Walker Announces Early Signees
LAS CRUCES, N.M. ? New Mexico State football head coach DeWayne Walker announced the early signing of 10 student-athletes for the 2012 football season. These signees will begin classes this spring semester and will participate in winter workouts and spring practice.
?First all we have never had this many guys on campus mid-year,? Walker said. ?The advantage of having this type of situation is that these players can learn our schemes and it will allow us to force them into action, which is the main reason why they are here. We went heavily with the defensive line, a quarterback that will come in and compete, we picked up a tight end and a running back as well as two defensive backs and a linebacker. We also brought in an offensive lineman that we feel will make us solid on the line going into the spring, as we continue to wait on the our signees who will come in the summer.?
The Aggies signed four offensive players including a quarterback, a running back, an offensive tackle and a tight end and six defensive players, which includes three defensive linemen, two defensive backs and a linebacker.
Walker also announced that defensive tackle Abram Holland and quarterback Gary Issacson, who signed in 2011 and gray shirted, will also join the Aggies in the 2012 spring semester, while defensive tackle Mark Brown and long snapper Mike Kaiser have been awarded scholarships after the 2011 season. All four of these student-athletes will count towards the 2012 signing class.
2012 NM State Football Early Signing Class
TraShaun Nixon, OLB, 6-1, 225, Oxnard, Calif. (Ventura College/Hueneme HS)
Cameron Fuller, DB, 5-11, 160, Berkeley, Calif. (Contra Costa College/Berkeley HS)
Nicholas Oliva, DE, 6-6, 252, Saugas, Calif. (College of the Canyons/Valencia HS)
Andrew McDonald, QB, 6-2, 215, Newport Beach, Calif. (Santa Ana College/Newport Harbor HS)
Alfred Sharp, OT, 6-5, 285, Cleveland Heights, Ohio (Iowa Western CC/Cleveland Heights HS)
Kalvin Cruz, DL, 6-2, 275, Littleton, Colo. (Ventura College/Columbine HS)
Kevin Laudermill, DT, 6-3, 300, Los Angeles, Calif. (West Los Angeles/Manual Arts Senior HS)
Perris Scoggins, TE, 6-4, 238, Fontana, Calif. (Mt. San Jacinto College/Summit HS)
Akeelie Mustafa, RB, 5-10, 183, Compton, Calif. (Santa Ana College/Cypress HS)
Dele Junaid, DB, 6-3, 195, Fresno, Texas (Eastern Arizona/Hightower HS)
Abram Holland, DT, 6-2, 260, Rio Rancho, N.M. (V. Sue Cleveland HS)
Mark Brown, DT, 6-0 292, West Palm Beach, Fla. (Palm Beach Gardens HS)
Mike Kaiser, LS, 6-1, 220, Carlsbad, Calif. (La Costa Canyon HS)
Gary Issacson, QB, 6-0, 188, San Diego, Calif. (West Hills HS)
TraShaun Nixon, OLB, 6-1, 225, Oxnard, Calif. (Ventura College/Hueneme HS)
Ventura College: Nixon played two seasons at Ventura College at outside linebacker. In 2011, Nixon tallied 21 tackles, five tackles for a loss, two sacks, two pass break-ups, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. As a freshman in 2010, Nixon recorded 54 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and five pass break-ups.
Cameron Fuller, DB, 5-11, 160, Berkeley, Calif. (Contra Costa College/Berkeley HS)
Contra Costa College: Fuller played one season at Contra Costa College as a defensive back. He helped the Comets to a 6-4 overall record and a 2-2 record in conference play in 2011. Fuller had 21 tackles on the season, including 10 pass break-ups and 13 passes defended. He also tallied three interceptions for 64 yards and a touchdown.
Nicholas Oliva, DE, 6-6, 252, Saugas, Calif. (College of the Canyons/Valencia HS)
College of the Canyons: Oliva played two seasons at College of the Canyons at the defensive end position. Oliva was named a first team all-Northern Conference by the Southern California Football Association in 2011. In 2011, Oliva recorded 32 tackles, a team leading eight tackles for a loss and three and a half sacks. He also had three quarterback hurries. As a freshman, Oliva tallied 18 tackles, two tackles for a loss and a forced fumble.
