Feb. 1, 2006

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - A total of 14 football players, 13 from the high school ranks and one community college transfer, have signed national letters of intent to play at Cal Poly. The announcement was made Wednesday by Mustang football coach Rich Ellerson and Cal Poly director of athletics Alison Cone.

The Regular Signing Period opened Wednesday and ends April 1.

Cal Poly finished 9-4 and ranked No. 6 nationally last fall, capturing its second straight Great West Football Conference championship and qualifying for the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs for the first time, reaching the quarterfinal round after a 35-21 first-round victory over Montana.

The 14 new recruits (alphabetically):

Mike Anderson, QB, 6-2, 180, Etiwanda, CA (Los Osos HS) Anderson passed for 2,001 yards and 16 touchdowns, completing 55 percent of his passes as a senior under head coach Tom Martinez at Los Osos High School in Rancho Cucamonga. He also rushed for 424 yards and four touchdowns as the Grizzlies finished 9-3 overall and tied for first place in the Baseline League with a 4-1 mark. Anderson earned first-team All-Baseline League and All-CIF-Southern Section honors and was second-team All-Inland Valley. As a junior, Anderson rushed for 209 yards and four scores while passing for 1,376 yards and 17 touchdowns, earning first-team All-Baseline League honors.

Bobby Best, DE, 6-3, 245, Gilroy, CA (Gilroy HS) A two-time All-CIF-Central Coast Section first-team selection, Best notched 71 tackles in his senior season under Darren Yafai at Gilroy High School. Among his tackles were 11 sacks, including a school-record five sacks against Salinas last Nov. 4. He is a three-time All-Tri-County Athletic League selection and was named TCAL Offensive Lineman of the Year as well as team MVP in 2005. Best also competes in the shot put and discus, twice earning MVP honors on his school¹s track and field team.

James Chen, OL/DL, 6-2, 240, Irvine, CA (Northwood HS) Chen recorded 55 tackles, including 7.5 sacks, as a senior under head coach Rick Curtis at Northwood High School in Irvine, helping the Timberwolves to a 12-2 record, a second-place finish in the Pacific Coast League and the final round of the CIF-Southern Section playoffs. Chen twice earned All-Pacific Coast League honors and was named to the All-CIF-Southern Section and All-Irvine City teams last fall. He earned the Craig Huff Memorial Award and was the team¹s most valuable offensive lineman.

Scottie Cordier, QB/DB, 5-9, 170, Oakland, CA (San Leandro HS) Cordier accounted for 30 touchdowns as a senior quarterback under head coach Brad Bowers at San Leandro High School. The Pirates finished 12-1 in 2005, winning the Hayward Area Athletic League title with an 8-0 mark, and reached the CIF-North Coast Section Class 3A championship game, falling to De La Salle 14-0 on Dec. 3 at McAfee Coliseum. Cordier rushed for 642 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 7.8 yards a carry, and completed 111 of 183 passes (61 percent) for 1,592 yards and 22 scores. He also was a defensive back for the Pirates, notching 49 tackles and three interceptions. Cordier also forced two fumbles and blocked a punt. He was named co-offensive player of the year in the Hayward Area Athletic League and was an all-league quarterback and safety. Other honors include first-team All-NorCal as a multipurpose player, High School Sports Focus North Coast Section offensive player of the year, Cal-Hi Sports player of the year, second-team all-state multipurpose player, All-Metro player of the year and San Francisco Chronicle top-20 player. As a junior, Cordier rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns while completing 48 of 99 passes for 759 yards and six scores. He also notched 84 tackles and four interceptions on defense.

Brock Daniels, OL, 6-2, 275, Napa, CA (Vintage HS/Santa Rosa JC) The lone community college signee so far, Daniels started all 11 games under head coach Keith Simons at Santa Rosa Junior College last fall on the offensive line, helping the Bear Cubs to an 8-3 record and the Dairy Bowl championship. Santa Rosa¹s offense was ranked No. 1 in the state in total offense, passing yards and touchdowns scored. The offensive front gave up just five sacks despite over 500 pass attempts. Daniels can bench 385 pounds, squat 600 and deadlift 575. At Vintage High School in Napa, Daniels twice earned All-Napa County honors and was All-Monticello Empire League as a senior. He earned the team's best offensive lineman award in 2003 and twice earned the team captain award.

