2008 UTEP Football Recruiting Class
Player
Eloy Atkinson
Darius Austin
Logan Barrett
Deryck Beveridge
Antwon Blake
Tim Curry
DeShawn Grayson
Ramonte Harris
Jamie Irving
Korey Jarka
Wiston Jeune*
Aaron King*
Josh LaBum
Negale Miller
Vince Misa-Amituanai
Darrin Moore
Bernard Obi
Tory Robinson*
Nick Sampson
Max Savedra
Josh Scott
Austin Shaffer
Corey Trisby
Clarence Ward*
Corey Wright
John Wright
Pos.
OL
WR
K
OL
DB
QB
DB
DB
LB
LB
DB
DL
TE
DB
TE
WR
DE/OLB
DL
DB
TE
DE/OLB
DL
ATH
DB
DL
DE/OLB
* Indicates junior college transfer
Ht.
6-4
5-9
6-1
6-8
5-10
6-4
6-0
5-11
6-1
6-1
6-4
6-4
6-3
5-11
6-5
6-4
6-3
6-4
6-0
6-5
6-4
6-4
6-2
6-1
6-4
6-3
Wt.
275
180
170
330
170
205
190
170
215
205
205
245
245
170
245
195
220
275
185
255
210
250
190
185
260
210
Hometown (High School)
Los Fresnos, Texas (Los Fresnos HS)
Houston, Texas (Booker T. Washington HS)
Kennedale, Texas (Kennedale HS)
Lakeside, Calif. (El Capitan HS)
Jacksonville, Fla. (Thurgood Marshall HS)
Elysian Fields, Texas (Elysian Fields HS)
Riverside, Calif. (Rancho Verde HS)
Arlington, Texas (Mansfield Summit HS)
Perris, Calif. (Citrus Hill HS)
Sugar Land, Texas (Stephen F. Austin HS)
Malden, Mass. (Malden HS/Moorpark JC)
Houston, Texas (Elsik HS/Bakersfield College)
Houston, Texas (Booker T. Washington HS)
Athens, Texas (Athens HS)
Oceanside, Calif. (Mission Hills HS)
Indianapolis, Ind. (Irving MacArthur HS)
Pearland, Texas (Pearland HS)
San Diego, Calif. (St. Miguel HS/Southwestern College)
Houston, Texas (Westfield HS)
San Diego, Calif. (Del Valle HS)
Highland, Calif. (Redlands East Valley HS)
Odessa, Texas (Permian HS)
San Diego, Calif. (Herbert Hoover HS)
La Marque, Texas (La Marque HS/Santa Rosa JC)
New Orleans, La. (Saint Augustine HS)
Riverside, Calif. (John W. North HS)
2008 UTEP Football Recruiting Class
Eloy Atkinson
OL, 6-4, 275, Los Fresnos, Texas (Los Fresnos HS)
Rated the no. 129 offensive tackle in the country by Scout.com … All-Metro Co-MVP
and District 32-5A Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior at Los Fresnos High
School … also a unanimous first team All-Valley choice in 2007, as well as second team
All-Region … second team All-District and All-Valley pick his junior year … three-year
varsity letterwinner for coach Scott Ford … saw action at right tackle and left tackle as a
sophomore, and was a full-time starter at left tackle as a junior and senior … helped Los
Fresnos High to a 31-5 record over three seasons with back-to-back area, district and bidistrict titles in 2006 and 2007 … also recruited heavily by Iowa State, Kansas and North
Texas … competed in track and field and powerlifting as a prep as well … regional
qualifier in the shot put his junior year … second team Academic All-State honoree who
is in the top 10 percent of his class academically … parents are Eloy, Sr. and Alma
Atkinson … has two brothers and one sister … full name is Eloy Atkinson, Jr. … born
1/24/90 (Brownsville, Texas).
