GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Colorado Mesa head football coach Tremaine Jackson announced the signing of 14 student athletes that will be eligible to play in the fall of 2020. The distribution of offensive and defensive players is pretty even with seven offensive players and six defensive players with one athlete that is undecided on position.
"This class is special!," said coach Jackson. "One, because it's my first signing class as a head coach. Most of all though, they submitted themselves to our vision, and wanted to be apart of the special things going on at our University. For that, I am forever grateful, and I can't wait to get them on campus so they can start helping us work toward the cost of a championship!"
Chance Aumiller – WR – 6'3" – 165 – Cheyenne, Wyo. (Cheyenne East High School)
Played for Chad Goff at East High School...Finished his senior season with 52 catches for 1,036 yards and 18 touchdowns...Had 14 catches for 237 yards and five touchdowns against Natrona County...Played in the 47th North-South Shrine Game for Wyoming.
Gus Campbell – OL – 6'2" – 260 – Queen Creek, Ariz. (Queen Creek High School)
Helped lead Queen Creek to the State 6A semifinal game where they fell to Red Mountain 21-9...Led an offensive line that rushed for an average of 173 yards per game and finished with 50 total touchdowns.
Brayden Flynn - LB - 6'3" - 205 - Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton High School)
Previously committed to the Naval Academy out of high school.
Micah Hafler – DL – 6'3" – 210 – Littleton, Colo. (Heritage High School)
Played for coach Tyler Knoblock at Heritage High School...First Team All-Centennial League selection...Second Team All-State selection...Finished his senior season with 117 total tackles and 24 tackles for loss...Had 11 sacks and 34 hurries.
Chose CMU for the fit. "I felt I could grow new friendships, get a good education and play football."
Gavin Herberg – QB – 6'1" – 200 – Colorado Springs, Colo. (Pine Creek High School)
Led Pine Creek to the State 4A Title with a 34-3 win over Broomfield and earned the Most Valuable Player award for the game...Finished his senior season with 1,722 yards and 25 touchdowns passing...Rushed for another 470 yards and seven touchdowns.
Nathan Lemke – OL – 6'3" – 260 – Palmer Lake, Colo. (Palmer Ridge High School)
Helped lead Palmer Ridge to the 3A State Championship with a 35-13 win over Pueblo South...Helped lead an offensive line that averaged over 400 yards of total offense a game and 91 total touchdowns.
D'aris McMillan – RB – 5'10" – 215 – Diboll, Texas (Diboll High School)
Played for coach Blake Morrison at Diboll High School...Rushed for a program record 1,395 yards and 15 touchdowns during his senior season...Rushed for 330 yards and two touchdowns against Crockett...All-State selection.
Chose CMU for the feel of being at home.
Mahkai Piper – DE – 6'3" – 245 – Broomfield, Colo. (Broomfield High School)
Played for the Eagles of Broomfield High School and coaches Hubbard and Leonard...All-Front Range Conference selection...Finished his senior season with 38 total tackles and three sacks.
Chose CMU for the art programs, the campus and football program. Aspires to become an animator or concept artist.
Santiago Ramirez – DB – 5'6" – 170 – Littleton, Colo. (Chatfield High School)
Recognized as All-State as a defensive back...Two-time All-Conference selection as a defensive back.
Chose CMU for the athletic and academic opportunities it provides.
Bradley Shafer – LB – 6'2" – 190 – Centennial, Colo. (Grandview High School)
All-Metro East Second Team selection...Finished his senior season with 61 tackles and had 12 of those go for a loss...Had two sacks that resulted in 12 yards of lost yardage.
Tyler Shields – RB – 5'8" – 170 – Windsor, Colo. (Windsor High School)
Played for coach Chris Jones at Windsor High School...Two-time Academic All-State...Had 301 yards and three touchdowns prior to a knee injury that sidelined him the remainder of the season.
Chose CMU for the connection with the coaching staff.
Trey Towndrow – ATH – 6'1" – 180 – Lakewood, Colo. (Green Mountain High School)
Played for Jesse German at Green Mountain High School...Finalist for the Golden Helmet in Colorado as the top player in the state...All-State Quarternack and All-Mountain Metro Conference First Team selection at quarterback and safety...Academic All-State by the National Football Foundation Colorado Chapter...Finished his senior season with 3,251 total yards, throwing for 1,903, rushing for 1,287 and had 61 receiving yards...Finished with eight interceptions with two returned for touchdowns.
Chose CMU for the campus and coaching staff along with the smaller class sizes. Enjoys the outside activities Grand Junction has to offer.
JUNIOR COLLEGE / 4-YEAR TRANSFERS
Jamir Whitelow – WR – 6'2" – 190 – Peoria, Ill. (Tyler Junior College)
Had 12 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown in his final season at Tyler...Had three catches for 35 yards against Kilgore.
Cliff Jackson – DB – 6'0" – 175 – Chico, Calif. (Butte College)
Finished his sophomore season with 21 tackles and four interceptions which tied for the NorCal Conference lead...Had two interceptions and two breakups in a 13-10 loss to Fresno City College...Attended Chico Senior High School.
Chose CMU to be a part of a program that is about to takeoff. Aspires to be a counselor that helps troubled youth.
Bryant Bowen – LB – 6'0" – 210 – Stockton, Calif. (Jacksonville University)
Bowen played linebacker at Jacksonville last season before they dropped the program...Finished seventh on the team in total tackles with 53...Also had a forced fumble, fumble recovery and blocked a kick during his final season with the Dolphins...Had a season-high eight tackles against Dartmouth.
Chose CMU for the dual degree program with business administration and accounting where he aspires to become a CPA.
Complete List of Signees
Chance Aumiller – WR – 6'3" – 165 – Cheyenne, Wyo. (Cheyenne East High School)
Bryant Bowen – LB – 6'0" – 210 – Stockton, Calif. (Jacksonville University)
Gus Campbell – OL – 6'2" – 260 – Queen Creek, Ariz. (Queen Creek High School)
Brayden Flynn - LB - 6'3" - 205 - Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton High School)
Micah Hafler – DL – 6'3" – 210 – Littleton, Colo. (Heritage High School)
Gavin Herberg – QB – 6'1" – 200 – Colorado Springs, Colo. (Pine Creek High School)
Cliff Jackson – DB – 6'0" – 175 – Chico, Calif. (Butte College)
Nathan Lemke – OL – 6'3" – 260 – Palmer Lake, Colo. (Palmer Ridge High School)
D'aris McMillan – RB – 5'10" – 215 – Diboll, Texas (Diboll High School)
Mahkai Piper – DE – 6'3" – 245 – Broomfield, Colo. (Broomfield High School)
Santiago Ramirez – DB – 5'6" – 170 – Littleton, Colo. (Chatfield High School)
Bradley Shafer – LB – 6'2" – 190 – Centennial, Colo. (Grandview High School)
Tyler Shields – RB – 5'8" – 170 – Windsor, Colo. (Windsor High School)
Trey Towndrow – ATH – 6'1" – 180 – Lakewood, Colo. (Green Mountain High School)
Jamir Whitelow – WR – 6'2" – 190 – Peoria, Ill. (Tyler Junior College)
