KSBY

Posted: Feb 3, 2010 10:13 PM
Updated: Feb 3, 2010 10:31 PM

Cal Poly football head coach Tim Walsh announced his 2010 recruiting class on Wednesday.

He announced the signing of twelve high school players, as well as the acceptance of three transfers.

Two local products are among the signees, St. Joseph High's KJ Cusack and Nipomo High's Kevin Britt. Walsh said Cusack was the most talented player with the ball in this year's class. He described Britt as a rare combination of size, speed and athleticism for the cornerback position.

Coach Walsh said the two newcomers he was most excited about are Mark Rogers and James Langford.
Rogers is a running back and return specialist transferring from West Virginia where he played in all 13 of the Mountaineers games the last two seasons.
Langford is a kicker from Foothill High. 86 percent of his kick offs resulted in touchbacks last season. He also nailed a 57 yard field goal.

Coach Walsh said the Class of 2010 improved the Mustangs on offense, defense and special teams.
"I think we touched all three areas that we think we needed to touch to improve our football team and that's what recruiting is all about is to make the 80 some odd guys who return next year give them the opportunity to make sure we are Great West Conference champions," said Walsh.

Spring practice kicks off on March 31.

Below is a release from the Cal Poly Athletics Department about the new additions.
The signees (listed alphabetically): Kevin Britt, WR/DB, 6-1, 160, Nipomo, CA (Nipomo HS) Britt caught 53 passes and made 71 tackles as a senior under head coach Russ Edwards at Nipomo High School last fall. He was named team MVP and earned first-team All-San Luis Obispo County, All-Los Padres League and All-CIF-Southern Section Northwest Conference honors. Britt, who has 4.5 speed in the 40 and was a team captain, caught 53 passes for 893 yards and 11 touchdowns while also recording 39 solo tackles among his 71 total stops, leading the Titans to an 8-4 overall record, 5-2 mark for third place in the Los Padres League and a berth in the quarterfinal round of the Northwest Conference playoffs before losing to eventual state Division III champion Serra. Britt notched 12 tackles against Morro Bay, including a sack, and 10 tackles against Santa Ynez. As a junior, Britt caught 27 passes for 389 yards and four scores despite an ankle injury and also recorded 19 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups en route to first-team all-league and second-team all-county honors. He caught 18 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns as a sophomore. Britt also competes in track and field and was the league champion in the 200 and second in the 400 last spring. He is a three-time CIF-Southern Section division finalist in both events. Fresno State and San Diego State were among several other Division I schools showing interest in Britt.

Lance Castaneda, WR/DB, 6-3, 200, Modesto, CA (Grace M. Davis HS) A three-year varsity starter, Castaneda earned first-team All-Modesto Metro League and All-Stanislaus District honors as a senior free safety under head coach Len Johnston at Grace M. Davis High School in Modesto. Despite missing several games due to a hip flexor injury, he caught 20 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns while also recording 65 tackles, five interceptions, one sack, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery en route to first-team All-Modesto Metro League honors as a safety. He returned one interception for a game-winning touchdown. Castaneda led the Spartans to a 6-5 mark in 2009, including a 3-2 record for third place in the Modesto Metro League, and a berth in the CIF-Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoffs. He was named MVP of the Cal Bears Full-Contact Camp as a wide receiver. As a junior, Castaneda caught 30 passes for 500 yards and six touchdowns as a wide receiver, including 10 catches for 121 yards against Clovis East. On defense, he recorded 72 total tackles (13 against Sonora) along with one sack, three forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 10 pass breakups and he returned an interception 70 yards for a touchdown against Enoch. Castaneda earned all-league and all-district honors as a junior and was named the league¹s most outstanding receiver and team MVP. Castaneda also plays basketball at Davis High, currently averaging 10.7 points per game. He earned first-team all-league honors in basketball as a sophomore and junior. Castaneda has earned all-league academic honors, is a four-year member of The National Honor Roll Society and received the school¹s Academic Spartan Award, maintaining a GPA above 3.5.

