FOOTBALL SIGNS 25 TO NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech University Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Steve Mullins announced the signing of 25 student-athletes to National Football Letters of Intent on Wednesday, the first official day that high school players are allowed to sign letters of intent to play college football.

The group of 25 signees includes 18 high school players from the state of Arkansas, including four from Russellville.

Here is list of this year’s signees.

This year’s signees bios are as follows:

Jordan Akers of Charleston, Ark. (Charleston High School): Akers is a 5-foot-11, 230-pound fullback and linebacker with 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash. This past season, Akers was an All-State, a 1-3A Conference MVP for Linemen and Linebackers and was a finalist for the Hooten’s Arkansas Football Defensive Player of the Year Award and was also named the Southwest Times Record Defensive Player of the Year. On the season, he carried the ball 139 times for 662 yards and caught six passes for 79 yards and scored 11 touchdowns on offense, while recording 134 total tackles and 3.5 sacks for a Charleston team that finished 14-0 and won the Class 3A State Football Championship. In his career at CHS, the Tigers posted a 35-4 overall record. “Jordan was an anchor for our defense. He was equally suited to stop both the run and the pass,” Charleston High School Coach and former Wonder Boy football player Doug Loughridge said. 

Jacob Bibb of Marshall, Texas (Marshall High School): Bibb is a 6-foot-2, 265-pound offensive lineman, who played for Coach Thedrick Harris at Marshall. This past season, Bibb was named a First-Team All-District selection and was a two-time Offensive Line Player of the Week honoree. Helped lead MHS to a 6-5 record in 2008 and a State Playoff berth and was also a member of the school’s 2007 Bi-District Championship team.

Joshua Bibb of Marshall, Texas (Marshall High School): Bibb is a 6-foot-3, 285-pound offensive lineman, who played for Coach Thedrick Harris at Marshall. This past season, Bibb was named a First-Team All-District selection and was also named an Offensive Line Player of the Week honoree. Helped lead MHS to a 6-5 record in 2008 and a State Playoff berth and was also a member of the school’s 2007 Bi-District Championship team.

Cody Burnett of Stuttgart, Ark. (Stuttgart High School): Burnett is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound defensive back and receiver. On the season, Burnett, who will play defensive back at Tech, recorded 19 tackles and had three interceptions on defense, while catching 28 passes for 504 yards and catching four touchdown passes. Burnett earned First-Team Class 4A All-Conference honors and helped the Ricebirds to a 10-2 record last season.

Scott Byrd of Magnolia, Ark. (Magnolia High School): Byrd is 6-foot-2, 280-pound offensive tackles that will play center at Tech. This past season, Byrd, who is the son of Wonder Boys defensive coordinator Jeff Byrd, was named a 5A Southwest All-Conference selection and helped the Panthers, which finished with an 8-4 overall, average almost 400 yards per game on offense. “Tech is getting a smart, good football player who should blossom into a great player and a great kid,” Magnolia Head Coach and former Wonder Boys Football player Robert Day said.  

Terrel Carter of Russellville, Ark. (Russellville High School): Carter is a 6-foot-1, 205 pound linebacker that runs a 4.7 time in the 40-yard dash. This past season for the Cyclones, Carter, who was selected as the school’s Most Valuable Defensive Player, was named a 7A-Central All-Conference selection and was also named a 7A All-State honoree after recording 119 total tackles, 13 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, one interception. In addition, he scored a touchdown and had two safeties for the 9-3 Cyclones that lost in the Class 7A State semifinals to eventual state champion, Bentonville High School. “Terrel is an explosive playmaker,” Russellville Head Coach Jeff Holt said.    

Matt Chester of Harrisburg, Ark. (Valley View High School): Chester is a 6-foot-2, 265-pound defensive lineman, who played for Coach Shannon Sherman at Valley View. This past season, Chester was named a 4A Region 3 All-State selection, a repeat All-Conference selection and was named the team’s Most Valuable Athlete. Over the past seasons, Chester averaged 40 tackles per season and had six career sacks. As a junior in 2007, he was named an All-Conference honoree and was also named to the Sophomore Super Team. “A coach on the field, just as good on defense as on offense,” Sherman said about Chester.

Brett Craine of White Hall, Ark. (White Hall High School): Craine is a 6-foot-4, 290-pound offensive tackle, who played for Coach Mike Vaughn at White Hall. On the season, Craine was named a First-Team 5A Southeast All-Conference selection and was an All-State Honorable Mention selection after recording 32 pancake blocks and 45 knockdown blocks for the 5-5-1Bulldogs.

Blake Crouse of Siloam Springs, Ark. (Siloam Springs High School): Crouse is a 6-foot-3, 315-pound offensive lineman, who played for Coach Clint Ashcraft at Siloam Springs. He was named a two-time All-Conference selection and an All-State selection this past season. Crouse was part of a SSHS team that advanced to the 2nd round of the Class 5A State Playoffs the past two seasons and finished with a 9-3 record in 2008. “Blake is a great person, as well as a great football player,” Ashcraft said. “In addition, he is a very smart football player.”

