KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Head Coach Bill Cubit and the Western Michigan University football program announced the 25 members of the 2008 recruiting class. This class will be remembered for its size, the largest in terms of number during Cubit's tenure, and variety. These 25 student-athletes hail from 11 different states, which is also the largest geographic footprint for a recruiting class engineered by Cubit. Two of the 25 student-athletes have already enrolled in classes at WMU as one is a transfer from the Universiy of Miami and another graduated early, and both count toward's last year's group of recruits. The class consists of 23 graduating high school seniors, one Division I (FBS) transfer and one Junior College transfer.
This recruiting class may also be touted as having the most successive scholastic careers, collectively, under Cubit. Thirteen of its members have one conference and/or state championships at their respective high schools and some on multiple occasions.
"This class represents the work our staff puts in during the recruiting season. Being able to sign kids from 11 different states, including four from Michigan, really speaks to our coaches' dedication to this program and to these players," commented Cubit. "We went up against the BCS conferences again this year and again we were successful in bringing in the kids that have the right character, passion, intelligence and talent to continue to move this program forward."
The state of Michigan is represented by four student-athletes in this recruiting class, two on defense, one on offense and one on special teams. For the fourth time in as many recruiting classes, Florida is represented the most with five student-athletes calling the Sunshine State home. North Miami Beach High School is the alma mater of two more new Broncos, joining E.J. Biggers, Louis Delmas, Schneider Julien, Andy Dorcely and Anthony Parker.
Ranking just behind Michigan for number of recruits from one state is Illinois with four, and Wisconsin and Georgia each with three signees. The three recruits coming out of the Dairy State rank No. 8, 9 and 10, respectively, in Wisconsin according to Scouts.com and WisconsinPreps.com. Six other recruits call six different states home, including Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Ohio and Texas. The four student-athletes from the Great Lakes State ties Cubit's 2005 class for the second-highest number of signees from our home state, just one back of the 2006 recruiting class.
This recruiting class is comprised of 14 defensive players, 10 offensive and one special teams member. Of the 14 defensive recruits, seven will take their place on the defensive line. Five defensive backs come to Kalamazoo in 2008 along with three linebackers. The offensive recruits are more evenly spread out with three offensive linemen, two wide receivers and running backs joining a quarterback and a pair of tight ends.
The 14 defensive signees will join a unit that does not lose a starter from the 2007 season and has nine senior starters penciled in for 2008. Six defensive linemen, including five defensive ends will help to solidify the unit that will see three projected starters leave WMU at the end of 2008. Two seniors are penciled in to start at linebacker with another returning from injury this upcoming season. The four newcomers at the position will continue to provide depth to a position that has provided a large part of Western Michigan's defensive effort over the past two seasons.
The defensive backfield, returning four senior starters, including two All-Mid-American Conference selection, in 2008 continues to add to its depth and this recruiting class is no different. Four defensive backs come to the Broncos this year with two of them having collegiate experience already.
The Bronco offensive line lost three starters from their 2007 squad but only one other starter (wide receiver) out of the rest of the unit. WMU fills those empty roster spots with three incoming offensive lineman that weigh a combined 896 lbs., an average of 298.7 lbs. per signee. After not bringing in a running back in 2007, Western Michigan signed two of them, one from North Miami Beach and the other from Dowagiac. The Broncos signed one quarterback to join a group that consists of a senior, two juniors, a pair of redshirt sophomores and a redshirt freshman.
Two wide receivers will join the corps of Broncos that lose two seniors but only one starter. This duo joins a group of two seniors, three sophomores and a pair of redshirt freshmen out wide for Western Michigan University.
After losing both its starting punter and place kicker to graduation after 2007, WMU welcomes a kicker from Grand Haven, Mich., to help fill the void along with three returning kickers and two returning punters. This is the third signee from Grand Haven High School in the past three classes.
Western Michigan University opens its 2008 Spring Practice Season on Thursday, March 13. The 15 practices will culminate with the annual Brown & Gold Spring Game on Saturday, April 12. Practice times and a time for the 2008 Spring Game will be announced later. All of this will prepare the Broncos for their 2008 Season Opener at Nebraska on Aug. 30.
