Feb. 6, 2008

By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com

2008 Recruiting Class and Biographical Sketches

CARBONDALE, Ill. - First-year head coach Dale Lennon unveiled the 2008 Southern Illinois University football recruiting class earlier today in a press conference at Lingle Hall.

Nineteen players from a total of 11 states comprise Lennon's inaugural SIU class.

"Three weeks ago, I was very concerned about the type of recruiting class we would be able to assemble by the national signing period," said Lennon. "Today, I am proud to announce the names of our 2008 class, which I consider to be a very talented group of young men who met the needs of this program."

Lennon and his staff travelled from coast to coast to get talented athletes who could come in and contribute immediately.

"Our recruiting efforts focused on establishing quality depth on both sides of the ball, while looking for several athletes who could be impact players in the near future," said Lennon. "The majority of our recruiting needs are satisfied with this signing class, but we will continue to assess other possible additions throughout the spring semester."

Running back Anton Wilkins (Bolingbrook, Ill./Neuqua Valley H.S.) and wide receivers David Lewis (Marshall, Va./Fauquier H.S.) and Marc Cheatham (Oakland, Calif./Minnesota) are notable signees at the skilled positions.

A two-time Upstate Eight Conference Player-of-the-Year, Wilkins piled up a school record 3,584 all-purpose yards and 46 touchdowns in an outstanding prep career at Neuqua Valley High School. He finished the 2007 season with 1,735 all-purpose yards, 1,485 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns alone.

Lewis made 50 catches for 818 yards and 10 touchdowns as the fifth-leading receiver in Virginia last season, while Cheatham joins the Dawgs from the University of Minnesota. Cheatham, the only transfer in this year's class, did not play for the Golden Gophers a year ago. He caught 25 passes for 452 yards and five touchdowns at Laney Junior College before heading to Minnesota.

Defensively, Keith Anglin (DB, Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista H.S.), James McFadden (DB, Shawnee, Kan./Rockhurst (Mo.) H.S.), Kyle Cavil (DL, Ashwaubenon, Wis./Ashwaubenon H.S.) and Jayson DiManche (OLB, Hamilton, N.J./Hamilton West H.S.) are expected to be playmakers.

Anglin registered 65 tackles, eight pass breakups and one interception as Desert Vista High School's most valuable defensive player last season, while McFadden recorded 55 tackles and five interceptions at Rockhurst (Mo.) High School. Rockhurst won the 6A State Championship and was ranked 12th nationally by Sports Illustrated in 2007.

DiManche is a hard hitter who accumulated 235 tackles and 30 sacks as a prep at Hamilton West High School and Cavil had 85 tackles, 12.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss during his senior year at Ashwaubenon High.