Darius Austin
WR, 5-9, 180, Houston, Texas (Booker T. Washington HS)
Dave Campbell’s Texas Top-300 player and first team All-District 24A wide receiver as
a senior at Booker T. Washington High School … preseason All-State player entering his
senior year … first team All-District and All-Region choice as a junior … three-year
varsity letterwinner and starter for coach Joel North … played quarterback and wide
receiver during his prep career … had 340 yards receiving with three touchdowns as a
sophomore … junior totals were 733 yards receiving, 12 TDs and 21.0 yards per catch …
recorded 11 catches for 186 yards and six scores as a senior … had three kickoff returns
for touchdowns as a senior … member of a 9-1, district championship team in 2006 …
also recruited heavily by North Texas, TCU and Texas A&M … he benches 255 pounds,
squats 375 pounds and has a 37-inch vertical jump … member of the basketball team in
ninth grade, and the track and field squad all four years of high school … honor roll
student in high school … vice president of the student council all four years … also
involved with the Key Club, Health Club and YTA (Youth Teaching Assets) … parents
are Russell and Mary Austin … has two brothers and one sister … uncle, Charles Austin,
set a world record in winning the high jump at the 1966 Olympic Games … full name is
Darius Xavier Austin … nickname is “Prime Time” … born 4/25/89 (Houston, Texas).
Logan Barrett
K, 6-1, 170, Kennedale, Texas (Kennedale HS)
Earned third team All-State honors by the Texas Sportswriters and honorable mention
All-State by the Associated Press following his senior year at Kennedale High School …
also tabbed first team All-District 12-3A and All-Area after converting on 33-of-36 extra
points and 7-of-10 field goals (long of 49) in 2007 … received Kennedale High’s Special
Teams and Most Inspirational Player awards … honorable mention All-State kicker as a
junior, as well as first team All-District quarterback and second team All-Region kicker
and quarterback … finished 41-of-42 on extra points and 8-of-13 on field goals (long of
40) in 2006 … first team All-District as a sophomore when he was a perfect 43-for-43 on
extra points … four-year varsity letterwinner for coach Richard Barrett, his father …
concluded his career 130-for-135 on extra points and 22-for-35 on field goals … also
recruited heavily by Baylor, Houston, Miami (Fla.), North Texas and TCU … member of
Kennedale High’s track and field team his freshman year, earning first team All-District
recognition as a pole vaulter … listed in Who’s Who Among American High School
Students … parents are Richard and Kim Barrett … has an older brother, Bryan, who
played football at Texas State … full name is Logan Bryce Barrett … born 6/27/89 (Fort
Worth, Texas).
Deryck Beveridge
OL, 6-8, 330, Lakeside, Calif. (El Capitan HS)
Rated the no. 132 offensive tackle in the country by Scout.com … first Team All-League
and second team All-CIF offensive lineman as a senior at El Capitan High School …
chosen to Shaq’s Pig Pen as one of the top linemen in San Diego (one of nine players
selected to the team) … one of six team captains his senior year … second team AllLeague pick and team MVP as a junior … two-year varsity letterwinner for coach Ron
Burner … played left guard and right tackle as a junior, and center, left tackle and right
guard as a senior … also saw action at defensive tackle as a junior, and defensive end and
defensive tackle as a senior … posted 16 tackles as a senior and eight as a junior …
member of a 12-1 team in 2007 that was Grossmont North League Champion … also
recruited heavily by Boston College, Dartmouth, San Diego State and UNLV … pitcher
and first baseman on the El Capitan baseball team in ninth and 10th grade, chosen the
team’s Most Dedicated Player both years … involved with the sports medicine, ping
pong and fishing clubs at El Capitan High … parents are Mark and Teri Beveridge …
father is a firefighter who previously played baseball in the Anaheim Angels organization
… has one sister, Sami, who played soccer at San Diego State before transferring to San
Diego Christian College where she currently plays … full name is Deryck Alan
Beveridge … nickname is “Bear” … born 7/29/90 (San Diego, Calif.).
