BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo head coach Craig Cirbus has announced that the football program has received commitments from 11 student-athletes on the first day of the National Letter of Intent signing period.

Although Cirbus will not respond to assessments or predictions on any individual student-athletes, he does offer the following statements: "Once again, we are excited at the enthusiasm and response that this recruiting class showed during official visits. After meeting faculty members, touring our world-class academic and non-academic facilities, and also after sharing the goals, hopes, and visions of the University with them, we became a very competitive option for these recruits."

"We raised the bar in terms of the level of student-athlete we sought. Many of the recruits that visited our campus also visited BIG EAST, ACC and Big 10 schools before making final decisions. Therefore, the quantity of signees is different than prior years but we feel the quality of these student-athletes in athletic terms is hopefully greater," added Cirbus.

As a personal observation, Cirbus noted, "this University's commitment to future excellence in athletics while still maintaining its stronghold of excellence and beyond in the undergraduate departments swayed many recruits and their families. The move to the Mid-American Conference and Division I-A football (in 1999) was an obvious help to our efforts."

"We, as a staff, made a commitment to earmark the states of New York, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania as our primary areas of concentration," Cirbus said. "One objective was to recruit from successful high school programs ­programs that had a history of winning, programs that put a high priority on success both on and off the field and programs that resonated the high standards that we have grown to expect from this football team. In that respect, we fared extremely well."

Although there will be additional commitments after the initial day of signing, the Bulls incoming freshmen class of 1998, as it currently stands, will be comprised of four players from the State of New York, two players from Ohio, one player each from Michigan and Maryland and three from Pennsylvania. Cirbus added: "It continues to be a pleasant surprise at the high level of respect that exists for this institution through out our neighboring commonwealths. We have run into many UB alumni that teach or work in many cities and high schools outside of New York and the word is getting out that UB is considerably far more than a regional institution of higher learning. It compares quite favorably to the major state public research institutions that surround our state."

Spring football practice will begin Thursday, April 2, 1998 and conclude with the annual Blue/White game on Saturday, April 26, 1998 at 2:00 pm.

1998 University at Buffalo Football Signees

Name - Position - Highlights

Matt Baniewicz - LB - Wayne, PA / Valley Forge Military Acad.
All Greater Rochester selection at Fairport HS.
Brother plays at Syracuse

Bob Dzvonick - DL - Pittsburgh, PA / Shaler HS Quad
Pittsburgh Post Fab 25 North First Team
A North All-Conference

Jamie Guerra - LB - Belle Vernon, PA / Belle Vernon HS
First-team All-Conference in football
All-East Regional selection by Prep Star Recruiting Guide

Wade Harlan - OL - Wellsboro, PA / Wellsboro HS
Northern Tier All-League Two Years
All Twin Tiers team
Among top 100 recruits in Pennsylvania

Wes Hayman - QB - Newcastle, DE / William Penn HS
Expected to be taken in professional baseball draft

Mike Lambert - DB - DeWitt, NY / Jamesville-DeWitt HS
All-New York State, Section III All-Star
All-Central New York State selection

Alex Lazo - LB - Brookhaven, NY / Bellport HS
New York State Class AA First-Team Defense as linebacker

Youdlain Marcellus - DB - Montreal, Quebec / Vanier HS
Led his team to conference championship

Bernard (Bam) McDonald - TB - Henrietta, NY / Rush-Henrietta HS
All Greater Rochester First-Team Offense

Joe McKoy - FB - Jamestown, NY / Alfred State College
First-team All WNY at Jamestown HS
Over 400 yards rushing at Alfred State in 1997

Aaron McMickle - DL - Shaker Heights, OH / Shaker Heights HS
First-team All-Conference selection
Best linemen in four years at Shaker Heights

Adam Ray - OL - Royal Oak, MI / Kimball HS
All Detroit selection, honorable mention
All-State selection (Michigan)

Craig Rohlfs - DB - Cincinnati, OH / Moeller HS
First-team Greater Cincinnati, Second team All-Metro
Voted top defensive player in city

Dahnel Singfield - WR - Baltimore, MD / Dunbar Senior HS
First-team All-City, First-team All-Metro
Will player in Shiner Bowl (PA vs. MD)