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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo football program announced today their initial group of signees for the 2000 football season on National Letter of Intent signing day.

Head coach Craig Cirbus commented on the recruiting process as a whole by saying, "There is no doubt that being a legitimate I-A football program - after competing in the Mid-American Conference for one season - enabled us to visit and recruit a much different caliber of football player."

"We have always been able to attract outstanding students searching for a great education that played quality football from quality programs," said Cirbus. "This year there was strong competition for the players that we signed for not only their strong characters but also for their excellent athletic ability. That's something we haven't experienced in the past."

Here is the initial Class of 2000 that have signed national letters of intent today:

Name	Pos	Ht	WT	Hometown	Junior College/High School
Chris Bonner	LB	6-2	230	Philadelphia, PA	Oxford HS
Maurice Bradford	TB	5-11	185	Binghamton, NY	Morrisville (NY) JC / Binghamton
Marcus Clarett	DL	6-2	295	Youngstown, OH	Warren G. Harding
Jason Fisher	WR	6-1	195	Cordova, TN	Itawamba (MS) JC / Houston
J.J. Gibson	RB/DB	5-10	185	Amherst, NY	Sweet Home
Albert Grundy	FB	6-3	230	Philadelphia, PA	Valley Forge Military / Springfield
Terek Henderson	DB	5-9	175	Neptune, NJ	Neptune
Darren Hicks	DB	5-11	180	Worthington, OH	Worthington Kilbourne
Craig Johnson	DL	6-2	275	Vestal, NY	Vestal
Zeke McKine	WR	5-8	170	Hollywood, FL	McArthur
Dan Minocchi	OL	6-3	285	Canton, OH	Canton Central Catholic
Rodney Morris	OLB	6-0	210	Pahokee, FL	Pahokee
William Paris	OL	6-4	324	Southfield, MI	Cass Technical
Brian Pons	DE	6-3	245	Saddlebrook, NJ	Saddlebrook
Randall Secky	QB	6-5	220	Maple Grove, NY	Maple Grove
Valdis Terrell	DB	5-10	175	Newport News, VA	Lackawanna (PA) JC / Valley Forge
Eric Weber	OL	6-5	285	Canandaigua, NY	Canandaigua
Vaughn Welch	WR	6-0	180	Berwick, PA	Berwick
Erik Zeppuhar	OL	6-4	290	Allison Park, PA	Shaler

To follow is a capsule look at each player:

Chris Bonner ·Linebacker ·6-2 ·230
Fr. · Philadelphia, PA · Oxford HS

Rugged linebacker who set school records for tackles in a game (27), season (165 as a senior) and career (375)...averaged 16.5 tackles per game as a senior...Chester County All-Star...Pennsylvania Fab 85 selection...two-time Philadelphia Inquirer All-Star...Pennsylvania Football News Second Team All State...helped lead team to District I-AA championship as a sophomore...four-year letterwinner...played for coach Steve Evans in high school...also letters in wrestling...timed at 4.63 for 40-yard dash...team MVP as senior...Gridiron Greats Eastern Elite Team...recruited by Temple, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Wake Forest and Pittsburgh.

Maurice Bradford ·Tailback ·5-11 ·185
Jr. ·Binghamton, NY ·Binghamton HS ·Morrisville JC

Shifty running back who gained over 1,600 yards at Morrisville last season and was named Second-Team JUCO All-American...first-team All-Northeast Conference...set school record for most touchdowns in a season with 18...had 248 carries for 1,603 yards last season and had eight 100-yard games and two games over 200 yards...set school records at Binghamton HS with 43 touchdowns in one season and six touchdowns in one game...All-New York State selection...earned four letters in high school and was two-time captain...recruited by Temple, Delaware, Florida A&M and Massachusetts out of high school and made an early commitment to UB.

Marcus Clarett ·DL ·6-2 ·295
Fr. · Youngstown, OH ·Warren G. Harding

Big, strong and quick defensive lineman who played both noseguard and defensive tackle during high school career...led his conference in sacks and tackles for loss...All-State and All-Steel Valley selection after senior season...earned two letters....chose UB over Temple, Akron and Youngstown State.

