Feb. 6, 2002

MOUNT PLEASANT -- Central Michigan University head football coach Mike DeBord announced Wednesday the signing of 18 preps to a national letter-of-intent for the 2002 season.

With a heavy emphasis on Michigan players, the Class of 2002 features six all-staters and brings a little of everything for the Chippewas.

"We're bringing in players at nearly every position," said DeBord, who is in his third season as the CMU mentor. "It's a class of young men with great character who will be successful in the classroom and on the football field.

"It will provide quality depth and fills certain needs at positions. We always look to recruit kids from Michigan first and we're pleased with the young men we signed."

Thirteen of the signees hail from Michigan while two are from Illinois, two from Ohio and one from Montreal, Quebec.

Included in the class are four offensive linemen, four defensive linemen, four safeties, three cornerbacks, two wide receivers and one tight end.

The all-staters include: 6-3, 230-pound defensive end Dan Bazuin (McBain), 6-4, 191-pound safety Dennis Doe (Detroit/Crockett), 6-3, 294-pound offensive lineman Eric Karbowski (Standish/Standish-Sterling), 6-4, 265-pound offensive lineman Drew Mormino (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Stevenson), 6-2, 280-pound defensive tackle Anthony Thompson (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) and 5-10, 180-pound cornerback Orlando Walton (Muskegon).

DeBord feels that a couple of the newcomers may be called upon this coming season.

"We anticipate that a wide receiver or defensive back may end up playing," said DeBord who lost only 10 seniors off last fall's 3-8 Chippewa squad. "We'd like to redshirt the offensive and defensive linemen but if we had to play them we would."

The CMU wide receivers are 6-3, 175-pound Obed Genaille (Montreal, Quebec), who is already enrolled in school after graduating at mid-year, and 6-1, 175-pound Markus Naves (Grand Rapids/Creston).

"We went after wide receivers with speed and size, and that's what these two give us," DeBord said.

The Chippewas also looked for that combination in the secondary where they inked seven players.

Incoming cornerbacks are Charles Archie (Grand Rapids/Creston), Tyrone Kelly (Sterling Heights/Renaissance) and Walton while the safeties are Doe, Doug Kress (Lapeer/West), Michael Ogle (Caledonia) and Jason Smith (Detroit/Bishop Borgess).

Size is the most noticeable trait on the lines, particularly on offense where the Chippewas signed 6-2, 285-pound Jay Gillette (Aurora, Ill./Waubonsie Valley), Karbowski, Mormino and 6-4, 340-pound Robert Stanger (Hamilton, Ohio).

On defense, Central inked one interior lineman in Thompson and three ends in Bazuin, 6-6, 255-pound Robert Daugherty (Utica) and 6-4, 255-pound Damon Petty (Detroit/Kettering).

CMU also signed David Condeni, a 6-4, 214-pound tight end from Farmington Hills Harrison.

The Chippewas have two scholarship remaining and DeBord indicated that CMU would still like to sign another wide receiver and a defensive back.