Antwon Blake
DB, 5-10, 170, Jacksonville, Fla. (Thurgood Marshall HS)
Rated as the No. 123 cornerback in the country by Scout.com … two-year starter for
coach Dennis Brantley at Thurgood Marshall High School in Missouri City, Texas …
garnered All-District 23-5A honors as a senior … captained a squad which posted a
record of 7-3 and claimed a second-place finish in the district … contributed 53 tackles,
four interceptions and two fumble recoveries … honorable mention All-District as a
junior after registering 48 tackles and a pair of picks … helped lead Thurgood Marshall
High to a district title and 8-4 record in 2006 … member of every special teams unit …
lists a fumble recovery for a touchdown against Kempner his junior year as his biggest
thrill in sports … three-year letterwinner in track & field, competing in the 100, 200 and
400 meter races, in addition to being a member of the 4x100 relay unit … mother is
Stephanie Blake … full name is Antwon Valentino Blake … born 8/9/90 (Jacksonville,
Fla.).
Tim Curry
QB, 6-4, 205, Elysian Fields, Texas (Elysian Fields HS)
Rated the no. 62 quarterback in the country and a three star prospect by Scout.com …
also ranked the no. 29 pro-style quarterback in the nation by Rivals.com … Dave
Campbell’s Texas Top-300 player … highly decorated recruit who earned All-State
honors by the Associated Press and the Texas Sportswriters as a senior … other senior
honors included All-District 19-2A Offensive MVP, All-East Texas, Texas 7 on 7 AllState Tournament Team and Harrison County Offensive MVP … coached by Ted Patton
at Elysian Fields High School in 2006 and 2007 … completed 95-of-183 passes for 1,594
yards and 22 touchdowns with only six interceptions as a senior … also rushed 116 times
for 404 yards in 2007, including 15 touchdowns … led Elysian Fields High to a runnerup finish in Class 2A Division II in 2007 … first team All-District 19-2A and second
team All-Region quarterback as a junior … completed 63-of-141 attempts for 1,039 yards
and seven touchdowns as a junior, while rushing 117 times for 446 yards and 10 scores
… four-year varsity letterwinner who began his prep career at Benton (La.) High School
… in addition to playing quarterback his sophomore, junior and senior years, he also
earned playing time at safety as a freshman and wide receiver as a freshman and
sophomore … threw for 349 yards (39-of-74 passing) as a sophomore, and ran for 230
yards on 17 attempts … completed 21-of-42 passes for 278 yards as a freshman, while
rushing for 289 yards on 23 carries … recruited by 36 Division I schools before deciding
to become a Miner … also a member of the baseball, basketball, golf, tennis and track
and field teams during his high school years … All-State golfer and All-District
basketball player … honor roll student who was also involved with student council and
the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) … parents are Chad and Barbara Curry …
has one brother and two sisters … his grandfather, Carter Curry, played football at
Southern Arkansas … full name is Timothey Dylan Curry …nickname is “T.C.” … born
3/12/90 (Shreveport, La.).
DeShawn Grayson
DB, 6-0, 190, Riverside, Calif. (Rancho Verde HS)
Selected to play in the Southern California Bowl … team MVP and earned first team AllLeague honors in leading Rancho Verde to a 9-3 record and a share of the Inland Valley
conference crown as a senior … garnered athlete and character awards from the league in
doing so … garnered second team All State and All-League honors as a sophomore, a
year in which he was named the team’s most outstanding player … … former running
back who switched to safety after suffering an ACL injury … the injury forced him to
miss his junior season … earned three letters while competing in track and field,
competing in the 100, 200, 4x10 relay and the long jump … also recruited heavily by
Colorado State and Washington State … member of the honor roll and selected as the
student of the month on one occasion … full name is DeShawn Lamar Grayson …
nickname is “D-Gray” … has five brothers and four sisters … born 1/11/90 (Riverside,
Calif.).
Ramonte Harris
DB, 5-11, 170, Arlington, Texas (Mansfield Summit HS)
Rated the No. 138 cornerback in the country by Scout.com … two-year letterwinner and
starter for coach Kyle Geller at Summit High School … earned All-District 4-5A honors
as a senior after registering 76 tackles and one interception … squad posted a 9-2 record
and claimed the district title … garnered honorable mention All-District accolades as a
junior … also voted the team’s defensive MVP … recorded 52 tackles and picked off
four passes to help Summit High to a record of 8-3 in 2006 … cites an interception return
for a touchdown in a playoff game against Odessa Permian as his biggest thrill in sports
… standout kickoff returner in his two years, averaging 23 yards per attempt … also
recruited heavily by Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe and Tulsa … member of the
National Honor Society … has three sisters … son of Zann and Audra Harris … full
name is Ramonte Zann Harris … nickname is “Monte” … born 7/11/90 (Fort Worth,
Texas).