Greg Dicks of Claremore, Okla. (Claremore High School): Dicks is a 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive tackle, who played for Coach Rob Gilbreath. This past season, Dicks, who was a three-year starter for CHS, was named an All-District 6A-3 selection and also was selected to participate in the Jim Thorpe All-Star Game and the Green County All-Star Game. “He was a leader on and off the field and absolutely loves the weight room,” Gilbreath said.   

Kenneth Golden of Russellville, Ark. (Russellville High School): Golden is a 5-foot-9, 180-pound running back with 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash. This past season, Golden was named an 7A-Central All-Conference honoree and was named the Cyclones Most Outstanding Offensive Player after rushing for 1,023 yards in 2008 and scoring seven touchdowns for the 9-3 Cyclones that lost in the Class 7A State semifinals to Bentonville. “Kenneth is a versatile back, a good receiver and has good speed,” Russellville Head Coach Jeff Holt said. “He is a kid with a good work ethic. He really carried the load all year for our team.”

Jordann Gunn of Cabot, Ark. (North Little Rock High School): Gunn is a 6-foot-2, 300-pound offensive lineman. On the season, Gunn recorded 35 pancake blocks, 42 knockdowns, 38 champion blocks and 29 deuce blocks for the Charging Wildcats. Gunn, who was a three-year starter, was named a two-time All-Conference selection, a member of the 2008 Super Sonic Team, a 2008 VIP Super Team honoree and an All-Area selection. Helped lead North Little Rock to two straight Class 7A State Playoff appearances. “He is a great kid that is very physical and will make a great college athlete on and off the field,” North Little Rock Head Coach Brad Bolding said.  

Jonathan Hardin of Batesville, Miss. (South Panola High School): Hardin is a 6-foot, 280-pound offensive guard with 5.1 speed in the 40-yard dash. This past season, Hardin was named a Class 5A All-State Offensive Lineman and was also a 5A All-Division honoree. Helped the Tigers to a 14-1 record this past season and a 44-1 record during his career. Was part of the school’s back-to-back State Championship teams in 2006 and 2007.

Casey Henderson of Benton, La. (Benton High School): Henderson is a 5-foot-10, 225-pound running back that runs a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash. This past season, Henderson, who was a four-year starter, rushed for 1,400 yards and scored 18 touchdowns and as a junior in 2007, he rushed for 1,800 yards, had a 100 yards receiving and scored 23 touchdowns. Was a two-time All-State and a three-time All-Conference selection and has been invited to play in the Louisiana All-Star Game and is also going to play in the annual Texas vs. Louisiana All-Star Game. Helped BHS post a 10-1 record this past season and also helped lead the team to four straight Class 4A State Playoff berths, including two state semifinal appearances.      

Tanner Keeling of Russellville, Ark. (Russellville High School): Keeling is a 6-foot-2, 250-pound tight end that runs a 4.8 in the 40-yard dash. This past season, Keeling, who named a Class 7A-Central All-Conference selection, caught 21 passes for 290 yards and had one touchdown reception, along with one rushing touchdown. Helped the Cyclones advance to the Class 7A State semifinals where they lost to eventual State Champion, Bentonville. “He has a big body with lots of potential and has very good hands,” Russellville Head Coach Jeff Holt said.

Tyler Kell of Nashville, Ark. (Nashville High School): Kell is a 6-foot-3, 285-pound offensive lineman, who played for former Tech Assistant Coach Billy Dawson at Nashville. On the season, Kell was named both an All-State and All-Conference honoree after recording 78 pancake blocks, allowed just one sack and graded out at 80.5 percent for the year. Helped the Scrappers to two straight Class 4A State Championships in 2006 and 2007 and a Class 4A State semifinal berth this past season after finishing with an 11-1 record. “Tyler is a hard worker, was a two-year starter and a leader of our offensive line,” Dawson said.

Quinton Lindsey of Hot Springs, Ark. (Fountain Lake High School): Lindsey is a 6-foot, 180-pound running back that runs a 4.53 in the 40-yard dash. On the season, Lindsey was named an All-State, All-Conference and an All-Star honoree and was a candidate for KATV’s Landers Award after carrying the ball 162 times for 1,558 yards and scoring 23 rushing touchdowns. In addition, Lindsey caught seven passes for 120 yards, caught two touchdown passes, returned a kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown and had five 2-point conversion runs. Led the Cobras to a 13-1 record and a Class 3A State runner-up finish in 2008. “I am excited that Quinton chose Arkansas Tech and that he is getting a scholarship to play football,” said Fountain Lake Head Coach and former Wonder Boy football player Thomas Gillerian.   

