Signing Day: Aztecs close with Cassidy, Hawkins & Himphill on NSD

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Recruitment: Durant chose San Diego State over Rutgers and Texas Tech. Rutgers was considered to be the long time favorite but coaching staff changes gave other programs an opportunity to step in. Durant ended up committing to SDSU during his official visit, one week before his scheduled TTU official.

Scouting report: Don't let Durant's size fool you. He played offensive guard in high school and he very well could pull off the position with his skill set transitioning well at the next level. Just because the Red Raiders offered doesn't necessarily mean he's a one dimensional, big bodied air raid pass blocker. He's one of the most athletic linemen SDSU recruited in the 2016 cycle and he's only going to improve under strength coach Adam Hall. With his mobility, strength and size, it's hard not seeing Durant contribute early in his career. Note: Recruits that visited SDSU the same weekend as Durant said he was hands down the largest and tallest kid out of the bunch.

Recruitment: Tucker chose San Diego State over Nevada, New Mexico - MW foes - and more importantly, local programs North Texas and UTSA. He also picked up a last minute offer from Missouri but turned it down.

Scouting report: Tucker played on both sides of the line throughout his high school career and it's clear he has a strong understanding of the game. He's a tremendous run-stopper and knows how to read plays but his future in college will be on the offensive side of the ball. Tucker is nimble on his feet but knows how to overpower opponents when necessary. At 6-foot-5, 300 pounds, Tucker is somehow not the biggest linemen of the group, but ASR has heard Tucker showed up to SDSU's campus appearing to be as physically impressive as anybody in the class. With the right development, Tucker can end up making a Darrell Greene type impact for the Aztecs.

Recruitment: Bernard selected San Diego State over a Utah offer after visiting the campus in early December.

Scouting report: Bernard is expected to be the starting long snapper as a freshman at SDSU. The Under-Armour All American prospect is considered a five-star prospect by many specialist services and he is expected to replace four-year starter Jeff Overbaugh.

Recruitment: Cassidy visited Arizona, Boise State and San Diego State and held offers from the likes of Colorado, Oregon State and Washington. Cassidy chose the Aztecs on signing day after officially visiting SDSU in mid-December and tripping out to UA in mid-January. He also visited Boise State in late November but the Broncos fell out of contention.

Scouting report: Cassidy fits the mold of SDSU linebackers in that he can do a little bit of everything. He’s very tough to block, he contains the edge well against the run and he’s advanced in pass coverage. He’s also one of the most productive players in San Diego. The three-star prospect played on both sides of the ball at Carlsbad and his production and playmaking ability alone have drawn comparisons to SDSU LB Calvin Munson.

Recruitment: Roemer chose San Diego State over Louisville. He officially visited both schools.

Scouting report: A product out of little-known Fernley, Nevada, Roemer flew under the radar and might end up being the steal of the class. His size and athleticism instantly attracted San Diego State and his mean streak on the field made him a priority. Roemer is nowhere near being a finished product but the staff believes he can be groomed into a big-time contributor during his career.

Recruitment: Jasmin picked SDSU over offers from several Pac-12 schools including Colorado, Oregon State and Washington

Scouting report: The lone running back of the class, Jasmin has a chance to have a highly productive career at SDSU and it’s run-first philosphy. Just like DJ Pumphrey, Jasmin is considered a speed back who just so happens to play with more physicality in between the tackles than people expect.

Recruitment: Hawkins also picked SDSU over offers from several Pac-12 schools including Washington State and Colorado. Hawkins visited each school and his decision came down to WSU and the Aztecs.

Scouting report: Perhaps the most athletic prospect in the class, Hawkins can contribute on either side of the ball but will likely stick with the corners under Tony White's watch. The three-star prospect was hosted by Damontae Kazee during his visit and that was not a coincidence. He has the potential to be a shut-down corner in the mold of Kazee throughout his SDSU career thanks to his speed, physicality and ball skills.

Recruitment: Located up in northern California, Spalding wasn't seen by many schools and it didn't help that he primarily played quarterback for his high school team. He picked up a few FCS offers as a senior but stuck with his early SDSU pledge.

Scouting report: Likely the biggest project of the 2016 class, Spalding just may have enough athleticism hidden under his massive frame to pull it off. SDSU identified his mobility and size early on and plan on starting him off as a tight end where his size will likely help the Aztecs run game.

