Northern Colorado recruiting class.

[ncbears]

Per uncbears.com

Matthew Baca, 6-2, 210, QB, Chino Hills, Calif. (Ayala)

Plans on graduating from Ayala High School in May, 2008... Three-year letterwinner in football... 2,400 yards passing in senior year... Passed for 404 yards in a single game during senior year... Sierra League and team MVP... Averaged 218 yards per game... Attends same high school as quarterback transfer Bryan Waggener.

Personal: Born January 30, 1990 in Anaheim, California... Son of Chris and Lori... Plans on majoring in journalism and history... Has a younger sister Monique.

Related (Cousins) to Detroit Pistons superstar Tayshaun Prince.


Jonathan Burnley, 6-0, 190, RB, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Palmer)

Expected to graduate from Palmer High School in May, 2008... Competed in football, basketball and track & field in high school... Voted to 2007 All-Colorado team as a senior... First-team all-conference winner as a senior... A Colorado Springs All-Gazette selection as a senior... Rushed for over 1,500 yards as a senior and totaled 17 touchdowns.

Personal: Born January 6, 1990 in Colorado Springs... Son of Trevor... Plans on majoring in pre-engineering.


Nicolas Candler, 6-5, 265, OL, Boulder, Colo. (HS)

Exptected to graduate from Boulder High in May, 2008... Two-time letterwinner in football... Played both offensive tackle and defensive tackle for Boulder... Second-team all-conference winner... Second-team all-region winner... Gave up zero sacks as a senior... Member of honor roll his junior and senior year... Led Boulder High School to state playoffs his last two seasons.

Personal: Born December 6, 1989 in Boulder... Son of Rob and Jeanne... Plans on majoring in business... Has an older brother Billy.


Eric Coleman, 5-11, 175, DB, Denver, Colo. (Montbello)

Expected to graduate from Montbello High School in May, 2008... Lettered in football, basketball, track and baseball... Team captain sophomore and senior year... Averaged 10 tackles per game... Honor roll for two years.

Personal: Born January 24, 1990 in Denver... Son of Paul and Adrianne.


Andrew Downing, 5-10, 235, FB, Greeley, Colo. (Greeley West)

Expected graduation from Greeley West High School in May, 2008... Four-year letterwinner in football at both Greeley West and Seward High (Nebraska)... Three-year letterwinner in baseball and also earned one letter in soccer... Named to Rocky Mountain News All-Class 4A team in 2007... Played both fullback and defensive end for the Spartans... Recorded 32 career sacks... Averaged 5.2 yards per carry and 15.8 per reception.

Personal: Born February 24, 1990 in Laramie, Wyoming... Son of Scott and Karen... Father is current Bears head football coach... Plans on majoring in education... Has an older brother Matthew and younger brother Zachary.


Cameron Friend, 6-0, 205, LB, Denver, Colo. (J.K. Mullen)

Expected to graduate from JK Mullen High School in May, 2008... Four-year letterwinner in both football and basketball and earned one letter in track & field... Recorded 130 tackles, three career sacks and one fumble recovery.

Personal: Born on July 18, 1990 in Denver... Son of Butch and Regina... Majoring in Business.


Marcel Gibbons, 5-11, 195, ATH, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Mesa Ridge)

Expected to graduate from Mesa Ridge High School in May, 2008... Lettered in football, basketball and track & field... First-team all-conference winner senior year as both a quarterback and safety... Had 32 carries for 467 yards as well as 33 tackles as a senior... 2006 State triple jump champion... First-team all-conference triple jumper... Holds the school record in the triple jump at 46-11.75 and has a personal best long jump of 22-4.

Personal: Born December 30, 1989 in Colorado Springs... Son of Willie and Patricia... Plans on majoring in hotel management... Has two younger sisters Olivia and Natalie.


Cody Gilmore, 6-2, 265, DT, Aurora, Colo. (Grandview)

Expected to graduate from Grandview High School in May, 2008... Three-time letterwinner in football and wrestling... Named to First-team all-conference and Second-team all-state during senior year... Recorded 96 tackles and seven sacks... Led team to 2007 Colorado State 5A Championship.

Personal: Born on October 16, 1989 in Denver... Son of Steve Gilmore... Older brother Josh and younger brother Dalton.


Dominic Gunn, 6-0, 175, WR, Aurora, Colo. (Rangeview)

Expected to graduate from Rangeview High School in 2008... Played wide receiver and returned kicks... First-team all-conference winner at wide receiver and as a return man... Had 74 receptions for 1,151 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior... Selected to CHSAA all-state game... Also plays basketball and is averaging 8.5 points as senior.

Personal: Born September 5, 1990 in Okinawa, Japan... Son of Sedrick and Cynthia... Plans on majoring in business... Has an older sister Janisha.


