Hill shows great excitement toward the 2010 recruited class

For coach Pat Hill’s 14th recruiting class, he reeled in 21 new players who will join the team for the 2010 fall season.

Twenty high school players and a junior college transfer signed National Letters of Intent to play college football for Fresno State.

“I’m very, very excited about this 2010 class,” Hill said during a press conference.

The 21-man recruiting class is highlighted with plenty of speed at the skill positions from wide receivers and running backs to safeties and corners. Many of the players who signed also played multiple positions in high school to Hill’s liking.

“Another thing that I really believe in, multi-positional players, guys that can play a lot of different positions,” Hill said.

Edward Dillihunt, a defensive back from Tulare Union, is an exciting recruit for Hill because of his versatility. He played wide receiver, running back, safety, corner and linebacker for the Redskins, and to much success.

During his senior season, he ran for 599 yards and caught 34 passes for 748 yards while reaching the end zone 18 times. On defense, he made 24 tackles with one sack. Dillihunt is expected to play safety for the ‘Dogs, and is expected to make an immediate impact.

Hill also signed four players who played quarterback in high school, but only one is slated to play quarterback in Fresno State’s traditional drop-back style offense.

“There were a lot of young men that played quarterback on their high school teams, but that’s not going to be their final destination here,” Hill said.

Hill anticipates that three of the former high school quarterbacks that signed will convert to either receiver, cornerback or linebacker.

Athletic signee Isaiah Burse of Modesto Christian is expected to play wide receiver, running back or cornerback for the ‘Dogs, even though he led his team to a 15-0 season as a quarterback. He passed for 1,771 yards and ran for more than 1,800 yards. Burse scored 27 passing touchdowns and reached the end zone 26 times on the ground.

Hill and his coaching staff concentrated particularly on speed in this year’s recruiting class. They signed multiple players who also excelled on the track.

Anthony Riggins of Rodriguez High School and Jalen Saunders of Elk Grove have both been clocked in running 100-meters in 10.7 seconds.

“We really targeted speed on the perimeter,” Hill said. “We really increased the speed of our football team with this class. The last two years we brought in a lot of speed and hopefully that starts to show here, next year and the next three or four years.”

In all the 2010 recruiting class is made up of two quarterbacks, two running backs, three receivers, a tight end, an offensive lineman, two defensive linemen, two linebackers, four defensive backs and the nation’s best punter, Matt Darr.

Three players were listed as athletes. Their positions will be determined once they step onto campus in the fall.
“We were able to find some outstanding players,” said Hill.

2010 Recruiting Class

Sean Alston, Defensive Back, 5-10, Alta Loma, Calif. (Los Oso)
“He has good ball skills.”

Isaiah Burse, Athlete, 5-11, 180, Modesto, Calif. (Modesto Christian)
“Isaiah Burse is best when the ball is in his hands,” Hill said. “So we have to figure out a way to get the ball to this guy.”

Matt Darr, Punter, 6-2, 210, Bakersfield, Calif. (Frontier)
“Matt Darr was ranked the No. 1 high school punter in the country.”

Tyeler Davison, Defensive Line, 6-2, 280, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Desert Mountain)
“He’s got almost a 35 inch arm length.”

Victor Dean, Wide Receiver, 6-5, 200, San Diego, Calif. (Lincoln)
“Never recruited a receiver with his kind of size and his kind of athletic ability.”

Davon Dunn, Athlete, 5-11, 175, San Diego, Calif. (Lincoln)
“Is an outstanding player that played both sides of the ball.”

Edward Dillihunt, Defensive Back, 6-0, 190, Tulare, Calif. (Tulare Union)
“He reminds me so much of [former Fresno State player] James Sanders,” Hill said. “But at this stage of his development, even more explosive than James.”

Ofa Fifita, Linebacker, 6-0, 215, San Bernardino, Calif. (Arroyo Valley)
“He plays very hard; he plays both sides of the ball.”

Lester Fontenette, Linebacker, 6-2, 207, San Diego, Calif. (Madison)
“He’s got the kind of speed we’re looking for, especially at the linebacker position.”

Andrew Gustafson, Offensive Line, 6-5, 265, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral)
“He’s got all the qualities you’re looking for — as far as intelligence, size, foot speed.”

Josh Harper, Wide Receiver, 6-1, 187, Stockton, Calif. (Saint Mary’s)
“As far as the rankings go, one of the top wide receivers in the state,” Hill said.

Marcus McDade, Quarterback, 6-3, 190, Stockton, Calif. (Saint Mary’s)
“His greatest strength is his arm strength. He’s got outstanding arm strength.”

Kelly O’Brien, Quarterback, 6-6, 210, Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Foothill Junior College)
“He obviously has a football background; he’s a football guy. He understands the game.”

John Ogelsby, Defensive Line, 6-4, 248, Bakersfield, Calif. (Highland)
“He’s an aggressive guy when he gets there. He’s a hostile guy.”

Anthony Riggins, Defensive Back, 5-11, 185, Fairfield, Calif. (Rodriguez)
“He’s got good speed and great size for a corner.”

Leslie Rogers, Running Back, 6-1, 185, San Diego, Calif. (Point Loma)
“I think he’s a guy that can develop into one heck of a running back. He’s got good size.”

Jalen Saunders, Wide Receiver, 5-10, 170, Elk Grove, Calif. (Pleasant Grove)
“When you watch him on film, he is fast.”

E.J. Schexnayder, Running Back, 6-1, 210, Riverside, Calif. (John W. North)
“I think he brings to us that physical, bruising-type runner that also has the ability to break it if he gets to the second level. I think we got a real steal in E.J. Schexnayder.”

Derron Smith, Defensive Back, 5-11, 170, Banning, Calif. (Banning)
“He’s a great athlete; he’s a humble athlete. He’s so excited to come to Fresno State.”

Greg Watson, Athlete, 5-11, 185, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Rancho Cucamonga)
“Greg Watson’s gonna get his first opportunity here to play that hybrid-type quarterback.”

Cody Wichman, Tight End, 6-5, 275, Mariposa, Calif. (Mariposa)
“I have a feeling this guy’s gonna make his presence felt here at Fresno State.”