The University of San Diego football program is rolling in a way it never has before.
Not only did the Toreros win the Pioneer Football League title by going a perfect 8-0, then win the program’s first-ever NCAA FCS Playoff game with its 35-21 victory over Cal Poly and finish ranked 19th in the final national poll, but over the weekend senior cornerback Jamal Agnew was drafted in the 5th round by the Detroit Lions.
For a Football Championship Subdivision mid-major, USD Head Coach Dale Lindsey has built a heck of a program that kids want to play in. After losing 19 seniors from last year's team the Toreros announced their 2017 football recruiting class and it is not small.
There are 36 incoming recruits and they are from all over the country, starting in their own backyard with five players from San Diego County. The majority of student-athletes are from California (26) but Lindsey is also adding talent from Arizona (1), Connecticut (1), Hawaii (1), Illinois (1), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1), Texas (2) and Washington (2).
The full recruiting class looks like this:
2017 San Diego Recruiting Class
Bernard Amofa, WR, 5-10, 165, Gardena, CA (Bishop Montgomery)
Alex Ayala, CB, 6-2, 170, Lake Elsinore, CA (Lakeside)
Kyle Bilchik, LB, 5-10, 225, Simi Valley, CA (Chaminade College Prep School)
Jake Cirame, DT, 6-1, 250, Lake Forest, IL (Lake Forest Academy)
Joel Daul, DT, 6-3, 230, Tigard, OR (Jesuit)
Matthew Davisson, DE, 6-2, 220, Laguna Hills, CA (Laguna Hills)
Devin Devlin, DE, 6-3, 215, Vacaville, CA (Saint Patrick Saint Vincent)
Bennett Dondoyano, WR, 5-10, 175, Seattle, WA (Lakeside School)
Zeke Downs, DE, 6-4, 200, Oklahoma City, OK (Bishop McGuinness)
Elliott Elliott (not a typo), OL, 6-3, 265, Chino Hills, CA (Damien)
Bryce Fledderman, QB, 6-5, 215, Arroyo Grande, CA (Mission College Preparatory)
Trent Forster, OL, 6-2, 265, Lakeside, CA (Santana)
Michael Gadinis, TE, 6-1, 210, San Diego, CA (Torrey Pines)
Michael Georgino, DE, 6-3, 229, Bakersfield, CA (Garces Memorial)
James Graziani, DE, 6-2, 230, Los Altos, CA (Saint Francis)
Cooper Hagmaier, TE, 6-5, 215, Oakland, CA (Bishop O’Dowd)
Rhett Harris, NB, 6-1, 206, Aledo, TX (Aledo)
Michael Hawkins, FS, 6-0, 160, San Diego, CA (Samuel Morse)
Cassius Johnson, CB, 5-11, 168, Greenwich, CT (The Brunswick School)
Raphael Jones, Jr., RB, 6-2, 205, Anaheim, CA (Mater Dei)
Xavier Judkins, WR, 6-2, 190, Vallejo, CA (Benicia)
Kamaehu Kamaka, NB, 6-0, 185, Kailua, HI (Kamehameha Schools)
Muhindo Kapapa, MLB, 6-2, 235, Fairfield, CA (Armijo)
Michael LaCilento, OL, 6-3, 260, Irvine, CA (Servite)
Emilio Martinez, RB, 5-9, 190, Salinas, CA (Palma)
Matthew McRoskey, FS, 6-2, 180, Encinitas, CA (Santa Fe Christian)
Jaydin Moses, NB, 5-11, 210, Newport Beach, CA (Corona Del Mar)
Rowan Parmenter, SS, 6-2, 185, Wenatchee, WA (Wenatchee)
Gabriel Preciado, OL, 6-3, 260, Imperial Beach, CA (Mar Vista)
Daniel Redell, CB, 5-10, 165, Thousand Oaks, CA (Oaks Christian)
Jake Salaheddine, DE, 6-3, 210, Escondido, CA (San Pasqual)
Alex Spadone, WR, 6-1, 200, Houston, TX (Bellaire)
Oscar Villa, OL, 6-2, 300, Hacienda Heights, CA (Los Altos)
David Wang, OL, 6-4, 305, Pasadena, CA (San Marino)
Myles Wilson, DT, 6-1, 230, Phoenix, AZ (Desert Vista)
DaJon Wright, OL, 6-4, 230, Pittsburg, CA (Pittsburg)
USD's season opener is September 2nd against Western New Mexico (2:00 p.m.) at Walter J. Zable Field at Torero Stadium.
