and two pass deflections against Corona del Sol on Oct. 21, 2011... notched a season-high nine total tackles against eventual state champion Desert Vista on Oct. 14, 2011 and tallied a season-best three sacks against Highland on Aug. 26, 2011... totaled 19 receptions for 248 yards as a junior in 2010... added five sacks, three forced fumbles, two pass deflections, one interception, one fumble recovery and one blocked field goal... played behind the 2010 All-Arizona selection at tight end... also saw time on kickoff returns... totaled a season-high 65 receiving yards on four receptions against Gilbert on Oct. 15, 2010... caught a season-best five passes for 61 yards against eventual state champion Hamilton on Nov. 19, 2010... posted a season-high eight tackles against Desert Mountain on Sept, 3, 2010... .tallied seven tackles on two occasions... coached by Matt Gracey at Mesquite High School.
Steffon Martin
LB · Jr. · 6-2 · 230
Indianapolis, Ind./Pike HS/Arizona Western College
Physical, active linebacker that was one of the most talented junior college players at the position last year... comes to ASU with three years to play two... runs a 4.54 40-yard dash... brings much needed college experience to a position that graduates all three starters from 2011... has a similar skill set to former Sun Devil middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict, a player he will work to replace in the lineup... rated by Rivals.com as the No. 3 junior college linebacker in the country and the No. 34 overall junior college prospect in the nation... totaled 108 tackles including 17 for loss... also recorded two interceptions and one forced fumble... ranked among the nation's top-20 in total tackles... was a First-Team All Arizona Community College Athletic Conference and All-Western States Football League selection... ... graduated from Pike High School in Indianapolis, Ind., in 2010 before beginning his career at Arizona Western... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from Arizona, Indiana, New Mexico State and Purdue... was also heavily recruited by Arkansas, Ohio State, Texas A&M and Washington State... verbally committed to ASU on Jan. 31, 2012... coached by Tom Minnick at Arizona Western College.
Stephon McCray
OL · Fr. · 6-4 · 300
Fresno, Calif./Bullard HS
Aggressive, tenacious blocker with excellent power, strength and size... can play guard or tackle... regarded by ESPN as a four-star prospect and the nation's No. 21 offensive guard recruit... ranked by Rivals as the No. 43 offensive guard prospect... listed by Scout.com as the country's No. 63 offensive guard recruit... is a very good run blocker and a solid pass blocker... rated by SuperPrep as the No. 103 overall prospect in the state of California... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from Colorado, Fresno State, Iowa State, Nevada and Washington State... coached by Don Arax at Bullard High... "[ASU] was the best of all the schools I visited... I loved it," said McCray... verbally committed to ASU on Aug. 1, 2011.
William McGehee
OL · So. · 6-6 · 300
Plano, Texas/Prestonwood Christian Academy/Navarro CC
Brings great size and upside to ASU... played only one year of junior college football so has four years to play three for the Sun Devils... has primarily played right tackle during his football career... is a former high school basketball player and brings a combination of athleticism and excellent size to the offensive line... "The academic part [of my official visit] impressed me the most and that was very important to my parents," said McGehee. "I like what coach Graham has planned for the program and I know that all the coaches there will be looking out for my best interest wanting me to excel not only as a player but also as a student."... coached by Nick Bobeck at Navarro College and by Chris Cunningham at Prestonwood Christian Academy... verbally committed to ASU on Jan. 29, 2012, immediately after concluding his official visit to campus.