High School: Oliva helped Valencia High School to a league championship and CIF semifinals in 2009 and 2010. He was named the 2009 and 2010 Lineman of the Year and a first team all-league selection at the offensive line position. Oliva was also selected to play in the Daily News All-Star game.
Andrew McDonald, QB, 6-2, 215, Newport Beach, Calif. (Santa Ana College/Newport Harbor HS)
Santa Ana College: McDonald played two seasons at Santa Ana College at the quarterback position. In 2011, he threw for 2,033 yards and 22 touchdowns, while rushing for 123 yards and four touchdowns. McDonald completed 169-273 pass attempts for a completion percentage of .619, averaging 207.9 yards of total offense a game. He was named a first team All-East Conference As a freshman, McDonald finished the season 167-for-242 passing for 2,196 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also rushed for six touchdowns. McDonald set the Santa Ana College single season record with 28 touchdown passes and single season record for completion percentage at .690, while tying the single game record with five touchdown passes against College of the Desert. McDonald was named first team All-East Conference.
High School: McDonald graduated from Newport Harbor High School where he was a four-year letter-winner in football. McDonald was named First-Team All-League and Daily Pilot Offensive Player of the Year his junior year, while being named First-Team All-League Offensive Player of the Year and Daily Pilot Most Valuable Player his senior year.
Alfred Sharp, OT, 6-5, 285, Cleveland Heights, Ohio (Iowa Western CC/Cleveland Heights HS)
Iowa Western: Sharp was an offensive tackle for two seasons at Iowa Western. In 2011, he helped Iowa Western to a 9-2 overall record and a win in the Graphic Edge Bowl. Sharp was named an honorable mention all-Midwest Football Conference selection and an honorable mention all-Region XI in 2011. He helped the Iowa Western offense average 481.9 yards of total offense a game, including 258 yards passing and 223.9 yards rushing. As a freshman, Sharp and the Iowa Western team averaged 398.3 yards a game, 156.8 yards rushing and 241.5 yards passing per game.
Kalvin Cruz, DL, 6-2, 275, Littleton, Colo. (Ventura College/Columbine HS)
Ventura College: Cruz played two seasons at Ventura College on the defensive line. In 2011, Cruz tallied 40 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss and six sacks. He earned second team all-conference and an academic achievement award. Cruz also earned Ventura?s defensive lineman of the year and most inspirational player awards. He helped his team to a 7-4 record and a second-place conference finish, including a Beach Bowl Championship. As a freshman, Cruz recorded 32 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks.
High School: Cruz helped Columbine High School to a 45-9 record in his four years on the defensive line, including a 5A State Championship in Colorado in 2007. He was named an all-conference honorable mention selection as a senior.
Kevin Laudermill, DT, 6-3, 300, Los Angeles, Calif. (West Los Angeles/Manual Arts Senior HS)
West Los Angeles: Laudermill was a defensive tackle for West Los Angeles for two seasons. As a sophomore, Laudermill was named a second team all-conference pick after recording 40 tackles, 20 solo efforts, five tackles for a loss and four sacks. He also tallied three quarterback hurries, helping West Los Angles to a 7-3 overall record and second-place in the conference. As a freshman, Laudermill recorded eight tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss.
High School: Laudermill played both offensive and defensive line for Manual Arts Senior High School. In 2008, he was named a first team all-Coliseum selection.
Perris Scoggins, TE, 6-4, 238, Fontana, Calif. (Mt. San Jacinto College/Summit HS)
Mt. San Jacinto College: Scoggins played tight end for Mt. San Jacinto College for two seasons. In 2011, Scoggins caught 21 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 16.9 yards per game. He was named a unanimous all-conference selection and an all-state pick as well, while helping his team to a second-place finish in conference and a 6-4 overall record. As a freshman, Scoggins recorded 16 receptions for 218 yards and a touchdown, averaging 13.6 yards a catch. He was named a first team all-conference selection.
