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By J.T. Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com Staff Writer
SouthernPigskin.com Staff Writer J.T. Bennett talks with Samford head coach Pat Sullivan about Samford's 2010 recruiting class. Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin. Become a fan of us on Facebook at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page
Samford Head Coach Pat Sullivan
On this year's class -
"There were a lot of areas that we wanted to address and we were able to sign 25 kids. I am extremely excited about that. Each year our class has gotten better and we have been able to attract more kids. There were several areas we really needed to concentrate on, we were really thin depth wise there. We were able to sign six kids on the offensive line which is very good. Our only two running backs are pretty good and we were thin at that position. They are both seniors and we needed some guys there and we were able to sign three guys there. We needed some wide outs with some speed and we were able to get two of those, one from Georgia and one from Tallahassee, (Florida). I think all of our skill players have an opportunity to be really good players. You always need good quarterbacks and we were able to sign a couple of those. Defensively we needed linebackers and people that can run and we signed three really good linebackers. We signed a tall corner which something that everyone is looking for. We were able to get a few specialty people and I think the balance of our class was very good."
On the primary position of need -
"We needed to address the offensive line issue and we were able to sign six kids at that position and that is really going to help us. i think we needed some more speed at wide out and we were able to do that. At running back I think we signed a couple of guys that could be a game changer. Defensively you are always looking for quality players and we wanted a big cornerback and we were able to get that. We signed three quality defensive lineman that we are excited about."
On players who could play early -
"I think Quinn Roberson has got a chance to play early and help us. I think Fabian Trust, one of the little running backs that we signed. Obviously the offensive line, hopefully some of them we be able to step in and play depending on how much they develop over the summer. That is kind of where we are."
SAMFORDSPORTS.COM OFFICIAL RELEASE
SAMFORD FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES 26 SIGNEES FOR 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The Samford football program has announced the signing of 26 student-athletes for its 2010 signing class, head coach Pat Sullivan announced on Wednesday.
“I could not be more excited about our recruiting class,” Sullivan said. “The job our coaches did was outstanding. When we came here four years ago, we had the commitment that (Samford President) Dr. (Andrew) Westmoreland and (Director of Athletics) Bob (Roller) had made to sell in recruiting. Now, with the Cooney Family Field House, we have the facilities to back up that commitment, and I certainly think that played a big part in this class.”
This year’s signing class, the fourth for Sullivan and his coaching staff, includes 14 players from the state of Alabama, including six from the Birmingham area. The Bulldogs also signed six players from the state of Georgia, two each from Florida and Mississippi and one each from Nevada and Texas.
“This was a huge class for us for a lot of reasons,” Sullivan said. “We needed depth at a lot of positions, starting with the offensive line. We were able to sign six kids on the offensive line and that is exciting. We have a couple of senior running backs, and we were able to get three, with those being Fabian Truss from Shades Valley, Victor Belen from Las Vegas and Noah Wilson from Trussville. We are excited to have the three of them."
“You always need quarterbacks, and we were able to get three there,” Sullivan said. “Two of those were from the local area, Trett Hardman and Kelsey Pope, and then Ben Neill from up in Decatur. We needed some wide receivers, and we were able to get two kids, one out of Georgia, Quin Roberson and one out of Tallahassee, Fla., JaUan Davis."
“On the defensive side of the ball, we were able to get two defensive backs who we needed,” Sullivan said. “We always need linebackers, and we got a local kid in Justin Shade, who comes from Briarwood, and we are excited to have him. We also signed a couple of defensive lineman (Caleb Hullet and Tyler O’Neal-Rowland).
“We were also able to get a couple of special teams guys, getting a punter, Gregory Peranich from Pace, Fla.,” Sullivan said. “We were also able to get a snapper in Perry Beasley from Georgia.”
Below is a short biography on each of Samford’s 2010 signees.
Perry Beasley, LS/OL, 6-3, 230, Marietta, Ga. (Marietta HS)
Perry Beasley was a two-year starter on the offensive line at Marietta High School . . . Varsity letterwinner for three years . . . Named Best Offensive Lineman in 2008 and 2009 . . . Named Cobb County Touchdown Club Player of the Week during the 2008 season.
Victor Belen, RB, 5-10, 175, Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman HS)
Victor Belen was an Honorable Mention All-State selection in Nevada . . . Led Nevada in rushing touchdowns with 29 . . . Named second-team All-Conference and first-team All-Division . . . Scored three touchdowns in both the state semifinals and finals, leading his team to the Nevada 4A state championship . . . In three seasons, led his team to a 34-2 record with two state championships, two conference championships and three division championships . . . Rushed for 1,343 yards and 29 touchdowns, averaging over nine yards per carry and 98.5 yards per game with no fumbles as a senior . . . Also caught six passes for 121 yards in 2009 . . . Had a long rush of 85 yards and a long reception of 50 yards . . . Named Gatorade Player of the Week and Thursday Night Lights MVP.
