RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Forty-one new players will join the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys football program, with players in the signing class coming from nine home states, head coach Raymond Monica announced Wednesday. Seventeen of the newcomers are from the state of Arkansas.
“I’d like to thank coach (Jared) Haas for everything he’s done, because it takes a lot of time and effort being a recruiting coordinator,” said head coach Raymond Monica. “I’d also like to thank the coaching staff for their efforts recruiting these guys over the year. Today is the day it all comes together, and I’d like to thank everyone who played a part in helping us bring these recruits to campus. Every class you try to fill needs at every position, and I think we’ve done that this year.
35 of the newcomers are high-school signees, while six are transfer students who have enrolled at Arkansas Tech for the spring 2016 semester.
A complete list of signees follows:
2016 High School Signees
Name | Position | Height | Weight | Hometown (High School) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tre Chism | DT | 6-2 | 261 | Little Rock, Ark. (North Little Rock) |
Collin Christian | WR | 6-4 | 195 | Rogers, Ark. (Rogers Heritage) |
Kemar Coleman | OL | 6-4 | 275 | Brinkley, Ark. (Brinkley) |
Garrett Collins | WR | 5-10 | 160 | Greenwood, Ark. (Greenwood) |
C.J. Denman | DE | 6-2 | 230 | Centerville, Texas (Centerville) |
Austin Dobbs | OL | 6-4 | 265 | Atkins, Ark. (Atkins) |
Cole Fritschen | OT | 6-7 | 310 | Bryant, Ark. (Bryant) |
Bo Gray | TE | 6-4 | 235 | Malvern, Ark. (Malvern) |
Daquan Greene | LB | 6-2 | 230 | Brinkley, Ark. (Brinkley) |
Lucas Hayes | LB | 6-0 | 200 | Coppell, Texas (Coppell) |
Tyler Holloway | OL | 6-3 | 280 | Farmerville, La. (Union Parish) |
Colt Housley | RB | 6-0 | 230 | Hot Springs, Ark. (Lakeside) |
Xavier Iverson | WR | 5-10 | 184 | England, Ark. (England) |
Corey Jackson | TE | 6-3 | 245 | Pine Bluff, Ark. (Pine Bluff) |
Armani Jenkins | CB | 5-10 | 162 | McKinney, Texas (Boyd) |
Juan Johnson | CB | 5-11 | 185 | Edmond, Okla. (Santa Fe) |
Eldric Jones | RB | 5-9 | 190 | Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Central) |
Jimmie Lofton | SS | 6-1 | 200 | Dallas, Texas (Mesquite) |
Kaleb McMillion | OT | 6-5 | 300 | Columbia, La. (Caldwell Parish) |
Austin McNeely | TE | 6-3 | 240 | Pottsville, Ark. (Pottsville) |
Cason Maertens | QB | 6-0 | 180 | Benton, Ark. (Benton) |
Mason Minnix | OL | 6-1 | 270 | Tulsa, Okla. (Jenks) |
Delwin Richard | CB | 5-9 | 165 | Edmond, Okla. (Edmond Santa Fe) |
Leonardo Shinn | SS | 6-1 | 185 | Birmingham, Ala. (Baker) |
Cameron Solomon | DB | 6-0 | 180 | Ashdown, Ark. (Ashdown) |
A.J. Stover-Grant | DE | 6-1 | 235 | Coppell, Texas (Coppell) |
Jaylen Sutton | WR | 5-10 | 175 | Murphy, Ala. (Murphy) |
Laquirous Taft | RB | 5-9 | 165 | Tulsa, Okla. (Rogers College) |
Devarius Taylor | WR | 6-3 | 195 | Memphis, Tenn. (Southwind) |
Travis Tolbert | CB | 5-11 | 180 | Celina, Texas (Celina) |
Drew Turner | OT | 6-3 | 270 | Russellville, Ark. (Russellville) |
Sam Williams | OT | 6-4 | 280 | Batesville, Ark. (South Side) |
Dakarai Willis | QB | 6-0 | 180 | Tulsa, Okla. (Washington) |
A’Dontae Winston | SS | 6-2 | 200 | Benton, Ark. (Benton) |
Mekall Yancie | QB | 6-4 | 230 | Americus, Ga. (Americus-Sumter) |
2016 Mid-Year Transfers
Name | Position | Height | Weight | Hometown (Previous School) |
Greg Abrams | DB | 5-11 | 170 | Lakeland, Fla. (Stillman College) |
Sheldon Jackson | DT | 6-1 | 186 | Birmingham, Ala. (Stillman College) |
Jalen Luke | LB | 6-1 | 186 | Birmingham, Ala. (Stillman College) |
Eric McPherson | LB | 5-11 | 221 | Jackson, Miss. (East Central [Miss.] JC) |
Toriaun Samuels | OL | 6-2 | 310 | Hazlehurst, Miss. (Jones [Miss.] JC) |
Dwight Williams | DB | 5-9 | 180 | Mobile, Ala. (Alabama Prep) |
Signees’ bios are as follows:
*** Please note: Biographical information is listed as submitted by our signees. Signees who did not submit the information sheet, or submitted an incomplete information sheet have not been listed. However, once their information is submitted it will be available at www.arkansastechsports.com.***
Greg Abrams
DB / 5-11 / 170 / Lakeland, Fla. (Stillman College)
Was an all-county defensive selection twice… played on a district championship team.
