Marshall Sperbeck was nearly shouting with glee on the phone. Then he composed himself.

The Sacramento State football coach had good reason to be giddy. He embraced the signatures of a good recruiting haul, including a number of players from the Sacramento region.

"It's the best class we've had since I've been here, and I'm ecstatic, fired up," said Sperbeck, preparing for his seventh season. "We got a lot of really good athletes that will help us, guys that can play different positions."

Cole Hannum of Nevada Union High School may be the top signee of the lot. A star running back and linebacker at Marysville High, the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Hannum transferred to Nevada Union for his senior season. He didn't play, however, after the CIF ruled him ineligible because of that transfer.

"He's a really good player and he'll help us," Sperbeck said.

If Hannum isn't the top signee, then perhaps it was Franklin cornerback Marcus Green. He was a Bee All-Metro pick who earned All Sac-Joaquin, All NorCal and All-State honors. "He's the kind of kid that if he was an inch or two taller, we don't get him," Sperbeck said. "He's a great player."

Daniel Kniffin started last fall at quarterback for Rocklin, the got hurt and returned as a receiver.

"He could turn out to be a good quarterback for us, or play receiver," Sperbeck said. "He's an example of getting a good athlete."

Placer tight end Stone Sander, Monterey Trail defensive end Viliami Umufuke, Del Campo lineman Kyle Evanski and Rio Americano tight end Jordan Vinson are also headed to Sac State.

Vinson could dress in a phone booth, his high school coach Max Miller said. "He's got a Super Man body," the coach said.

Vinson played guard, tight end, linebacker and running back for Rio Americano. For more on Sac State, check Mark Billingsley's story in Thursday's Bee.

Midyear Signees Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/Previous School Justin Aysse OL 6-5 275 Jr. Downey, Calif./Long Beach City JC Joey DePalma WR 6-1 195 Jr. Shingle Springs, Calif./American River JC Tyrone Duckett DB 5-11 205 Jr. Alameda, Calif./Washington State Kyle Greenwood WR 6-0 180 Jr. San Diego, Calif./Memphis Dalton Hunkle WR 6-2 210 Jr. Murrieta, Calif./Mt. San Jacinto JC Robby Kendall DB 5-11 180 Jr. Reno, Nev./Butte JC Mike Sellers DB 5-11 185 Jr. Ewa Beach, Hawaii/Hawaii Russell Smith LB 6-2 210 Fr. Loomis, Calif./Del Oro HS John Wallace OL 6-4 285 So. Somerville, Mass./UMass

Fall Enrollees Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/Previous School Andrew Admire OL 6-5 255 Fr. Anaheim, Calif./Esperanza HS Lake Aiono OL 6-2 285 Fr. West Covina, Calif./South Hills HS Jonathan Bade OL 6-5 230 Fr. American Canyon, Calif./American Canyon HS Nick Crouch DB 6-1 220 Fr. Trabuco Canyon, Calif./Tesoro HS Matt Ellen OL 6-7 245 Fr. Kingsburg, Calif./Kingsburg HS Kyle Evanski OL 6-2 275 Fr. Sacramento, Calif./Del Campo HS Ofa Fifita LB 5-11 235 Jr. San Bernardino, Calif./Riverside JC Marcus Green DB 5-10 170 Fr. Elk Grove, Calif./Franklin HS Cole Hannum LB 6-2 230 Fr. Penn Valley, Calif./Nevada Union HS Aaron Maher WR 6-3 205 Fr. Sebastopol, Calif./Analy HS Jordan Robinson RB 5-9 180 Fr. Chino Hills, Calif./Ayala HS Stone Sander TE 6-4 225 Fr. Auburn, Calif./Placer HS Ben Sorensen DL 6-4 215 Fr. Clovis, Calif./Buchanan HS Pu'e Togia OL 6-5 255 Fr. Carson, Calif./Carson HS Viliami Umufuke DL 6-3 230 Fr. Elk Grove, Calif./Monterey Trail HS Jihad Vercher QB 5-10 215 Fr. Hawthorne, Calif./Salesian HS Jordan Vinson LB 6-3 200 Fr. Sacramento, Calif./Rio Americano HS - By Joe Davidson - Follow on Twitter: @SacBee_JoeD

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