Jamie Irving
LB, 6-1, 215, Perris, Calif. (Citrus Hill HS)
Listed as one of the top 150 prospects in California/Hawaii/Nevada by SuperPrep
magazine … CIF and League Defensive Player of the Year, first team All-State and AllRiverside County choice as a senior at Citrus Hill High School … selected to play in the
Southern California Bowl … totaled 70 tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery and a
safety in 2007 en route to being appointed team MVP … credited with 49 tackles and
three sacks as a junior in being named Citrus Hill’s Defensive Player of the Year … saw
action at linebacker and strong safety as a junior and senior, and running back as a junior
… offensive stats his junior year included 20 carries for 169 yards and three TDs, and
three catches for 60 yards with a pair of scores … two-year varsity letterwinner for coach
Doug Dubois … member of a 14-0, CIF title team in 2007 … also recruited heavily by
Fresno State, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah State … threw the shot put as a member of
Citrus Hill’s track and field team his junior year, taking second in the league … honor
roll student … parents are Marvin and Jessica Irving … has one brother and one sister …
his brother Marvin played football at New Mexico and Adams State College … full name
is Jamie Marques Irving … nickname is “J.I.” … born 4/14/90 (Bellflower, Calif.).
Korey Jarka
LB, 6-1, 205, Sugar Land, Texas (Stephen F. Austin HS)
Dave Campbell’s Texas Top-300 player … first-team All-District choice as a senior after
registering a team-high 126 tackles … also had a sack, an interception and three forced
fumbles … saw action at linebacker and strong safety … honorable mention All-District
in 2006 … three-year letterwinner for head coach Tom Stuart … four-year letterwinner in
track and field, qualifying at the regional level in the high jump and 4x100 meter relay …
set a school record in the high jump with a clearance of 6-6 … his biggest sports thrill
was a 60-yard interception return for his first score at the varsity level against
Willowridge High … second team Academic All-State and a member of the honor roll …
son of Kerry and Sandy Jarka … older brother Shane plays football at Oklahoma State …
his dad played football at Texas Lutheran … born 6/15/90 (Missouri City, Texas).
Wiston Jeune
DB, 6-4, 205, Malden, Mass. (Malden HS/Moorpark JC)
Will have two years of eligibility with the Miners after transferring from Moorpark
Junior College, where he played free safety for two seasons … earned second team AllConference honors as a sophomore at Moorpark … also team co-defensive player of the
year and captain in 2007 … ranked second on the team in tackles with 57 (40 solos-17
assists) last season, along with three interceptions (for 33 yards), three pass break-ups, a
forced fumble and a fumble recovery … selected Moorpark’s Comeback Player of the
Year in 2006 after undergoing thumb surgery … coached by Jim Bittner at Moorpark …
Moorpark won 19 games during Jeune’s time on the roster … also recruited heavily by
Idaho State, Louisville, Montana State, Nevada, San Diego State and Syracuse out of
junior college … three-year varsity letterwinner at Malden High School for coach
Richard Cullen … versatile player who saw action at cornerback, fullback and wide
receiver throughout his prep career, while also handling kicks and punts … All-League
honoree his senior year who was also recipient of his team’s Will to Win Award … team
captain had three interceptions as a senior for a 9-2 squad that advanced to the league title
game … chosen Malden High’s Defensive Player of the Year his junior season … fouryear member of Malden’s basketball team, earning defensive player of the year and AllStar honors as a senior … was also a part of the track and field team his junior year in
high school … came to the United States from Haiti when he was 12 years old … parents
are Amizial Jeune and Rosena Joseph … has one brother and one sister … full name is
Wiston Bobby Jeune … last name is pronounced “June” … born 1/21/87 (St. Mark,
Haiti).
