Griz sign 33

12 Montanans highlight list

Football offseason doldrums got you down?

This ought to help: College football's National Signing Day was Wednesday and the University of Montana Grizzlies got a whopper of a class.

Thanks to the graduation of 20 seniors, Griz coach Bobby Hauck found room for 33 players to sign - a sharp increase of just seven from last February.

"This is an extremely big class," Hauck said. "Last year was an anomaly. It was a lot of fun this year to be able to go at it like we did."

Included in the list were 12 recruits from Montana, eight from California and four from Arizona - as well as others.

Seven of the Montanans came from Class AA schools. One came from Class A schools (Havre) and three are from Class B schools (Colstrip, Fairview and Choteau).

Hauck signed a total of seven wide receivers, six linebackers, five offensive linemen and five defensive backs - as well as others.

The biggest signing may be linebacker Thomas Bauer, who is a 6-foot-2, 237-pound junior transfer from Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo, Calif. But his freshman season was spent with Northern Colorado, where he ranked 10th in the Big Sky in total tackles. He was nominated for the Big Sky Player of the Week twice.

As big of an immediate impact Bauer may bring, others may make a bigger splash after he is gone. Here's a list of biographies of the signees:

Brandon Beecher, DB, 5-10, 175, Fr., HS, Aurora, CO (Overland HS): Brandon was a first team all-conference as a junior and all-league as a sophomore. Prep coach was Tony Manfredi, who coached former Griz standout linebacker Tyler Joyce. Lettered three times in football and basketball. Plans to compete in track this spring in the 100 and 200. Has been timed in the 40 in 4.38.

Levi Buckles, WR, 6-3 1/2, 195, Fr., HS, Post Falls, ID (Post Falls HS): Levi was a second team all-state pick at wide receiver, and first team all-league as a junior and senior. Tabbed the Inland Empire League Offensive Player of the Year as a senior when he had 51 receptions for 1,018 yards and 14 touchdowns. First team All-North Idaho and offensive team MVP as a junior and senior. Three-year letterman in basketball and team MVP in hoops his junior year.

Charles Burton, OL, 6-5, 315, Fr., HS, Long Beach, CA (Milikan HS): Charles was an All-C.I.F. pick. Voted Moore League co-Offensive Linemen of the Year. On Milikan High's Weight Lifting Hall of Fame (benches 305 and squats 325). A four-year letterman in football and twice in track.

Tyzer Cady, WR, 6-0, 180, Fr., HS, Colstrip: A 12-time letterman in football, basketball, and track and team captain in all three sports. All-state in football as a senior and all-league twice. All-state performer in track as a sophomore and junior. All-conference in basketball his junior year. Member of Colstrip's 2005 state championship track team. Returned three kickoffs for touchdowns. The Class B 100-meter champ as a junior.

Mike Cummings, DB, 6-1, 192, Fr., HS, Scottsdale, AZ (Chaparral HS): Mike was an All-Region selection at wide receiver and at defensive back his junior and senior seasons. All-state wide receiver as a senior and at defensive back as a junior. Football captain and offensive MVP as a senior and defensive MVP his senior year. Earned three letters in both football and basketball. Hoops defensive MVP three times. Team captain in football and basketball. Senior year he had 77 catches for 1,421 yards and 18 TDs. Had 14 career interceptions. Football squad won region titles in 2005 (12-2) and 2006 (11-3), and in basketball in 2005-06 (25-4).

Ray DeBruycker, DE, 6-3, 205, Fr., HS, Choteau: Ray was an all-state selection in football, wrestling, and track. Two-time all-conference pick at tight end and linebacker…state wrestling champion at 189 pounds as a junior. Earned 10 letters in football (3), wrestling (4), and track (3). Team captain in wrestling as a junior and senior, and in football his senior season…prep football coach was Joel Chrisiaens. Had 11 sacks his senior season, along with 45 catches for 450 yards and 6 touchdowns. Chosen MVP of wrestling squad. Selected to play in Montana's annual East-West Shrine Game.