Recruitment: Greene was the first junior college prospect committed to SDSU. The coaching staff was able to fend off a number of southern programs down the stretch as Greene reaffirmed his verbal pledge to the Aztecs shortly after his January visit.

Scouting report: Greene has fantastic footwork, moves laterally exceptionally well and has a very strong lower base. Combined, his overall skillset makes him one of the top pass blockers of the class. As a junior college product, Greene’s size and strength is where it needs to be making him physically capable to play as soon as this year.

Recruitment: Johnson chose SDSU during his senior year and stuck with the Aztecs despite a late run by Fresno state.

Scouting report: No, he's not The Rock. But Johnson is one of the best two-way players from the Inland Empire, arguably the most important recruiting zone for SDSU. The bulky safety played primarily wide receiver during his junior year and the Aztecs coaching staff liked the ability he showed back then. When he transitioned over to playing defensive back full-time, he fit in at SDSU even more. His contributions in the program will all depend on his understanding of the defense but his ability as a ball hawk will never be questioned.

Recruitment: Mathis selected SDSU over Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon State, Washington State and Vanderbilt. He committed to the Aztecs just a week prior to signing day.

Scouting report: One of the most explosive and physically imposing signees of the 2016 class, Mathis has athleticism like his brother, Kendrick - a safety at SDSU - and is one of the best pass rushers in California. His film is filled with stops in the backfield, and it's not solely because of his bend or quick-twitch speed off the line, there are a number of occasions where he overpowers offensive linemen much bigger than him in order to get to the ball. Mathis is the type of player Rocky is especially excited to land in each class. His goofball personality should also make him a team and fan-favorite.

Recruitment: Dedeaux selected SDSU over nearly every MW school last summer and stuck with his verbal commitment through signing day.

Scouting report: The LA area athlete can contribute in a variety of ways but his future at SDSU will likely be as a defensive back, namely the Aztec position where agility and athleticism is a necessary requirement. Dedaux is the type of athlete that coaches need to just flat out give him freedom to make plays and he will get that opportunity in SDSU's defensive scheme. If that doesn't pan out, he could eventually transition over to running back.

Recruitment: Houston picked the Aztecs last summer over Idaho, Toledo and a couple of FCS offers. He considered taking other official visits before cancelling them and reaffirming his SDSU verbal.

Scouting report: A hybrid offensive weapon, Houston was a productive receiver at his high school but is projected as a tight end in college. Slightly undersized for that position, Houston is expected to contribute as an h-back at SDSU, a role that offensive coordinator Jeff Horton had him excited about when he committed. Houston's hands are dependable and he's a very impressive blocker out in the open field. While he's not quite a fullback, it's hard to believe Houston won't spring outside as a lead blocker to help set up some touchdown runs for the Aztecs.

Recruitment: Macklin committed to San Diego State over hometown UNLV.

Scouting report: Macklin was a force during a one-on-one session at SDSU's summer camp last year and his dominance in that event immediately put him onto the coaching staff's radar. The Aztecs were the first to offer and UNLV quickly followed. His size alone made him a commodity to most programs but his route running and hands had SDSU vying for him from the start.

Recruitment: Stricklin chose the hometown school over Nevada.

Scouting report: SDSU offered Stricklin as a sophomore following one of his best high school performances in which he made key plays on both sides of the ball. The local prospect can play running back, receiver, linebacker, safety or corner but will likely end up playing a defensive back role for the Aztecs. Stricklin is a very physical player with great play recognition and ball skills. More importantly, his read-and-react skills will likely have SDSU comfortable lining him up inside the box at times.

Recruitment: Wilson chose SDSU over offers from Iowa and others.

Scouting report: Wilson may very well be the offensive star of the class given SDSU's need for a big playmaker. At a solid 6-4, Wilson has the speed to gain separation from DBs and should become a dominant force downfield.

Recruitment: Woods earned an Aztecs offer following SDSU's passing league tournament and committed less than two weeks after. Nevada, UNLV and several IVY league schools also offered.

Scouting report: Woods is an extremely physical press corner who played mainly off coverage in his high school's scheme. He's a perfect fit for SDSU's scheme and will be asked to take risks early on in his career, similar to Damontae Kazee's role as a sophomore.