Joseph Coleman, OL/DL, 6-2, 265, Hayward, CA (Moreau Catholic HS) Under head coach Andrew Cotter at Moreau Catholic High School in Hayward, Coleman anchored the offensive and defensive lines for two seasons. He was named Bay Shore Athletic League lineman of the year and first-team all-BSAL this past fall and an honorable mention all-BSAL pick as a junior. Also in 2009, he earned the Cal-Hi Sports ³Hammer Award² for the hardest hit of the week and a trophy for being the Best Run Stopper. The Mariners were 4-6 overall and finished fifth in the Bay Shore Athletic League last fall. Coleman scored a touchdown on a two-yard run against Albany early in the season. ³I¹m really excited, I can¹t wait to go there,² Coleman told the Contra Costa Times after visiting Cal Poly last weekend. ³It¹s taken away so much stress. I can sit back and relax about life again.² Coleman also plays basketball for the Mariners, averaging 4.8 points and 4.8 rebounds a contest. He scored a season-high 13 points against De Anza on Dec. 22 and pulled down 11 boards against Tennyson on Jan. 15.

K.J. Cusack, RB, 5-9, 165, Santa Maria, CA (St. Joseph HS) Cusack rushed for 1,845 yards, scored 33 touchdowns (31 rushing) and averaged 25.2 yards per punt return as a senior under head coach Mike Hartman at St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria. He carried the ball 134 times and averaged a state-leading 13.77 yards per rush, leading the Knights to a 12-1 overall record, 7-0 mark for first place in the Los Padres League (three league titles in four years) and to the semifinal round of the CIF-Southern Section Northwest Conference playoffs before losing to eventual state Division III champion Serra. Cusack produced eight games of 100 yards or more rushing, including four 200-plus efforts. His season high was 261 yards and four touchdowns in a first-round playoff game against El Segundo and he averaged 153.8 rushing yards per contest. Cusack had nine runs of 57 yards or more, including a 99-yarder, He also caught 12 passes for 205 yards. Cusack earned first-team All-Area (as selected by the Santa Maria Times), All-Los Padres League, all-CIF-Southern Section Northwest Conference and all-state medium schools by Cal Hi Sports. He also was named All-Area, All-Santa Barbara County and All-Los Padres League MVP, was a team captain and helped St. Joseph to school records for wins in a season (12) and a 12-game winning streak. Cusack returned two punts for touchdowns in the season opener against Bishop Diego (62 and 67 yards), returning 21 punts a total of 530 yards for the season, and also averaged 27.3 yards per kickoff return (12 for 327 yards). As a defensive back, he notched 35 tackles and intercepted a pair of passes. In his junior season, Cusack was first-team all-league as a cornerback with 44 tackles and five interceptions; on offense he rushed for 563 yards and six scores and caught 10 passes for 150 yards and two more touchdowns. A 4.46 sprinter in the 40-yard dash, Cusack also received scholarship offers from Air Force, Miami of Ohio, Army, Portland State, Wyoming and Sacramento State. Cusack also plays basketball at St. Joseph.

Dave Douglas, RB/SS, 5-11, 196, Oakland, CA (Oakland Senior HS) Douglas played two varsity seasons at St. Elizabeth High School in Oakland, accumulating over 2,100 yards rushing, before transferring to Oakland Senior High School for his senior season. Under head coach Desmond Gumbs at Oakland last fall, Douglas rushed for 920 yards and 17 touchdowns while, on defense, recorded 212 tackles and four interceptions. In an 18-6 win over Skyline, Douglas rushed 17 times for 201 yards and two scores, returned an interception 45 yards for another touchdown and notched 12 tackles. He earned first-team All-Oakland Athletic League, All-Oakland City and All-East Bay honors as a defensive back. Douglas played in the East Bay vs. Sacramento All-Star Game. Oakland finished 4-5-1 for the season and tied for fourth place in the Oakland Athletic League at 2-3. Douglas had a 4.6 time in the 40-yard dash and also plays basketball at Oakland High, currently averaging 4.3 points per game. He rushed for 1,300 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior and 867 yards as a sophomore at St. Elizabeth, leading the Mustangs to the CIF-North Coast Section Class B title in 2007. On defense as a junior, he notched 217 tackles and intercepted nine passes, returning four for touchdowns. Douglas earned first-team All-Bay Football League and All-East Bay honors as a junior and was MVP of the CIF-North Coast Section Division V runner-up team. Douglas, who won the Coaches Alliance Award from Stanford and is a National Honor Society member, had received interest from Fresno State, San Diego State, Army and Southern Utah.

