Holding true to an original plan to build a winning football program at the University of the Incarnate Word Coach Mike Santiago today announced the 17 names of the 2010 UIW signing class.
"Our original plan," Santiago said, " was to make sure we had scholarships available for the fourth year. This class is all about quality. The first two years we were about quantity and quality. We have been able to address our needs at every position."
The Cardinals have signed a player at each position as planned with just a couple of exceptions. "We have more than one linebacker coming in because we found more than one quality player. And, we hit it big on defensive linemen which will allow us to make some moves from our 2009 team to bolster our offensive line."
Of the 17 UIW signees five are either from San Antonio or the immediate San Antonio area. The overall group will grow by one as Santiago indicated a running back likely will sign within two weeks.
"I am pleased with this group," Santiago said. "It isn't large because we didn't have room for quantity. This is a good class with our use of the available scholarships."
Santiago also talked about the reception UIW coaches received on their high school visits. "We got a different reception because we are for real, we have played a season. Before we had to explain who we were and what we were doing. This time we skipped that step and talked about Incarnate Word."
The Cardinals played the 2009 season as an NCAA Division II independent. With a roster composed of 75 per cent true freshmen or redshirt freshmen UIW finished at a remarkable 5-5. For the 2010 season Incarnate Word will move to the Lone Star Conference for a full slate of games.
NAME POS HT WT HOMETOWN
(SCHOOL)
Juan Asencio LB 5-11 210 Pflugerville
(Hendrickson)
Matt Bass LB 5-11 225 Alvin
(Alvin)
Brett Bippert FB 6-2 215 Castroville
(Medina Valley)
Jeremy Jamal Carson DL 6-0 250 Garland
(South)
Chase Curry DE 6-2 220 Robstown
(Calallen)
Chet Dillenbeck OL 6-4 290 Schulenburg
(Schulenburg)
Devin Haywood DB 5-10 170 San Antonio
(Roosevelt)
Glenn Hill S 6-1 185 San Antonio
(Churchill)
Dominique Johnson OL 6-2 265 Mart
(Mart)
Devin Judkins TE 6-4 220 Somerset
(Somerset)
Evan Morris DB 5-10 165 Dallas
(Bishop Lynch)
Evan Newland DL 6-1 255 Houston
(Cy Springs)
Stanleigh Sullivan WR 5-11 175 Beaumont
(Ozen)
Jordan Spice LB 5-9 210 Converse
(Judson)
Michael Tate DL 5-11 290 Houston
(Alief Elsik)
Manuel Tijerina OL 6-2 290 Flower Mound
(Flower Mound;
TrinityValleyJC)
Andre Timmes WR 6-3 190 Austin
(Hyde Park
Baptist)