Jason Fisher ·WR · 6-1 ·195
Jr. · Cordova, TN ·Houston High · Itawamba (MS) JC

Athletic, lanky receiver with big-play potential...runs a 4.4 40-yard dash and was an all-state junior college selection at Itawamba JC...All-State selection at Houston High in Cordova, TN where he was a three-year lettermen and also played basketball and ran track...chose UB over Houston, Memphis and Southern Mississippi...brother Terrence was a starter at cornerback for UB in head coach Craig Cirbus' first season...played running back in high school before switching to receiver.

J.J. Gibson ·RB/DB ·5-10 ·185
Fr. · Amherst, NY · Sweet Home HS

Over 2,600 yards rushing at nearby Sweet Home HS where he was a two-year Divisional All-Star and a second-team All-Western New York selection...third-team All-State selection as a senior...Division II Player of Year as senior...two-year letterwinner and one-year captain for coach John Faller...also has lettered in basketball and track at Sweet Home.

Albert Grundy ·FB ·6-3 ·230
Jr. · Philadelphia, PA · Valley Forge Military · Springfield HS

Big, strong and fast fullback prospect who comes to UB from an undefeated Valley Forge Military program...played both tight end and fullback at VFMA for head coach Jim Burner...had 697 yards on 95 carries last season and scored 12 touchdowns...scored 20 touchdowns in two years...set school record at Springfield HS in Philadelphia with 373 yards rushing in a game and seven touchdowns...first-team All-State and Maxwell Club Player of the Year...MVP of the Hero Bowl...also lettered in basketball and set a school record in track and field in the high jump (6-8")...chose UB over Iowa and Temple.

Terek Henderson · DB ·5-9 ·175
Fr. · Neptune, NJ ·Neptune

Strong coverage defensive back who was part of two state championship teams at Neptune HS under coach John Amabile...runs a 4.5 40-yard dash and set a school record for interceptions in a career....team was 31-4 with Terek in starting lineup...senior captain...also earned one letter in track...also excelled on kickoff returns...chose UB "because of the academics, the family atmosphere and a great opportunity to play"...made an early commitment to UB and was also recruited by Big East programs.

Darren Hicks ·DB ·5-10 ·180
Fr. · Worthington, OH ·Worthington Kilbourne HS

Considered an excellent cover man...led team to a 12-2 record as a senior and regional championship...also returned kicks...set school records for most interceptions in career and longest kickoff return (99 yards)...also was part of 400-meter relay team that finished second in state of Ohio...first-team all-conference selection and named to Super 25 team for Central Ohio...earned three letters in football and four in basketball...an excellent student-athlete that chose UB for their Business and Architecture programs.

Craig Johnson · DL ·6-2 ·275
Fr. · Vestal, NY ·Vestal HS

Strong, athletic defensive lineman...all-State selection at Vestal HS, alma mater of UB quarterback coach Tony Policare...helped team to sectional finals in junior and senior season and was part of state championship team as sophomore...earned three letters...also earned two letters in wrestling and three as a catcher on baseball team where he holds school home run record...timed at 4.9 in the 40-yard dash...also recruited heavily by Connecticut and Villanova.

Zeke McKine · WR ·5-8 · 170
Fr. · Hollywood, FL ·McArthur HS

Burner with big-play potential who was named Offensive MVP of prestigious Broward County All-Star game...ranked the 16th-best wide receiver in the state of Florida and some recruiting services consider him one of the best athletes in the state...set school record with 324 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in a game...played in the Nike Broward-Dade County All-Star game...two-time All-State selection...runs 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds...had 33 receptions for 327 yards last season...played quarterback, running back, cornerback and returned kicks during high school career...chose UB over Central Florida, Florida A&M and Youngstown State.

Dan Minocchi · OL · 6-3 ·285
Fr. · Canton, OH · Canton Central Catholic

Physical offensive lineman who comes from tradition-rich high school program...four-year lettermen who was chosen to play in prestigious Big 33 game...two-time All-Ohio selection and member of Akron Beacon-Journal first-team All-Area team...chose UB "because of the coaching staff and opportunity to play"...made 34 straight starts in high school...also earned four letters in track, where he was an All-State performer, and two in basketball...also recruited by Michigan State, South Carolina, Kentucky and other MAC programs with his 60+-foot shot puts.