Nick Hernon, 6-2, 245, DE, Castle Rock, Colo. (Douglas County)

Expected to graduate from Douglas County High School in 2008... Started for football team for three years... Two-time all-conference winner... Voted to All-Colorado team as a senior... Member of 2005 5A state championship football team... Led Huskies to semi-finals in 2006 and state championship in 2007... High school teammate of current Bears Joel Fassler, Tim McGraw, and Andy Muns... Totaled 164 career tackles and 18 career sacks... Recorded 82 tackles and nine sacks as a senior.

Vincent (V.J.) Holmes, 6-3, 220, DE, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Doherty)

Expected to graduate from Doherty High School in 2008... Competed in both football and basketball... First-team all-conference winner as a senior... Totaled 50 tackles along with 10 sacks in his final campaign.


Personal: Born November 21, 1989 in Colorado Springs... Son of Vincent and Antoinette... Plans on majoring in business...Related to Northern Colorado's second all-time leading rusher Billy Holmes.

Marcus Lucas, 6-4, 220, DE, Aurora, Colo. (Rangeview)

Expected to graduate from Rangeview High School in 2008... Voted first-team all-conference as a senior... Recorded 63 tackles and nine sacks... Had one interception as a senior and returned it for a touchdown... Also returned a fumble 78 yards for a touchdown as a senior.

Patrick Walker, 5-10, 175, WR, Long Beach, Calif. (Long Beach Poly)

Expected to graduate from Long Beach Poly High School in May, 2008... Two-time letterwinner in football... Earned Southern Section all-conference honors in 2007... Had 16 catches for 207 yards and two touchdowns as a senior... Voted both most improved player and most valuable player in 2006... Part of 2007 CIF Southern Section Champions... Team was Moore League Champions all four years... Won academic athlete of the year in 2005... Member of 2007 honor roll... Also competed in track & field and basketball... High school teammate of current Bear Andrew Dunkley.


Personal: Born February 23, 1990 in Long Beach, California... Son of Robin and Paul... Planning on majoring in business.

Preferred Walk-On:

Tramaine Duncan, 6-0, 290, DE, Aurora, Colo. (Overland)

Expected to graduate from Overland High School in 2008... Three-year letterwinner in football... Played high school basketball... 2006 all-conference winner... Led Trailblazers to 5A state playoffs his senior and junior year... 86 career tackles and 13 career sacks, with seven sacks as a sophomore.


Personal: Born April 4, 1990 in Aurora... Son of Carolyn and Ward... Plans on majoring in business.

[ncbears]

Transfers:

Tony Kolone, 6-4, 285, DT, San Marcos, Calif. (Palomar CC)

2007(at Palomar JC): Started at defensive tackle... all-conference winner... voted conference's best defensive linemen of the year... led team with six sacks...led team with 14 tackles for loss.

2006 (at Palomar JC): Started at defensive tackle... all-conference winner.

2005 (at Palomar JC): Redshirted.

High School: Graduated from Ranch Bernardo High School in 2002... two-time letter winner in football... two-time all-conference in high school.

Personal: Born October 13, 1984 in Long Beach, California...son of Aiava and Sally...Has four younger brothers Chris, Steven, Calvin and Jeremy.


Logan Zabel, 6-2, 220, LB, Miami, Okla. (Northeastern Oklahoma A&M)

2007 (at Northeast Oklahoma A&M): Played in every game as a sophomore... ranked 25th nationally with 96 tackles including 41 solo stops... recorded four sacks for losses of 22 yards.

2006 (at Northeast Oklahoma A&M): Played in four games as freshman...recorded 22 tackles, 14 solo... had one sack for a nine yard loss.

High School: Graduated from Miami High School in 2006...four-year letter winner in football...three-year letter winner in basketball and track... all-conference winner junior year... all-conference winner senior year...set school record for most touchdowns in a season, 23, his senior year... voted by coaches onto Oklahoma 4A east all star football team.

Personal: Born January 21, 1988 in Miami, Oklahoma...son of Gayle Waylon...majoring in psychology...older brother Jordan and younger sister Taylor.

Bryan Waggener, 6-3, 235, QB, Chino Hills, Calif. (U. Florida)

2006 (at University of Florida): Redshirted behind Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow.

2005 (at Citrus College): Played for Citrus College in Glendora, Calif., threw for 1,558 yards on 140-for-243 passing (57.6 percent) and 10 touchdowns with 12 interceptions as sophomore...Named second-team All-Western State Conference...helped the Citrus College Fighting Owls to their fourth-straight WSC Southern Division Championship.

2004 (at Citrus College, Calif.): During his freshman campaign, Waggener threw for 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns with a 60.8 completion percentage... won third-straight WSC Southern Division Championship.

High School: Graduated from Ayala High School in 2004...played for coach Bob Mount.

Personal: Born January 30, 1986 in Chino Hills, California... son of Jerry and Anita...has older sister Jennifer... majoring in business.