Aztecs Catch Limit, Wonder How Many Are Keepers : Football: Allotment of 25 letters of intent used, with linebackers, defensive backs taking many.

Al Luginbill, San Diego State’s football coach, sat at the head of the table in the football conference room Wednesday, hoping he had done all he possibly could on the recruiting trail.

But on the first day high school players were allowed to sign national letters of intent, there was one thing he couldn’t do.

“The one thing I can’t hurry is time, as much as I’d like to,” he said. “As much as I’d like to turn these kids into sophomores and juniors, I can’t do it.”

By the end of the day, Luginbill had filled SDSU’s allotment of 25 scholarships. He said all of the things you’d expect: SDSU had signed some quality kids, some talented kids, some bright kids. Now all that remains to be seen is how many will blossom.

The Aztecs emphasized defense. Luginbill’s goal all along was to sign several linebackers and defensive backs, and the Aztecs did: five linebackers and six defensive backs, as well from a quarterback who will likely move to defensive back (Michael Wynn, San Fernando High) and a tight end-linebacker--Jamal Duff from Foothill High in Tustin.

Duff was the last to sign . . . and also probably the biggest name. “This is one I held my breath on all the way through,” Luginbill said. “I don’t want to negate anyone else, but I would think Jamal Duff would be the pick of the litter in anyone’s class--not just at San Diego State.”

Duff was also recruited by Colorado, USC and Arizona.

“I wasn’t worried about the top ten (polls), the Big Eight or whatever,” Duff said. “That wasn’t a factor. What was a factor was my education and football.”

Duff said there are several things he likes about SDSU.

“The tight end situation--I have a chance to catch more balls, and I like the defense,” Duff said. “I like how they attack and how the linebackers are free to move.”

Said Luginbill: “You don’t see many like him. I’ve never seen a young man on film who didn’t get knocked off his feet like him. He’s the impact player of California on the defensive side of the ball this year. He was a man playing with boys. Dave Lay (SDSU offensive coordinator) said it best: ‘When he dropped into a zone, whatever zone it was got smaller.’ ”

Another key addition should be running back T.C. Wright from Mesa (Ariz.) Community College. Wright set a school record last season with 2,123 all-purpose yards.

SDSU also signed two defensive lineman, another quarterback, four offensive linemen, two wide receivers, a tight end and a punter.

“I feel it’s going to prove itself to be a very talented class,” Luginbill said. “It’s a very physical class, and it’s got good speed. That quotient usually breeds success.”

Two of the linebackers signed were from community colleges--Andy Coviello from Sacramento Community College in Fair Oaks, Calif., and Lou Foster from De Anza Community College in San Jose.

Duff, Mark Roberts (West Bakersfield High), Chad Provensal (Bakersfield High) and Lawrence Calhoun (Long Beach Poly High) are the rest of SDSU’s new linebackers.

Roberts was named second-team all-state by Cal-Hi Sports. Provensal played both linebacker and running back last year and broke the school season rushing record with 1,595 yards. He also made 110 tackles.

“He’s not 6-3 and 230 pounds (6-0, 205), but what he is is a blur,” Luginbill said.

Luginbill also is high on Brandon Bejarano, a defensive lineman from El Rancho.

“He may be the sleeper of the whole class,” Luginbill said. “All of our coaches felt he had tremendous potential.” Most of the recruits will redshirt, but because of SDSU’s weak defense last season--an average of 31 points allowed a game--linebackers and defensive backs will get close looks.

“As for the linebackers and secondary, we will look to the freshman class to see who can come to the forefront and help,” Luginbill said. “As for the others, we will likely be in a full redshirt mode.”

The two wide receivers--Curtis Shearer (Silver Creek) and Jeff Speech (Riordan)--are both from the Bay Area and extremely fast.

“I think in football, speed kills,” Luginbill said. “Not that we lacked it offensively, but we didn’t have a legitimate home-run threat all of the time. Speech and Shearer were both recruited by Pac 10 schools.”

Shearer visited Oregon, Oregon State and Cal, Speech Cal and Oregon State.

Since he is a defensive back, John McCartney (6-0, 190) of Lincoln has the inside track among San Diego County recruits to break into the lineup first.

“He’s got great quickness, and he’s a big kid,” Luginbill said. “That is the type of kid we have to have (in the secondary), because that’s the type of athlete that will be on offense. I think he’s got the maturity to compete as a sophomore.”

Other local players signing included Mira Mesa tight end Marc Ziegler and Chula Vista offensive tackle Louis Zumstein.

AREA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SIGNINGS

Name High School Pos. Ht. Wt. College Rod Alexander Serra WR 6-1 175 Northern Arizona Eric Alfsen Southwest OT 6-2 220 Navy Jerry Avery El Camino DB 5-10 170 Northern Arizona Brett Callan Point Loma WR 6-1 195 Cal Jesse Campbell Morse RB 5-8 165 Pacific Terrell Davis Lincoln FB 6-0 195 Long Beach State Junior Faave Oceanside LB 6-0 205 Hawaii Dareke Fleming Mission Bay DL 6-5 220 Cal Sale Isaia Oceanside DT 6-5 265 UCLA Jeff Kaiser Serra OL 6-8 280 Arizona State Adam Klukowski Ramona OT 6-6 270 Utah State Troy Martz Orange Glen OL 6-4 245 Arizona State John McCartney Lincoln DB 6-0 190 San Diego State Eric Olsen San Pasqual WR 6-1 190 Colorado State Pulu Poumele Oceanside LB 6-5 245 Arizona Derek Ross Mt. Carmel LB 6-4 214 Colorado State J.J. Rowlett Mira Mesa QB 6-4 205 UTEP Adam Savona El Camino TE 6-1 190 Azusa Pacific Vernon Shaver Crawford WR 6-1 185 Utah Ricky Spears El Camino DB 6-1 190 Cal Terry Vaughn Oceanside RB 5-9 176 Arizona Josh Wright RBV CB 6-2 172 Air Force Marc Ziegler Mira Mesa TE 6-4 215 San Diego State Louis Zumstein Chula Vista OL 6-4 265 San Diego State