More commits for UW football

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 The number is up to eight.

Eight verbal commitments for the Wyoming football team since late last weekend. The latest two are linebacker Siaosi Hala’api’api (6-2, 220) from Kaimuki High in Honolulu, Hawaii and athlete Adrian McDonald (5-10, 160) from Eisenhower High in Lawton, Okla.

The commitment from Hala’api’api seems to have new defensive coordinator Chris Tormey’s mark. Tormey said when he was hired back in late December he had recruiting ties in Hawaii going back to when he coached at the University of Hawaii and Washington State — his previous two stops before coming to UW.

Hala’api’api also is UW’s first linebacker to commit to this class.

McDonald played quarterback in high school, and returned from a sprained MCL in his knee in about two weeks as a junior to play in a playoff game. One recruiting website also listed him as a cornerback. I see him playing there or as a receiver with UW.

It’s always interesting to see who has recruited these kids, and which schools have offered scholarships. According to Rivals.com, McDonald also had scholarship offers from New Mexico, Louisiana Tech and North Texas. Nice to see UW beat schools comparable to them in size, resources, etc.

My count now has UW with 15 verbal commitments and three mi-year signees. It should need four to six more guys to complete this class. Eight different states and two foreign countries are represented so far in this class.

What do you all think of this class so far, at least on paper? Here is the updated list I have:

Signees

P Tim Gleeson, 6-3, 190, Melbourne, Australia

WR Eric Nzeocha, 6-1, 210, Neusitz, Germany (Ansbach)

OL Connor Rains, 6-7, 320, Shingle Springs, Calif. (American River CC)

Verbal commitments

DT Chase Appleby, 6-0, 270, Frisco, Texas (Centennial HS)

DE Justin Bernthaler, 6-3, 240, Stuttgart, Germany (Fullerton College)

OL Jacob English, 6-6, 240, Beloit, Kan. (Beloit HS)

LB Siaosi Hala’api’api, 6-2, 220, Honolulu, Hawaii (Kaimuki HS)

DL Sam Hardy, 6-3, 270, West Hills, Calif. (Chaminade HS)

OL Nathan Leddige, 6-6, 285, Beaverton, Ore. (Southridge HS)

DT Uso Olive, 6-1, 293, Federal Way, Wash. (Federal Way HS)

CB Jayshawn Jordan, 5-10, 170, Seattle (O’Dea HS)

OL Walker Madden, 6-9, 270, Yucca Valley, Calif. (College of the Desert)

RB D.J. May, 5-11, 190, Federal Way Wash. (Federal Way HS)

ATH Adrian McDonald, 5-10, 160, Lawton, Okla. (Eisenhower HS)

OL Chase Roullier, 6-4, 290, Burnsville, Minn. (Burnsville HS)

WR Trent Sewell, 6-2, 205, Bothell, Wash. (Bothell HS)

RB/DB Shawn Wick, 5-11, 190, Ventura, Calif. (St. Bonaventure HS)

RB Evan Williams, 6-0, 190, Minneapolis, Minn. (Iowa Western CC)

  • Ron

    What’s the story on Evan Williams and walker madden? Thought they would have been mid year transfers. Any thoughts on us going for additional jucos? Will we sign 25?

    • rgagliardi

      I thought Williams would sign at mid-year but must have some academic issues. Don’t think UW will go after many more JC guys, if any. Been told they will sign around 22 to 24 in this class.

      RG

  • R Mills

    Interesting to hear this morning that CSU QB Pete Thomas is not enrolled in school and plans to transfer. A handful of others have left the program for a variety of reasons.

    There you go. UW is certainly not the only program to have people leave before graduating.

  • Val

    We have lots of scholarships open to take some chances, but Gleeson the punter from Australia was a waste. Just looking at his recurit video you can tell he has never played a single game of American Football. I only believe in game film, not practice videos. We need some first team all-state credentials. What will his bio state????

    • joseph

      @ Val, about first team all state credentials: Uso Olive was named to the Washington State HS All-State first team; also had an offered from Arizona State, by coach Erickson before he gotten by the ASU.

  • MJS

    Like what I see so far, interesting to see the different areas being recruited from. How come we have no Colorado commitments? That is the top state to recruit from. Need to bring in a couple more quarter backs. Hope Wyoming gives Jordan Roberts a scholarship, need to give a player from Wyoming a scholarship. Looks like Texas not being recruited much.

    • rgagliardi

      I know they are recruiting Colorado hard. Just not getting the commitments from there yet. Will be interesting to see how many they get.

      RG

      • GoWyo94

        I heard they are not offering Jordan Roberts a scholarship. They want him to walk on. It’s sad that a Wyoming kid with his stats and skills can’t get a scholarship to UW.

        • brad

          It would be nice if Roberts becomes a poke, but it just comes down to recruiting needs. We have 3 RB’s committed, with two game proven guys on the roster, a potential all league back in sutton, as well as a couple other unknown commodities. Giving a scholly to Roberts would be a risk (no other FBS offers on the table), and with more defined needs at LB, and building depth at safety/on the lines, an offer might not be plausible…

          • WyoGirl

            It is pretty sad that this roster doesn’t include anybody from Wyo. If you look at other football rosters, half of their kids are in state.

          • rgagliardi

            Wyoming isn’t one of those states. Not a place for a lot of FBS talent based on numbers, length of season, etc.

            RG