Carlos Mendoza
LB · Fr. · 6-1 · 220
Oxnard, Calif./Oaks Christian HS
All-around talent that played linebacker, running back, punter and returned kicks... is a very speedy linebacker with exceptional potential... reportedly runs a 4.49 40-yard dash... is solid against the run and can make plays in the backfield... attended the same high school as ASU junior Christopher Coyle... earned All-West Region honors from PrepStar and is rated the No. 71 overall recruit in the state of California by SuperPrep... rated by Scout.com as the No. 54 outside linebacker prospect in the country... listed by ESPN as the No. 75 outside linebacker recruit in the nation... totaled 48 tackles, four sacks and three pass deflections as a senior in 2011... added 791 rushing yards on 119 carries (6.7 avg.) with eight touchdowns... caught 16 passes for 179 yards with two scores... was Oaks Christian's punter, averaging 39.5 yards on 33 punts with a long of 66 yards and nine downed inside the 20-yard line... totaled a season-high eight tackles against Westlake on Dec. 9, 2011... registered six stops against Royal on Oct. 14, 2011... had a breakout rushing performance against Thousand Oaks on Oct. 21, 2011 with 241 rushing yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns... posted 108 yards on 17 carries with a touchdown against Bellevue (Wash.) on Sept. 3, 2011... carried 20 times for 105 yards and one touchdown against St. Bonaventure on Sept. 23, 2011... carried 12 times for 99 yards and added two touchdown receptions totaling 68 yards against Highland on Nov. 25, 2011... recorded 74 tackles, five sacks, one interception, one pass deflection, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble as a junior in 2010... also carried 85 times for 437 yards (5.1 avg.) with eight touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 136 yards with one touchdown... also averaged 24.0 yards on nine kickoff returns... totaled 10 or more tackles on four occasions... posted a season-high 11 tackles against Thousand Oaks on Oct. 15, 2010... also rushed for 92 yards on 13 carries in that game... recorded 49 tackles and four sacks as a sophomore in 2009... added 279 rushing yards on 33 carries with four touchdowns and returned kickoffs... was the team's second-leading rusher behind National Gatorade Player of the Year Malcolm Jones, now with UCLA... registered a career-best 13 tackles against Cathedral on Dec. 5, 2009... posted a season-high 80 rushing yards on only three carries with two touchdowns against Santa Clara on Nov. 6, 2009... "[When] we talked to the academic people and they showed us how much they help the players with their studies and getting a degree and that is where my mom was sold," said Mendoza. "They gave us a tour of the while campus and it just felt right and felt comfortable."... coached by Bill Redell at Oaks Christian High School... "ASU has everything that I was looking for," said Mendoza. "The coaches were great when they were recruiting me, the school is a nice place, it's not too far from home and it's a good fit for how I play."... verbally committed to ASU on July 28, 2011.
Viliami Moeakiola
S · Fr. · 6-1 · 205
Euless, Texas (Trinity HS)
Fearless defender that is capable in run support and in coverage... could play safety or grow into a role at linebacker... earned All-Midlands Region honors by PrepStar... ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 42 safety in the nation and the No. 92 overall prospect in the state of Texas... listed by Scout.com as the No. 104 safety recruit in the country... rated by ESPN as the nation's No. 150 safety prospect... runs a 4.5 40-yard dash... is a cousin of ASU redshirt freshman defensive lineman David Moala... has solid size, toughness and tackling ability for his position... is a product of the same high school as former Sun Devils Saia Falahola and Dimitri Nance... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from Arizona, Baylor, Colorado, North Texas, Tulsa and UCLA... committed to ASU on Feb. 1, 2012, National Letter of Intent Signing Day... I had a lot of fun [on my official visit]," said Moeakiola. "The coaches are real cool people and the people out there were very outgoing, very welcoming."... coached by Steve Lineweaver at Trinity High School.
Mike Pennel
DL · RS-Jr. · 6-5 · 340
Aurora, Colo./Grandview HS/Scottsdale (Ariz.) CC
Massive athlete with the ability to be a forceful defensive tackle for ASU... a perfect fit at tackle in any defensive scheme... is regarded as being tremendously athletic for his size... excels as a run-stopper... has two years of eligibility to play at ASU... listed by Rivals.com as the No. 6 junior college defensive tackle and the No. 36 overall junior college prospect for 2011... rated as the No. 61 overall junior college prospect in the country by SuperPrep... regarded by Scout.com as one of the Top-13 junior college defensive tackles in the nation... was a junior college teammate of ASU punter Josh Hubner and a high school teammate of Sun Devil Matthew Tucker... totaled 37 tackles, 13 tackles-for0loss and two sacks as a sophomore at Scottsdale Community College... earned All-American honors in 2011... tallied 34 tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss and five sacks as a freshman in 2010... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Kansas State, Mississippi, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, UTEP, Washington State and West Virginia... coached by John Schultz at Grandview High School and by Doug Madoski at Scottsdale Community College... "I have friends on the team [at ASU] and I promised out of high school that I would play with them," said Pennel. "I also want to be a part of something where I am more needed than wanted. Plus, I love Tempe."... verbally committed to ASU on Jan. 24, 2012.