Aaron King
DL, 6-4, 245, Houston, Texas (Elsik HS/Bakersfield College)
Originally committed to UTEP in the spring of 2005 before spending the last two seasons
at Bakersfield College … has two years of eligibility with the Miners … two-time AllWestern State Conference selection at Bakersfield College … All-State honoree and
honorable mention All-American by jcgridwire in 2007 … posted 29 tackles in 2007,
including eight for losses, with six sacks and an interception … first team All-District 5A
defensive player as a senior at Elsik High School in Houston … also chosen Elsik’s
defensive line MVP his senior year … began playing football in 10th grade … played
tight end as a sophomore and junior, then started his senior year at tight end before
moving to defensive end … two-year varsity letterwinner for coach Bill Barron … played
basketball his freshman year (center/power forward), and competed on the track team as a
sophomore (300 hurdles, 2x400 relay) … mother is Victoria Brown … has one brother
and two sisters … full name is Aaron Lee King … nickname is “A.K.” … born 4/9/86
(Sacramento, Calif.).
Josh LaBum
TE, 6-3, 245, Houston, Texas (Booker T. Washington HS)
First team All-District running back as a junior and senior at Booker T. Washington High
School … listed as one of the top 110 recruits in the Greater Houston area, and one of 13
running backs appointed to the list … one of 61 area players chosen to participate in the
Greater Houston All-Star Game, The Space City Classic … rushed 24 times for 134 yards
and two TDs in leading Booker T. Washington High to victory in the 2007 district title
game … senior statistics were 61 rushes for 406 yards (6.7 avg.) and four scores … also
had two receiving TDs in 2007 and three sacks as a defensive end … junior totals were
73 carries for 380 yards (5.2 avg.) and four touchdowns … played primarily tight end and
fullback during his prep career … earned first team All-District honors as a fullback his
junior season … chosen team MVP in 2006 as well … four-year varsity letterwinner for
coach Joel North … also recruited heavily by Arizona State, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa
State, Kansas and Oklahoma State … runs the 40 in 4.9 seconds and has a 30 inch
vertical … an outstanding athlete who also competed for the Booker T. Washington High
School basketball and track and field teams … rates in the top 30 percent of his class
academically … member of the National Engineering Society for Black Professionals
(NESB) … has taken an active role in his church, including serving as a youth ministry
volunteer … community volunteer for the Acres Home Youth Association (AHYA) since
2002 … parents are Jonathan LaBum and the late Feborah LaBum … has two brothers
… full name is Joshua LaBum … born 3/20/90 (Houston, Texas).
Negale Miller
DB, 5-11, 170, Athens, Texas (Athens HS)
First-team All-District wide receiver and second-team All-District cornerback as a senior
… also tabbed first-team All-Henderson County at both positions and honorable mention
All-State … compiled 40 tackles and an interception as a senior … first-team All-District
and All-Henderson County pick his junior season … posted 63 tackles and picked off
three passes in 2006 … reeled in 43 catches for 743 yards and 10 touchdowns … had a
103-yard fumble return for a touchdown as a senior, after a 100-yard fumble return for a
score as a junior … also recruited heavily by Houston, Iowa State, Stephen F. Austin and
Tulsa … four-year letterwinner in track, taking second place at district in the long jump
… qualified for regionals in the long jump and the 800 meter relay … member of the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) … mother is LaKesha Miller … has one brother
… full name is Robert Negale Miller … nickname is “Noo-Noo” … born 10/13/89
(Tyler, Texas).
