ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - The Ouachita Baptist University football team has announced the signing of 32 players in anticipation of the 2013 football season. This class comes on the heels of the fifth consecutive winning season, which is in large part due to the stability provided by Head Coach
Todd Knight as he prepares for his 15
th season at the head of the program.
“I'm extremely proud of the hard work of our coaching staff, led by recruiting coordinator
Brett Shockley, whose leadership in recruiting over the last four years has really set our program up for success,” commented Knight. “The newcomers will add much needed depth and help solidify a very strong nucleus that is currently on campus. “
Ouachita continued its recruiting emphasis in the state of Arkansas, signing 23 Arkansas natives as well as seven players from the state of Texas, one from Louisiana and one from Tennessee. This class addressed every need that the program had going into the 2013 campaign, with a variety of positions represented.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Tigers addressed their need for depth at the quarterback position with the addition of one mid-year enrollee and two incoming freshman. The Tigers continued to add to their stable of running backs, adding two incoming freshmen. The Tigers shallow, but potent, wide receiving core added much needed depth with six signees, five of which are from the state of Arkansas. Up front, they continued the tradition of adding stout, yet agile linemen, with the addition of four.
On defense, the Tigers beefed up their front seven with the signings of four interior defensive linemen, and three long and rangy defensive ends. They complemented their additions to the line with the additions of five in-state linebackers, as well as another from the state of Texas.
“This is the most depth, and potentially the most athletic group that we have signed in the front seven in many years,” commented offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator
Brett Shockley.
In the secondary, the Tigers added a safety to their already deep backfield.
On special teams, the Tigers added much needed explosiveness to their return game with the addition of a speedy and agile kick returner/punt returner. They also provided stability with the addition of two other specialists.
“This class is exciting for us because of the sheer numbers,” Shockley said. “Our staff did a great job of getting the best available talent in the state of Arkansas.”
The Tiger coaching staff feels that the pure numbers of the class will help with a team that was riddled with injuries during their 2012 campaign. This class promises to maintain the winning ways that Ouachita fans have become accustomed to.
The Tigers enter the 2013 season as the only program in the state of Arkansas with a winning record in their last five seasons. The program reached new heights with a 6-0 start and a No. 10 ranking in the AFCA Division II poll during the 2012 season. They are the only program in the state that has been ranked in the Top 25 at some point during each of the last five years. The Tigers look to add to their 2011 Great American Conference Championship with their class over the next four years.
Ouachita will begin spring football practice on March 7, which will lead up to their annual spring game on the evening of Tuesday, April 16.
2013 Ouachita Baptist University Football Signing Class
|
Alex Armfield |
WR |
6'1 |
185 |
Cordova, TN |
Evangelical Christian School |
|
Justin Avery |
OL |
6'3 |
275 |
Monticello, AR |
Monticello HS |
|
Devin Ball (Soph)* |
DL |
6'3 |
245 |
Junction City, AR |
Junction City Hs |
|
Jed Beach (Fresh.)* |
OL |
6'3 |
270 |
West Fork, AR |
Shiloh Christian HS |
|
Kendall Bruce (Fresh.)* |
WR |
6'0 |
200 |
Little Rock, AR |
Arkansas State |
|
Jacob Engel |
SPEC |
6'0 |
190 |
Siloam Springs, AR |
Siloam Springs HS |
|
Tyler Foster |
OL |
6'0 |
240 |
Mt. Vernon, TX |
Mt. Vernon HS |
|
LaVonte Gardner |
WR |
5'7 |
155 |
Star City, AR |
Star City HS |
|
Andrew Gendi |
DL |
5'11 |
280 |
Houston, TX |
Clear Brook HS |
|
Tyree Gray |
DL |
6'2 |
275 |
Houston, TX |
Klein Forest HS |
|
Josh Hall |
LB |
6'1 |
195 |
Story, AR |
Mt. Ida HS |
|
Ed Hood |
DE |
6'5 |
225 |
Gurdon, AR |
Gurdon HS |
|
Will Houston |
LB |
6'1 |
190 |
El Dorado, AR |
Junction City Hs |
|
Waymon Johnson Jr. |
LB |
6'2 |
225 |
Stuttgart, AR |
Stuttgart HS |
|
Brannon Kotch |
OL |
6'1 |
265 |
Conway, AR |
Conway HS |
|
Brandon Marks |
ATH |
5'9 |
175 |
Prescott, AR |
Prescott HS |
|
Andre Morman |
RB |
5'10 |
185 |
Richardson, TX |
Plano HS |
|
Clay Patrick |
DL |
5'10 |
190 |
Springdale, AR |
Springdale HS |
|
Jay Patrick |
SPEC |
5'10 |
180 |
Springdale, AR |
Sprindale, HS |
|
Lane Pearce |
DE |
6'5 |
230 |
Carthage, TX |
Carthage HS |
|
Ke'Vontae Pope |
WR |
5'9 |
175 |
Jonesboro, AR |
Jonesboro HS |
|
Devin Price |
DB |
6'0 |
195 |
Ruston, LA |
Ruston HS |
|
Elijah Ramsey |
LB |
6'0 |
170 |
Gentry, AR |
Gentry HS |
|
Lucas Reed |
QB |
5'9 |
180 |
El Dorado, AR |
El Dorado Hs |
|
Bradley Root |
LB |
5'9 |
185 |
Searcy. AR |
Searcy HS |
|
Joseph Stewart |
WR |
6'0 |
200 |
White Hall, AR |
White Hall HS |
|
Jesse Stone |
QB |
6'2 |
195 |
Little Rock, AR |
LR Christian HS |
|
LaVonte Thomas |
WR |
6'2 |
185 |
Nashville, AR |
Nashville HS |
|
Ovie Urevbu |
RB |
5'10 |
185 |
Plano, TX |
Frisco Legacy Academy |
|
Austin Warford |
QB |
5'9 |
180 |
Malvern, AR |
Malvern HS |
|
Gerald Watson |
DL |
6'1 |
285 |
North Little Rock, AR |
North Little Rock HS |
|
Christian Whitaker |
LB |
6'1 |
215 |
Scroggins, TX |
Mt. Vernon HS |
*Denotes Mid-Year Enrollment