Jerry Martin of White Hall, Ark. (White Hall High School): Martin is a 5-foot-10, 175-pound running back and defensive back, who played for Mike Vaughn at White Hall. On the season, Martin was named an All-State honoree and a First-Team 5A Southeast All-Conference selection after rushing for 1,300 yards on 147 carries and averaging 8.4 yards per carry. Martin, who was named White Hall’s Football MVP, scored 13 rushing touchdowns and also had 202 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

Matt Raney of Mayflower, Ark. (Mayflower High School): Raney is a 6-foot-4, 275-pound offensive lineman. This past season, Raney recorded nine pancake blocks, 39 knockdown blocks and 12 deuce blocks. He was a three-year starter, a two-time All-Conference performer, a senior captain and earned All-Faulkner County honors this past year. In addition, Raney received the Spirit of Eagle Award and is a member of the Student Council, Beta Club, National Honor Society, Senate Club, FCA, FBLA and Who’s Who. Helped lead the Eagles to a 10-2 record this past season and three consecutive Class 3A State Playoff berths. “Matt is a great young man that is a leader on and off the football field,” Mayflower Head Coach Jed Davis said.

Patrick Redington of Shreveport, La. (Captain Shreve High School): Redington is a 6-foot-2, 280-pound offensive lineman who runs a 5.2 in the 40-yard dash. He was named a two-time 5A All-District selection and was an All-City Honorable Mention selection. Redington, who is an honors student, helped lead Captain Shreve to back-to-back Class 5A State Playoffs appearances in 2006 and 2007.

Heath Riggins of Vilonia, Ark. (Vilonia High School): Riggins is a 6-foot-2, 255-pound defensive end and tight end, who played for Jim Stanley at Vilonia. On the season, Riggins, who will play defensive end at Tech, was named a 5A West All-State selection. In addition, he was named a two-time 5A West All-Conference selection, a three-time All-County selection and was a member of the 5A West All-Academic All-State team. Riggins recorded 67 tackles, including 32 assisted tackles, four tackles for loss, four fumble recoveries, two fumble returns and he blocked three kicks for the Eagles in 2008. Riggins, who also plays basketball at Vilonia, holds the school record in the bench press (380 pounds).       

Sam Shelby of Paragould, Ark. (Paragould High School): Shelby is a 6-foot-2, 270-pound offensive lineman and defensive lineman, who played for Coach Brian Carter at Paragould. Shelby, who play on the offensive line at Tech, was named a 5A East All-State and All-Conference honoree. He was a three starter on the offensive and defensive lines and was also the team’s leading tackler on the defensive line. “He is very excited and he will have a chance to compete on the next level,” Carter said. “He is a very hard worker.”

 Nick Smith of Prescott, Ark. (Prescott High School): Smith is a 6-foot-3, 275-pound offensive lineman. On the season, Smith graded out at 88 percent and recorded 18 pancake blocks for the Curley Wolves and Coach Greg Smith, who is also Nick’s father. He earned 3A All-Conference and All-State honors, along with being an All-Star selection and a Texarkana Gazette All-Area Offensive Lineman. In his career with the Curley Wolves, Smith helped the team to a 30-7-1 record, including a 10-2 record in 2008 and two 3A Conference championships and a Conference runner-up finish in 2007, along with a State runner-up finish in 2006 and back-to-back Class 3A State quarterfinal appearances. “Nick has been a football player year round. He has been a coach on the field for our team,” Smith said. “Late in the game, we wanted the ball behind him. He is a true quarterback on the offensive line.”

Tim VanOrsdol of Glenpool, Okla. (Glenpool High School): VanOrsdol is a 6-foot-5, 280-pound defensive lineman who runs a 4.9 40-yard dash. On the season, VanOrsdol recorded 52 total tackles and had 134 tackles in his high school career. Was named an All-District selection and was also named the Defensive Lineman of the Year in the District. Helped lead GHS to a 14-0 record this past season and the Oklahoma Class 4A State Championship. Along with playing football at Glenpool, VanOrsdol also was a State qualifier in the discus at the 2008 Oklahoma State Track and Field Meet. “Tim is a very hard working and dedicated athlete,” Glenpool Head Coach Steve Edwards said. “He is one of the fastest linemen we have ever had at Glenpool. He also was a great leader for us.”  

Jered Vinson of Russellville, Ark. (Russellville High School): Vinson is a 5-foot-10, 205-pound linebacker with 4.8 speed in the 40-yard dash. On the season, Vinson recorded 129 total tackles, 3.5 quarterback sacks, seven tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and four interceptions for a 9-3 Cyclone team that advanced to the Class 7A State semifinals. Was named an All-State and All-Conference selection, along with being the 7A Back of the Conference. “Jered has a great work ethic and gets everything out of his body,” Russellville Head Coach Jeff Holt said. “He has a nose for the football.”

2009 Wonder Boy Football Recruits

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