Vince Misa-Amituanai
TE, 6-5, 245, Oceanside, Calif. (Mission Hills HS)
All-League defensive end as a senior at Mission Hills High School … also team captain
and recipient of the Iron Man Award … played defensive end, outside linebacker and
tight end during a two-year varsity career for coach Chris Hauser … caught 14 passes for
225 yards and four touchdowns his senior year, while tallying six sacks on defense …
named Mission Hills High School’s Outstanding Junior in 2006 … helped Mission Hills
to 19 wins in two seasons, including a league championship and CIF runner-up finish his
senior year … also recruited heavily by Arizona State, Boise State, San Diego State and
Washington … played baseball and basketball his freshman and sophomore years before
concentrating on football … member of the student council as a prep … parents are
Joseph Misa-Amituanai and Maribel Ortiz … has two brothers and one sister … cousin,
Pisa Tinoisamoa, plays for the St. Louis Rams … full name is Vince Viane MisaAmituanai … last name is pronounced Amuh-too-un-ah-mee … nickname is “Tunes” …
born 7/17/90 (Oceanside, Calif.).
Darrin Moore
WR, 6-4, 195, Indianapolis, Ind. (Irving MacArthur HS)
First Team All-District 7-5A wideout as a senior at MacArthur High School in Irving,
Texas … chosen MacArthur’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2007 when he had 59
catches for 1,012 yards and seven touchdowns … his best game was a 10-catch, 221-yard
performance against North Mesquite High School … caught two TD passes versus North
Mesquite High and four against Irving High … two-year varsity letterwinner for coach
Brian Basil, seeing action his sophomore and senior year … helped MacArthur High to a
9-2 mark his senior season … one of 12 players named to the team’s leadership council
… played basketball in 10th grade … mother is Stacey Sturtevant … has one brother and
one sister … full name is Darrin Scott Moore … nickname is “D-Mo” … born 1/20/90
(Indianapolis, Ind.).
Bernard Obi
DE/OLB, 6-3, 220, Pearland, Texas (Pearland HS)
Rated the no. 91 defensive end in the country by Scout.com … first team All-District 245A and first team All-Brazoria County defensive end as a senior at Pearland High School
… chosen team defensive MVP in 2007 after recording 92 tackles, 11 sacks, three forced
fumbles and two fumble recoveries … two-year varsity letterwinner for coach Tony
Heath, playing primarily defensive end and some defensive tackle … led Pearland High
to 22 wins over two years, including the state semifinals his junior season and a district
title his senior campaign … also recruited heavily by Arkansas, Houston, TCU and Texas
… will throw the shot put this spring in his first year as a member of Pearland High’s
track and field squad … parents are Dr. Bernard Obi and Ify Obi … has one brother and
two sisters … full name is Bernard Emeka Obi, Jr. … nickname is “Obi” … born 3/12/90
(Midland, Mich.).
Tory Robinson
DL, 6-4, 275, San Diego, Calif. (Mt. Miguel HS/Southwestern College/)
Has two years of eligibility with the Miners … earned first team All-Foothill Conference
honors at Southwestern College (Calif.) last season … voted the league’s defensive
lineman of the year … posted a team-high seven sacks in 2007 along with 40 tackles,
including six for losses … durable, high-energy player who was a two-year starter and
missed only one game … team finished 3-6, but emerged victorious in three of its final
four games … included was a victory of previously unbeaten Antelope Valley, in which
Robinson registered a pair of sacks to key the upset … two-year letterwinner at Mt.
Miguel High School in San Diego … garnered second-team All-League honors as a
senior … also recruited heavily by UNLV ... son of Mark and Sanitra Robinson … father
is a navy chef and mother is a makeup artist … has two brothers and one sister … full
name is Torey Tranaine Robinson … born 11/26/87 (Amarillo, Texas).
Nick Sampson
DB, 6-0, 185, Houston, Texas (Westfield HS)
Three-year letterwinner for coach Corby Meekins at Westfield HS … picked up firstteam All-District 16-5A honors as a senior … posted 60 tackles and a team-high five
interceptions … returned three of the picks for touchdowns … one of those returns was a
102-yard scamper … earned a pair of district player of the week honors … his efforts
helped the squad forge a 10-3 record and lay claim to the regional championship …
picked up second team All-District accolades as a junior after recording 52 stops … team
finished with a record of 13-1 and was runner-up at the state tournament … a standout
performer in track and field as well, competing in the 100 and 200 meters, 4x100 and
4x200 meter relays … earned four letters in track and has competed in the Junior
Olympics since the age of nine … named an elite runner by USA Track and Field …
compiled more than 100 medals in his track career … son of Leon and Tami Sampson …
has one brother … full name is Nick Deleon Sampson … born 10/30/89 (Houston,
Texas).
