Gauchos Sign Great Recruiting Class
The Gauchos covered the state for the best recruits and signed one of their best recruiting classes in years. From Chino Valley to Tucson to Payson to Apache Junction and back to the Valley, no stone was left unturned in search for top-tier talent. Here are the players that inked with GCC on signing day and will wear the black and red next fall.QB
Vinnie Spano - Peoria- 6-0 190- Three year varsity starter and three time all-region selection. Also an all-region punter. Threw for 1,422 yards and 17 TDs as a senior. Kevin Yost - Mt. Ridge- 6-1 210- Three varsity starter and three time all-region selection including being named 1st team All-5A as a senior. Threw for 2,382 yards and 24 TDs in '08 and rushed for 450 yards and 6 more scores.
RB
Austin Caswell - Desert Vista- 5-8 160- Rushed for 184 yards and 3 scores. Jeremiah Cornist - La Joya- 5-9 160- Two time 1st team all-region pick and two time all-state selection. Lined up at QB as a senior but still averaged over 9 yards per carry as a senior. Rushed for 1,342 yards and 15 scores. Was offered by Arizona. Johnny Ray Kennedy - Chino Valley- 5-9 180- An all-state 3A player, Kennedy rushed for 1,552 yards and 12 TDs as a senior. Armando Lako - Boulder Creek- 5-11 230- Was a 2nd team all-region DT for Boulder Creek but could used as a punishing lead blocker for GCC.
WR
Dashaun Briggs - Boulder Creek- 6-2 190- Named the Northwest Region Two-Way Player of the year as a senior after recording 100+ tackles and 1,100 yards receiving. Justin Callahan - Centennial- 5-10 170- A 1st team all-region selection as a senior after catching 30 passes for 546 yards and 6 TDs. James Castillo - Millennium- 5-10 170- Named 1st team all-region as a WR, catching 28 balls for 739 yards and 7 TDs. Also 2nd team all-region as a DB during his senior year. Cody Hansen - Mohave- Named 1st team all-region as a senior after catching 35 passes for 885 yards and 8 TDs. Trevor Johnson - Washington- 6-1 170- Named 1st team all-region as a senior when he was second in the state in receiving. Terence Wilson - Buckeye- 6-4 185- Lined up at a variety of positions for the Hawks but will play WR for the Gauchos. Named 2nd team all-region at WR after accounting for 800 yards of offense and 8 TDs.
TE
Bryan Gabbard - Centennial- 6-3 220- Played mostly left tackle for CeHS because of his run blocking ability and was a 2nd team all-region pick. Projects as a TE at the next level and will line up there for the Gauchos.
OL
Gareth Facciano - Ironwood Ridge- 6-4 255- Named honorable mention all-region as a senior. Zach Haptonstall - North Canyon- 6-3 230- Two time 1st team all-region pick. Josue Howerton - Willow Canyon- 6-3 240- Named 1st team all-region as a senior. Pete Lavander - Kellis- 6-2 245- A 1st team all-region pick as a senior. Christian Limon - Estrella Foothills- 5-11 270- An all-state 3A pick at center. Justin Miller - Moon Valley- 6-1 230- 1st team all-region pick as a senior. Peter Niggemann - Chaparral- 6-1 300- An honorable mention all-region pick as a senior. Collin Powers - Ironwood- 6-5 280- Named honorable mention all-region as a senior. Ryan Shaw - Shadow Mountain- 6-3 295- Named 2nd team all-region on both sides of the ball as a senior. Nick Streich - Chaparral- 6-2 260- Streich was a two year starter at guard for the Firebirds and helped them reach the 4A1 state title game in 2008.
DL
Rusty Fernando - Apache Junction- 6-3 200- Was the Desert Sky Region Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after recording 12.5 sacks. Sloan Frazarri - Boulder Creek- 6-3 220- Named 1st team all-region as a senior after making 68 tackles and 5 sacks. Vince Manus - Mohave- 6-2 280- Named 1st team all-region on both sides of the ball. Tim McNeil - Goldwater- 6-1 270- Registered 39 tackles and 1 sack as a senior. Juan Ramos - Centennial- 6-0 250- Named 2nd team all-region as a senior recording 43 tackles and 2 sacks. Vince Shatwell - Westview- 6-1 260- Two time 1st team all-region selection. Brett Thompson - Marcos de Niza- 6-3 200- Named 1st team all-region after making 91 tackles and 13.5 sacks. Terrance Woods - Millennium- 6-2 250- An all-region performer on both sides of the ball, Woods racked up 43 tackles as a senior.
LB
David Carlen - Payson- 6-0 210- An all-state 3A pick. Carlen made 195 tackles as a senior. David was also a standout RB for the 3A state champs, rushing for 1,051 yards and 16 TDs. Mike Chocholousek - Mt. Ridge- 6-0 210- Two time 1st team all-region pick and was named the Desert Valley Defensive Player of the Year as a junior. Racked up 124 tackles, 5 sacks and 4 INTs as a senior. Ray Cottman - Ironwood Ridge- 6-1 210- A 1st team all Tucson selection as a senior by the Tucson Citizen. Cottman recorded 110 tackles, 5 sacks and 2 INTs. Brad Cunningham- Mt. Ridge- 5-10 200- Registered 84 tackles and 2 sacks as a senior. Justin Fermin - Apache Junction- 6-3 240- Fermin played on both sides of the ball and was named honorable mention all-region. He rushed for 399 yards and 7 scores as a fullback. On defense he made 74 tackles. Marcel Joyeux - Mt. Ridge- 6-0 230- Playing defensive end for the Mt. Lions, Joyeux accounted for 42 tackles and 4 sacks. Anthony Rose - Marcos de Niza- 6-0 205- Two time Pima Region Defensive Player of the Year. Had 145 tackles as a senior. Was committed to ASU at one time. JD Souder - Horizon- 5-11 215- Named 1st team all-region in 2008.
S
Dylan Borys - Paradise Valley- 6-1 190- Borys was an all 4A pick as a junior and was honorable mention all-region as a senior. He recorded 66 tackles and 1 INT. Demarcus Stevens - Camelback- 6-2 190- Named 2nd team all-region as a RB, rushing for 878 yards and 5 TDs. Austin Swindle - Saguaro- 5-11 200- A 2nd team all-region pick on both sides of the ball, Swindle rushed for 778 yards and 9 scores on O and made 77 tackles and 3 INTs for the three-time defending 4A1 state champs. Sam Wolfe - Saguaro- 6-2 200- Made 43 tackles and 2 INTs as a senior. His 2 picks came in the 4A1 state title game.
CB
Herman Cox - Millennium- 6-1 180- Named 1st team all-region as a senior after recording 50 tackles and 5 INTs. David Godley - Paradise Valley- 5-10 170- Named 2nd team all-region after making 28 tackles and 1 INT as a senior. Donovan Henley - Marcos de Niza- 5-9 170- Named 1st team all-region fater recording 56 tackles and 4 INTs. Jeremy Sawyer - Peoria- 5-9 170- Named 1st team all-region the past two years. Had 31 tackles and 3 INTs as a senior.
K
Ryan Shauger - Centennial- 6-1 210- A 1st team all-region kicker as a senior hitting 64 PATs and 8 FGs. Also averaged over 37 yards per punt.