Darwin Rogers
TE · Jr. · 6-4 · 255
Chicago, Ill./Leo Catholic HS/Arizona Western College
Comes to ASU after graduating from Arizona Western College in Yuma, Ariz.... one of three midyear transfers already enrolled at ASU, joining Jake Sheffield and Easton Wahlstrom... will participate in spring practice... provides college experience to a position of need for ASU... capable as a receiver and as a blocker with a great combination of size and athleticism for the position... runs a 4.6 40-yard dash with a 35-inch vertical leap... has three years to play two at ASU... was primarily a quarterback at Leo Catholic High School... was rated the No. 141 quarterback recruit in the country by Scout.com for the 2009 class... had his junior season cut short by injury, but still passed for 948 yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions along with 435 yards on the ground... signed with Illinois in 2009 and also considered Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas State and Michigan during his high school recruitment before attending Arizona Western... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from Eastern Michigan, Memphis, New Mexico State and Utah State after his junior college career... was also recruited by Indiana, Mississippi, Oregon State, Texas Tech and Washington... ... "I really like the coaches [at ASU] and I love the weather," Rogers said. "I got used to it out there playing there [in Arizona] and I like it a lot."... verbally committed to ASU on Dec. 21, 2011... coached by Michael Holmes at Leo Catholic High School and by Tom Minnick at Arizona Western College.
Matthew Rowe
LB · Fr. · 6-2 · 220
Long Beach, Calif./Polytechnic HS
Active, fierce linebacker with an excellent football pedigree... is the younger brother of former All-Pac-10 defensive end Kenny Rowe of Oregon as well as former USC safety Alfred Rowe... earned All-West Region honors by PrepStar and is rated the No. 76 overall prospect in the state of California by SuperPrep... listed as the No. 37 outside linebacker prospect in the country by ESPN... ranked by Scout.com as the No. 49 outside linebacker prospect in the country... rated by Rivals.com as the No. 61 outside linebacker prospect in the country and the No. 68 overall recruit in the state of California... totaled 83 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions as a senior in 2011... notched a season-high 16 tackles against Carson on Sept. 9, 2011... posted 11 tackles against Mission Viejo on Sept. 23, 2011... registered nine tackles including two sacks against Grant on Sept. 3, 2011... had at least seven tackles on five other occasions during the season... recorded 50 tackles, two fumble recoveries and one sack as a junior in 2010... tallied a season-best 11 tackles on two occasions... recorded 45 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions as a sophomore on varsity in 2009... tallied a season-high six tackles three times and had four games with five tackles... saw limited action on varsity as a freshman in 2008... "I just felt the most comfortable there at Arizona State," said Rowe. "All of my teammates were telling me to go there. I love ASU to be honest. I've been liking ASU since ninth grade."... coached by Raul Lara at Poly High School... verbally committed to ASU on July 26, 2011.