High School: Scoggins was a tight end at Summit High School. He helped his team to a second place finish his junior and senior seasons. For his efforts he was named a first team all-conference pick, as well as an all-CIF selection and a third team all-county selection.
Akeelie Mustafa, RB, 5-10, 183, Compton, Calif. (Santa Ana College/Cypress HS)
Santa Ana College: Mustafa played one season at Santa Ana College. He led the team in rushing with 1,055 yards and 10 touchdowns, while ranking second on the team in receiving with 32 catches for 456 yards and five touchdowns. Mustafa also returned kickoffs and punts for Santa Ana. He was named a first team all-League selection, helping his team to the Beach Bowl, where he was named the bowl games MVP. High School: Mustafa graduated from Cypress High School and was a letter winner in football. He earned first team all-League honors as a senior, after rushing for 2,507 yards, averaging 10.5 yards per carry and 39 touchdowns. He also had seven catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns.
Dele Junaid, DB, 6-3, 195, Fresno, Texas (Eastern Arizona/Hightower HS)
Eastern Arizona: Junaid played one season at Eastern Arizona at safety. He tallied 40 tackles in 10 games, including fibe pass break-ups, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Ole Miss: Junaid spent two seasons at Ole Miss, redshirting his freshman season. As a redshirt freshman, Junaid played primarily on special teams.
High School: Junaid was a second team class 5A All-State pick by the Associated Press Sports Editors and Texas Sports Writers Association as a senior, as well as a PrepStar All-Region selection. He was named to the Houston Chronicle?s Top 100 Texas recruits list and a Touchdown Club of Houston Defensive Player of the Year finalist as a senior. Junaid earned All-Houston honors from Texas Prep Insider as a senior and helped lead Hightower to a 13-1 record and the class 5A state championship game as a senior. He recorded 82 tackles, nine passes defended, four fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and three forced fumbles as a senior.
Abram Holland, DT, 6-2, 260, Rio Rancho, N.M. (V. Sue Cleveland HS)
High School: Holland was a three-year starter for V. Sue Cleveland High School at defensive tackle. As a senior, Holland recorded 32 tackles, with 12 of those tackles tallied as solo efforts. He also recorded 11 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, 21 quarterback hurries and a team-leading four sacks on the season. Holland was named a first team All-Metro selection as well as a first team all-district and first team all-state team member. He was also selected to the state of New Mexico North-South All-Star game.
Mark Brown, DT, 6-0 292, West Palm Beach, Fla. (Palm Beach Gardens HS)
2011 (Freshman): Brown played in six games for the Aggies as a freshman in 2011 at the defensive tackle position. He recorded four tackles on the season.
High School: Brown played defensive tackle at Palm Beach Gardens High School. He tallied 60 tackles and nine sacks his senior season. He was named all-Conference and all-County selection as a senior and played in the high school All-Star game.
Mike Kaiser, LS, 6-1, 220, Carlsbad, Calif. (La Costa Canyon HS)
2011 (Freshman): Kaiser was the Aggies? long snapper during the 2011 season on the punt and field goal teams. He also recorded three tackles during punt coverage on the year.
High School: Kaiser played defensive line and long snapper for La Costa High School. He helped his team to a CIF championship in 2009 with an 11-2 record. He was ranked the No. 14 long snapper in the nation by prosnapper.com. He led the county in sacks his senior season.
Gary Issacson, QB, 6-0, 188, San Diego, Calif. (West Hills HS)
High School: Issacson was a three-year starter for West Hills High School at the quarterback position. As a junior, Issacson threw for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns, while rushing for 500 yards and five scores. He also helped his team to a second-place finish in league play and guided the Wolfpack to the league championship game. Issacson was named a first team all-league selection and earned All-East County player of the week twice during that season. He was also the Wolfpack?s team MVP. Issacson tore his ACL in the first game of his senior year and missed the remainder of the season. He also played basketball his junior and senior years and was a member for West Hill?s golf team from his freshman to his senior year. Issacson was also named Academic all-San Diego as a junior and senior.
Source: NMSU Athletics