Max Savedra
TE, 6-5, 255, San Diego, Calif. (Del Valle HS)
Dave Campbell’s Texas Top-300 player as a senior at Del Valle High School in El Paso
… Rated the no. 92 tight end in the country by Scout.com … listed as one of the top tight
ends in Texas by recruiting analyst Max Emfinger … first Team All-District 2-4A tight
end as a junior and senior … second team All-City pick as a senior, and honorable
mention All-City as a junior … second team All-District selection as a sophomore …
used primarily as a blocking tight end during his prep career, but still totaled 45 catches
for 500 yards and 11 touchdowns … had 23 receptions for 278 yards and four scores as a
senior, along with 47 pancake blocks … graded out at 87 percent as a blocker for his
career … three-year varsity letterwinner for coach Jesse Perales, seeing action at tight end
and defensive end … helped Del Valle High to a 9-3 record as a senior, including district
and bi-district titles … participated in the El Paso Senior All-Star Game … also recruited
heavily by Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, TCU, Texas A&M and Texas Tech …
played basketball for three years and was a member of Del Valle’s track and field team
for all four years, throwing the discus and shot put … involved with the Link Crew for
three years as a prep, an organization devoted to helping freshmen adjust to high school
… he wears a size 16 shoe and runs the 40 in 4.9 seconds … parents are Maximino, Sr.
and Eileen Savedra … has one brother and one sister … full name is Maximino Savedra,
Jr. … last name is pronounced Suh-vay-druh … born 3/28/90 (San Diego, Calif.).
Josh Scott
DE/OLB, 6-4, 210, Highland, Calif. (Redlands East Valley HS)
Garnered All-League, All-County and all CIF honors as a senior … his efforts helped
Redlands East Valley High post a record of 12-1 and advance to the semifinals of the
state tournament … selected to play in the Southern California Bowl … three-year
letterwinner for coach Kurt Bruich, starting every game during his junior and senior
seasons … cites a two-interception game, including one for a TD, against Norco High in
the quarterfinals of the state tournament as his biggest thrill in sports … also recruited
heavily by Boise State, Colorado State and Fresno State …four-year letterwinner in track
and field, completing in the shot put, discus, high jump, hurdles and 100 meters … son of
Lauren and Ruth Scott … has a brother and a sister … full name is Josh Scott …
nickname is “The Gooch” … born 6/19/90 (San Bernadino, Calif.).
Austin Shaffer
DL, 6-4, 250, Odessa, Texas (Permian HS)
Dave Campbell’s Texas Top-300 player and first-team All-District 3-5A as a senior at
Permian High School … coached by Darren Allman at Permian … captained a team that
went 12-1 and secured the school’s first district championship since 1995 … voted
district MVP and tabbed to the 5-A dream team … selected a third-team All-State
defensive lineman by Scout.com … as a junior, was selected first team All-District …
chosen Permian’s best defensive lineman … squad compiled a 9-4 record during his
junior season and was area champs … saw some action at tight end … also recruited
heavily by Iowa State and Rice … a regional qualifier for power lifting … member of the
honor roll and a Texas scholar … full name is Austin Corey Shaffer … son of Richard
and Kathleen Shaffer … born 11/27/89 (Fort Riley, Kan.).
Corey Trisby
Athlete, 6-2, 190, San Diego, Calif. (Herbert Hoover HS)
First team All-League offensive selection and second team All-CIF defensive pick as a
senior at Herbert Hoover High School … also chosen team MVP in 2007 while doubling
as a quarterback and safety … completed 87-of-174 passes for 1,187 yards and 15
touchdowns as a senior, while rushing 68 times for 428 yards and seven scores … also
made 12 catches for 197 yards and four TDs in 2007, and had an 88-yard punt return for
a score as well … first team All-League and second team All-CIF offensive player as a
junior, when he threw for 2,211 yards (146-for-285 passing) and 20 TDs and ran for 375
yards on 105 attempts with seven TDs … also logged five receptions for 88 yards and
two touchdowns as a junior … had nine career interceptions on defense, including one for
a TD … two-year varsity letterwinner for coach Mike Wright … helped Herbert Hoover
High to a 10-2 record and league co-championship as a junior … also recruited heavily
by Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington and UCLA …
played basketball for three years as a prep, earning first team All-League mention as a
junior … parents and Richard and September Trisby … has four brothers … full name is
Corey Mark Mae Trisby … nickname is “Tris the Whiz” … born 6/6/89 (San Diego,
Calif.).