Jordan Boatwright, OL, 6-3, 264, Suwanee, Ga. (Peachtree Ridge)
Jordan Boatwright played both offensive tackle and defensive tackle at Peachtree Ridge High School . . . Named All-Region 7-AAAAA . . . Named first-team All-County by Gwinnett County Touchdown Club and Gwinnett Daily Post . . . started in the Gwinnett All-Star Game . . . Named Gwinnett County Touchdown Club’s October Player of the Month . . . Named Peachtree Ridge’s HOG of the Week twice as a senior . . . His team reached the state playoffs all four years, including a co-state championship in 2006 and a state finals appearance in 2008 . . . Posted a 41-14-1 record over four years.
Ben Carpenter, LB, 6-1, 211, Roswell, Ga. (Centennial HS)
Ben Carpenter was named first-team All-County for Fulton County at Centennial High School . . . Named Defensive MVP and permanent Team Captain . . . Led his team in tackles . . . Also had two sacks and one interception returned for a touchdown . . . Named to second-team defense for the 2009 North Fulton Neighbor Pigskin Superlatives . . . Ran a 4.58 40-yard dash at the Fox/Scout Combine.
Joe Collins, OL, 6-2, 275, Madison, Miss. (Copiah-Lincoln CC)
Joe Collins was a two-year letterwinner at Madison Central High School . . . Led his team to the District 2-5A championship . . . Named first-team All-District as an offensive lineman . . . Spent two seasons at Copiah-Lincoln Community College . . . Started every game in two seasons at the school . . . Was voted to his team’s Player’s Committee by his teammates.
JaUan Davis, WR, 5-11, 182, Tallahassee, Fla. (Florida HS)
JaUan Davis was a two-year starter at wide receiver and kick returner at Florida High . . . Caught 25 passes for 435 yards and five touchdowns as a junior . . . Also averaged 40 yards per kick return . . . Averaged 20 yards per punt return and returned one for a touchdown . . . Led his team to an 11-2 record and state semifinal appearance . . . Named All-District, All-Big Bend and Honorable Mention All-State.
Trett Hardman, QB, 6-3, 220, Cullman, Ala. (Fairview HS)
Trett Hardman was a three-year starter at quarterback for Fairview High School . . . He completed 588-of-901 passes for 7,419 yards and 82 touchdowns over his career . . . As a sennior, he also rushed 188 times for 973 yards and 13 touchdowns . . . Was named Cullman Times Male Athlete of the Year . . . Also named AHSAA 4A Region 7 Offensive Player of the Year . . . Named Honorable Mention All-State for 4A . . . Named first-team All-Area by the Cullman Times . . . Named Old Spice Red Zone Player of the Year for Fairview and Top 50 in the nation . . . Also participated in basketball, golf and baseball.
Caleb Hullet, DE, 6-2, 245, Oneonta, Ala. (Oneonta HS)
Caleb Hullet was a two-time All-County selection at Oneonta High School . . . He was twice named the Defensive Player of the Week by the Alabama Sports Writers Association . . . Named Team Captain and Defensive MVP . . . won Best Defensive Lineman Award . . . Named All-Region . . . Led his team with 120 tackles during his senior year.
Joshua Jackson, LB, 6-2, 205, Thomasville, Ala. (Thomasville HS)
Joshua Jackson was a three-year starter at Thomasville High School . . . As a senior, he led his team with 122 tackles . . . Named All-State . . . Named Team Captain, Defensive MVP and Best Linebacker on a team that went 10-2 in 2009 . . . Named Best Linebacker as a junior by his teammates . . . As a sophomore, earned the Hustle Award . . . His team averaged 10 wins per season in his three seasons . . . Named Defensive Player of the Week twice as a sophomore.
Sidney Jordan, TE, 6-3, 240, Mobile, Ala. (UMS Wright)
Sidney Jordan lettered in football and track at UMS Wright in Mobile . . . Described as a great blocker and receiver with excellent agility . . . Co-winner of the Mac Brown Award . . . Holds the state of Alabama’s 4A record for discus . . . was the top discus thrower in the state of Alabama in 2009 . . . Named All-County and All-State in the shot put and discus.
