With the start of the 2012 Menlo College football season right around the corner, the Oaks unveil their final 16 recruit signees to put the finishing touches on the 2012 roster.  Amjed Aboul-Hosn, Brandon Bell, Charles Bothuel, Eric Bueno, Kingston Kuehner, Sione Lavaka, Ryan Lester, Edwin Martinez, Morris Mathews, Andrew Morrow, Landon Poling, Jaden Rosselli, Gavin Silver, Garrett Spangler, Joshua Szin, Michael Whitside with suit up in Menlo blue and white in what will be year one of the Mark Speckman era.  Geddy Throne, a native of Herald, CA, will also join the mix as a Student Assistant. 

Speed, strength, and athleticism clearly make their presence among the dynamic group of 16, especially from an offensive standpoint.  Amjed Aboul-Hosn, Brandon Bell, Morris Mathews, and Landon Poling headline the offensive side of the ball, with Aboul-Hosn entering his Oaks tenure after racking up stellar numbers in his final high school campaign.  The incoming freshman running back excelled at Village Christian High School in Sun Valley, CA, leading the team with an impressive 1254 rushing yards last year, while piling up an outstanding 139.3 yards per game, and finding the end zone on 12 different occasions during his senior season. 

Brandon Bell makes the trek to Atherton all the way from Saint Petersburg, FL, bringing fantastic high school numbers from the running back position with him.  Bell rushed for over 800 yards on only 78 carries during his senior year at Dixie Hollins High School in Kenneth City, FL, while also totaling three kick returns for TD's.  "I'm truly excited in becoming an Oak and being able to play football again," said an overzealous Bell on the beginning of his Menlo career.  As far as Morris Mathews is concerned, the San Diego native brings a wealth of potential into his Oaks tenure.  While suiting up at Point Loma Senior High School, Mathews was tabbed as a two-time 1^st Team All-Western League offensive player as a running back and took part in the first annual Prepstar California football game featuring San Diego vs. Los Angeles. 

Landon Poling, an incoming freshman wide receiver, brings a sturdy combination of on-field talent and academic success into his time at Menlo.  At Thousand Oaks High School in Southern California, Poling established himself as an All-Marmonte League Honorable Mention his junior year, before taking his game to the next level as an All-Marmonte League 2^nd Team recipient as a senior.  The academic prowess is just as remarkable as the Camarillo, CA native was a Scholar Athlete all four years in high school, in addition to earning the National Merit Scholar Athlete Award.

Other offensive players to keep a keen eye on are Joshua Szin, an incoming freshman quarterback who has been selected a 1^st Team All-West Valley League Quarterback on three separate occasions while attending Granada Hills Charter High School, Michael Whiteside, an incoming freshman wide receiver who took home the Trans Valley League Most Valuable Receiver Award while suiting up Hughson High School in California, and Eric Bueno, an incoming freshman fullback who was a four year varsity starter at Point Loma Senior High School in San Diego.  Garrett Spangler, an incoming freshman wide receiver from Red Bluff, CA, also shows promise with his lanky 6'4" target. 

Shifting to the defensive side of the ball, don't sleep on the veteran presence Sione Lavaka and Jaden Rosselli.  Lavaka and his imposing 6'4," 306lb. frame should make him a force to be reckoned with as an incoming junior on the Oaks defensive line, while Rosselli comes over from Willamette University as an inside linebacker who has already played under Menlo Head Coach Mark Speckman. 

In addition to Lavaka and Rosselli, Andrew Morrow brings leadership to the table as an incoming freshman safety who was a two-time varsity Team Captain at Carlmot High School in nearby Belmont.  Edwin Martinez, an incoming freshman inside linebacker, displays potential after taking home his high school's 2012 Coaches Award, 2012 Cajon High School Principal's Award, and 2012 School Athlete of the Year honor.  Charles Bothuel, an incoming freshman, played both sides of the ball at Quartz Hill High School in California, but was a two-time team Defensive Player of the Year from his spot on the defensive line.  

Along with Morrow in the secondary, the Oaks welcome in Kingston Kuehner, an incoming freshman safety, and Gavin Silver, an incoming freshman cornerback from Ojai, CA with a positive outlook even before his first collegiate snap.  "I'm excited to contribute to the team and I prepare to give my best effort to help contribute to a successful season," said Silver on becoming a part of the Menlo family.  Rounding out the 2012 Oaks recruiting class is Ryan Lester, who hopes to help the squad on special teams.  The incoming freshman kicker suited up at Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, WA during his high school days. 

The final 16 recruit signees are in place and what was once a matter of months has turned into a matter of days until the 2012 kickoff and the christening of the Mark Speckman era.  Saturday, August 25^th at the University of British Columbia is where it will all begin.