Beau Donaldson, RB, 6-1, 223, Fr., HS, Missoula (Big Sky HS): Beau was named all-state three times in football. Earned three letters in football, two in basketball, and four in track. His senior season he set school record and led the state with 1,682 yards rushing for 23 touchdowns. Had 13 sacks in 2007. Career-wise he set school standards with 3,749 yards rushing for 44 touchdowns, scoring 278 points. Set 10 school records in football. Head coach was Gary Ekegren, a former Griz player (1959-61) and UM defensive line coach (1977-79). First team all-state both ways as a senior. His prep football teams made the state playoffs twice in his career. Offensive team MVP as a junior and senior in football, and team MVP his senior year.

Andrew Douglass, LB, 6-2, 225, Fr., HS, San Clemente, CA (San Clemente HS): Andrew was an All-C.I.F. first team pick at linebacker as a senior. First team All-South Coast League as a junior and senior. Tabbed South Coast League's MVP on defense following his senior season. Lettered three times in football. Team captain his senior year. High school football coach was Eric Patton. As a senior he had 111 tackles (61 solos), 4 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, and 2 interceptions.

Kyle Finneman, P, 6-2, 205, Fr., HS, Havre: Kyle was tabbed all-state at running back and punter. All-conference pick at halfback and linebacker. A three-sport letterman in football (3), track (4), and basketball. Class A champion in the 100 and 200. Football team was Central A champions in 2006-07. Football team captain and MVP as a senior. Voted team captain in hoops as well.

Sam Gratton, WR, 6-0, 190, Fr., HS, Billings (Senior HS): Sam was a three-time all-state choice at wide receiver… selected to play in both the East-West Shrine Game and the Mon-Dak All-Star Game. Named an All-American and Montana's Player of the Year by PrepNation.com. Prep football team was the AA runners-up in 2007, going 10-3. His senior year he had 43 catches for 723 yards and 7 touchdowns. Team captain in 2007. Co-Special Teams MVP as a senior at kicker. His high school football coach was former (1987-88) Griz wide receiver Mark Sulser. Also lettered in track. In his career he had 149 receptions for 2,155 yards and 13 TDs. Academic All-State with a 3.6 GPA.

Greg Hardy, TE, 6-5, 245, Fr., HS, Fairview: Greg was an all-state pick in football, basketball, and track. Earned 12 letters: four each in football, basketball, and track. A three-time all-conference selection in football, hoops, and track. Football and basketball team captain. Given Warrior Award and chosen MVP in football. Hoop team won the district title, going 20-6.

Josh Harris, DE, 6-5, 210, Fr., HS, Kalispell (Flathead HS): Josh was named all-state his senior year when he had 47 tackles, 7 sacks, and 14 quarterback hurries. Team defensive MVP his senior season. Two-time all-league pick in football. Honorable mention all-state as a junior. Selected to play in both the East-West Shrine Game and the Mon-Dak All-Star Game. Lettered in football (3), basketball (1), and track (2). Named Academic All-State twice.

Eric Homec, DE, 6-5, 215, Fr., HS, Bozeman: Eric was an all-state pick at defensive end as a senior when he had 14 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, and 6 pass break-ups, two of which led to interceptions. Chosen to play in both the East-West Shrine Game and the Mon-Dak All-Star Game. Lettered in football and track.

Matt Hulse, DL, 6-3, 260, Fr., HS, Chandler, AZ (Hamilton HS): Matt earned letters in football and track. His football team was conference champion his senior year and an Arizona State semi-finalist in 2007 as well. His senior year he had 11 tackles for loss and two sacks.

Jared Hunt, DB, 6-3, 175, Fr., HS, Helena (Helena Capital HS): Jared was a key player for his high school squads that won Class AA championships in 2006 (11-2) and 2007 (12-1). All-state and all-conference as a junior and senior at quarterback and punter. Track MVP in 2006 and 2007, and football MVP his junior year. Passed for 1,857 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior, rushed for 366 yards and six scores. Averaged 40.8 yards per punt. Voted conference player of the year as a senior.

Trumaine Johnson, WR, 6-3, 180, Fr., HS, Stockton, CA (Edison HS): Trumaine was an outstanding quarterback last season, passing for 1,800 yards (with just 5 interceptions), rushing for 500 yards, and he had 22 total touchdowns. He was named first team all-league at quarterback and defensive back last season, and voted to his high school's football Hall of Fame at defensive back. His junior year he was first team All-Area and all-league at wide receiver when he had 750 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He was tabbed his team's Junior of the Year in football. He is also an all-state basketball player.