Jono Grayson, RB, 5-7, 170, Marin, CA (Marin Catholic HS) Grayson, a cousin of former Mustang standout wide receiver/return specialist Darrell Jones, rushed for 2,180 yards and 28 touchdowns as a senior under head coach Ken Peralta at Marin Catholic High in Kentfield. He also caught passes for 315 yards and three scores and intercepted a pair of passes, helping the Wildcats to a 10-3 record, a perfect 8-0 Marin County Athletic League mark and a runner-up finish in the CIF-North Coast Section Class 2-A playoffs. Grayson was named MCAL player of the year, MCAL back of the year, North Bay player of the year and earned first-team All-MCAL as both a running back and defensive back and second-team all-state as a cornerback. In 2004 the Wildcats were 11-2, 7-1 in the MCAL and were runners-up in the NCS playoffs. Grayson was a first-team All-MCAL all-purpose player and second-team All-Metro as a wide receiver. San Jose State, Idaho State, Cornell and Portland State also were interested in Grayson.

Phil Johnston, WR/FS, 6-1, 185, Carmel, CA (Carmel HS) A son of former Cal Poly quarterback Craig Johnston, Phil was a wide receiver and free safety under his dad at Carmel High, helping the Padres to an 8-3 record, a second-place Mission Trail Athletic League finish and a spot in the CIF-Central Coast Section playoffs. In three varsity seasons, Johnston caught 135 passes for 2,075 yards and 21 touchdowns, all Monterey County records, but he could be a rover in Cal Poly¹s double-eagle flex defense. Last fall Johnston intercepted three passes and notched 55 solo tackles and five sacks. As a junior he recorded 71 solo tackles and six sacks. Johnston, whose older brother Pat is a backup quarterback at Cal Poly, is a three-time first-team All-Mission Trails Athletic League wide receiver and twice earned all-county honors as well. He also is a two-time all-league defensive back, two-time honorable mention All-CIF-Central Coast Section selection, two-time preseason All-Central Coast Team and two-time All-San Jose Mercury News. UC Davis also offered Johnston a scholarship.

Hal Kelley, OL, 6-1, 260, Oceanside, CA (Vista HS) Kelley was a center under head coach Dan Williams at Vista High, helping the Panthers to a 9-3-1 record and second-place finish in the Avocado League. Vista also reached the semifinal round of the CIF-San Diego Section playoffs. Kelley also started as a sophomore and junior, named to the All-Avocado League first team in 2004 when the Panthers won the section title. As a senior, Kelley was a team captain and earned first-team All-Avocado League, All-North San Diego County All-San Diego Union Tribune and All-CIF-San Diego Section honors on the offensive line. He was credited with more than 100 pancake blocks. Williams has said that Kelley is "the best offensive lineman in San Diego County" and one of the best offensive linemen in school history. Kelley was born in Costa Rica and lived in Madrid, Spain, until 1999 when his family moved to Oceanside. His parents are missionaries and Kelley was active in soccer and basketball in Spain.

Kyle Maddux, LB/DE, 6-1, 210, Camarillo, CA (St. Bonaventure HS) Maddux was a standout defensive end under Jon Mack at St. Bonaventure High in Ventura, helping the Seraphs to a perfect 14-0 record, 5-0 mark in the Channel League and a CIF-Southern Section Division IV championship, their sixth in seven years. Maddux recorded 89 tackles, including 11.5 sacks, as a senior along with two interceptions, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries (one for a touchdown), two pass breakups, a blocked extra point and a blocked punt. He was a three-year varsity starter, earned All-Channel League honors three times, all-CIF-Southern Section honors twice and all-state honors last fall. The Seraphs also won CIF titles in 2002 and 2004 and were runners-up in 2003. Maddux, who plans to major in architectural engineering, was named lineman of the Channel League last fall.

