UNIVERSITY CENTER - Saginaw Valley State University Head Football Coach Jim Collins has announced the signing of 33 high school student-athletes to join the football program in the fall of 2016. This year's class has a local flavor, with 26 players coming from the state of Michigan; nine of those from the Great Lakes Bay Region and near surrounding communities. Four others join the Cardinals from Illinois and two student-athletes hail from the state of Ohio. Collins spoke to this year's incoming class of future Cardinals below...   

"It is with great excitement that we announce the Football Recruiting Class of 2016 but before I do that, I want to thank all of the people involved in making it happen. First of all, I would like to thank our coaching staff for all the hard work they put into making this recruiting class possible. The many hours of evaluation and the time spent building relationships with these student-athletes and their parents is what outstanding recruiting is all about. I also want to thank the entire campus community for all the contributions they make. We receive outstanding support from all of the great people in our admissions office who go the extra mile in making sure everyone who visits understands what SVSU is all about. I also thank the many faculty members and administrators who take time out of their day to sit down and talk about the outstanding programs we offer here academically. And last, but certainly not least, I want to acknowledge the great job that our players do in welcoming the prospective student-athletes into our program.

Our goals with this recruiting class were the same as any other year; to find outstanding student-athletes who are young men of character, have the talent and work ethic to compete at a high level in the classroom and on the football field, and are passionate abour our University and the football program. In addition to that, we were specifically looking for dynamic and versatile players who can fit the personality of what we are all about. We feel very good about the men we have signed and look forward to working with them over the next 4-5 years. 

We are excited to report that these young men are true student-athletes and leaders, with approximately one-third of this recruiting class being eligible for SVSU academic scholarships and over two-thirds of this class having high school playoff experience under their belts. 

We really focused on power, speed and playmaking ability at every position and undoubtedly this is a group that fit all of our recruiting needs. We have brought in a large group of big, strong and athletic linemen on both sides of the ball, explosive offensive skill players and quarterbacks, linebackers and defensive backs who are physical, run very well and have proven cover skills. And we feel very strong about signing a kicker who is not only an accurate field goal specialist but has an explosive leg. As a staff, we are looking forward to working with all of them!"

The Cardinals will open their 2016 season on the road, as they travel to play the University of Findlay Oilers Saturday, September 3rd in a GLIAC matchup.