Tae Lewis, DB, 6-0, 190, Columbiana, Ala. (Shelby County HS)
Tae Lewis started at both linebacker and running back at Shelby County High School . . . One of the leaders on defense and a big playmaker on offense . . . Led the Birmingham Metro area in touchdowns as a senior . . . Named second-team All-State as a senior . . . Also named All-County . . . Led his team to a 9-2 record, reaching the state playoffs.
Branden Moore, OL, 6-6, 265, Forest, Miss. (Forest HS)
Branden Moore was a two-year starter and three-year letterwinner at Forest High School in Mississippi . . . In two years as a starter, his team posted a 24-3 record, including winning the 2A state championship as a junior . . . Named first-team All-State as a senior . . . Named All-Division and Most Improved Player as a junior . . . Accumulated over 70 pancake blocks . . . Also participated in golf and basketball . . . In golf, earned medalist honors for three-years . . . State champion as a seventh grader.
Kasey Morrison, OL, 6-2, 270, Cumming, Ga. (Forsyth Central HS)
Kasey Morrison was named Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2008 and 2009 at Forsyth Central High School . . . Named All-Forsyth County in both 2008 and 2009 . . . Also named All-Region 6-AAAA in 2008 and 2009 . . . Named preseason All-State by GACA . . . Named All-State by the Atlanta Journal Constitution . . . Holds the school record in the power clean.
Ben Neill, QB, 5-10, 174, Decatur, Ala. (Decatur HS)
Ben Neill played quarterback, free safety and punter at Decatur High School . . . Holds school records for career total yardage, career touchdown passes, career passing yards, single-season passing yards and single-season touchdown passes . . . Posted a record of 27-8 as a starting quarterback . . . Voted a permanent team captain . . . Three-year All-Area and All-Region selection by the Decatur Daily . . . Named the Huntsville Times’ Elite 11 Team MVP in 2009 . . . Won the Mizeman Trophy . . . Threw for 2,150 yards and 21 touchdowns as a senior . . . Passed for 5,597 yards and rushed for 1,156 yards in his career.
Brandon Nettles, CB, 6-1, 182, Mobile, Ala. (McGill-Toolen Catholic)
Brandon Nettles was a three-year letterwinner at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School . . . Led his team to a combined 29-8 record and two region championships . . . As a senior, tallied 33 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and nine pass break-ups . . . Also lettered in track, ranking sixth and fifth in the state in the 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles.
Tyler O’Neal-Rowland, DT, 6-3, 264, Foley, Ala. (Foley HS)
Tyler O’Neal-Rowland played three seasons at Robinson High School in Little Rock, Ark., and played his senior season at Foley High School in Foley, Ala. . . . At Foley, O’Neal played defensive tackle and tight end . . . Tallied 51 tackles, three sacks, one interception and two fumble recoveries . . . Named All-County and Honorable Mention All-State at Foley . . . As a junior, he was named one of Arkansas’ Top 10 prospects for 2010, playing both offense and defense . . . Caught seven passes for 87 yards and rushed 17 times for 120 yards as a junior . . . Also as a junior, had 40 tackles, three fumble recoveries and two sacks . . . Had 15 catches for 250 yards as a sophomore, to go along with 30 tackles and two sacks . . . Played quarterback and middle linebacker as a freshman . . . Threw for five touchdowns and rushed for six scores . . . Averaged over 10 tackles per game.
Gregory Peranich, P/K, 6-4, 178, Pace, Fla. (Pace HS)
Gregory Peranich was a three-year letterman at Pace High School . . . As a senior Peranich was named to the Pensacola New Journal first-team All-Area team, WEAR-TV3 All-Area team and the Pensacola Sports Association All-Star team . . . As a junior he was named to the Pensacola News Journal second-team All-Area team . . . Scored 131 points over his high school career . . . Averaged 38 yards on 35 punts with 17 punts downed inside the 20-yard line . . . Made 7-of-16 field goals and 30-of-31 extra-point attempts . . . As a junior, punted 25 times for a 41-yard average . . . His team was a combined 25-12 over his three seasons.
Kelsey Pope, QB, 6-1, 190, Sylacauga, Ala. (Sylacauga HS)
Kelsey Pope was named a Star of Alabama by ScoutSouth.com in the final week of the 2009 regular season at Sylacauga High School . . . In that final game, he rushed for 186 yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries in a 41-13 win over B.B. Comer . . . Pope rushed for 2,806 yards and 30 touchdowns on 430 carries in his career . . . Also competed 144-of-291 passes for 2,104 yards and 12 touchdowns . . . Amassed a total of 4,910 yards and 42 touchdowns as a three-year starter.