William Mitchell, DL, 6-1, 280, San Francisco, CA (Berkeley HS) Mitchell recorded 13 sacks among his 31 tackles for lost yardage as a senior under head coach Matt Bissell at Berkeley High School. He also caused four fumbles, recovered three and had 74 total tackles, including 21 solo stops, helping the Yellowjackets to a 6-4 record and a second-place finish in the Alameda Contra Costa League with a 5-2 mark. Mitchell earned first-team All-ACCL honors as an offensive lineman in both 2004 and 2005 and on the defensive front in 2005. He was second-team All-Metro as a defensive lineman last fall and also was first-team All-East Bay Region as an offensive lineman in 2005.

Martin Mohamed, RB/DB, 6-1, 210, Brawley, CA (Brawley Union HS) Mohamed rushed for 873 yards on offense, notched 66 tackles on defense and was a return specialist as well for head coach John Bishop at Brawley Union High. Mohamed averaged 8.6 yards per carry, scoring 18 touchdowns, and also caught a 42-yard pass for a touchdown as the Wildcats posted a 10-2 overall record, won the Imperial Valley League title with a 4-0 mark and reached the semifinal round of the CIF-San Diego Section playoffs. On defense, Mohamed recorded 30 solo stops, three interceptions and four fumble recoveries, one for a touchdown. He averaged 26.8 yards per punt return and 19.0 yards per kickoff return. Mohamed was a three-time first-team All-Imperial Valley League selection, team captain and defensive captain in both 2004 and 2005 and won the team MVP and leadership awards last fall. He also has earned numerous academic honors -- San Diego Union Tribune All-Academic first team in both 2004 and 2005, National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame honoree in 2005 and the team¹s highest grade-point average award the last three years. Mohamed also plays third base and the outfield on Brawley Union's baseball team.

Arturo Munoz, OL/DL, 6-2, 260, Santa Ana, CA (Valley HS) Munoz anchored the offensive and defensive lines under head coach Carl Swanstrom at Valley High in Santa Ana, helping the Falcons to a second-place Orange League finish, 4-6-1 overall mark and a berth in the CIF-Southern Section playoffs. On defense, Munoz recorded 83 total tackles, including 14 for lost yardage and five sacks. He also intercepted a pass and scored one touchdown. He was named defensive player of the year in the Orange League last fall and is a three-time All-Orange League selection, also earning team MVP honors twice.

Kevin O'Flaherty, OL, 6-2, 275, Westlake Village, CA (Westlake HS) O'Flaherty earned first-team All-Marmonte League honors, first-team All-Ventura County honors, first team All-Area and was named team MVP at Westlake High School last fall. The Warriors were 3-7 in 2005, including a 2-5 mark in the Marmonte League. O'Flaherty also earned second-team all league honors as a junior when the Warriors finished 5-5 overall and 4-3 in the Marmonte League under head coach Jim Benkert.

Kava Tyrell, HB/TE, 6-3, 230, Lafayette, CA (Campolindo HS) Tyrell was an all-purpose player as a senior under head coach Kevin Macy at Campolindo High School. He was a quarterback, tight end and halfback for the Cougars, who were 4-6 overall in 2005, finishing with a 4-5 mark in the Diablo Foothill League. Tyrell rushed for 200 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 4.65 yards per carry, and caught 12 passes for 178 yards and three more scores. When taking the snap from center, he completed 57 of 144 passes for 950 yards and 11 touchdowns. Finally, he played some defense, recording one interception. Tyrell was a first-team all-league defensive back and second-team all-league utility player in 2005 and was a first-team all-league tight end in 2004.

Mustang head coach Rich Ellerson, who opens his sixth spring practice Feb. 15, is very pleased with the latest recruiting class.

"I am always knocked down by the quality of athletes we¹re able to attract and how well they reflect the mission of the university -- good people, good students and extraordinary players," said Ellerson.

"I'm really excited about what they can do for us, maybe not next year but throughout their careers," he added. "We were not recruiting to fix holes left by this year¹s graduating seniors, but trying to anticipate what we need down the road and try to fill those gaps."