Your Name Here: Boll Weevils Announce Bids for Naming Rights

MONTICELLO — The University of Arkansas at Monticello Department of Athletics is inviting anyone interested to participate in an online auction to name the tailgate row area for home football games.

The tailgate row area is located along the east side of Weevil Pond, and isfull of food and fans on football game days each fall. That area also hosts the “Walk of Champions” with the Weevil football players and coaches two hours prior to kickoff.

The online bidding process is currently open at the following link, which can also be found in the rotating promotional spaces on the home page of uamsports.com.

The highest bid will be updated daily on that page. The current leader is John Harmon, with a high bid of $500.

Bidding is open throughAugust 1 at 11 a.m., at which point the winning bidder will be notified. The winning bidder will be allowed one-year naming rights of tailgate row, subject to approval by the university.

On national signing day, University of Arkansas at Monticello head football coach Hud Jackson announced a list of 18 high school seniors who signed national letters of intent to play for the Boll Weevils starting in the 2014 season.  The complete 2014 Boll Weevils football schedule as downloadable computer and smartphone backgrounds is available here.

Jackson also announced a pair of mid-year transfers to complete the 2014 signing class with 20 total newcomers to join the team for the upcoming season.

The 2014 class features 10 from the state of Louisiana, six from Arkansas, three from Texas and one from Tennessee.

Members of the class include:

Mason Bateman, 6-0, 275, Center (Gonzales, La./East Ascension HS)
Three-year starter at East Ascension… Two-time all-district, academic all-state… Graded out 90 percent for the year in 2013, registering 35 knockdowns… Sport Scene News Player of the Week.

Vassiel Beason, 5-10, 205, Linebacker (Cordova, Tenn./Cordova HS)
Team captain, first team all-conference, Memphis Best of the Preps… Led the Wolves with 75 total tackles… Had longest interception return for a touchdown in school history against Wooddale High School (57 yards).

Dillon Cagle, 6-8, 315, Offensive Tackle (Hoxie, Ark./Hoxie HS)
Three-year starter at offensive tackle and defensive tackle at Hoxie… Two-time all-state and two-time all-conference under Coach Tom Sears… Graded out 90 percent for the year in 2013 and registered 34 knockdowns… Was named to the KAIT-8 TV Super Team, Jonesboro Sun’s “Best Under the Sun” Team and Hooten’s Magazine Super Sonic Team.

Jonathan Caples, 6-2, 215, Linebacker (West Monore, La./West Monroe HS)
5A first team all state and all-district in 2013.

Malik Clemons, 6-3, 195, Safety (Conway, Ark./Conway HS)
Two-year starter at safety at Conway… Two-time all-conference under Coach Clint Ashcraft… In 2013, registered 34 total tackles, two interceptions, seven pass breakups and one forced fumble… Defensive captain… All-state track runner.

Malcolm Darensbourg, 5-10, 190, Linebacker (Destrehan, La./Destrehan HS)
Three-year starter, three-time second team all-district… 97 tackles as a sophomore, 82 tackles as a senior… Helped lead the Wildcats to a 12-2 record last year and to the 5A state playoffs.

P.J. Douglas, 5-10, 175, Receiver (Haughton, La./Haughton HS)
2013 first team all-district and all-Bossier Parish… 126 career receptions.

Dalvin Dunn, 6-0, 260, Defensive End (Baton Rouge, La./Tara HS)
Three-year starter… Two-time all-district selection under Coach Cooter Mansur… 48 total tackles, five sacks, 10 tackles for losses and two fumble recoveries as a senior.

Keyondre Jones, 6-1, 184, Cornerback (Camden, Ark./Fairview HS)
Rivals Natural 21, all-conference in football, first team all-state in 100 meters.

Keythyn Jones, 6-1, 190, Safety (Mesquite, Texas/Poteet HS)
Two-year starter, Part of UIL 4A District Championship and was honored with an all-district selection… 42 total tackles, one interception.

Josh Pike, 6-0, 175, Linebacker (Little Rock, Ark./Mills HS)
Three-year letter winner at Little Rock Mills… Team captain, all-conference, all-state… Led team in tackles and sacks in 2013… Also all-conference in track… Part of 4×4 relay conference championship.

Cody Smith, 6-0, 210, Safety (Loranger, La./Loranger HS)
Defensive captain, letterman in football and track, two-time all-district in football, all-region in track.

Dwaylen Spain, 5-11, 255, Defensive Tackle (Baldwin, La./West Saint Mary HS)
Four-year starter at defensive tackle… Two-time all-district, three-time Daily Iberian Best of the Teche selection.

Ryan Tassin, 6-7, 310, Offensive Tackle (Monticello, Ark./Monticello HS)
Two-year starter on the offensive line for Monticello… All-conference honoree under Coach Greg Tiner… Father, Alan, played offensive line for the Boll Weevils in 1995.

Alex Taylor, 5-11, 220, Running Back (Springhill, La./North Webster HS)
First team all-district quarterback, second team all-northeast Louisiana, all-state academic.

Jalen Tolliver, 6-3, 215, Receiver (Monroe, La./Ouachita HS)
2013 first team all-state, all-district and all-northeast Louisiana.

Ja’lon Watts, 5-10, 200, Outside Linebacker (Gonzales, La./East Ascension HS)
Three-year starter at outside linebacker at East Ascension… Three-time all-district honoree under Coach Paul Bourgeois… 2013 team defensive MVP after registering 78 total tackles and 17 tackles for losses.

Trent Willis, 5-10, 175, Receiver (Denton, Texas/Ryan HS)
Two-time first team all-district… 69 catches for 1,007 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2013.

MID-YEAR TRANSFERS

Derek Johnson, 6-3, 350, Defensive Tackle (Hoxie, Ark./Arkansas State Univ.)
Originally signed with the University of Texas out of Hoxie High School… Played five games at Arkansas State in 2010… Prep All-America and two-time all-state at Hoxie HS at defensive tackle… high school career totals of 255 tackles and 13 sacks… Out of high school, was ranked the top defensive tackle in the state of Arkansas and the state’s third best player overall by Rivals… Was named Northeast Arkansas Newcomer of the Year and made all-conference as a sophomore…. Has two years of eligibility remaining.

Wesley Williams, 6-0, 275, Center (Kilgore, Texas/Kilgore JC)
Two-year starter at Kilgore Junior College after earning two all-district honors in prep ball at Kilgore High School… Has two years of eligibility remaining.