Nick Dzubnar, LB, 6-2, 220, Mission Viejo, CA (Mission Viejo HS) An All-Orange County and All-CIF-Southern Section Pac-5 Conference linebacker, Dzubnar anchored a Mission Viejo defense under head coach Bob Johnson that held opponents to just 10.5 points per game last fall. A team captain, Dzubnar earned first-team All-South Coast League honors and was named defensive MVP of his team as well as the South Coast League. The Diablos finished 12-1 overall and 5-0 for first place in the South Coast League, losing to Servite in the semifinals of the Pac-5 Conference playoffs. Dzubnar, also a wrestler at 215 pounds, led his team to the school¹s first league title since 1972 last winter and earned numerous tournament MVP titles. He is Mission Viejo High¹s senior class president and maintains a 3.3 grade-point average.

Joshua Hines, OT/DT, 6-2, 255, Sacramento, CA (Jesuit HS) Hines earned first-team All-Delta River League honors as a senior defensive lineman under head coach Dan Carmazzi at Jesuit High School in Carmichael. He recorded 81 tackles, including five games with 10 or more tackles, to go along with 5.5 sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery last fall. The Marauders were 4-6 overall and finished fifth in the Delta River League with a 1-4 mark. Hines was an All-Metro Honorable Mention and the team¹s defensive MVP and best lineman of the year. He earned team player of the week honors five times, defensive player of the week honors 10 times and finished his high school career with 211 tackles and 17.5 sacks. As a junior, Hines earned first-team all-league honors and team defensive MVP accolades. He earned team player of the week honors four times and defensive player of the week nine times. Hines also was a Sacramento Bee player of the week once in 2008. He also plays basketball and participates in the throwing events of track and field. Hines has achieved Honor Roll all four years with a 3.5 GPA. He has a brother competing in track and field at Stanford and Hines has completed over 300 hours of community service over the last six years.

Brandon Howe, RB/DB, 6-2, 208, San Juan Capistrano, CA (Dana Hills HS) Howe rushed for 752 yards and recorded 83 tackles during his senior season under head coach Brent Melbon at Dana Hills High School. Howe averaged 6.6 yards per rush as he carried the ball 114 times and scored five touchdowns. His season high for rushing yards was 128 against San Clemente and he also rushed for 111 yards against El Modena. Howe also caught 10 passes for 107 yards and two scores. On defense, Howe notched 54 solo stops among his total tackles and produced season highs of 12 tackles against Edison and 10 against Tesoro. A team captain and team MVP, he also recorded one interception, nine pass breakups and one forced fumble en route to first-team All-South Coast League and second-team All-Orange County honors as a defensive back. Dana Hills was 9-3 last fall (best record in school history), finishing second in the South Coast League with a 4-1 mark and reaching the quarterfinal round of the CIF-Southern Section Pac 5 Division playoffs. As a junior, Howe made the Principal¹s List, was named defensive player of the year on his team and earned honorable mention All-South Coast League honors. Howe has earned Honor Roll and Scholar-Athlete honors, is a member of the California Scholastic Federation and is an Eagle Scout. He is a member of the school¹s 1,000-pound Club (squat, clean, bench).

Vante Johnson, CB/RB, 5-9, 170, Fresno, CA (Edison HS) A football, basketball and track and field athlete, Johnson earned defensive back of the year and student-athlete of the year honors as a senior at Edison High School in Fresno. A first-team All-County/Metro League defensive back, Johnson helped head coach Tim McDonald¹s Tigers to a 10-4 overall record, 3-2 County/Metro League mark for a second-place tie and the CIF-Central Section Division II championship. He rushed for 142 yards on just five carries and three touchdowns in a win over Clovis North and was named the team¹s student-athlete of the year and defensive back of the year. Johnson played his junior season of football at Grant High School in Sacramento and helped the Pacers of head coach Mike Alberghini to a perfect 14-0 mark, first place in the Metropolitan League and the CIF-Sac-Joaquin Section Division II title. Grant also went on to beat Long Beach Poly 25-20 in the state open division championship game at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Johnson is a member of the Advance Placement Hall of Fame at Grant High.