Clarence Ward
DB, 6-1, 185, La Marque, Texas (La Marque HS/Santa Rosa JC)
Will have two years of eligibility at UTEP … spent the 2007 season at Santa Rosa Junior
College, where he earned All Conference honors and was the No. 1 kick returner in the
state of California … registered 378 yards on 12 returns (31.5 avg.), including two TDs
… also had 48 tackles, three interceptions, three blocked field goals, three forced fumbles
and a fumble recovery in 2007 … also recruited heavily by Marshall, SMU and
Washington State at Santa Rosa JC … originally signed with Florida State out of high
school, along with current Miner Fred Rouse … transferred to Texas Tech after suffering
an injury, and sat out 2006 as a redshirt before opting to continue his career at Santa Rosa
JC … rated the No. 6 safety in the country and a four-star recruit by Rivals.com out of
Pensacola [Fla.] High School … was the 12th-best player in the state of Florida according
to Rivals.com … participated in the CaliFlorida Bowl and was the defensive MVP for
Team Florida … earned three high school varsity letters between Pensacola High and La
Marque [Texas] High … garnered first-team All-State accolades as a junior on a state
championship team … cites his biggest thrill in sports as tipping the ball out of the end
zone to clinch the crown … capped off his prep career with stellar senior season,
recording 61 tackles, three interceptions and a touchdown on a kickoff return … his
mom, Debra, works in the postal service … has two sisters and two sons … full name is
Clarence Albert Ward … born 2/8/87 (Frankfurt, Germany).
Corey Wright
DL, 6-4, 260, New Orleans, La. (Saint Augustine HS)
Rated the No. 75 defensive tackle in the nation by Scout.com … three-year letterwinner
between Saint Augustine High School and Jersey Village High School in Houston, after
being displaced from his home due to Hurricane Katrina … was tabbed first team AllState and All-District as a senior, recording 35 tackles and 17 sacks … member of the
science club … also competed in track and field and basketball … parents are Irving and
Tamarea Wright … has two brothers and one sister … nickname is “Big Boss” due to the
booming hits he delivers on the field … born 7/1/89 (New Orleans, La.).
John Wright
DE/OLB, 6-3, 210, Riverside, Calif. (John W. North HS)
First Team All-Ivy League and All-County honoree as a senior at John W. North High
School … junior honors included first team All-League and All-County and Ivy League
Defensive MVP … three-year varsity letterwinner for coach Lou Randall … played wide
receiver all three years … saw action at tight end and defensive end as a junior and
senior, while adding punting to his list of duties as a senior … posted 80 tackles, 10 sacks
and a fumble recovery as a senior, while contributing 18 receptions for 155 yards and five
TDs on offense … punted five times for 202 yards (40.4 avg.) in 2007 as well … junior
statistics were 59 tackles, 14 sacks and five fumble recoveries on defense, and five
catches for 82 yards and a pair of scores on offense … had six catches for 88 yards and a
touchdown his sophomore campaign … led John W. North High School to consecutive
Ivy League championships from 2006-07 with a composite 27-1 record … North High
was Southern Division champion in ’06 and CIF champion in ’07 … also recruited
heavily by Idaho State, Portland State, San Diego State and Utah State … three-year
member of North High’s basketball team, playing power forward … made the honor roll
as a senior … member of BSU (Black Student Union) … father is Everett Wright and
stepmother is Edna Wright … has two brothers and two sisters … full name is John King
Wright … born 9/22/89 (Riverside, Calif.).