Recruitment: Hanlon held offers from San Jose State and Nevada but chose the hometown school in late December.

Scouting report: A relentless pass rusher with great burst and hand placement on the defensive line, Hanlon wasn't heavily recruited because of his size but the early comparison is former SDSU workhorse, DE Jon Sanchez.

Recruitment: Thompson landed offers from virtually every Mountain West school last spring but his relationship with SDSU’s coaching staff was enough to sway him. Thompson considered taking visits to MW schools despite his commitment but an official visit to SDSU in mid-January locked him back into the fold.

Scouting report: Paired with his teammate and Aztecs signee Tayler Hawkins in the secondary, Thompson helps complete a loaded DB group in the 2016 class. His film consists of some of the most brutal hits out of the group, comparable to former SDSU safety Eric Pinkins in terms of physicality. He's a play-stopper through and through and is willing to sacrifice his body every play. While Thompson primarily lined up at centerfield in high school, SDSU will likely have him contribute at the Warrior position to help with run support.

Recruitment: Previously a San Jose State commit, Onyeukwu reopened his recruitment just before the final stretch of recruiting. He visited UCF and also held offers from Fresno State and New Mexico but ultimately committed to SDSU after officially visiting the school during the final weekend of January.

Scouting report: Onyeukwu is very quick off the line and often makes offensive tackles get off balance because of his speed on the edge. It’s hard not to wonder why opposing offensive lines didn’t try to double team him very much in JuCo but they certainly paid the price. If Onyeukwu does end up cracking the two-deep and see the field this year, quarterbacks will have even more to worry about when facing SDSU and all of its returning starters. (Imagine what it will look like when Chibu and LB Randy Ricks are lined up on the same side?)

Recruitment: Stallworth held offers from many service academies and Mountain West programs but committed to San Jose State following his senior year. After coaching changes at SJSU, Stallworth took visits to Cal and SDSU before selecting the Aztecs on signing day.

Scouting report: A 4.0 student, Stallworth is anything but a nerd on the field - he’s more like a bully. Stallworth is your prototypical strong safety who will find his home at the Warrior position in SDSU’s defensive scheme. He’s very comfortable lining up in the box and he has the hips and agility to turn up field and cover wide receiver and tight ends. His closing speed is especially impressive.

Recruitment: Thomas camped at SDSU and Nevada and received offers from both, committing to the Aztecs toward the end of his senior season.

Scouting report: Thomas was the top offensive lineman at SDSU’s summer camp and earned an offer shortly after his performance. Just like local signee Forrest Hanlon, his football IQ and hard nose playing style made him so attractive to the Aztecs coaching staff. He has a wide frame, can move well laterally and does a good job creating running lanes toward the outside. He’ll be a perfect fit for SDSU, especially when it runs power toward his side and his assignment is to down block. Thomas is a tremendous down blocker because of his get off, hips and size.

Recruitment: Himphill’s recruitment took off during the midway point of his senior year, landing offers from all over the country. SDSU found him early enough to get him to officially visit its campus in early December and it left a good impression. As Himphill got off his flight in San Diego, however, Arizona offered him a scholarship and that was in his head the entire trip. He officially visited Arizona and considered schools such as Boise State, Cal, Hawaii, Oregon State, Wake Forest, Utah and Utah State before signing with SDSU on Wednesday. He was at one point silently committed to OSU.

Scouting report: Himphill's stock soared early during his senior season once his senior film spread around, showing off his agility, high instincts and physicality. There's so many things to like, but in short: he's basically a combination of Jake Fely and Calvin Munson when you consider his read and react skills and overall playmaking ability.

Recruitment: Ismael picked up a number of MW offers during the summer and narrowed his list down to San Jose State, Hawaii and SDSU. He visited Hawaii and SDSU and also considered a visit to Boise State. He turned the Broncos down by committing to the Aztecs shortly following his official visit to San Diego State’s campus.

Scouting report: Ismael is an interior lineman who has the body frame of a center but the mobility of an offensive guard. He has a very strong lower base which allows him to drive through his defenders on run plays and be stout in pass-pro. Like many members of this class, Ismael also played on both sides of the ball throughout his high school career