Fansmanship Podcast Episode 217 – Chris Sylvester and Brint Wahlberg
It’s another podcast episode! Cal Poly basketball teams are at the Big...
Coach Tim Walsh introduced 19 new players on the Cal Poly football team on Wednesday afternoon. The recruiting class is made up of 13 high school players and six transfers.
The class includes four running backs, two defensive linemen, two linebackers, five defensive backs, three offensive linemen and a quarterback.
Here are the 19 players Cal Poly signed on Wednesday. Credit for the images goes to the wife of Cal Poly running backs coach Aristotle Thompson for the images in the tweets below.
@calpolyfootball Welcomes to the #family LB Chris Santini #LBU #bigskyfb pic.twitter.com/JRK2jkkuav
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Santini has been a starter on special teams for Boise State the past two years. Mustang fans always have to be excited to get a transfer from high-level FBS program.
@calpolyfootball Welcomes to the #family WR @SmeltzerJake #bigskyfb #GSC pic.twitter.com/XvkV1SNscs
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Smeltzer is wide receiver with all the requisite tools. Someone might think that the Mustangs don’t need a lot of wideouts, but they played with a lot of multiple wide receiver sets last season. Big-play wideouts are important to have, but just as important is the ability to block on the edge. With his solid frame, Smeltzer should be able to block the edge.
@calpolyfootball Welcomes to the #family OL Colin Goebel #BigSkyFB @CoachTuitele #groundandpound #midwest #runthesky pic.twitter.com/UxBx0BFm0f
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Goebel is from the Chicagoland area and transfers in from Iowa. He’s 6’5″, 280 pounds, and should be able to step right in. The addition of Goebel along with the profile of a few other offensive linemen make me think that Cal Poly might slowly be moving toward passing the ball more and more. Bigger linemen. More receivers. Quarterbacks who can really throw the ball.
You tell me. Am I way off?
@calpolyfootball Welcomes to the #family DB Darren Adjei #DBlock #661 #BigSkyFB Congrats my man pic.twitter.com/RvC1yyC1sO
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Darren Adjei is yet another transfer. The Mustangs recruited him out of high school in Bakersfield, but weren’t sure exactly what defensive position he’d play. Adjei showed them he could play safety with enough skill to warrant Cal Poly offering him a scholarship this year. With the addition of Adjei, Cal Poly’s defensive backfield could turn out to be one of the deepest positions on the team.
@calpolyfootball Welcomes to the #family RB @ASAP_Raaven Great young man. #ROB #BigSkyFB #runwithcoachat pic.twitter.com/lA9h9MwdHW
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Raven Middleton’s story is amazing. On his recruiting visit to San Luis Obispo, after the Mustangs offered him a scholarship, his father passed away. Middleton decided to commit to Cal Poly.
Literally, all I know about him is this story, what I read in the release, and the video I saw of him at Mother’s today. It’s safe to say I’m already rooting for him.
@calpolyfootball Welcomes to the #family @TA_whitekidd #ROB #runwithcoachat #bigskyfb pic.twitter.com/TulHalAIkt
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
JuCo Ace DJ Peluso @TA_whitekidd @ San Mateo JuCo signs w/ Cal-Poly #JuCoFootball #NSD2015 pic.twitter.com/ruUwXezvZ8
— JuCo Football Forer (@JuCoFootballACE) February 5, 2015
DJ Peluso, a transfer from College of San Mateo, was listed today as a slotback. He’s bigger than Chris Nicholls, but not quite the size of a Cole Stanford. Peluso could be asked to block like Stanford. His success might be based on how he performs as a receiver and a blocker.
@calpolyfootball Welcomes to the #family WR @jjKoski25 #bigskyfb #GSC Congrats on signing JJ pic.twitter.com/WeHgUBswXY
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Koski was recruited by some pretty big schools and chose the Mustangs. Cal Poly has recruited big-play threats recently. Players like Roland Jackson, Jr. and Jordan Hines made strides last year, so perhaps Koski and/or Smeltzer might have to wait their turn. Hines and Jackson, along with Willie Tucker, are all seniors, so these two guys they signed this year will have to wait their turn.
@calpolyfootball Welcomes @RealKingKitu to the #DBlock #bigskyfb @CoachOguntodu @CoachFendall pic.twitter.com/i2YrEJq5ac
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Humphrey played for a good program at Long Beach Poly. He is a ball hawk who makes plays. His physical tools don’t measure out as well as some others, but he seems like a playmaker who could develop into a contender for playing time some day.
@calpolyfootball welcomes to the #ROB #Family @traycer21 Welcome man, we are ready to keep running the #BigSkyFB pic.twitter.com/nK7HtXlf7n
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Monterey Trail's @traycer21 to Cal Poly (football) and @spidywebb11 to USF (soccer). @SacBee_JoeD @calpolyfootball pic.twitter.com/mT2YQzVmND
— Mike Finnerty (@BeePrepsTV_Mike) February 4, 2015
Nahhas was a beast last season. Despite rushing for almost 2,600 yards, he wasn’t recruited by bigger schools. You can be sure this will be a player with a chip on his shoulder, ready to prove exactly what kind of a college back he can be.
