16 Matadors have been placed with 4-year schools since December
Yuma, Arizona – February 6, 2008 -- Arizona Western College is proud to announce that Matador Football players Kamalu Umu, Mike Andrews and Courtney Burns have all signed official letters of intent today as part of National Letter of Intent Day. Umu has signed to play for NCAA Division I-AA Charleston Southern University next fall, Andrews has inked his letter with the NCAA Division I University of Nevada (Reno), and Burns will be attending the University of Nebraska-Omaha, an NCAA Division II school. All three will attend AWC this spring and participate in the Matadors’ spring drills before leaving in May to attend their respective 4-year schools. Today’s announcement brings the total number of Matador Football players that have signed with 4-year schools since the end of the Matadors’ 2007 season last November to 16.
Umu was a true ironman for the Matadors as he started every game the Matadors played during his 2-year career. Arriving in Yuma in the summer of the 2006 from his hometown of Kapaa, Hawaii, Umu immediately took his place in the middle of the Matadors’ starting defensive line. As a junior, Umu lined up next to NJCAA All-American Luis Vasquez, and provided the rush from up the middle-many times while double-teamed-while Vasquez pursued from the outside. Umu wound up with one sack as a freshman, and was one of the team’s top tacklers. As a sophomore, with Vasquez graduated, Umu became a driving force in the Matadors’ pass rush-in two ways. Umu actually made the first interception of the season for the Matadors, surprising eventual 1st Team-All Region I/All-WSFL quarterback, Mesa’s Dax Crum, by snatching a pass out of the air and returning it 15 yards in the first game of the 2007 season. He also was one of the Mats’ main run stoppers in ’07, making 41 tackles-6 of them solo.
Meanwhile, Andrews showed the Wolfpack enough promise as a freshman to warrant a spot on their NCAA DI squad for 2008. Like Umu, Andrews first came to AWC in August of 2006 from Hawaii. The native of Kalahei began the ’06 season backing up Vasquez at the defensive end position, and came on strong toward the end of his freshman season, registering ½ sack in 10 games of action. Andrews impressed the Matadors’ coaching staff enough in spring drills and in ’07 preseason camp to solidify a starting defensive tackle position to start the season. Andrews’ season was cut short in Week 2, though, when he went down against Scottsdale with what proved to be a season-ending knee injury.
Like Andrews, thanks to injury, Burns never got a full chance to show Matador fans what he could do. The Miami, Florida native won the starting kick and punt returner jobs in preseason camp, and was also in the rotation at tailback, but bone spurs in his ankle put him on the sideline for the rest of the season. Before his injury, Burns returned 3 kicks for 46 yards and 2 punts for 15 yards, while also rushing 8 times for 14 yards.
To see the full list of Matador players to sign since December, click the link below:
2007 Matador Football Players who have been placed with 4-year schools
