With most of its recruits committed during the NCAA early signing period in December, the San Diego State football team added seven more players on the official national signing day Wednesday.
The seven new additions to the class on Wednesday include three on offense, three on defense and one athlete player. Including the 17 that signed on December, the signing class now has 11 on offense, 11 on defense, one kicker and one athlete.
“This day is a little weird and a whole lot different than national signing days in the past since we’ve had an early signing period in December,” Aztec coach Rocky Long said. “The drama and wondering if you are going to get letters of intent in this morning is completely different than it’s ever been before.”
San Diego State’s early commitments were notable for signing nine local players. On Wednesday, the Aztecs added two more, defensive lineman Joah Robinett (San Marcos High) and defensive back Luqman Barcoo (Castle Park High). Long said he and his staff are particularly proud they were able to attract a lot of local athletes to join the program.
“If you look at the facts about how good this program has been the last three years, it’s one of the top-10 programs in the country,” Long said. “We don’t get that kind of credit or publicity but there is hardly anybody that gets the kind of statistics (we do) in the entire country. I think that the local athletes see that.”
Wednesday’s commitments put the the Aztecs at 84 scholarship players, which means there’s one spot open for a potential graduate or junior college transfer, Long said.
“There will be a lot of guys available, like every year, after everybody has their spring practice,” he said. “That’s also after our spring practice when we’ll know our team a lot better and where we might need a player or two.”
SDSU finished 2017 with a 10-3 record for a school-record third consecutive year with at least 10 victories. The Aztecs are scheduled to return seven starters on offense and seven on defense, along with their kicker and punter.
Here are the players who signed Wednesday:
- running back Zidane Thomas (Peoria, Ariz./Centennial HS)
- wide receiver Kobe Smith (Compton/Junipero Serra HS)
- offensive lineman Alama Uluave (Laie, Hawaii/Punahou HS)
- defensive lineman Jalil Lecky (Antioch/Heritage HS/College of San Mateo)
- defensive lineman Joah Robinett (San Diego/San Marcos HS/Oregon State)
- defensive back Luqman Barcoo (Chula Vista/Castle Park HS/Grossmont College)
- athlete Denaylan Fuimaono (Long Beach/Carson HS).
