Afif is already enrolled in classes. Loo and Bruhn attempted to enroll but had a few more classes to take before completing their AA degrees. Of the 13 high school seniors, one, wide receiver Scott Selby from Castle Rock, Wash., is expected to delay enrollment until January 2004. Another, defensive tackle Tolifili Liufau from Honolulu, most likely will be placed in a junior college.
"One nobody knows about," Doba said.
Doba's quip was in reference to the players the Cougars have placed in JCs lately who have gone on to sign at other places. Lance Mitchell (Oklahoma), Ronald Nunn (USC), and Kai Ellis (Washington) were all placed at San Francisco City College by the Cougars. All signed with other schools out of SFCC.
This time around, the Cougars placed running back Dwayne Wright at West Hills JC. After staying committed to the Cougars for a year and a half, Wright switched in January and signed Wednesday with Fresno State. (The Fresno State athletic department reported Alabama also recruited Wright. Doba said new Crimson Tide coach Mike Price didn't recruit any WSU commitments.) Wright's move makes securing Bruhn all that much more important.
" (Wright) and Chris Bruhn were kids we counted on to come in and fill this thing up, so therefore we didn't recruit any running backs," Doba said. "So all of the sudden, we lose that kid late and all the good running backs are spoken for.
"But if we can stay halfway healthy and if we get Chris Bruhn in here, I think we will be in good shape," he added.
The coaching change from Price to Doba was a key factor in losing Wright, Doba said. But overall, he said Price's departure didn't have a negative impact on the Cougars' recruiting.
"We lost a couple of kids and probably Alabama lost a couple of kids," Doba said. "It's obvious kids come to a particular school because of the coach. Anytime there is a coaching change, there is going to be doubt until they have a chance to meet the new coach.
"The main thing we had to do was to get in there and assure (the recruits) that we are not going to run the wishbone and things are going to be pretty much the same they were," he continued. "We were going to treat them with dignity and respect."
The Cougars also picked up a few recruits because of the new coaching staff. Quarterback coach Timm Rosenbach was instrumental in signing Alex Brink, a 6-3, 180-pound quarterback from Eugene, Ore. Offensive line coach George Yarno wrestled Jon Colin, a 6-3, 240-pound defensive lineman, away from Kansas.
The one position the Cougars didn't fill completely was wide receiver. With Selby delaying enrollment, Jason Hill (6-2, 175) will be the only incoming freshman receiver. The Cougars will continue to look for wide receivers and, if they find one who slipped through the cracks, they will sign him. That was the case with Jerome Riley two years ago.
The Cougars will also have three grayshirts -- Matt Mullenix, Wes Rainwater and Aaron Ware -- who will be a part of this class. As for quarterback Carl Bonnell, the former grayshirt who signed Wednesday with Washington, Doba said is putting that situation behind him.
"He sat around here and saw the talent," Doba said. "I really think he wanted to go to Washington all the time, and they didn't recruit him a year ago.
"Then they decided to recruit him, and that's fine," he continued. "I don't want anybody who doesn't want to be here."
Linebacker Aaron Wagner, who played as a freshman, is due back from his Mormon mission in June.
