"This is a very athletic class and we are pleased with the type of player we have recruited," Downing said. "They are going to lay the basis for our future success. We have recruited not only good athletes but solid citizens and good students. Each will bring something to the table that will be an ingredient to our success, whether it is size, strength, speed or hopefully a combination of all three."The list includes 13 players from the state of Colorado, two from California and one each from Idaho, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The in-state signees include five players who were selected to the All-Colorado squad this season: Andy Muns (RB – Douglas County High), Tim McGraw (OL – Douglas County High), Ethan Davis (DL – Grandview High), Joe Silipo (DL – Cherry Creek High) and Zak Bigelow (K – Dakota Ridge High). Muns was selected the All-Colorado Offensive Player of the Year and 5A Player of the Year after rushing for 2,857 and 36 touchdowns in leading Douglas County to the state championship. Muns had eight games where he ran for 200 or more yards, including a season-high 329 yards in a 49-28 victory over Palmer.Other in-state signees include Korey Askew (DB - Thomas Jefferson High), Joel Fassler (OL – Douglas County High), Derek Gainey (WR – Gateway High), Nasseer Ghafur (DL – Denver, Colo./Compton Community College), 5A all-state honorable mention choice Chris Jones (OL – Poudre High), Matt King (LB – Golden High), first-team 3A all-state selection Chris Schardt (WR/LB – Colorado Springs Christian) and second-team 5A all-state selection Sam Sewell (TE – Grandview High).The out-of-state signees include Dominic Breazeale (QB – Alhambra, Calif./Mt. San Antonio College), Brent Brown (WR – Muskogee, Okla./Hilldale High), Chris Delport (WR – Coeur d'Alene, Idaho/Lake City High), Drew Dunkley (OL – Long Beach, Calif./Long Beach Poly High), Jordan Halvorsen (DB – Seward, Neb./Seward High) and Drew Lyons (LB – Garland, Texas/South Garland High)"The type of student-athletes we have signed speaks of the quality of coaches we have and the relationships they have developed with those players," Downing added. "It is also a tribute to our current players, as they did a great job in hosting these recruits when they were on campus. They helped sell our school and program and gave them a feel about what Northern Colorado is like. The young men we have signed wanted to be here at Northern Colorado and held off making their decisions until they heard from us which shows they level of respect they have for our program and its tradition."I am grateful for the efforts and tireless work of (recruiting coordinator) Keith Grable, (graduate assistant) Jared Wallen and (graduate assistant) Ahmad Lowe, for keeping this class together when there was not a head coach on board."Northern Colorado, which will finish the four-year NCAA reclassification process to Division I (I-AA in football) in 2006, will join the Big Sky Conference on July 1, 2006, and the program will face a full Big Sky schedule next season. The Bears were 4-7 overall in 2005, its last season as a member of the Great West Football Conference.
University of Northern Colorado Football Signees – February 1, 2006
Korey Askew DB 5'8 170 Denver, Colo. (Thomas Jefferson)
Zak Bigelow K/P 6'1 200 Littleton, Colo. (Dakota Ridge)
Dominic Breazeale QB 6'6 ½ 250 Alhambra, Calif. (Mt. San Antonio College)
Brent Brown WR 6'0 190 Muskogee, Okla. (Hilldale)
Ethan Davis DL 6'0 270 Centennial, Colo. (Grandview)
Chris Delport WR 6'0 185 Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (Lake City)
Drew Dunkley OL 6'5 295 Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly)
Joel Fassler OL 6'4 275 Castle Rock, Colo. (Douglas County)
Derek Gainey WR 6'1 170 Aurora, Colo. (Gateway)
Nasseer Ghafur DL 6'4 250 Denver, Colo. (Compton C.C.)
Jordan Halvorsen DB 5'10 175 Seward, Neb. (Seward)
Chris Jones OL 6'2 275 Fort Collins, Colo. (Poudre)
Matt King LB 6'3 220 Golden, Colo. (Golden)
Drew Lyons LB 5'8 180 Garland, Texas (South Garland)
Tim McGraw OL 6'2 260 Castle Rock, Colo. (Douglas County)
Andy Muns RB 5'7 190 Castle Rock, Colo. (Douglas County)
Chris Schardt WR/LB 6'3 205 Colo. Springs, Colo. (Colo. Springs Christian)
Sam Sewell TE 6'4 200 Aurora, Colo. (Grandview)
Joe Silipo DL 6'3 230 Centennial, Colo. (Cherry Creek)
