Adams State College is going to live up to its name in the coming years.

At least six players from Adams County schools signed letters of intent to play football at Adams State in Alamosa.

Offensive lineman Dean Dodero and wide receiver Keith Kircher, Ranum High School; running back Jamie Morgan, Thornton High School; and defensive lineman Nate Baldwin, linebacker Kyle Hitt and defensive lineman Matthew Kuykendoll, Northglenn High School, all signed to play at the Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference four-year school.

Also, Thornton head coach Jeff Priestley said Aaron Serna will sign with the Grizzlies as well.

Adams State head coach Wayne McGinn, who is from Westminster and attended Westminster High School, said the Grizzly coaching staff scours all of Colorado and wasn't focusing on Adams County.

"It was just a good area for us this year," McGinn said. "We’re very excited to have them. They’re all quality kids."

"For whatever reason, I think (Adams State) was just a fit for them," said McGinn, who has about two months to visit recruits in person and hopefully get them to come down to visit the campus before the Feb. 1 signing date.

The only other player currently on the team from the area is Tyler Gallas, a Westy native who attended Northglenn High School.

McGinn was excited about Dodero’s combination of size and athleticism. Even though Dodero, a 6-2 and 245 pounds, will man the offensive line, McGinn said he was sold on the Ranum alum when he made an interception on defense.

McGinn said Kircher could see playing time early as a wide receiver to help the depth in the Grizzlies’ spread offense.

"We think he can come in and compete," McGinn said. "Second (string), maybe start right away."

McGinn thinks Morgan will fit in well with ASC’s single-back set with his combination of speed and agility.

"He can take the ball at anytime and make a touchdown," said McGinn of Morgan, who rushed for 1,527 and scored 18 touchdowns this fall.

Morgan's high school coach agrees.

"He did a great job for us and I’m going to look forward to what’s he’s going to do for them," Priestly said.

Since ASC hadn’t received Serna’s letter of intent, McGinn was forbidden by NCAA rules to comment on the former Trojan split end and safety. Priestley couldn’t say what position Serna would play at in college, but he felt good about his two players going down to Alamosa.

Baldwin and Kuykendoll manned the defensive line for the Norse, and McGinn believes their years together will help them in the Grizzlies’ 3-4 defensive scheme.

"They played real hard and made things happen," McGinn said. "We’re really excited about them."

McGinn said Hitt, the Front Range League Defensive Player of the Year in 2005, could play strong safety or outside linebacker for Adams State.

"He has that natural instinct for finding the ball and making things happen," McGinn said.

McGinn said having teammates sign can help in convincing a player to go to a particular school, as well as help with adjusting to college life.