SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Sacramento State football team announced today the signing of 13 players to National Letters of Intent. The group, which consists of 11 high school seniors and two junior college transfers, will enroll at the University this fall and will be eligible to compete during the 2003 season.“We accomplished our goals of solidifying our defense by adding depth to our backfield and line,” head coach Steve Mooshagian said. “That coupled with a strong group of returning linebackers should make our defense much better.
“This class has speed, quickness and athleticism as a common denominator. These are all outstanding football players who may not fit the size parameters of Div. I-A, but will be impact players in the Big Sky Conference.”
The class, which is the first under Mooshagian, is comprised of eight defensive players, three offensive players and two players who can play on both sides of the ball. Included in the list are three Sacramento-area products. Zach Jiru played at Laguna Creek High School while Colby Culbertson spent the past four seasons at Granite Bay High School and Mick Stuber prepped at Winters HS.
“I want to praise the job done by (offensive line coach) Angus McClure and (recruiting coordinator) Lou Baiz for their hard work,” Mooshagian said. “Both of those guys were able to keep everything together during the (coaching) transition.”
Biographies on the players follow.
Signee Profiles
Frederick Amano • DT • 6-1 • 290 • San Diego, Calif./Rancho Bernardo HS
Scheduled to graduate in June, 2003...competed in football, track and field and soccer at Rancho Bernardo HS...played three seasons of varsity football, including two with current Hornet defensive lineman Andy Huang...a two-time all-Palomar League selection...named first team all-section, all-San Diego County, and Rancho Bernardo Defensive Player of the Year as a senior...also named the North County Times Defensive Player of the Year that same season...football team won the Palomar League title in 2002...as a senior he had 61 tackles, 11 sacks, three fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, three pass breakups and an interception...best single-game effort came as a junior against El Camino HS where he had 10 tackles, including a sack, and a forced fumble...helped guide the track team to the league crown as a junior while throwing shot put and discus...his brother, Eugene, currently plays football at Southwest Missouri State.
Tyson Butler • Athlete • 6-0 • 220 • Atwater, Calif./Bishop O’Dowd HS
A three-sport athlete at Bishop O’Dowd HS in Oakland, Calif...competed in football, basketball and track...in football, he was used as a strong safety, inside linebacker, outside linebacker, running back, fullback and long snapper...a three-time all-Hayward Area Athletic League selection...earned first team all-HAAL and second team all-Alameda Newspaper Group honors after his senior season...best single-game effort came against Tennyson HS where he had four touchdowns.
Colby Culbertson • DL • 6-2 • 245 • Granite Bay, Calif./Granite Bay HS
Played the past four seasons at Granite Bay HS as an offensive and defensive lineman...played primarily on the offensive side of the ball as a senior but will move to defense for the Hornets...named first team all-Sierra Foothill League in 2002...also named second team all-Metro by the Sacramento Bee and the team’s most valuable lineman that same season...helped guide the Grizzlies to the SFL championship as a senior.
Harry Filo • DL • 6-3 • 295 • Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach CC/Jordan HS
Played the past two seasons at Long Beach City College where he teamed with fellow recruit Seth Tago...helped lead the team to a 7-4 overall record last season, including a 4-1 mark to win the Mission Conference North Division title...Long Beach City also advanced to the Western State Bowl...prepped at Jordan HS in Long Beach and graduated in 2000.
Robbie Garibay • OL • 6-6 • 315 • Redding, Calif./Foothill HS
Will graduate from Foothill HS in Redding, Calif., in 2003...a two-time all-city selection by the Redding Record Searchlight...named to the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Medium Schools team last season...as a junior, he was on Cal-Hi’s All-Underclass team...in 2002, he paved the way for a running back who recorded 2,022 yards and 27 touchdowns...off the field, he bench presses 310 pounds, squats 465 and deadlifts 625...has a 24-inch vertical jump and is a member of the Cougar basketball team...also succeeds in the classroom where he has a 3.5 gpa.