Tre Chism
DT / 6-2 / 261 / Little Rock, Ark. (North Little Rock)
A two-time all-state selection… two-time all-star… Co-defensive-lineman of the year… played on two district championship teams.
Kemar Coleman
OL / 6-4 / 275 / Brinkley, Arkansas (Brinkley)
Played one season at Brinkley and notched 64 tackles and 26 pancake blocks…an all-conference selection.
C.J. Denman
DE / 6-2 / 230 / Centerville, Texas (Centerville)
The 2014 defensive newcomer of the year… a 2015 all-district selection… played on a state runner-up team.
Austin Dobbs
OL / 6-4 / 265 / Atkins, Arkansas (Atkins)
117 total tackles his senior year… one sack and 11 tackles for loss… two-time all-conference selection… all-state as a senior… named lineman of the year… nominated for the all-star team.
Bo Gray
TE / 6-4 / 235 / Malvern, Arkansas (Malvern)
4A Preseason all-region and all-state… member of the Hooten’s All-Arkansas team… also a team captain.
Daquan Greene
LB / 6-2 / 230 / Brinkley, Ark. (Brinkley)
460 total tackles… 4,636 yards rushing over his career…an all-conference (2x) and all-state selection… was also nominated for all-star and named team captain.
Colt Housley
RB / 6-0 / 230 / Hot Springs, Arkansas (Lakeside)
Rushed for 1,500 yards as a senior, averaging six yards per carry… 22 rushing touchdowns… was an all-state, all-Garland County, and all-conference selection… named Garland County co-offensive MVP… a 1st team All-Arkansas varsity runningback… played on the Class 5A South championship team… his high school coach says “Colt is a tough, hard nosed, talented football player. He is a natural leader and will be a great addition to the ATU football family.”
Xavier Iverson
WR / 5-10 / 184 / England, Arkansas (England)
Earned all-conference honors three times… also a team captain… all-state honors as a senior at wide receiver… played on the top-ranked offense in the state, as his team won a District 5-2A championship.
Corey Jackson
TE / 6-3 / 245 / Pine Bluff, Arkansas (Pine Bluff)
A member of the all-SEARK 2nd team… played on two 6A State Championship teams… also played baseball.
Jalen Luke
LB / 6-1 / 186 / Birmingham, Ala. (Stillman College)
Averaged 100 receiving yards per game… averaged 10.3 tackles per contest… scored 11 touchdowns…an all-state and all-city selection.
Kaleb McMillion
OT / 6-5 / 300 / Columbia, La. (Caldwell Parish)
A two-year all-district selection… his high school coach says “Kaleb is a young man that has worked hard athletically and academically for this opportunity. He is going to be a good choice for your program.”
Austin McNeely
TE / 6-3 / 240 / Pottsville, Arkansas (Pottsville)
An all-conference selection… also earned a honorable mention all-state pick… was a team captain… finished in third place in the state weightlifting meet… played on a conference championship team… had 130 carries for 902 yards and 13 touchdowns… caught eight passes for 223 yards and one touchdown… also played on defense, notching 136 tackles with 12.5 quarterback sacks.
Eric McPherson
LB / 5-11 / 221 / Jackson, Mississippi (East Central [Miss.] JC)
Served as defensive captain… led his team to a playoff appearance.
Drew Turner
OT / 6-3 / 270 / Russellville, Arkansas (Russellville)
Was a team captain… earned all-conference and all-state honors… named to the River Valley & Ozark All Area 2nd Team… also the OL of the Year… received the Little Rock Mortgage Cyclone Award… his high school coach says he is a “great kid… will be a great ambassador for the football program as well as the university.”
Dwight Williams
DB / 5-9 / 180 / Mobile, Alabama (Mobile Prep)
1st team all-state selection… 2nd team all-region… also served as a team captain… 11 career interceptions, 120 tackles… four career touchdowns.
Mekall Yancie
QB / 6-4 / 230 / Americus, Georgia (Americus)
Completed 85 of 150 passes for 947 yards, eight tocuhdowns and four interceptions… had 62 carries for 173 yards and two scores.