Thursday, February 7, 2008

UNT football signs 26 to national letters of intent

By Pegasus News wire

North Texas head coach Todd Dodge has announced that 26 players have signed National Letters of Intent to play football for the Mean Green in 2008. Among the class are 19 high school seniors, as well as seven transfers from junior colleges. The crop of high school seniors is exclusively from Texas, with 12 of them from the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

Included in the class of 2008 are three sets of high school teammates and 12 players that either earned AP All-state or All-district honors in their high school careers. The class also includes six players ranked in the Top 100 overall athletes list by the Dallas Morning News, six players with MVP honors by various Texas publications and a combined four state titles.

"This is one of the most exciting days to be a college football coach with this signing class this is an exciting day to be a fan of North Texas football," head coach Todd Dodge said. "The tremendous talent of these young men and the quality of this class is validation for all of the hard work my coaching staff has put in during the recruiting process. It confirms that these kids believe that North Texas is a great place to be a student-athlete and a tremendous honor that they have chosen to join us in our quest to develop this into a championship program."

2008 North Texas Recruiting Class

Adryan Adams – DB – 6-1 – 185 lbs. – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College

Junior College: Recorded 69 tackles and one interception in 2007 as a sophomore ... Was an honorable mention all-conference selection ... Helped anchor a NEO secondary that allowed only 178 yards passing per game ... In 2006, tallied 51 tackles and a team-high three interceptions as a true freshman ... Four-star recruit by Scout.com ... Rated nation’s fifth best JUCO cornerback by Scout.com ... Will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Brandon Akpunku – LB – 6-0 – 200 lbs. – Cedar Hill HS

In 2007 registered 55 tackles, eight sacks and three fumble recoveries ... Averaged 6.3 tackles a game as a senior ... Named to the District 8-5A area all-district team by HSGametime.com ... Had a career-best 11 tackles and two fumble recoveries against Duncanville ... Was second on the team in tackles and first in sacks on a squad that recorded 898 total tackles ... Honorable mention for Dallas Morning News Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against DeSoto High School ... Was a member of the 2006 State 5A Championship team.

Kenny Barrett – WR – 6-4 – 190 lbs. – Mart HS

A first-team all-district member as both a junior and senior ... Rated No. 16 in Central Texas by Texas Prep Insider ... Ranked 174th best receiver in the nation by ESPN.com ... Ranked No. 8 in the 2007-2008 final top 25 player rankings by the Waco-Tribune Herald ... In 2006, helped lead Mart to a 15-1 record and a 2A Division II state title ... Also lettered in track and was the district champ in the 200-meter dash.

Desmond Brigham – WR – 6-0 – 169 lbs. – Caddo Mills HS

Caught 65 passes for 1,119 yards and 14 touchdowns in his senior year ... 2007 third-team 2A all-state selection by TSWA ... Received honorable mention recognition for the Associated Press all-state team ... Shared the District 12-2A Offensive Player of the Year Award as a senior ... Also earned first-team honors as cornerback ... Was named to the first-team offense of the 2007 Football Dream Team by the Herald-Banner ... Lettered in football, basketball and track at Caddo Mills High School.

Tevinn Cantly – DT – 6-4 – 292 lbs. – Arlington Lamar HS

Started the 2007 season for Arlington Lamar as an offensive lineman ... Moved to defensive tackle for the final five games of the season due to team injuries ... Recorded 29 tackles, including 12 for loss ... Also tallied two fumble recoveries and forced one fumble.

DaWaylon Cook – DB – 6-2 – 187 lbs. – Samuell HS

Was a three-year starter for Samuell High School and coach Steve Pierce ... In 2007, passed for 1,328 yards 11 touchdowns ... Also rushed for 663 yards and 14 touchdowns as a scrambling QB ... Had three interceptions and six pass break ups his senior season as a defensive back ... 2007 District 13-4A Most Valuable Player ... Was a two-time unanimous all-district selection ... Top-100 overall area prospect by Dallas Morning News ... Has a positional rank of 80th on Rivals.com list of multi-position athletes.