Jake Sheffield
DL · Jr. · 6-4 · 280
Aurora, Colo./Gateway HS/College of the Desert
Arrives at ASU after graduating from the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Calif... has one of the most compelling backgrounds of any college football player or recruit, having spent approximately 18 months serving two tours of duty in Iraq with the United States Marine Corps... will turn 26 in November... comes to ASU with three years to play two... listed as the No. 57 overall junior college prospect in the nation by SuperPrep... earned All-West Region honors by PrepStar... can play multiple positions along the defensive line... explosive off the line and can wreak havoc in opposing backfields... active on special teams and can block kicks... has college experience playing in a three-man defensive front... bench presses 365 pounds and power cleans 305... one of three midyear transfers already enrolled at ASU, joining Darwin Rogers and Easton Wahlstrom... will participate in spring practice... earned First-Team Southern California Football Association Central Division East Conference honors at defensive end as a sophomore in 2011... in eight games as a sophomore, he totaled 24 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, two blocked kicks and 1.5 sacks... graduated from Aurora (Colo.) Gateway High School in 2005 prior to joining the military... was an all-state honoree at offensive guard in high school... chose ASU from reported FBS offers from Indiana and Iowa... was also recruited by Hawaii, Iowa State, Oregon State an UNLV... "When I drove down [to ASU] I was very impressed with the football facilities," said Sheffield. "They're a big school so I figured they'd have good facilities but I was shocked. The campus was pretty nice. They have academic support and all of that. I like how they support the coaching staff. Everyone I met was very down to earth and friendly. I really liked it."... was coached by Dean Dowty at the College of the Desert... "Pat Tillman was such an inspiring guy," Sheffield said. "And everything I read made it seem like the community there [around ASU] really respects the military. That helped the decision."... verbally committed to ASU on June 15, 2011.
Richard Smith
WR · Fr. · 5-9 · 161
Long Beach, Calif./Polytechnic HS
Exceptional athlete on offense, defense and special teams... slated to begin his Sun Devil career at wide receiver... speedy and quick all-purpose athlete... runs a 4.4 40-yard dash... excellent deep threat as a receiver and a dangerous returns specialist... regarded as a PrepStar All-American and the No. 47 overall prospect in the state of California by SuperPrep... rated by ESPN as a four-star prospect and the No. 39 wide receiver recruit in the country... evaluated by Scout.com as a cornerback and ranked the No. 31 national prospect at the position... rated by Rivals.com as the No. 63 wide receiver recruit in the country and the state of California's No. 53 overall prospect... totaled 41 receptions for 623 yards (15.2 avg.) with eight scores as a senior in 2011 despite missing three games due to injury... helped the Jackrabbits to a 10-2 record on the year... added two carries for 80 yards with a touchdown and eight tackles on defense... averaged 12.3 yards on punt returns and 23.1 yards on punt returns... notched a season-high 123 receiving yards on six catches with three touchdowns against Newport Harbor on Nov. 18, 2011... caught seven passes for 87 yards and a touchdown against Narbonne on Sept. 16, 2011... .hauled in six receptions for 78 yards against Grant on Sept. 3, 2011... led Poly with 23 receptions for 597 yards (26.0 avg.) and eight touchdowns as a junior in 2010... averaged 27.2 yards on kickoff returns... had two 100-yard receiving games on the year... totaled a season-best 141 receiving yards on only three receptions, all of which went for touchdowns, against Bakersfield on Sept. 2, 2010... totaled 104 yards on three catches with two scores against Woodrow Wilson on Oct. 29, 2010... caught a pair of touchdown passes totaling 73 yards against Millikan on Oct. 22, 2010... totaled eight receptions for 106 yards as a sophomore on varsity in 2009... posted a season-best 47 receiving yards on two receptions against Compton on Nov. 13, 2009... "I have liked ASU since the 8th grade," said Smith. "[I have] always wanted to play there. So when they offered me I was very excited. When I went there for Junior Day it was a great environment. I liked how it was away from home, but not too far."... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from Arizona, Colorado, UCLA, Utah and Washington... was also recruited by Oregon State... "[My family] liked hearing how committed they are to student-athletes, the type of support that they get at ASU," said Smith... coached by Raul Lara at Poly High School... verbally committed to ASU on April 6, 2011.