Rodney Morris · OLB ·6-0 ·210
Fr. ·Pahokee, FL ·Pahokee HS

Athletic and quick player who earned three letters at outside linebacker at Pahokee HS near Palm Beach, FL for head coach John Ford...first-team All-Conference selection and second-team All-Area player...participated in Outback Steakhouse All-Star game...part of state 6A championship team as a junior...an early offer as a junior by the UB coaching staff.

William Paris ·OL ·6-4 ·324
Fr. · Southfield, MI · Cass Technical HS

Mammoth offensive line prospect who earned second-team All-Michigan honors as a senior...named to Gridiron Great All-Midwest Team and was a Prep Star pre-season All-American...listed as the 34th-best prospect in the state of Michigan by Blue Chip magazine...earned three letters and was captain as a senior for coach Thomas Wilcher...outstanding student who was President of the National Society of Black Engineers...chose UB after official visit with Engineering faculty and because of the opportunity and outstanding program...also received interest from Michigan, California and Stanford...son of former NFL standout Bubba Paris.

Brian Pons ·DE ·6-3 ·245
Fr. ·Saddlebrook, NJ ·Saddlebrook HS

All-state selection in New Jersey and nominated to play in Governor's Bowl pitting best of New York against New Jersey...will play in New Jersey North-South All-Star game...timed at 4.7 in the 40-yard dash...holds school records for sacks in a career and in a season (12)...also was a long-snapper...played for head coach Darren White...also considered Maryland and Hofstra.

Randall Secky ·QB ·6-5 ·220
Fr. · Maple Grove, NY ·Maple Grove HS

Two-time Class D State Player of the Year in New York...led Maple Grove to state championship as a junior...named to New York State "Golden 50" team...two-time first-team All-State selection...earned four letters for head coach Curt Fisher...two-time All-Western New York selection...finished career with 71 touchdown passes, two shy of state record...holds state record for TD passes in a season (33) during his junior season...holds Western New York records for yards in a season (2,094), career attempts (657) and completions (336), career yards (5,914) and career touchdowns (71)...threw for 1,605 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior...made an early commitment to UB after junior year after consideration from Duke, Virginia Tech and Purdue.

Valdis Terrell ·DB ·5-10 ·175
Jr. ·Newport News, VA ·Valley Forge Military ·Lackawanna JC

A first-team All-Northeast Conference selection last season...strong cover man with 4.5 speed in 40...had two interceptions and nine pass breakups last season...helped Lackawanna to a No. 4 national JUCO ranking in pass defense and No. 5 in total defense...also attended Valley Forge Military Academy where he played with current UB offensive lineman Matt Baniewicz...chose UB after considering ineterest from Connecticut and Murray State.

Eric Weber · OL ·6-5 ·285
Fr. · Canandaigua, NY ·Canandaigua

A first-team All-State selection and honorable mention USA Today selection for head coach Mike Foster at Canandaigua...led team to New York State championship last season...earned three letters and was captain as a senior...a first-team All-Conference selection who has also lettered in basketball...chose UB over Wake Forest and Villanova...has big frame with excellent potential.

Vaughn Welch · WR/DB/KR ·6-0 ·180
Fr. · Berwick, PA ·Berwick

Premier return man in the state of Pennsylvania from national power Berwick HS where he played for legendary coach George Curry...a third-team All-State slection...helped lead team to two district titles and a state championship in 1997...says coach Curry: "he's the best high school kick returner I've ever seen"...had ten returns for touchdowns in his final two seasons...4.5 speed in 40-yard dash...had 38 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior and also had nine interceptions in last two seasons...played senior year with a broken wrist...made early commitment to UB after receiving offer from Temple and interest from Maryland and Pittsburgh.

Erik Zeppuhar ·OL ·6-4 ·290
Fr. · Allison Park, PA ·Shaler HS

Athletic offensive lineman with good potential...earned two letters for coach Frank Rocco and was a captain once...led team to Quad A North championship as a junior...outstanding student who was three-year president of his class...played with current Bulls Chris Shelly and Bob Dzvonick at Shaler...also recruited by Kent, Akron and Toledo.