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BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo 2002 football recruiting class is ranked at the top of the Mid-American Conference in The Sporting News annual college football guide.

The selections, done by recruiting gurus Rivals.com, have Buffalo's 2002 recruiting class - head coach Jim Hofher and staff's second at UB -fourth among the 14 football playing schools in the MAC. MAC newcomer Central Florida - which Buffalo hosts on Nov. 9 at UB Stadium -was ranked first, followed by MAC East Division defending champion Marshall and defending MAC champion Toledo. The Bulls were fourth followed by Western Michigan, Akron, Eastern Michigan, Miami (OH), Central Michigan and Northern Illinois rounding out the top ten.

"To be ranked among the elite in the MAC certainly speaks to the tremendous job that our staff did in identifying outstanding student-athletes and than exposing them to what the University at Buffalo has to offer," said head coach Jim Hofher. "We certainly feel very good about the players entering our program, but also know that you can't really judge a recruit until a young man has been in college for at least a year to recognize his college football playing abilities."

In addition, senior tight end Chad Bartoszek (Salamanca, NY/Salamanca)

Chad Bartoszek

became the first Bull since UB's return to Division I-A in 1999 to be recognized among The Sporting News' Top 25 by position listing. Bartoszek was ranked 21st in the nation among tight ends, despite being the second-most productive returning collegian after hauling in 42 passes for 441 yards and four touchdowns last season. The only player more productive in terms of receptions last year was Oklahoma's Trent Smith (61 receptions for 564 yards and six touchdowns), who TSN selected first in its rankings.

Buffalo begins fall practices on Thursday, August 8th and will host Lehigh in the season opener on Thursday, August 29th at UB Stadium.