@calpolyfootball Welcomes to the #family DB @lilcatchemm3 from #DelaSalle HS #lockitdown #BigSkyFB #DBlock pic.twitter.com/rANmKGGKUB
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Kevin Griffin is a really interesting story. He played at De La Salle and was teammates with Jerek Rosales there. The two are reuniting in SLO this year. Last year, Logan Mayes transferred from Pullman to SLO and this year it’s Griffin. Have I mentioned the Cal Poly defensive backfield is going to be really deep?
@calpolyfootball is proud to announce 2015 signee @RealCharlieD from #Laney College #LBU @Joshbrown66 #BigSkyFB pic.twitter.com/YBPwtdtF80
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Another transfer, Charlie Davis is from Laney College and fills an immediate need at linebacker. The Mustangs have lost Johnny Millard, Nick Dzubnar, and Cameron Ontko over the past few seasons and Davis fits right in. Linebacker has been a position Cal Poly could just count on over the past few seasons. It will be interesting to see how reliable the group is in 2015.
@calpolyfootball Welcomes to the #family DB @KDnotFresh from Servite HS #BigSkyFB #lockitdown #DBlock pic.twitter.com/o27UFr6wRJ
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Kameron Dennis is Karlton Dennis’ younger brother. Mustang coaches seem pretty sure that Dennis will fall right in, being that he’s been around Cal Poly football for as long as he has been.
@calpolyfootball Welcomes to the #family OL @PaulyWhogs great young man #OLPride #BigSkyFB @CoachTuitele pic.twitter.com/0dg8TlRTyb
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Unlike many incoming offensive linemen, Trujillo-Langdon was described as a true center. There can be some value in a guy who has always played center and will continue to do so.
@calpolyfootball Welcomes to the #family Db @jerekofasho #DBlock #BigSkyFB #lockitdown pic.twitter.com/xSQ1BnILjO
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Rosales is the other half of the eventual De La Salle defensive back pipeline to SLO. #Depth.
@calpolyfootball Welcomes to the #family QB @TheJenkinsShow Congrats @CoachJWood2 great get #slingit #bigskyfb pic.twitter.com/THLvfbiPNE
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Jenkins is the only quarterback in this class, and was one of the earlier commits. He’s athletic and will get some time to prep before he’s given an opportunity to be a starter, but he’s not just an athlete. He can also throw the ball. With Kai Ross a year older, Jenkins will eventually have a similar player in his sights.
@calpolyfootball Welcomes to the #family @Dcoops_5 #ROB #bigskyfb #runwithcoachat pic.twitter.com/YA7dpI7e1f
— Aristotle Thompson (@CoachAT23) February 4, 2015
Out of Loyola High School, Cooper’s game tape makes him look like a real bowling ball of a back. Honestly, he seems built kind of like Kristaan Ivory.
Jurupa Hills Spartan Nikolas Navarro signed a letter of intent to play football for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. pic.twitter.com/1u8zod5JME
— Fontana Unified (@FontanaUnified) February 4, 2015
In an unstable world of recruiting, Navarro was a little bit of a surprise. He seems like he could develop into a beast of a defensive end or outside linebacker. His tape reminds me a lot of Josh Letuligasenoa in build and in the way he moves.
BLOG: St. Mary's #football's Cutler Salmon @big_fish_83 commits 2 @calpolyfootball http://t.co/5N3YorBqOb @timwalshcp pic.twitter.com/Qh9SEFGRKD
— Thomas Lawrence (@RecordPreps) December 5, 2014
By far the best name of this class, Cutler Salmon has a chance to be an impact defensive player. With the defensive line somewhat thin this season, Salmon may have a chance to play right away.
Officially signed to Cal Poly! Thankful for such a great coach throughout my high school career pic.twitter.com/hbZdO4MwFk
— Tyler Whisenhunt (@twhisenhunt67) February 5, 2015
Whisenhunt, at 285 pounds, seems like a physically ready player coming in. As a potential defensive lineman, he also might get some playing time right away, though I’m sure Tim Walsh would prefer to redshirt most freshmen who come to SLO.
Jurupa Hills Spartan Nikolas Navarro signed a letter of intent to play football for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. pic.twitter.com/1u8zod5JME
— Fontana Unified (@FontanaUnified) February 4, 2015
Shane McDermott signs with U of San Diego, Cutler Salmon with Cal Poly. #RamPride pic.twitter.com/uGjxAjcptr
— St. Mary's Football (@SMRamsFB) February 4, 2015
Here’s a cool set of photos that the Big Sky Conference War Zone Facebook page. Lots of photos of the players who’ve been reportedly nabbed by the Mustangs. Good job guys!
Congratulations to Louis Heinzer '15 who signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Cal Poly San Luis Opisbo! pic.twitter.com/3xw3338oZo
— CBHS Sacramento (@CBHSSacramento) February 4, 2015
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