James Langford, K, 6-3, 178, Pleasanton, CA (Foothill HS) As a senior under head coach John Mannion at Foothill High School, Langford made eight of 12 field goals, including four of 40 or more yards, and 44 of 44 extra-point kicks. On kickoffs, 86 percent resulted in touchbacks. Langford earned first-team All-East Bay Athletic League and third-team Cal Hi Sports all-state honors as a kicker and earned CIF-North Coast Section scholar-athlete honors with a 3.2 GPA. The Falcons were 7-5 in 2009, finishing tied for fifth in the EBAL and reaching the quarterfinal round of the CIF-North Coast Section Division I playoffs before losing to De La Salle. Langford kicked a 57-yard field goal in the fourth annual Holiday Classic in December at Grant High School in Sacramento, sending the game into overtime. As a junior, Langford was 59-for-62 on PAT kicks and five of six in field goals with a 70 percent touchback rate on kickoffs as Foothill posted a 9-3 overall mark, finished tied for second in the EBAL and reached the semifinal round of the CIF-North Coast Section Division I playoffs. Langford, who earned All-EBAL honors as a junior, also competes in track and field, specializing in the 800, 1,500 and 3,000. He chose Cal Poly over being a preferred walk-on at Stanford. He also received interest from Stanford, Oregon State, San Diego State, Washington State, San Jose State, Cal, Utah State, Montana State, and others.

Chris Lawrence, DT, 6-2, 255, Danville, CA (De La Salle HS) Lawrence anchored a De La Salle defense that helped the Spartans win the California state open championship with a 28-14 victory over Crenshaw in December at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Under head coach Bob Ladouceur, Lawrence recorded 44 total tackles (31 solo stops) as a senior with three sacks and a fumble recovery. His season high for tackles was eight against San Ramon Valley. The Spartans finished 13-2 overall, 7-0 for first place in the East Bay Athletic League and claimed the CIF-North Coast Section Division I championship en route to the berth in the state open game. Lawrence, a team captain, earned second-team All-EBAL honors and third-team All-East Bay accolades as selected by the Bay Area News Group. He also was recipient of the Terrance Kelly Most Inspirational Award and received recognition as a scholar-athlete for maintaining a 3.5 grade-point average or better. A two-year varsity starter, Lawrence earned the team¹s Carpenter¹s Hammer as a junior.

Lefi Letuligasenoa, OL/DL, 6-2, 285, Sacramento, CA (Elk Grove HS) Letuligasenoa earned first-team All-Delta Valley League and second-team Sacramento Bee All-Metro honors as a senior offensive guard under head coach Chris Nixon at Elk Grove High School last fall. The Thundering Herd, 4-7 overall, finished third in the Delta Valley League and earned a CIF-Sac-Joaquin Section Division II playoff berth. Letuligasenoa recorded 69 tackles (43 solo), including one sack, with season highs of 12 tackles against Rocklin and 11 against Valley (Sacramento). As a junior, Letuligasenoa was named to the Delta Valley League, Sacramento Bee All-Metro and Cal-Hi Sports all-state first teams. He also was the team¹s defensive lineman of the year, most inspirational player and most spiritual player. A three-year varsity starter in football, Letuligasenoa also competes in wrestling and track and field at Elk Grove and currently is rated fifth in the state at 285 pounds. He is the defending league champion in the discus and shotput. Elk Grove¹s Homecoming King, Letuligasenoa has qualified for lifetime membership in the California Scholastic Federation and maintains a grade-point average above 4.0.

Mark Rodgers, RB, 5-8, 185, Hawthorne, CA (Leuzinger HS/West Virginia) Rodgers is a transfer from West Virginia and will have two years of eligibility remaining at Cal Poly. He has played in all 13 games each of the last two seasons with the Mountaineers as a running back and return specialists. Last fall, Rodgers returned 27 kickoffs an average of 22.9 yards per return with a long of 51 yards against Florida State and also rushed seven times for nine yards and caught one pass for four yards. As a freshman with the Mountaineers, Rodgers rushed 15 times for 80 yards with a long of 19 yards against Marshall and returned 22 kickoffs an average of 21.1 yards with a long of 44 yards against Connecticut. He is a 2007 graduate of Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, where he rushed for 4,819 yards and 50 touchdowns in his last two seasons. As a senior in 2006, Rodgers rushed for 2,319 yards and 19 scores while catching 12 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for 2,500 yards and 31 scores as a junior while also playing cornerback on defense. Twice Rodgers earned All-CIF-Southern Section and All-Los Angeles County League first-team honors. In addition, as a senior he was named Los Angeles County League player of the year and region co-player of the year. Rodgers also lettered in track and field and was the fourth-fastest runner in the state with a 10.5 time in the 100 meters. He is expected to enroll at Cal Poly for the spring quarter and participate in spring drills.