Gerald Kemp, QB, 6-2, 185, Fr., HS, San Diego, CA (Rancho Bernardo HS): Gerald was named team MVP in football as a senior. He was a second team All-North County pick in 2007, as well as a first team all-league choice. He was also an all-league player in basketball last season. Voted team captain in football and basketball. He also competes in track, and last year his track team was league champion.

Ryan Kessman, WR, 5-10, 210, Fr., TR, San Jacinto, CA (BYU): Ryan spent one year at BYU last season and was a redshirt. He was a standout at San Jacinto High School where at wide receiver he was chosen All-C.I.F., all-state, all-league, and his league's Player of the Year as a senior. He had 43 catches for 848 yards and 12 touchdowns, and he had 1,493 total yards at receiver and as a returner his senior year.

Kyle Kmet, OL, 6-5, 300, Fr., HS, Bonita, CA (Bonita Vista HS): Kyle was a San Diego All-Country selection and first team all-conference choice as a senior. He earned three letters in both football and track (shot/discus) and one in lacrosse. He was also a three-time All-Academic Mesa League pick. Team captain in football. His 2005 football team was the conference champion.

Blake Lebeau, OL, 6-5, 275, Fr., HS, Union City, CA (James Logan HS): Blake was named first team All-East Bay and all-league. His senior football team rushed for 3,542 yards. His football teams won league championships in 2006 (8-3) and 2007 (11-1). Served as team captain in football. Earned two letters in football.

Matt Lipski, OL, 6-9, 320, Fr., HS, Ashland, OR (Ashland HS): Matt was a first team All-Southern Conference team pick his junior and senior seasons. His third-ranked 2007 Grizzlies football team went 11-1 and advanced to the state semi-finals. A three-year letterman in football. An all-conference player in basketball as a junior when his team went to the state 5A play-offs for the first time since 1986. Currently averaging 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks a game. Also lettered in water polo.

Donny Lisowski, DB, 5-11, 190, Fr., HS, Seattle, WA (O'Dea HS): Donny was a first team all-league selection at quarterback and defensive back as a senior. He was chosen the game MVP of the state-semi-final football game in 2007. Nominated to East-West All-Star Game. Named among the top 20 defensive backs in the state of Washington by Rivals.com and tabbed one of the top 100 recruits in the state by the Seattle Times. Lettered in football (3), wrestling (1), and track (4). Track team MVP as a junior. State finalist in the 200 and 400 in 2007. League champion in wrestling as a freshman.

Mike McCord II, DB, 6-0, 185, Fr., HS, Phoenix, AZ (Maryvale HS): Mike was named All-Region Two-way Player of the Year as a senior. Selected first team All-Region at quarterback and defensive back in 2007. Named Region Offensive Player of the Year. All-state honorable mention both ways following his senior campaign. In 2007 he rushed for 1,070 yards and passed for 490, and had 82 tackles and two interceptions. Team captain as a junior and senior and offensive player of the year as a senior. Earned three letters in football and two in track.

Caleb McSurdy, LB, 6-2, 240, Fr., HS, Boise, ID (Borah HS): Caleb was a first team all-state pick at linebacker and second team at tight end following his senior season when he had 65 tackles (52 solos), 8 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks, along with 22 catches for 232 yards and 4 touchdowns. A three-time all-conference selection at linebacker. Voted his team's Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and senior, and received Commitment Award those seasons as well…won the state championship in the shot put (56-6) and discus (166-0) as a junior and was tabbed Thrower of the Year. Placed in the state shot put three times. Team captain in football and track junior and senior years. His prep teams won state track titles in 2006 and 2007. He is Borah's record-holder in the bench press (390) and squat (515). He plays the drums in a jazz band.

Dan Moore, RB, 5-11, 215, Fr., HS, Tucson, AZ (Mountain View HS): Dan was an all-state choice in 2007, and named All-Region and all-conference three times. The 14th-ranked fullback in the nation by Scout.com. As a senior he rushed for 1,941 yards for 21 touchdowns and averaged 9.5 yards a carry, and had 2,525 all-purpose yards (he averaged 229.0 a game). Voted his team MVP on offense after his senior year. Team captain his junior and senior seasons. Set freshman rushing record and was a U.S.A Power-lifting champion as a freshman.

