The 2013 class is comprised of 15 offensive players and 8 defensive players with the greatest number of options added to the running back position.

"We think it's an exciting group," said fourth-year head coach Jed Stugart. "We feel like we have a lot of good players that will come in and compete for playing time this year."

"I want to congratulate our football team, our past team, our seniors, congratulate them on what they were able to accomplish our first year in the NSIC because I think that sets the tone for recruiting," Stugart added.

USF signed a total of 20 high school seniors and added three from the junior college ranks.

"We've not signed a big class this year because I think we have a lack of attrition. That's a good thing. We don't have a lot of people coming into our program and leaving."

The class represents eleven states, five from Colorado and Wisconsin, four from Minnesota, two from California, plus one each from Alamba, Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota.

"We have more to offer than we've ever had at USF. We have a track record for winning, we have a track record for graduating our players and we play in one of the best conferences in all of NCAA D-II," Stugart added.

In its first full season as a full fledge member of the NCAA DII, USF recorded an impressive 9-2 mark and enjoyed six weeks in the national top-25 poll, ranking as high as No. 17 last season.

"We have a good football program. Our job is to keep pushing and try to get better. We had a super year last year in wins and losses. We have to try and do better. If you don't try and get better, you're going in the wrong direction. This is a year we'll try to do better than we did last year, and we'll see what happens."

USF opens the 2013 season Saturday September 7 when they visit the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

For a complete look at USF's 2013 recruiting class, including bios, quotes, and highlights, please visit USF's Signing Day Central at www.usfcougars.com