Ouachita Recruits, Signs 29; 25 from Arkansas

Featured, Football, Tigers | February 4, 2015 by Sporting Life Arkansas | 0 Comments

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – After a record-setting 2014 season in which the Tigers finished 10-1 and were ranked ninth in the final AFCA Top 25 poll, the Ouachita football program continued their success into the 2015 recruiting season. Losing the winningest class in program history, the Tigers look to this recruiting class to fill a void left by 20 seniors.

The 2015 signing class includes 29 total signees. With this class, the program continues its successful tradition of signing high school athletes and growing and developing them within the family. Similar to their 2014 on-the-field performance, the Tigers dominated the recruiting scene in the state of Arkansas, signing 25 in-state student-athletes.

Ouachita addressed needs at the defensive line, signing seven players, three at defensive end and four interior lineman. The Tigers graduate four from the defensive line this season.

At the linebacker spot, the Tigers signed two from northeast Arkansas that will improve the athleticism at that position. Ouachita will return all but one linebacker from 2014.

The Tigers’ biggest need on the defensive side was in a defensive backfield that graduated three starters, including two All-Americans. Ouachita added three safeties and one cornerback.

“Defensively, a team cannot be good unless they are talented up front,” said Ouachita Head Coach Todd Knight. “I am excited about the defensive linemen that we are bringing in. That is where you win football games. On the back end, I feel like we improved our athleticism with every signee.”

On offensive line, the Tigers lost a combined 93 starts at the interior line position, two of which earned All-Region honors in 2014. The three seniors were replaced by signing three tackles and three interior lineman.

Ouachita bolstered an already potent offensive backfield, signing two from northwest Arkansas. The Tigers will look to replace a 1,200 yard All-Region rusher.

The Tigers added five in-state playmakers to fill the spots left by three senior wide receivers. The Tigers added depth to the tight end position with a signee from northeast Arkansas. Ouachita also added two multi-positional athletes to this class.

“We really addressed our needs offensively,” said Knight. “We signed some guys who will have to play early, and some guys who are going to be dominant figures down the road.”

With the loss of an All-American punt returner, the Tigers added four athletes who will contribute to the position.

“This past season, Etuaj Allen set the bar extremely high in our return game,” said Knight. “I feel this class, along with what we have on campus, will continue this tradition of solid special teams play.”

This is the largest class that the Tigers have signed since the two-time GAC championship class of 2011.

“Our coaching staff did a phenomenal job of covering all parts of the state,” said assistant coach Brett Shockley. “We definitely dominated our own territory this year. From top to bottom, this class is extremely athletic, but more importantly, a high-character class. These young men will represent their families and Ouachita well over the next four years.”

The Tigers are currently in offseason workouts. Spring football will start on the first week of March, where the Tigers begin their quest for a third Great American Conference title.