Riley Dodge – QB – 6-0 – 183 lbs. – Southlake Carroll HS

In 2007, he passed for 3,445 yards and 39 touchdowns... Carried 131 times for 772 yards (5.5 average) and 13 touchdowns ... Dodge was named to the 45th annual 2008 PARADE All-American High School Football Team ... Was recently selected to the EA Sports first-team All-America Multi-Purpose squad for 2007 ... 2006 and 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year ... Shared Texas Sports Writers Association 2007 Class 5A All-State Football Team Offensive Player of the Year ... Dodge was named to the Texas Class 5A All-State team for the second straight season ... Voted District 5-5A MVP ... Top 25 Dallas area recruit by Dallas Morning News ... Was the 2007 Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram Offensive Player of the Year ... Ranked in the state top 100 by Rivals.com ... Rated as a top 50 athlete by Rivals.com ... In two years as a starter and one season as a backup, Dodge threw for a combined 8,143 yards (second all-time at Carroll behind former Southlake QB, and 2007 Heisman Trophy finalist, Chase Daniel) ... Dodge finished his career with a school record 101 touchdowns and a record of 27-2, with his only playoff loss coming in a game in which he was injured in ... Shared TSWA Class 5A All-State Football Team Offensive players of the year honors ... Threw for 262 yards off of 22 completions in 31 attempts against Miami Northwestern in what TexasPrepInsider.com labeled the National High School Football Game of the Century 2006 ... Named the 2006 EA Sports National Junior Player of the Year ... Voted Associated Press Class 5A State Offensive Player of the Year ... Threw for 4,284 yards and 57 touchdowns, rushed for 1,119 yards and 13 scores in his junior year ... Was named offensive MVP of the 2006 Class 5A Division I state final after passing for 303 yards and three touchdowns ... Recorded 701 passing yards as a sophomore.

Lance Dunbar – RB – 5-9 – 185 lbs. – Haltom HS

Was the Most Valuable Player for Haltom High School after rushing for more than 1,200 yards his senior season ... Was a first-team all-district back as both a junior and senior ... In 2006, registered over 1,100 yards rushing and 14 TDs ... Tallied 750 receiving yards and two touchdowns as a junior ... Two-sport letterman at Haltom in football and track .... Transferred from New Orleans De LaSalle HS after rushing for 1063 yards and 13 touchdowns in only 8 games for the Buffaloes as a sophomore ... Ranked No. 63 DFW area recruit by the Dallas Morning News.

Justin Edwards – DB – 6-1 – 185 lbs. – Eastern Arizona JC

Junior College: Was a 2007 NJCAA All-Region I selection for Eastern Arizona Junior College and coach Joe O’Mera ... Led the team with 120 tackles as a sophomore from the free safety position. High School: A graduate of Naaman Forest High School, Edwards was ranked as top 60 prospect in the Dallas area by the Dallas Morning News during his senior year ...Named to the Dallas-Fort Worth All-Area Team in 2005 ... 2004 and 2005 District 11-5A first-team selection ... Tallied 271 tackles and 12 interceptions during his high school career ... Will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Coleman Feeley – OL – 6-4 – 287 lbs. – Anderson HS

Ranked as a 5.4 on the Rivals.com Rating Scale ... Earned second-team all-district 25-5A honors from TexasHSFootball.com ... Named team captain of the 2007-2008 Austin Anderson squad ... Went both ways at an offensive lineman and defensive tackle.

Troy Franklin – OL – 6-5 – 270 lbs. – Celina HS

Tallied 52 tackles, including four sacks for 2007 3A state champ Celina High School ... First-team 3A all-state selection in 2006 and 2007 ... Associated Press 3A second-team all-state selection in 2007... Top area 100 prospect by Dallas Morning News ... Was awarded a three-star ranking by Scout.com as one of the offensive/defensive lineman recruits in the state of Texas ... Racked up 76 tackles, 10 sacks and one interception garnering first-team all-district honors as a sophomore ... Was a first-team all-district selection three times over for the Bobcats.

James Hamilton – DB – 5-10 – 180 lbs. – Cedar Hill HS

A quarterback in high school, Hamilton will switch to defensive back for the Mean Green ... Saw most of his production come with his feet instead of his arm as he led Cedar Hill Longhorns with a team best 1,778 yards rushing yards and 20 touchdowns ... Led an offense that averaged 392.6 yards and 38 points per game in 2007 ... Named to 2007 Super List for HS quarterbacks by 5ATexasFootball.com ... Earned all-District 8-5A first team in 2007 ... Rated No. 53 on the Dallas Morning News area top 100 list ... Playing against an Irving MacArthur defense that only allowed 110 yards rushing per game, Hamilton ran for 196 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns.