Will Hamilton • DL • 6-2 • 230 • Fresno, Calif./San Joaquin Memorial HS
A three-time all Central Sequoia League selection at San Joaquin Memorial HS in Fresno, Calif...will graduate in 2003...earned honorable mention honors as a sophomore before being named first team all-CSL his last two seasons...was the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2002...as a senior, he tallied 105 tackles, including 35 for loss...in the league championship game, he recorded 18 tackles, including a pair of sacks and had three quarterback hurries...also played two years of basketball for the Panthers...attended the same high school as Sacramento State women’s basketball coach Carolyn Jenkins.
Jonathan Iglehart • CB • 6-0 • 180 • Oakland, Calif./Bishop O’Dowd HS
A four-year member of the Bishop O’Dowd football and track teams...played cornerback for the Dragons and was named second team all-Hayward Area Athletic League...ended his senior season with four interceptions, 21 solo tackles and two fumble recoveries...in track, he competed in the 100 and 200 as well as 4x100 and 4x200 relays...as a sophomore, he won the HAAL 200 and placed in both the 100 and 4x100.
Zach Jiru • TE • 6-4 • 225 • Elk Grove, Calif./Laguna Creek HS
Played three seasons of varsity football at Laguna Creek HS in Elk Grove...also played one season of basketball...named all-Delta League after his junior and senior seasons...had six receptions, 75 yards and two touchdowns against San Lorenzo Valley HS...also played outside linebacker and earned the team’s Ironman Award in 2002.
Richard Moore • CB • 5-9 • 182 • Claremont, Calif./Claremont HS
Competed in football and track for four years at Claremont HS...will graduated in June 2003...played running back and defensive back for the Wolfpack...will be used as a DB with the Hornets...was a two-time all-Baseline League selection as a defensive back and was named 2002 Defensive Player of the Year...team won the Baseline crown as a senior with an overall record of 10-3...ended the season with 131 tackles, four interceptions, six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries...best game came against Rancho Cucumonga where he had 16 solo tackles and 25 total tackles...also had one interception and two forced fumbles in that game...posesses great speed...ran 10.7 in the 100 and 21.9 in the 200 at the Baseline finals.
Henri Pamphile, Jr. • DB • 6-0 • 174 • Walnut, Calif./Walnut HS
Will graduate from Walnut HS in 2003...played three seasons of both football and basketball for the Mustangs...in football, he was a first team all-San Antonio League selection and first team all-Southern Section Div. VII choice as a senior...helped lead his team to a San Antonio League title and a berth in the section finals during his final season...played both wide receiver and defensive back...as a senior, he had 83 tackles, four interceptions and five pass breakups...best game came against San Dimas HS where he had 12 tackles and one pass breakup.
Joseph Perez • OL • 6-5 • 290 • Brea, Calif./Servite HS
Will graduate from Servite HS in Anaheim, Calif., in 2003...played four years of football for the Friars...a three-time selection as player of the game...lists his best game as recording 20 knockdowns while blocking for a 300-yard rusher.
Mick Stuber • Athlete • 6-2 • 231 • Winters, Calif./Winters HS
One of the most versatile players in this season’s recruiting class...played nearly every position at Winters HS including quarterback and safety...threw for 1,700 yards and 23 touchdowns as a sophomore...last season he opened the year by completing 7-of-12 passes for 300 yards and four touchdowns.
Seth Tago • DL • 6-1 • 275 • Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach CC/Long Beach Poly HS
Returns for his second stint at Sacramento State...played for the Hornets as a freshman in 2000 where he had seven tackles, including two sacks, in seven games...played the 2001 season at Long Beach City College before redshirting in 2002...was a 2000 graduate of Long Beach Poly HS...named first team all-Southern Section and all-Moore League as a senior...selected to the Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team...helped guide his team to the 1997 and 1999 Southern Section Div. I title...recorded 58 tackles and 10 sacks as a senior.
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