Western Oregon Inks 38 Players to National Letters of Intent

In addition, there could be more signings in the next week or so.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

MONMOUTH - Bigger is better for the Western Oregon football program, who signed 38 players to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, the largest class in school history.

The announcement was made by head coach Arne Ferguson, on the first day that recruits can sign, per NCAA rules.

The list includes 13 players who were all-state selections, and five players who were conference players of the year.

The list includes 13 players who were all-state selections, and five players who were conference players of the year.

“This is by far the largest and best class that we have ever signed here,” Ferguson said.

“It’s the biggest, the most athletic and the fastest,” he continued. “We have made tremendous progress in the last few years, and this class helps us continue in that drive to be a national caliber program.”

Ferguson and his staff have more verbal commitments in addition to the names listed below, but the school is not allowed to announce those names until the National Letter of Intent form is returned.

“We are bringing more kids to talk with, and could sign as many as 10 players in the next few weeks,” Ferguson confirmed.

In 2007, Ferguson will be in his third season at the helm of the WOU program.

In 2004, the Wolves were 5-6 and improved to 6-4 last fall.

Western Oregon is an NCAA Division II program and competes in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

WOU National Letter of Intent signees to date

Jordan Aldredge, Gladstone, RB, 6-1, 215. 2nd-team All-State (4A) RB, 1st-team All-Capital Conference RB.

Matt Arbuckle, Sheldon HS (Eugene), WR, 6-1, 215. 2nd-team All-State (6A) DB. 1st-team All-Southwest Conference WR and DB.

Cory Bean, Hillsboro, QB, 6-4, 230. Honorable mention All-State (5A), 1st-team All-Northwest Oregon Conference QB, NWOC Offensive Player of the year runner-up.

John Berokoff, Molalla, LB, 6-2, 215. 2nd-team All-State (4A) LB. Capital Conference Defensive Player of the Year, 1st-team All-Capital Conference TE and LB.

Joe Cornett, Hidden Valley HS (Grants Pass), OL, 6-5, 250. 1st-team All-Skyline Conference OT.

Brandon DelaCruz, Mililani, Hawaii, OL, 6-2, 250. 3rd-team All-State OL, 2nd-team All-Oahu Interscholastic League OL.

Eric Derschon, Regis HS (Stayton), RB-LB, 6-3, 215. 3rd-team All-State (3A) RB, 1st-team All-Pacific West Conference RB.

Shane Durando, Corvallis, WR, 6-1, 190. 2nd-team All-Mid Willamette Conference WR.

Gabe Flores, South Umpqua, WR, 6-0, 180. 2nd-team All-Far West League DB. Honorable mention WR.

Brad Gengler, Silverton, DB, 6-0, 175. 1st-team All-Mid Willamette Conference DB, 3rd-team return specialist, honorable mention WR.

Miguel Gonzalez, McKay HS (Salem)/College of the Siskiyous, DB, 5-9, 175. All-Valley League DB.

Wyatt Taboh-Graziano, Nathan Hale HS (Seattle, Wash.), TE, 6-7, 225. 1st-team All-Metro Sound League TE.

Miles Haley, Springfield, RB, 6-1, 200. 1st-team All-Midwestern Conference RB and DB.

Ben Heidenreich, Twin Falls, Idaho, TE, 6-5, 215. 1st-team All-State (5A) TE.

Terry Hodder, Grants Pass, DB, 5-10, 165. 2nd-team All-Southwest Conference DB.

Tyler Hoflich, South Albany, WR, 6-2, 170. Honorable mention Mid-Willamette Conference WR.

Kyle Hughes, Grant HS (Portland), TE, 6-5, 220. Honorable mention All-Portland Interscholastic League TE.

Dane Kelsey, Hudson’s Bay HS (Vancouver, Wash.), RB, 5-11, 195. Three-time 1st-team All-Greater St. Helen’s League RB. All-league punter.

Zak Kokesh, Aloha, WR-DB, 6-2, 170. 2nd-team All-Metro League WR.

Darren Lind, Lake Oswego, DL-E, 6-6, 215. Honorable mention All-Three Rivers League DL.

Andy Loscutoff, Canby, DB, 6-1, 190. 2nd-team All-State (6A) DB, Honorable mention RB. 1st-team All-Pacific Conference RB and DB.

Michael Lynch, Sandy, TE, 6-2, 230. 1st-team All-Mt. Hood Conference TE and DE.

Lorin Lynch, Newport, WR, 5-11, 200. Honorable mention All-State (4A) WR, 1st-team All-Valco League WR and DB. Valco League Offensive Player of the Year.

Mike Magee, Mead, Wash., OL, 6-5, 300. 1st-team All-Greater Spokane League OL.

Matti Maki, Grant HS (Portland), OL, 6-3, 245.

Ben Merrill, Sprague HS (Salem), DB, 6-0, 170. 1st-team All-Central Valley Conference DB, 2nd-team QB.

David Mesa, Siuslaw, RB-LB, 6-0, 190. 1st-team All-State (4A) RB and LB. 1st-team All-Far West League RB and LB.

Jesus Munoz, Phoenix, OL, 6-3, 255. Honorable mention All-Skyline Conference OL.

Jordan Rainwater, Siuslaw, WR, 5-11, 160. 1st-team All-State (4A), WR and DB. Far West League Offensive Player of the Year. All-Far West League WR and DB.

Kameron Ross, Newport, LB, 6-0, 225. 2nd-team All-Valco League LB.

Derek Smith, Hermiston, DE, 6-5, 230. 1st-team All-Intermountain Conference OT.

Aaron Solo, North Kitsap, Wash., DL, 6-2, 225. 1st-team All-Narrows Bridge League DL.

Jordan Strickland, Auburn, Wash., DB, 6-2, 205. All-South Puget Sound League WR.

Richard Torres, Kahuku HS (Oahu), DB-WR, 5-9, 150. 1st-team All-Oahu Interscholastic League utility, Honorable mention All-State.

Daniel Wells, Westview HS (Beaverton), DB, 5-11, 165. Honorable mention All-State (6A) DB. 1st-team All-Metro League DB.

AJ Zinkgraf, Springfield, DL, 6-3, 245. Honorable mention All-State (5A) DL. Midwestern Conference Defensive Player of the Year. 1st-team All-Midwestern Conference OL and DL.

Kalani Zoller, Marysville, Wash., DE, 6-4, 255.

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports