UNC Commits

[FasterThanYou]

There are always a few surprises on LOI Day, but in the meantime, let's get to know the guys who have verbally committed to the Bears at this point:

Index ---
Travis Bernard, Running back, Escondido (Calif.) Valley Center
Isiah Cooper, Runningback, Montbello HS, Denver
Kyle Griffin, Safety/Runningback , Ralston Valley (Colorado)
Sean Leslie, Wide Receiver , Arvada West (Colorado)
Sean Palinckx, OT, Ponderosa HS (Parker, CO)
Chris Sanchez, Linebacker, Arvada West – Colorado
Jake Solomon – OL, Mesa Community College, Gilbert, AZ
Derek Vander Velde,Wide Receiver, Dakota Ridge HS, Colorado


http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1157304

Travis Bernard, Running back, Escondido (Calif.) Valley Center
Ht:5'9"
Wt:184 lbs

Committed: 01/23/2011

Here's an article on Bernard from Sept.
http://www.nctimes.com/sports/high-school/nct/article_3b9c2fbf-858d-52cc-8c20-aadd7e490698.html

In part...

"in his first start as a runner, he rushed 33 times for 219 yards and capped a 29-14 season-opening win over San Pasqual with a 28-yard, fourth-quarter touchdown."

edit: adding a little more I found on Bernard.

Valley Center running back Travis Bernard has heard it his whole athletic life – "You're too small."

Granted, at 5-foot-8, 180 pounds Bernard is not a college recruiting magnet. Yet, Bernard, the CIF-SDS Offensive Player of the Year, has accepted a scholarship to Football Championship Subdivision school Northern Colorado.

"They said size didn't matter," Bernard told the North County Times. "That's all I needed to hear."

Bernard rushed for 2,798 yards on 313 carries, averaging 8.9 yards a carry in 2010. He scored 36 rushing touchdowns and totaled 39 for the season.

Bernard said he finally chose Northern Colorado -- located in Greeley, Colo., about 50 miles north of Denver -- over Portland State and South Dakota. He canceled a trip this weekend to Weber State.

http://www.maxpreps.com/blogs/football-signing-day-blog/home.htm

 

[FasterThanYou]

Derek Vander Velde,Wide Receiver, Dakota Ridge HS, Colorado
Ht: 6-4
Wt: 190

Denver Post 2010 All-Coloardo Football Team, Wide Receiver
In his junior season Vander Velde was selected All-League in both football and basketball.
Along with Columbine's Cameron McDondle, Vander Velde was nominated as an Old Spice Player of the Year.

http://hscolorado.scout.com/a.z?s=385&p=8&c=1&nid=4993972

Visited in January 2011, committed to UNC.

 

[FasterThanYou]

Chris Sanchez, Linebacker, Arvada West - Colorado
Ht: 6' 3,
Wt: 190 (stats from Junior year)

Rangeview's John Tidwell (26) is tackled by Arvada West's Chris Sanchez (51) during the second half of the Raiders' 35-28 win over the Wildcats in a Class 5A second round state playoff football game on Nov. 13, 2010, at the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada. Tidwell and Rangeview play host to Grandview in an all-Aurora quarterfinal game at 6 p.m. Nov. 19 at APS Stadium. (Gabriel Christus/The Aurora Sentinel)

 

[FasterThanYou]

Isiah Cooper, Montbello HS, Denver

Runningback

Ht: 5-9
Wt: 160
40: 4.59


Isiah (or Isaiah, as it's spelled on some sites) is also a standout basketball player and runs track.

 

[FasterThanYou]

Kyle Griffin, Ralston Valley (Colorado)
Safety/Runningback

ht: 6'1"
wt: 191 lbs.

Denver Post All State honorable mention, 2010
http://www.denverpost.com/popular/ci_16937108?source=pop_hourly

 

[Beardown]

Derek Vander Velde,Wide Receiver, Dakota Ridge HS, Colorado
Ht: 6-4
Wt: 190

Denver Post 2010 All-Coloardo Football Team, Wide Receiver
In his junior season Vander Velde was selected All-League in both football and basketball.
Along with Columbine's Cameron McDondle, Vander Velde was nominated as an Old Spice Player of the Year.

http://hscolorado.scout.com/a.z?s=385&p=8&c=1&nid=4993972

Visited in January 2011, committed to UNC.

I believe Vander Velde is coach John Boyers soon to-be Brother in Law.

 

[FasterThanYou]

Sean Leslie, Arvada West (Colorado)
Wide Receiver

Ht: 6'4"
Wt: 185 lbs.

According to the Denver Post, Leslie caught 49 passes for 704 yds, averaging 14.4. 5 touchdowns.
http://preps.denverpost.com/home.html?site=default&tpl=Player&ID=17599

Photo by DENNIS PLEUSS
Ralston Valley senior Nate Grigsby, left, and Arvada West senior Sean Leslie (#15) exchange words Friday night at the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada during the first football game between the two schools.

 

[FasterThanYou]

Derek Vander Velde,Wide Receiver, Dakota Ridge HS, Colorado
Ht: 6-4
Wt: 190

Denver Post 2010 All-Coloardo Football Team, Wide Receiver
In his junior season Vander Velde was selected All-League in both football and basketball.
Along with Columbine's Cameron McDondle, Vander Velde was nominated as an Old Spice Player of the Year.

http://hscolorado.scout.com/a.z?s=385&p=8&c=1&nid=4993972

Visited in January 2011, committed to UNC.

I believe Vander Velde is coach John Boyers soon to-be Brother in Law.

I hope Boyers is marrying Derek's sister, because Derek is too young to be marrying Boyers' sister.
Or do I have this all wrong?

 

[FasterThanYou]

Jake Solomon - OL - 6'4" - 315 lbs. -
Offensive Lineman
Mesa Community College, Gilbert, AZ -
http://athletics.mesacc.edu/footbal...-coaches-invite-public-national-letter-intent

Here's an article mentioning his verbal commitment:
http://media.www.mesalegend.com/med...ks.To.Recruiting.For.Turnaround-3971896.shtml

"When Jake Solomon committed to Northern Colorado he sent me the text message, "We did it" his mom was crying his dad was emotional, and it felt good for everyone involved." - Mesa CC Recruiting Coordinator and Running Backs coach Tony McClain

 

[FasterThanYou]

...outdated information, move along, nothing to see here...

 

[FasterThanYou]

--- back to the future ---

I must remember not to time-travel when writing commitment lists.

 

[Beardown]

Faster- those last two guys are from last years class.

 

[FasterThanYou]

Faster- those last two guys are from last years class.

oops. I only said they committed, not that it was in 2010.

I THOUGHT they sounded familiar.

In the successful organization, no detail is too small to escape close attention.
Lou Holtz

 

[FasterThanYou]

Sean Palinckx, Ponderosa HS (Parker, CO)
OT
Ht: 6-foot-7
Wt: 290

 

[Bearsfan24]

You can add another to the list, scout, has Chris Urbaniak committed to UNC.

OLB out of Palmer high school, 6'4" 230.

 

[aztecwin]

You guys are really going to like Travis Bernard. I watched him play for three years as a starter on both sides of the ball. He was a slot back/safety who rarely came off the field as a Soph and Jr. Had he run the ball as an underclassman he would have had many more offers. Look at this as a real good get for you. He really liked the area up there and is a fine student. Expect good things.

 

[Beardown]

You guys are really going to like Travis Bernard. I watched him play for three years as a starter on both sides of the ball. He was a slot back/safety who rarely came off the field as a Soph and Jr. Had he run the ball as an underclassman he would have had many more offers. Look at this as a real good get for you. He really liked the area up there and is a fine student. Expect good things.

Certainly seems like the gem of the class.

 

[Bearsfan24]

You guys are really going to like Travis Bernard. I watched him play for three years as a starter on both sides of the ball. He was a slot back/safety who rarely came off the field as a Soph and Jr. Had he run the ball as an underclassman he would have had many more offers. Look at this as a real good get for you. He really liked the area up there and is a fine student. Expect good things.

I think we're going to like him too. From the videos I've seen, it looks like this kid could be a big time play maker. Honestly he also could see some playing time come next fall. We're really young at RB, we have one guy returning that has had any type of game experience, and he sat out the season this past year.

 

[xbearsot]

Derek Vander Velde,Wide Receiver, Dakota Ridge HS, Colorado
Ht: 6-4
Wt: 190

Denver Post 2010 All-Coloardo Football Team, Wide Receiver
In his junior season Vander Velde was selected All-League in both football and basketball.
Along with Columbine's Cameron McDondle, Vander Velde was nominated as an Old Spice Player of the Year.

http://hscolorado.scout.com/a.z?s=385&p=8&c=1&nid=4993972

Visited in January 2011, committed to UNC.

I believe Vander Velde is coach John Boyers soon to-be Brother in Law.

What are you talking about? Derek's sister isn't even engaged. Let alone to whoever John Boyers is.

 

[beardevil39]

John Boyer is part of the new coaching staff and was once a UNC QB !!