Joe Hawthorne – DT – 6-4 – 250 lbs. – Arlington Martin HS

Recorded 56 tackles on the year in 2007 while playing nose tackle ... Tallied six sacks among 12 tackles for loss in 2007 ... Earned second-team All-District 8-5A honors ... Was the first defensive lineman to join the Mean Green’s 2008 class.... Ranks a 5.1 on Rivals.com 6.1 scale ceiling scale.

Kylee Hill – DB – 5-10 – 190 lbs. – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College

Junior College: In 2007, tallied 61 tackles in seven games at the safety position or Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and coach Rob Green ... Was an honorable mention All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference selection ... Recorded first career interception against Cisco Junior College ... Helped anchor a NEO secondary that allowed only 178 yards passing per game. High School: Named to the Oklahoma 3A East All-Star squad as a senior at Bristow High School ... Will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Royce Hill – DB – 5-11 – 170 lbs. – Cypress Ridge HS

In 2007, recorded 38 tackles and three interceptions ... Ranked the 30th best corner in the nation by ESPN.com ... Selected to the all-District 17-5A team three times and made the first-team as a junior and senior ... Was one of eight finalists for the Houston Touchdown Club defensive player of the year award ... Rated No. 35 on the list of the top 100 players in the Greater Houston area by TexasPrepXtra.com ... Ranked in the top 110 players in the area the Houston Chronicle... Led the 17-5A in punt return average and finished second in kick return average ... Was the 2007 District 17-5A Return Specialist of the Year ... Selected to play in the 2008 Bayou Bowl.

Gabe Hollivay – OL – 6-3 –320 lbs. – Itawamba CC

Junior College: Was a NJCAA first-team all-state selection for Itawamba Community College ... Top 25 JUCO prospect by the Jackson Clarion Ledger ... Top 25 JUCO prospect by the Sun Herald ... Was the lineman of the week for Itawamba College five times during the 2007 season. High School: Selected to the 2006 Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classic as a senior at Hamilton High School is Mississippi ... Named to the second-team all-state team by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger ... Will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Alonzo Horton – DE – 6-4 – 260 lbs. – Northwest Mississippi CC

Junior College: Ranked in the top 100 junior college prospects by Rivals.com ... Top 50 JUCO prospect by the Sun Herald ... Tallied 80 tackles, including 11 for a loss during his sophomore campaign at Northwest Mississippi. Auburn University: Appeared in 11 games for the Tigers as a redshirt freshman primarily on special teams ... Recorded three tackles ... High School: Ranked as the 10th best defensive end in the country as a senior at Marion Abramson Senior High School ... Earned SuperPrep All-American honors as a senior ... Registered 146 tackles and 13 sacks as a senior, earning all-city and all-state honors ...Top 25 Louisiana prospect by Rivals.com ... Will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Nate Jenkins – OL – 6-4 – 335 lbs. – Pearl River CC

Junior College: Four-star recruit by Scout.com ... Rated nation’s fourth best JUCO offensive tackle by Scout.com ... Top 50 JUCO prospect by the Sun Herald ... Earned second-team all-state honors as both a freshman and sophomore at Pearl River ... Team played for a National Championship during his freshman year at PRCC ... Will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Jeremy Knott – K – 6-4 – 185 lbs. – Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College

Junior College: Earned second-team NJCAA All-American honors as a sophomore at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M ... In 2007, was also named to the All-Southwest Junior College Athletic Conference team ... Made 12 field goals in the Bulldogs’ nine contests, including a long of 46 yards ... Connected on 35 of 37 point-after attempts in 2007 ... Was named to the NJCAA Pre-Season All-American Team as a punter prior to the 2007 season ... As a true freshman in 2006, averaged 39.3 yards on 34 punts and dropped 16 inside the 20 in 2006 ... In 2006, was 13 of 13 on PAT's and kicked seven field goals with a long of 53 yards.

Nick Leppo – OL – 6-2 – 285 lbs. – Southlake Carroll HS

Was a member of the 2006 and 2007 5A state championship team at Southlake Carroll High School ... Earned first-team all-District 5-5A honors at the center position as a junior ... Was the offensive line MVP at the 2007 Nike Camp.

