SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Nine Cal Poly football players have been named to the Great West Conference All-Academic Team for the 2009 season. Seniors David Fullerton and Carlton Gillespie were honored as were five juniors and a pair of sophomore. Fullerton is an industrial technology major while Gillespie majored in psychology. Fullerton, a safety, and Gillespie, a linebacker, both were second-team All-Great West Conference selections last fall after earning first-team honors as juniors. This year’s juniors on...

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- A total of 12 high school football players, including two from area high schools, have signed national letters of intent to continue their football careers at Cal Poly. In addition, Cal Poly is announcing the transfer of running back/return specialist Mark Rodgers from West Virginia. Rodgers has signed a financial aid package and will have two years of eligibility remaining with the Mustangs The announcement was made Wednesday by second-year Mustang football...

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Senior defensive end Ryan Shotwell, who led the team with 17 quarterback hurries and climbed to No. 6 on Cal Poly's career sacks list, was named the Mustangs' most valuable player for the 2009 football season. Shotwell was presented the honor at the team's annual awards brunch Sunday at Embassy Suites in San Luis Obispo. Shotwell surpassed his brother, Kyle Shotwell, with 5.0 sacks last fall, giving him 19.5 for his career....

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- A pair of community college transfers -- a linebacker and a defensive end -- have enrolled at Cal Poly and will continue their football careers with the Mustangs. The announcement was made by head football coach Tim Walsh and Mustang director of athletics Alison Cone. The signees are Kyle Murphy, a 6-4, 260-pound defensive end from Santa Rosa Junior College, and A.J. Caviglia, a 6-2, 215-pound linebacker from Fresno City College. Cal...

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Junior fullback Jordan Yocum, Cal Poly's leading rusher last fall averaging 51 yards per game, is an honorable mention on the 2009 edition of the College Sporting News' Fabulous Fifty. Selected by staff members of College Sporting News, the Fabulous Fifty, unlike other All-American teams, is designed to be like a real team, capable of taking the field and competing in a game. A total of 138 student-athletes representing 70 schools...

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Former Cal Poly wide receiver Ramses Barden caught his first pass in a National Football League game Sunday afternoon. Barden, activated for just the third time this season, caught a 16-yard pass from quarterback Eli Manning on the first play of the fourth quarter for the New York Giants, who lost to the Minnesota Vikings 44-7 in the final regular season game for both teams at Mall of America Field in...

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Former Cal Poly linebacker Mark Restelli finished his first season in the Canadian Football League as the leading tackler for the Edmonton Eskimos. Named the opening day starter at weak inside linebacker, Restelli played most of the downs on defense -- he also played on every Eskimo special team except field goal -- and recorded 58 defensive tackles, 16 special teams tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, three passes knocked...

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Sophomore slotback Jake Romanelli, senior defensive end Ryan Shotwell and sophomore cornerback Asa Jackson are Cal Poly’s representatives on the 2009 All-Great West Conference first team. Romanelli finished the year as the top Mustang rusher, gaining 492 yards on 107 carries, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and scoring two touchdowns. The Templeton High School graduate rushed for 275 yards in four conference games, third-best in the Great West, and garnered his...