Jon Opperud II, OL, 6-7, 280, Fr., HS, Milwaukie, OR (Milwaukie HS): Jon earned three letters in football, three in basketball, and two in track. Team captain and Outstanding Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior. Started both ways as a senior. Team captain in hoops as a senior and averaging 18 points and 10 rebounds a game. Placed fourth in the state in the discus last season. Second team all-state in track as a junior and was all-league in track.

Brooks Rabold, LB, 6-2, 205, Fr., HS, Billings (Central Catholic HS): Brooks was a two-time all-state and all-conference pick in football. Selected to play in both the East-West Shrine Game and the Mon-Dak All-Star Game. Prep football teams won two league titles and one state championship. Team captain as a senior. Twice voted team MVP on defense. Earned two letters in basketball and track, and three in football. His senior year he had 99 tackles, 17 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 19 QB hurries, 4 fumble recoveries, and 3 forced fumbles. His dad, Pat, is a member of the Football Hall of Fame at the University of Wyoming.

Jabin Sainbrano, WR, 5-11, 165, Fr., HS, Temecula, CA (Great Oaks HS): Jabin was a first team all-conference player at wide receiver and defensive back. Chosen football MVP as a senior. Lettered in football, track, and wrestling. Served as team captain in track. Voted recipient of Community Service Award.

Russell Schey, K, 6-2, 180, Fr., HS, Billings (West HS): Russell was named the Class AA first team at kicker twice. He was a first team all-state pick at safety as a senior. He is a two-time all-league selection at kicker and at defensive back. He earned letters in soccer (1), basketball (1), football (3), and track (2). Was team captain in football. His 2006 football team was the state champions with a 13-0 record. He made 150 PATs and converted 97.9% of his PAT attempts. Kicked 10 career field goals with a long of 43 yards. He scored 211 career points in football, the third most in school history. His track team won the state title last year.

Alex Shaw, LB, 6-2, 220, Fr., HS, Spokane, WA (Lewis & Clark HS): Alex was the Washington 4A co-Player of the Year as a senior for the state champions who had a record of 11-2. He was first team all-state and all-conference at running back and at linebacker in 2007. His senior season he rushed for 1,655 yards, and he gained 793 yards on 151 carries in the state playoffs. He rushed for 176 yards and was voted the Player of the Game in the state championship against Bothell High School. Nominated for the Eastern Washington Student-Athlete of the Year Award. First team all-league, team MVP, and honorable mention all-state at defensive end as a junior. Greater Spokane League shot put (55-0) champion as a junior and member of winning 4x100 relay team. Team captain in football as a junior and senior. Earned three letters in football, basketball, and track. He has a 3.6 GPA.

Josh Stuberg, LB, 6-2, 190, Fr., HS, Helena (Helena HS): Josh was a first team all-state pick at cornerback as a junior, and a second team pick at wide receiver and returner. He led the state in touchdowns (15) and scoring (9.0 points a game) in 2006, and was third in all-purpose yards (1,324). An all-conference player at cornerback and receiver as a sophomore and junior. Second team all-state choice at wide receiver as a sophomore when he was second in the state in receptions. He started both ways as a senior, but was injured most of the season. Placed in three events in the state track meet as a sophomore and injured for most of his junior year. High school football coach was former (1985-88) Griz quarterback Tony Arntson.

Cody Von Appen, DB, 5-10, 180, Fr., HS, Kailua, HI (Kalaheo HS): Cody was a first team all-conference selection following his junior and senior seasons in high school. As a senior he passed for 975 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 537 yards and nine scores. His junior year he passed for 11 TDs and rushed for 4 touchdowns. He was named his grid teams MVP on offense as a senior. Chosen his high school's Athlete of the Year as a freshman, sophomore, and junior. He has lettered four times in football and basketball, and three times in baseball. Cody's dad, Fred, was an assistant head coach at Montana in 2003 and 2004. Fred coached in the professional and college ranks for 35 years.