Jeremi Mathis – RB – 6-1 – 205 lbs. – Arlington Martin HS

In 2007, rushed for 1,462 yards on 231 carries and tallied 17 touchdowns ... Was a 2007 first-team All-District 8-5A selection ... Recorded best rushing output against Justin-Northwest High School during week two when he rushed for 237 yards on 26 carries and three touchdowns ... Recorded two or more TDs in six of the Warriors’ 11 games in 2007 ... Top-100 overall area prospect by Dallas Morning News ... Received honorable mention THSCA academic all-state honors ... Honorable mention 5A all-state selection by Texas Sports Writers Association ... Named Dallas Morning News Offensive Player of the Week following his performance against DeSoto when he carried the ball 30 times for 210 yards and two scores.

Jeremy Phillips – DB – 6-3 – 184 lbs. – Waller HS

In 2007, completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,538 yards and 14 touchdowns ... Also rushed for 1,223 yards and 12 scores ... Helped lead Waller High School to the 4A Division II, Region III finals for the first time in school history with Phillips under center and his dad, Jim Phillips, as coach ... Greater Houston Top 50 senior prospect by TexasPrepInsider.com ... Named Most Valuable Player for District 18-4A ... Houston-area top 50 by rivals.com ... Ranked as one of the top six “athletes” in the area by the Houston Chronicle ... Brother of Jason Phillips, who appeared on the watch list for the Rotary Lombardi and Dick Butkus Award and was a three-time all-Mountain West performer at TCU.

Forrest Rucker – WR – 6-5 – 195 lbs. – Hearne HS

In 2007, tallied 29 receptions for 442 yards, averaging 15.2 yards per catch ... Recorded 152 receiving yards against Franklin High School during the fifth week of the season ... Also tallied 36 tackles on the defensive side of the ball for the Eagles ... First-team all-District 26-2A selection in 2007 ... Ranked as the No. 20 prospect in Central Texas by Texas Prep Insider ... In 2006, earned first-team all-district honors and second-team all-state accolades ... Named an honorable mention Waco Tribune-Herald Super Centex and honorable mention Bryan-College Station Eagle All-Brazos Valley in both 2006 and 2007 ... Helped Hearne advance to the 2A Division I quarterfinals in 2006 ... As a sophomore, was a second-team all-district selection ... Also earned Super Centex honors by the Waco Tribune-Herald in basketball averaging 15.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 5.5 blocks as a junior.

John Shorter – DB – 5-11 – 177 lbs. – Lake Highlands HS

Three-year starter for Lake Highlands High School and coach Scott Smith ... First-team all-district recipient as the safety position ... Top area 100 prospect by Dallas Morning News ... In 2007, named to the Super List by 5ATexasFootball.com ... In 2006, was an all-District 9-5A selection as a junior ... Recorded three interceptions on the season in 2006 ... Top return man for Lake Highlands High School ... Returned two punts for a touchdown during the spring game in 2006.

Willie Taylor – WR – 6-0 – 160 lbs. – Hillcrest HS

Top 100 Dallas-area prospect by the Dallas Morning News ... Passed for more than 1,000 yards in both his sophomore and junior season ... Led Hillcrest to the area playoffs as a junior throwing for 1,634 yards and 19 touchdowns ... Also rushed for 739 yards and seven touchdowns in 2006 ... ... Was a first-team all-district selection as a sophomore and junior ... Named the District 10-4A Newcomer of the Year in 2005 as a sophomore.

Darien Williams – DB – 5-11 – 180 lbs. – Vernon HS

Named District 6-3A Most Valuable Player in 2007 ... Third-team 3A all-state selection by Texas Sports Writers Association ... Recorded 135 tackles, three interceptions and 12 pass break ups as a junior ... Helped lead Vernon High to the 3A Division II state semifinals ... All-district selection at safety both as a junior and sophomore.

Source: UNT

See more stories in:

• Football > College Football > Sun Belt > University of North Texas

Comments

Scott Doyle Verified

Needs_more_BASEBALL!

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Robert Kelly Verified

Riley originally signed with UT, but decided ultimately to play for his Dad. He knows the system, and will probably play at NTSU whereas who knows at UT. On the contrary, its a coup for his Dad, not him hanging on. Lucky pops.

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )

Scott Doyle Verified

lol @ NTSU. It's UNT these days, friend - UNT!

Back to the task at hand...we need a friggin' NCAA baseball team!!

5 months, 2 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )