San Jose State added 13 players, all from California, as part of the early signing period Wednesday. Four of the players are offensive linemen and four are defensive backs.
“I am really excited about the guys joining our program today,” San Jose State head coach Brent Brennan said in a statement. “We addressed some of the needs our program identified through the course of our first season at San Jose State.”
The Spartans, who went 2-11 this season, signed five players from the Bay Area: cornerback Charlie Bostic from Valley Christian, defensive lineman Cade Hall from Bellarmine, linebacker Kyle Harmon from Freedom-Antioch, wide receiver Leki Nunn from Serra and defensive lineman Dimitri Sakalia from Menlo-Atherton. Harmon had committed to Cal last year, but left school before the season started.
Brennan expects to sign another 10-12 players in February.
— Steve Kroner
Tuesday night’s bowl game: Lane Kiffin’s first bowl game at Florida Atlantic was the perfect microcosm of his first season with the Owls. Slow start. Super finish.
FAU rolled past Akron 50-3 in the Boca Raton Bowl in Florida on Tuesday night — ending the season on a 10-game winning streak, and with Kiffin having agreed to terms on an extension that, in theory, would keep him at FAU for another 10 years.
“Just an unbelievable day,” Kiffin said. “Can’t imagine it being better — 50-3. This is a special story.”
The Owls (11-3) had won nine games combined over the past three seasons and were 1-3 in late September. They did not lose again, including in FAU’s first bowl game since 2008, matching the school record for wins in a season.
The former Raiders head coach was in the first year of a five-year, $950,000-a-year contract at FAU. Earlier Tuesday, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said that FAU and Kiffin have agreed to extend his contract six more years.
Cowart transfers: Byron Cowart, a former five-star recruit at Auburn, is transferring to Maryland and is expected to be eligible next season.
The defensive lineman was among the 22 players Maryland signed Wednesday. He was rated the No. 1 recruit in the country by Rivals and ESPN in the 2015 signing class. He played as a freshman and sophomore, but never developed into an impact player or became a starter.
Cowart, from Seffner, Fla., left Auburn early in the fall semester of this past season and enrolled at Hillsborough Community College in Florida.
San Jose State signings
|
Pos. |
Player |
Last school |
Ht. |
Wt. |
|
CB |
Charlie Bostic |
Valley Christian HS |
5-11 |
170 |
|
DB |
Bobby Brown |
College of the Canyons |
6-1 |
177 |
|
DL |
Cade Hall |
Bellarmine Prep |
6-3 |
235 |
|
LB |
Kyle Harmon |
Freedom HS |
6-1 |
230 |
|
OL |
Korey Mariboho |
Saddleback College |
6-5 |
290 |
|
OL |
Jaime Navarro |
Great Oak HS |
6-3 |
275 |
|
CB |
Jalen Nelson |
Southwestern College |
6-2 |
178 |
|
WR |
Leki Nunn |
Serra |
5-10 |
175 |
|
OL |
Tyler Ostrom |
St. Bonaventure HS |
6-3 |
280 |
|
OL |
Anthony Pardue |
Murrieta Valley HS |
6-4 |
300 |
|
DL |
Dimitri Sakalia |
Menlo-Atherton HS |
6-3 |
230 |
|
CB |
Nehemiah Shelton |
Long Beach City College |
6-1 |
160 |
|
DL |
Demanuel Tulauati |
Madison HS |
6-1 |
265 |