Easton Wahlstrom
LS · Fr. · 6-2 · 240
Scottsdale, Ariz./Desert Mountain HS
One of the nation's premier long snappers... comes to ASU after graduating a semester early from nearby Desert Mountain High School and will immediately compete to replace departed senior Cameron Kastl... punter Josh Hubner is also a Desert Mountain graduate... is regarded as being a highly accurate snapper that uses excellent force and practices sound mechanics... is applauded as being a hard worker on and off the field... one of three midyear transfers already enrolled at ASU, joining Darwin Rogers and Jake Sheffield... will participate in spring practice... rated by Scout.com as the nation's No. 5 long snapper... ranked as a five-star snapper by Kohl's Kicking... regarded as the nation's No. 8 long snapper by ESPN... was listed by 24-7 Football as the state of Arizona's top long snapper and was selected to Arizona's Preseason All-24-7 Team for 2011... earned Second-Team All-Arizona Division I honors in 2011 by the Arizona Republic... "I was born in Scottsdale, I grew up here and I am a Sun Devil fan," said Wahlstrom. "My brothers went there and it's my school and always has been. The main reason I committed is I have been recruited by several other major schools... was at their camps this summer and ASU and the Pac-12 is just really awesome and I have a good idea how it compares to other top schools."... was also recruited by BYU, Fresno State, Houston and Tulsa... "From talking to coach Graham I know he's a good coach," said Wahlstrom. "He is a real disciplinarian and that it was this team needs. I think he will help bring this team back up."... verbally committed to ASU on Aug. 20, 2011... coached by Tony Tabor at Desert Mountain High School.
Chris Young
S · Jr. · 6-2 · 220
Seattle, Wash./Auburn Senior HS/Arizona Western College
Dynamic, intimidating defender... physically prepared and versatile to play either safety or outside linebacker... is praised for his hitting ability, tacking technique and toughness... runs a 4.5 40-yard dash... comes to ASU with three years to play two... was a junior college teammate of both Steffon Martin and Darwin Rogers at Arizona Western... had a sensational sophomore season at Arizona Western, being named the Western States Football League Defensive Player of the Year and a First-Team All-American... was also the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Co-Defensive Player of the Year... totaled 111 tackles, 30 tackles-for-loss, 8.5 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles and two interceptions... also scored six defensive touchdowns... his tackles-for-loss amounted in 150 total lost yards, making him the junior college national leader... led the WSFL in sacks and finished 10th in the nation in total tackles... helped the Matadors achieve an 11-1 record and the program's third straight WSFL title... signed with Washington out of high school before attending Arizona Western College... graduated from Seattle (Wash.) Auburn High School in 2010... was rated a four-star prospect and the nation's No. 24 outside linebacker recruit by Scout.com as a high school senior... was listed by Rivals.com as the No. 31 safety in the country and the state of Washington's No. 5 overall recruit in 2010... starred on both sides of the ball... rushed for 1,424 yards on 104 carries (13.4 avg.) with 25 touchdowns as a senior in 2009... averaged 158.2 rushing yards per game... totaled 78 tackles, two sacks, one fumble recover and one blocked punt... had five games with 10 or more tackles including a season-high 12 stops against Kentridge on Oct. 1, 2009... recorded eight 100-yard rushing games including two efforts of over 200 yards, highlighted by a 284-yard, six-touchdown showing against Auburn Riverside on Oct. 30, 2009... rushed for 1,158 yards and eight touchdowns on 140 carries as a junior in 2008... averaged 96.5 rushing yards per game... also caught five passes for 106 yards with two scores... recorded 74 tackles on defense... registered four 100-yard rushing games including a season-best 143 yards on only eight carries against Kent-Meridian on Sept. 19, 2008... tallied a season-high 11 tackles against Tahoma on Oct. 24, 2008... carried 18 times for 240 yards with one touchdown as a sophomore on varsity in 2007... posted 24 tackles on defense... chose ASU over reported FBS offers from Indiana, Oregon State and Washington State... was also heavily recruited by Ohio State... "Being [at ASU] the whole weekend [of my official visit]- it really sealed it up for me," said Young. "What did it for me is playing with the players that have the same mindset, and that is do whatever it takes to win."... coached by Tom Minnick at Arizona Western College and by Gordon Elliot at Auburn High School... verbally committed to ASU on Jan. 29, 2012.