2008 Woodie Awards
Football signs 22
Recruiting class includes 11 each on defense and offense
By: Robbie Sgro
Issue date: 2/6/08 Section: Sports
The football team's two consecutive Mid-American Conference titles seem to be catching the attention of high school recruits.
Coach Butch Jones announced CMU's 2008 recruiting class Wednesday, saying it is one of the best in school history.
"I believe it's probably the highest recruiting class in CMU history," he said. "We've been in some major, major recruiting battles. ... Each recruit had multiple offers, ranging from the Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, SEC and Big East. And we said for us to take the next step in the evolution of our football program is we've got to be able to compete on the national stage when it comes to recruiting."
The class includes 11 defensive players and 11 offensive players. There are five defensive backs, four defensive ends, three offensive lineman, three receivers, three running backs and one each at quarterback, linebacker, defensive line and tight end. CMU also has added six players as walk-ons.
Among the offensive players are quarterback Ryan Radcliffe from Fairview, Ohio. Radcliffe went 22-5 as a three-year starter and had 11,038 career yards and 139 career touchdowns. As a senior he completed 329-of-500 passes for 4,738 yards and 64 touchdowns.
Two of the receivers, Jerry Harris and Cedric Fraser, are from Florida, while Valtorrey Showers prepped at Crockett High School in Detroit.
Each of the three running backs are listed at 5 feet, 9 inches - Jahleel Addae from Valrico, Fla., Paris Cotton from Miami, Fla., and Bryan Schroeder from Corydon, Ind. Addae is listed at 176 pounds, Cotton at 175 and Schroeder at 212.
Defensive back Lorenzo White, the son of former Michigan State standout and Pro Bowl running back Lorenzo White, comes to CMU after prepping at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He had more than 100 tackles and five interceptions in his senior season. White chose Central over Michigan State, Purdue, Auburn, South Carolina and Mississippi.
Defensive back John Carr from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Plantation, Fla., registered 43 tackles and three interceptions in 2007. Also included at defensive back are John Carr, Derek Carter and Yvener Lisca, all from Florida.
The defensive line includes four ends, three of which are from Michigan. The line includes Florida's Kashawn Fraser, Lansing's Mike Repovz, Jackson's Darryll Stinson, Florida's John Williams and Steve Winston from Muskegon Heights.
"I'm very excited to show our commitment to the state of Michigan," Jones said. "The last time I checked, we were second in having the most signees from the state of Michigan."
Other players include Detroit tight end David Blackburn, Indiana offensive lineman Grant Cartwright, Illinois offensive lineman Richard Hayes, Traverse City offensive lineman Darren Keyton and Detroit linebacker Armond Staten.
See Friday's edition of Central Michigan Life for more coverage.
Coach Butch Jones announced CMU's 2008 recruiting class Wednesday, saying it is one of the best in school history.
"I believe it's probably the highest recruiting class in CMU history," he said. "We've been in some major, major recruiting battles. ... Each recruit had multiple offers, ranging from the Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, SEC and Big East. And we said for us to take the next step in the evolution of our football program is we've got to be able to compete on the national stage when it comes to recruiting."
The class includes 11 defensive players and 11 offensive players. There are five defensive backs, four defensive ends, three offensive lineman, three receivers, three running backs and one each at quarterback, linebacker, defensive line and tight end. CMU also has added six players as walk-ons.
Among the offensive players are quarterback Ryan Radcliffe from Fairview, Ohio. Radcliffe went 22-5 as a three-year starter and had 11,038 career yards and 139 career touchdowns. As a senior he completed 329-of-500 passes for 4,738 yards and 64 touchdowns.
Two of the receivers, Jerry Harris and Cedric Fraser, are from Florida, while Valtorrey Showers prepped at Crockett High School in Detroit.
Each of the three running backs are listed at 5 feet, 9 inches - Jahleel Addae from Valrico, Fla., Paris Cotton from Miami, Fla., and Bryan Schroeder from Corydon, Ind. Addae is listed at 176 pounds, Cotton at 175 and Schroeder at 212.
Defensive back Lorenzo White, the son of former Michigan State standout and Pro Bowl running back Lorenzo White, comes to CMU after prepping at Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He had more than 100 tackles and five interceptions in his senior season. White chose Central over Michigan State, Purdue, Auburn, South Carolina and Mississippi.
Defensive back John Carr from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Plantation, Fla., registered 43 tackles and three interceptions in 2007. Also included at defensive back are John Carr, Derek Carter and Yvener Lisca, all from Florida.
The defensive line includes four ends, three of which are from Michigan. The line includes Florida's Kashawn Fraser, Lansing's Mike Repovz, Jackson's Darryll Stinson, Florida's John Williams and Steve Winston from Muskegon Heights.
"I'm very excited to show our commitment to the state of Michigan," Jones said. "The last time I checked, we were second in having the most signees from the state of Michigan."
Other players include Detroit tight end David Blackburn, Indiana offensive lineman Grant Cartwright, Illinois offensive lineman Richard Hayes, Traverse City offensive lineman Darren Keyton and Detroit linebacker Armond Staten.
See Friday's edition of Central Michigan Life for more coverage.
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