Quin Roberson, WR, 6-0, 174, Moultrie, Ga. (Colquitt County HS)
Quin Roberson helped lead his team to an 11-3 record as a senior at Colquitt County High School . . . Caught 58 passes for 911 yards and eight touchdowns . . . Also rushed for 289 yards and 12 touchdowns on 81 carries . . . Averaged 15.4 yards on nine punt returns, and 29.7 yards on 18 kickoff returns . . . Named 2009 Region 1-AAAAA Offensive Player of the Year . . . Named to first-team All-State by both the Associated Press and Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . Is the all-time leading receiver in Colquitt County High School history with 100 career receptions.
Justin Shade, LB, 5-10, 220, Birmingham, Ala. (Briarwood Christian)
Justin Shade was a three-year starter at Briarwood Christian . . . Named All-County and All-Over The Mountain as both a junior and senior . . . Named Honorable Mention All-State as a senior . . . Elected Team Captain and voted Defensive MVP as a senior . . . Had 401 tackles in three years of varsity football . . . Helped his team to a combined 32-8 record . . . Named ALFA Insurance Player of the Week after a second-round playoff game as a senior . . . Was the only sophomore to start in 2007 on a team that went 14-1, losing in the state title game.
Jaquiski Tartt, S, 6-2, 194, Mobile, Ala. (Davidson HS)
Jaquiski Tartt started at safety in 2009 at Davidson High School, his first year of playing organized football . . . Tallied 72 tackles during the season, including 48 solo stops . . . Also had two interceptions, five pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry . . . Also participates in basketball . . . Named to the Mobile Press-Register High School Basketball All-Academic Team.
Cody Tomlinson, DE, 6-5, 215, Marietta, Ga. (Kell HS)
Cody Tomlinson was a four-year letterwinner at Kell High School . . . Named All-County for Cobb County . . . Participated in Cobb County’s Senior Bowl . . . Named Kell’s Defensive Lineman of the Year . . . Two-time Defensive Lineman of the Week . . . As a senior, had 77 tackles, including 49 solo tackles and 10 tackles for a loss . . . Had one sack and 13 quarterback hurries . . . Caused three fumbles and recovered two fumbles.
Fabian Truss, RB, 5-10, 176, Birmingham, Ala. (Shades Valley HS)
Fabian Truss was a three-year starter at running back at Shades Valley High School . . . As a senior, he rushed for 1,560 yards and 14 touchdowns on 177 carries (8.8 ypc.) . . . Named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s 6A All-State team . . . Led the Birmingham Metro area in rushing . . . Nominated for ABC 33/40’s Player of the Year . . . As a junior, rushed for 1,442 yards and 12 touchdowns on 156 carries . . . Named to Birmingham’s All-Metro team as a junior . . . Also named team MVP . . . Rushed 135 times for 954 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore.
Zachary Underwood, OL, 6-3, 284, Albertville, Ala. (Albertville HS)
Zachary Underwood started 42 games on the offensive line at Albertville High School . . . As a senior, he was named first-team All-Region and All-Marshall County . . . Named to the Tuscaloosa Times’ “50 Most Wanted,” list . . . Named to the WAFF 48 Elite 11 All-Star team . . . Named to Scout.com’s Alabama’s Top 40 Players List . . . Named the No. 20 center in the country by Scout.com, and No. 25 by ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. . . . As a junior, named first-team All-Region and All-Marshall County . . . Named Honorable Mention All-Marshall County as a sophomore.
Michael Williams, OL, 6-3, 286, Aledo, Texas (Aledo HS)
Michael Williams was named 6-4A first-team All-District as a defensive tackle at Aledo High School . . . Also played offensive tackle in short-yardage and late-game situations . . . Also as a senior, Williams was named first-team All-Parker County and 6-4A Academic All-District . . . Named second-team All-Parker County as a junior . . . Also named 6-4A Academic All-District in his junior season . . . Started at defensive tackle for the 4A Division II Texas state champions, posting a 15-1 record . . . Had 97 total tackles, nine tackles for a loss, four sacks and three pass break-ups.
Noah Wilson, RB, 5-11, 182, Trussville, Ala. (Hewitt-Trussville HS)
Noah Wilson was a three-year starter at running back for Hewitt-Trussville High School . . . As a senior, he was named the Birmingham News’ All-North/East Offensive Player of the Year . . . . Also named Honorable Mention All-State by the Alabama Sports Writers Association . . . Named All-Metro and Birmingham News Scholar Athlete of the Week . . . Holds school career rushing record with 2,772 career yards with 24 touchdowns . . . Also had 928 receiving yards with eight touchdowns . . . As a senior, rushed for 1,331 yards and 12 touchdowns . . . had 480 yards receiving and 114 return yards as a senior . . . Amassed 4,060 career all-purpose yards and 33 career touchdowns.
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