Football inks 13 on signing day 
Brent Foster
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Sports
The foundation for the next four years of Truman football has been laid. Thirteen high school seniors signed letters of intent to play football at Truman on Wednesday.
This season's class is much smaller than those from former head coach Shannon Currier. Last season the Bulldogs signed a record 33 players. In 2008, the 'Dogs signed 28 players.
"We really want to focus on quality and not quantity," head coach Gregg Nesbitt said.
Nesbitt became head coach in December, the middle of the recruiting period, but said that did not affect recruiting. He praised the coaching staff for its hard work with recruiting.
"No excuses, I don't think the timing made a lick of difference in terms of this recruiting class," Nesbitt said. "We hit the ground running."
Nesbitt said Truman did not target specific positions, but wanted a balanced class. The class includes two punters/kickers, three players listed on offense, three players on defense, four listed as playing both way and one listed as an athlete.
Of the 13 recruits, seven are from Missouri, four are from Illinois, one is from Iowa and one is from Texas. Nesbitt said one of his goals is to establish a recruiting base in areas north of Interstate 70 and especially around the St. Louis area.
Truman finished 2-9 last season and was last in the MIAA in total defense, but could get some help from defensive end Nic Abbate of Carol Stream, Ill. Abbate had 75 tackles, nine sacks and six forced fumbles for Glenbard North High School. He was also a member of the Chicago Sun-Times all-state team his senior season.
This season's class is much smaller than those from former head coach Shannon Currier. Last season the Bulldogs signed a record 33 players. In 2008, the 'Dogs signed 28 players.
"We really want to focus on quality and not quantity," head coach Gregg Nesbitt said.
Nesbitt became head coach in December, the middle of the recruiting period, but said that did not affect recruiting. He praised the coaching staff for its hard work with recruiting.
"No excuses, I don't think the timing made a lick of difference in terms of this recruiting class," Nesbitt said. "We hit the ground running."
Nesbitt said Truman did not target specific positions, but wanted a balanced class. The class includes two punters/kickers, three players listed on offense, three players on defense, four listed as playing both way and one listed as an athlete.
Of the 13 recruits, seven are from Missouri, four are from Illinois, one is from Iowa and one is from Texas. Nesbitt said one of his goals is to establish a recruiting base in areas north of Interstate 70 and especially around the St. Louis area.
Truman finished 2-9 last season and was last in the MIAA in total defense, but could get some help from defensive end Nic Abbate of Carol Stream, Ill. Abbate had 75 tackles, nine sacks and six forced fumbles for Glenbard North High School. He was also a member of the Chicago Sun-Times all-state team his senior season.
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