Number of High School Recruits by State

Michigan - 27

Illinois - 4

Ohio - 2

2016 SVSU Football Recruiting Class
Name	Pos.	Height	Weight	Hometown	High School
Jake Baldwin	QB	6-2	195	Waterford, Mich.	Waterford Mott High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal:
Camren Miller	QB	6-1	190	Evergreen Park, Ill.	Brother Rice High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Brother Rice High School in Illinois under head coach Brian Badke...was named all-area, all-conference and was the league's MVP...graduated with high honors from high school...son of Robert and Ninette Miller...majoring in mechanical engineering...born 10/30/97.
Tyler Humpert	TE / ATH	6-7	180	Vassar, Mich.	Vassar High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Vassar High School under head coach Jason Kiss...competed in football, basketball and track...son of Keith Humpert...major is currently undecided...born 10/8/97.
Noah Sargent	ATH	6-0	185	Fenton, Mich.	Powers Catholic High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Powers Catholic High School under head coach Bob Buckel...competed in football and basketball...named First Team All-SVL, All-State and Flint Journal's Dream Team Player of the Year...the honor roll student is the son of Mike and Tracy Sargent...majoring in business administration...born 7/16/97.
Marcus Edmondson	WR	6-0	170	Ypsilanti, Mich.	Ann Arbor Huron High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Ann Arbor Huron High School under head coach Waleed Samaha...competed in football, basketball and track...named 2015 All-SEC White All-Purpose Player and 2014 All-SEC White Offensive Honorable Mention...a four-year Scholar Athlete, 2014 NAACP Freedom Fund Scholar and 2015 AKA Young Men of Promise Honoree...son of Marcus and Lisa Edmondson...majoring in communication...born 1/13/98.
Chad Gailliard	WR	6-4	190	Dearborn, Mich.	Edsel Ford High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Edsel Ford High School under head coach Mark Tyler...competed in football and basketball...earned All-State Honorable Mention honors and was an all-conference selection as well...son of Brenda and Craig Gailliard...major is currently undecided...born 11/7/98.
Lamont Morrison	WR	6-1	190	Vassar, Mich.	Vassar High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Vassar High School under head coach Jason Kiss...was named all-state and all-conference and was on the school's honor roll...son of Phyllis Morrison...majoring in physical therapy...born 11/27/97.
Kadari Johnson	WR	5-10	165	Shelby Township, Mich.	Utica Eisenhower High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal:
Mike Marston	RB	6-0	192	Goodrich, Mich.	Lapeer High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal:
Alante Thomas	RB	5-10	185	Detroit, Mich.	Detroit Renaissance High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal:
Nate Moore	RB	5-10	170	Saginaw, Mich.	Arthur Hill High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Arthur Hill High School under head coach Fred Townsend...earned Honorable Mention All State, Saginaw Dream Team, All Valley First Team and Rushing Leader...major is undecided...son of Andrea Collins and Nathaniel Moore...born 6/5/97.
Jelani Edmond	OL	6-6	281	Chicago, Ill.	Brother Rice High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal:
Tom Genette	OL	6-4	310	Macomb, Mich.	Dakota High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Dakota High School under head coach Mike Giannone...named All-Michigan Honorable Mention...son of Bridget and Matthew Genette...majoring in Physical Therapy / Exercise Science...born 2/21/98.
Tommy Liesveld	OL	6-6	270	Bloomfield Hills, Mich.	Birmingham Brother Rice High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Birmingham Brother Rice High School under head coach Dave Sofran...son of Fred and Katie Liesveld...majoring in business...born 10/14/97.
Easton Rudasil	OL	6-4	255	Lima, Ohio	Bath High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Bath High School under Coach Garland...was a three-year letterman in football and wrestling...named Second Team All WBL for football and to the WBL All Star Team in wrestling...named to the honor roll...majoring in business...son of Denise Mooney and Mark Rudasill...born 6/1/97.
Jeff Strome	OL	6-4	260	Dearborn, Mich.	Edsel Ford High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn, Michigan under head coach Mark Tyler...received all-city and all-conference honors, as well as the Schlief Award...son of Jennifer Strome...majoring in business...born 3/24/98.
Cody Witzgall	OL	6-2	265	Auburn, Mich.	Bay City Western High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Bay City Western High School under head coach Jeff Rahl...was a three-year letterman in football and four-year in wrestling...named to the First Team Saginaw Valley Conference, First Team All County Dream Team and the Golden Helmet Award...in wrestling was a two time Bay County Heavyweight Champion and with 100+ wins and pins was the most winningest heavyweight in Bay City Western's history...named to the honor roll and earned the Ambassador Award and Excellent Attendance Award...majoring in nursing...son of Amy and Gary J. Witzgall...born 8/20/98.
Drew Franklin	K	6-0	170	Sugar Grove, Ill.	Kaneland High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Kaneland High School under head coach Tom Fedderly...competed in football, soccer and track...named all-conference, 2015 Kane County Chronicle Second Team All-Area Offense, 2015 Beacon News All-Area First Team...was an Illinois track & field state qualifier in 2015...son of Holly and Andrew Franklin...majoring in business and kinesiology...born 12/28/97.
Jaylen Bradley	DE	6-2	224	Flint, Mich.	Carman-Ainsworth High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal:
David Kray	DE	6-2	240	Dryden, Mich.	Lapeer High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Lapeer High School under head coach Mike Smith...competed in football, basketball and track...earned first and second team honors at defensive end and was named first team kicker twice...he also was a state qualifier in the 100 meter dash for track...son of Rick and Nicki Kray...majoring in Kinesiology...born 1/3/97.
EJ Medvecz	DT	6-2	250	Milan, Mich.	Milan High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal:
Adam Slating	DE	6-3	240	Washington, Mich.	Rochester Adams High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal:
Tim Stevens	DT	6-3	265	Bedford, Mich.	Temperance Bedford High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Temperance Bedford High School under head coach Jeff Wood...competed in both football and wrestling...earned all-region and all-district honors during his tenure...son of Tracy and Tim Stevens...majoring in business management...born 4/29/98.
Heath Williams	DT	6-2	285	East Lansing, Mich.	East Lansing High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at East Lansing High School under head coach Bill Feraco...competed in football and track...named First Team All-State, All-Area, All-Conference and the team captain...son of Bobby Williams and Linda Sirbastian...major is currently undecided...born 4/10/98.
Zavier Barnes	LB	6-2	200	Mundelein, Ill.	Carmel Catholic High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Illinois under head coach Andy bitto...competed in football, baseball and basketball...the varsity captain was an honor roll member and was nominated for the National Student Leadership Conference...son of Annette and Ron Barnes...majoring in business...born 5/9/98.
Connor Stein	LB	6-2	210	Fenton, Mich.	Powers Catholic High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Powers Catholic High School under head coach Bob Buckel...competed in football and lacrosse...was twice named all-conference and academic all-conference two years as well...son of Jodi and Todd Stein...majoring on pre-law...born 7/19/97.
Donnell Alexander	DB	6-0	175	Detroit, Mich.	Cass Tech High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal:
Aaron Berry	DB	6-1	200	Cleveland, Ohio	Euclid High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Euclid High School under head coach Jeff Rotsky...was a three-year letterman in football...participated in football, basketball and track...named MVP and Captain of his team and All District...named to the merit roll...majoring in marketing...son of Reta and Shawn Berry...born 8/25/97.
Kone Bowman	DB	5-8	165	Detroit, Mich.	Detroit Country Day High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal:
Reggie Irby	DB	5-10	180	Warren, Mich.	De La Salle High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Warren De La Salle High School under head coach Paul Verska...competed in both football and track...the honors student was named All-Catholic League in 2015 and the team claimed the 2014 State Championship...son of Arurivia Hines and Reginald Irby Sr....majoring in accounting...born 11/28/97.
Joe Judge	DB	6-0	170	Ypsilanti, Mich.	Lincoln High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Lincoln High School under Coach Westfall...was a two-year letterman in football...participated in track as well...named to the All Conference Honorable Mention Team...major is undecided...son of Lori Jones-Judge and Joseph Judge Jr...born 8/19/98.
Devin Taylor	DB	5-11	160	Lansing, Mich.	J.W. Sexton High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal:
Jared Stephens	DB	6-0	181	Canton, Mich.	Canton High School
Prior to SVSU/Personal: Prepped at Canton High School under head coach Tim Baechler...was named First Team All-State, All-Conference, All-Grid and the team's MVP...son of LaVonne Stephens...major is currently undecided...born 7/221/98.