MidValleySports.Com

Head Coach Santa Cruz discusses his new players at the “National Signing Day Press Conference”— Photo by APU photographer Caleb Dennis

Courtesy of the Clause: Azusa Pacific University’s Student Press

Josh Ouellette, Sports Editor

AZUSA, Calif.- It’s Feb. 6. Three days after the Super Bowl, but the pro game is long gone from the thoughts and minds of football fans, because it’s National Signing Day.APU was able to make huge strides on this day, signing 14 new recruits for the upcoming season, the university’s second in Div. II and the Great Northwest American Conference play. Add in the three spring transfers, including two of Div. I caliber in offensive lineman Cody Clay and quarterback Dasmen Stewart, to bring a total of 17 new faces to the Cougar program.

Head Coach Victor Santa Cruz is very excited about this upcoming recruiting class, but does admit they will have to wait and see how it all pans out in the future.

“When it comes to athleticism we’ll have to wait and see,” said Santa Cruz about the future of the incoming players.

Coach Santa Cruz was also quick to note that the he and his staff were able to fill some of the upcoming needs of the team made from departing seniors, or positions that will be senior heavy in the coming season.

With three of the team’s quarterbacks going into their senior seasons, the Coug’s were able to nab Maranatha quarterback Andrew Elffers and St. Vincent High School QB Mitch Sheppard.

Also leaving are two big pillars on the offensive line in Luke Marquardt and Robby Palacios. Coming in to add some depth are two giants in Warren High School’s Ricky Vichot and Canyon High’s Ahmad Sunda. Both weigh in at 295 pounds and are over six-feet tall. They have some big shoes to fill, but they have the size and skill to do so according to Santa Cruz.

Also in the recruiting class is Zach McPherson, the brother of senior QB Justin McPherson.

One transfer Coach Santa Cruz seemed particularly excited about was Tarik Myles from Summit High School.

“One of the biggest recruits out of the Inland Empire,” Santa Cruz said of the young defensive back.

With plenty of other players not mentioned ready to make an impact on the upcoming season Santa Cruz affirmed that he told them they were all brought in to compete immediately.

The Cougar coach also was quick to commend the university as being a place where players can come not only to compete but also to get an education to be proud of.

“Player’s can come (to APU) and get a great education they want and their parents want them to get,” said Santa Cruz.

With National Signing day coming to a close, the Cougar’s at the Div. II level may not have gotten the top recruits going to major Div. I schools, Coach Santa Cruz wouldn’t want those players.

“Every guy we coach, every guy we sign, is the best in the country in my opinion,” Santa Cruz said.

THE NEW RECRUITS

C.J. Broussard- CB Clovis HS (CA)

Ben Casebier- DB/RB South Medford HS (OR)

Andrew Elffers- QB Maranatha HS (CA)

Zach McPherson- LB Livermore HS (CA)

Darryl Miller- LB/RB Redlands HS (CA)

Tarik Myles- RB/WR Summit HS (CA)

Deji Olajide­­- WR Riverside CC (CA)

Geremiah Satele- RB Chapin HS (TX)

Mitch Sheppard- QB St. Vincent HS (CA)

Taliuaki Suliafu- DB Moreno Valley HS (CA)

Ahmad Sunda- OL Canyon HS (CA)

Christian Valeros- DB Lincoln HS (CA)

Ricky Vichot­- OL Warren HS (CA)

Tyan Washington- CB Rancho Cucamonga HS (CA)

SPRING TRANSFERS

Cody Clay- OL Fullerton CC (CA)

Andre Myles- DB Riverside CC (CA)

Dasmen Stewart- QB San Jose State University (CA)