Ewu Signs 8 Prep Players And Pair Of Jc Transfers

Eastern Washington has signed eight high school players and two junior-college transfers to football letters of intent, the university announced Wednesday.

The Eagles are also pursuing several prospects that could be signed following the conclusion of basketball season, when as many as 12 more athletes will visit campus, coach Mike Kramer said.

The recruiting class is headlined by defensive lineman David Alcala and tight end/fullback Eric Cor. Alcala went to Quincy High School and Walla Walla Community College. Cor made the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and Tacoma News Tribune All-State teams, and twice was named All-State in Class A by the Washington State Sportswriters Association.

Local products include tight end Jeff Allen from Central Valley High School, and running back Nick Freese from Kennewick’s Kamiakin High School. Defensive back Ole Olesen from Gig Harbor High School, linebacker Lance Baldwin from Curtis in Tacoma and linebacker Kelly Kuzaro from Enumclaw also signed, each having earned Tacoma News Tribune All-Area honors.

Two receivers also come to EWU from the Puget Sound area - Rahmal Leonard from Renton High School and Claude Jean-Baptiste from Lincoln in Tacoma. Rounding out the recruiting class is defensive back Shantell Franklin from Citrus City College in California.

“A lot of our recruiting is yet to be done,” EWU coach Mike Kramer said. “Maybe 50 percent of our recruiting won’t be done until March. Traditionally, we recruit kids who are from small schools or athletic players who also play basketball.”

, DataTimes