Biggs pleased with 2012 recruitment class

DHS coach Steve Smyte, left, and Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, a former Aggie player, were among the community members to join UCD head coach Bob Biggs, right, at a party to celebrate the 13 new players the Aggies signed on Wednesday. Fred Gladdis/Enterprise photo

UC Davis head football coach Bob Biggs wore a Cheshire grin as he sat in his office on National Signing Day.

It was a very good Wednesday for the former Aggie quarterback who, in the fall, finished his 19th season at the helm.

“It’s the culmination of a lot of ground work,” said Biggs, after 13 high school seniors inked national letters of intent to join the UCD program for the 2012 campaign. “When you know you have certain needs to fill and you fill them, it’s satisfying. My goal is to leave this program in better shape than when I took over.”

Biggs, who announced Nov. 30 that he would retire following the 2012 season, noted that he told each recruit  his plan.

“I felt it was very important to be upfront with everyone,” he said. “To tell them afterward was not the way to go. Like I told them and their parents, it’s not me ,but you go because of the university and quality of the program. It’s going to be the same even without me.”

And while Biggs hinted that other universities tried to use his stepping down as fodder to pull potential players away, these 13 stayed true and will sport the blue and gold.

Biggs and members of his coaching staff officially introduced the incoming class to boosters, alumni and members of the Davis community Wednesday night at a Signing Party in the Bruce Edwards Club Room at Aggie Stadium. Approximately 75 people attended the affair to catch a glimpse of the next generation of Aggies. The recruits are not allowed to attend the festivities due to NCAA regulations, but they were present in the form of highlight videos.

The 13 student-athletes are all from California, including two from the Sac-Joaquin Section. Marcus White (6 feet, 200 pounds) excelled as a kicker at Pleasant Grove High, and Ben Scott (6-3, 175) lit it up as the quarterback at Vanden (Vacaville). Scott threw for 2,809 yards and 34 touchdowns with just nine interceptions in his final year. White earned all-Sac-Joaquin Section honors twice and led the state with 97 touchbacks.

“I was enamored with (Scott’s) quickness and ability to get the ride of the ball accurately from many different throwing positions,” said Biggs, who quarterbacked the Aggies from 1969 to 1973 after graduating from Vacaville High. “He has great reaction and vision to the see the field. He has those skill sets, plus he has very good leadership ability.”

This year’s class also includes a trio of standout wide receivers: Delvin Alexander (6-1, 175) of San Diego, Ramon Vargas (6-3, 180) of Huntington Beach and Luke Williams (6-3, 185) of Monrovia.

“I thought we needed some big playmakers. I think we really hit a home run with Vargas and Alexander,” Biggs said. “Williams is a great combination player.”

Williams helped his team win consecutive CIF championships his final two years and has a 4.0 grade-point average. Alexander had 21 receptions for 514 yards in his senior year at Mira Mesa High, averaging 24.48 yards per catch. Vargas racked up 841 yards on 57 catches, including 10 touchdown snags, in his final season at Huntington.

Adding needed depth to the offensive line are Armando Ceja-Lua (6-5, 300) of Indio and Kevin Gavigan (6-4, 260) of Yucaipa. Ceja-Lua, who attends Xavier College Prep High, was a team captain for his final two years and did not allow a sack during that time. Gavigan was all-city and all-county his senior season at Redlands High.

“Armando is an interesting guy. He’s 300 pounds but he moves his feet, and he can play tackle or guard,” Biggs said.

On the defensive side of the ball, UCD picked up a safety and a tackle along with two corners and a pair of linebackers.

Kyle De Vaughn (5-11, 265) was named to the CIF defensive first team as a DT for Alemany High of Castaic. Keleen Culberson (5-11, 185) played a lot of corner at Santiago High (Corona) and finished his season with 69 tackles, five forced fumbles and four interceptions. Biggs sees Culberson moving to the safety position.

At corner are Nate Walker (5-8, 165) and Patrick Wells (5-9, 165). Walker finished  his final year at Crespi Carmelite High in Los Angeles with 23 tackles, including 14 solo. In his last season at Taft High of Woodland Hills, Wells notched 57 tackles (36 solo), one fumble recovery, two blocked field goal attempts and three interceptions.

“(Wells’) potential is through the roof,” Biggs said. “(Walker) has good speed.”

Russell Reeder (6-3, 200) and Brady Stibi (6-2, 220) will add depth to the UCD linebacking corps. Reeder, out of Cathedral Catholic in Encinitas, was first team all-CIF San Diego his senior year, with 119 tackles and four interceptions. Stibi had 116 tackles (75 solo) with six sacks to be the Sonoma County League’s defensive MVP for Windsor.

“I’m not just looking for players for next year,” Biggs said. “I’m looking down through the years. When I retire, I want the transition to be seamless.”

— Reach Kim Orendor at korendor@davisenterprise.net

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Posted by Kim Orendor on Feb 1 2012.
Last Login: Tue 22 May 2012 06:35:31 PM PDT
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