National Signing Day
Feb. 2, 2000

Paul Bergstrand was an honorary captain at Rock Island HS and was a First Team All-Western Big Six selection and an Academic All-State choice as a junior and senior. As a senior, Bergstrand was named a First Team all-state selection by the IFCA and a Second Team all-state pick by the Chicago Tribune, as well as being named a special mention all-stater by the Champaign News-Gazette and a First Team all-metro pick by the Quad City Times and Rock Island Argus. Bergstrand was named an honorable mention all-metro area pick as a junior by the Quad City Times and Rock Island Argus.

Brendan Duran finished the 1999 season with 105 tackles as a senior at Springfield HS, leading all defensive linemen in the Central State 8 Conference. Duran also recorded three sacks and nine tackles-for-loss, forced three fumbles and recovered one, and broke up three passes while being named the Team MVP and conference Defensive Player of the Year. Duran was a First Team all-state pick by the Chicago Tribune and was selected to play in the Shrine All-Star Game. He was an academic all-state pick as a senior and was an honorable mention all-conference choice as a sophomore and junior.

Awni Hsen was a Second Team all-North Central Community College Conference pick last season. Hsen played both defensive tackle and defensive end, and started all 10 games for Rock Valley in each of his two seasons there. He recorded 70 total tackles last season, including eight sacks and 15 tackles-for-loss last season.

Troy Hugle was the captain of a Bakersfield College team that finished the 1999 season with a 10-1 record and won the Shrine Potato Bowl. Hugle was named to the all Western State Conference First Team and caught 16 passes for 195 yards last season. The Louisiana Class 4A all-stater is also an accomplished long-snapper.

Dominic Jones comes from the same junior college that produced NFL tight end Ryan Wetnight. Jones was a two-year starter who earned all-conference honors at offensive tackle. He led an offensive line that allowed running back Maurice Morris to set nearly every record a back could eclipse at Fresno City College.

Frank Melchert was a three-year letterwinner at Peoria Notre Dame HS and was a two-time all Mid-State Six selection. Melchert recorded 22 tackles-for-loss and 12 sacks and was named to the all-area team as a senior. He also lettered as a shot putter in track & field.

Mike O'Brien was a four-year football and track athlete at Aledo HS. O'Brien was an all-conference and all-state selection and played both linebacker and fullback. O'Brien was a state qualifier in both the shot put and discus throw, owning personal bests of 52 feet in the shot put and 158 feet i the discus.

Max Paz was a First Team all-Valley and all-CIF (San Diego Region) selection as a prep player at Imperial HS. Paz excelled at offensive guard in junior college after playing offensive tackle in high school.

Javon Sanders was an honorable mention all-region selection at Butte CC, recording 71 tackles in 11 games last year. Sanders also recorded two tackles-for-loss and intercepted three passes. In high school, Sanders recorded a personal best of 10.76 in the 100-meter dash.

Jeff Shields was a two-time all-conference selection at Mt. San Jacinto College. Shields was named an all-conference scholar athlete as a senior and was named the conference's Player of the Week three times. He was also named to the all-SouthernCalifornia Junior College First Team.

Reggie Thomas was a two-year player at Kilgore College in Kilgore, TX. As a sophomore, Thomas rushed the ball 33 times for 137 yards. The punishing blocker and tough runner won his team's Hard Head Award for the most pancake blocks and was the recipient of the team's Hart Award, for the player who best represents team leadership. He earned all-state honors as a high school senior.