MONROE,
La.?ULM football head coach Charlie
Weatherbie announced the signing of 25 student-athletes to National
Letters of
Intent Wednesday morning. The 25 new signees join a pair of junior
college transfers that signed with ULM earlier to make up the 2009 recruiting class.
Coming off the school's highest ranked class
ever last year, ULM's 2009 signing class currently ranks number one in the Sun
Belt Conference by Scout.com and is 10 spots better in the national rankings
than last season's class.
“I really believe this has the opportunity to
be as good a recruiting class as we have had since we've been here,” Weatherbie
said. “The proof will be in the pudding when the players get here, but based on
what we have seen on film and in person we believe that we have a great group
of young men.”
The Warhawks have a trio of three-star rated
signees by Scout.com. Quarterback Kolton
Browning (Mabank, Texas), linebacker Antonio Hoskins (Water Valley, Miss.) and defensive
end Quantez Hunter (Salem, Va.) all received three stars ? Hunter also received
three stars from Rivals.com.
ULM signed 11 players from Texas, six from
Mississippi, five from Louisiana, two from Florida and one each from Georgia
and Virginia to truly make this a regional recruiting class.
The Warhawks inked 10 players who were
nationally ranked in their position by Scout.com. Center Andrew Russell (27), Browning (71),
linebacker Ben Giles (81), tight end Emmanuel Jefferies (88), linebacker
Cameron Blakes (95), cornerback Khairi Usher (105), defensive tackle Blake
Cogswell (107), quarterback Aaron Munoz (127) and wide receiver Tristan Warren
(241) all are ranked among the nation's best at their position.
Linebacker Antonio Hoskins was the 28th
ranked linebacker in the country last year and signed with Mississippi State
out of high school before enrolling at Mississippi
Elite Christian Academy.
Fans
will have an opportunity to see the returning Warhawks in action when spring
practice begins on March 14. The team will practice every Tuesday, Thursday,
Friday and Saturday until April 4. The Second Annual Super Warhawk Weekend is
scheduled for March 20-22 and will feature the Maroon & Gold Spring Game on
March 21.
2009 ULM Football
Signing Class:
By State:
Texas................................ 11
Mississippi........................ 6
Louisiana........................... 5
Florida............................... 2
Georgia............................. 2
Virginia.............................. 1
By Position
Wide
Receiver.................... 5
Offensive
Line.................... 4
Defensive
Line................... 4
Defensive
Back.................. 4
Running
Back..................... 3
Quarterback....................... 2
Tight
End........................... 2
Linebacker......................... 2
Deep
Snapper.................... 1
Cameron Blakes
DB, 6-1, 205
Monroe, La. (Ouachita
Parish HS)
Prep: Led Ouachita Parish
High School with 63 tackles, four tackles for loss and nine sacks during his
senior season...also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble...earned honorable
mention all-state honors...named Defensive MVP of the 2008 Sportsman Paradise All-Star
Game ? had eight tackles, three tackles for loss, forced two fumbles and recovered
a fumble in the game...his junior season, led the Lions with 81 tackles, six
tackles for loss and two forced fumbles...also had a pair of interceptions and
a pair of sacks...as a sophomore, had 90 tackles, eight sacks and three
interceptions... helped the Lions to a 10-3 overall record and a 7-1 mark in
district play...OPHS advanced to the third round of the playoffs in 2008
Chad Brown
DE, 6-3, 265
Garland, Texas (Garland HS)
Prep: Named second team
all-district as a junior finishing the year with 45 tackles and two
sacks...missed his senior year due to injury...was being heavily recruiting by
Big 12 schools prior to his injury...high school teammates with fellow signee Kevin
White
Kolton Browning
QB, 6-3, 190
Mabank, Texas (Mabank HS)
Prep: Named Henderson
County Player of the Year for the second time (2007) and Texas District 15-4A
Offensive MVP following a stellar senior season...threw for 3,156 yards and 28 touchdowns
as a senior in just 10 games...also rushed for 790 yards and eight
touchdowns...his 401 total yards per game led the state of Texas in all
classifications...as a junior, threw for 3,001 yards and 26 touchdowns, while
rushing for 939 yards and 15 touchdowns on 136 carries...totaled 7,945 total
yards in his junior and senior seasons...13-3A District MVP and all-state as a
junior...as a sophomore, earned 13-3A Newcomer of the Year honors and was named
Henderson County Sophomore of the Year...three-star recruit and ranked as one
of the top 71 quarterbacks in the nation by Scout.com...holds the Mabank High
School single-game records for total offense (507), rushing yards (228),
passing yards (456) and passing touchdowns (6); the single-season records for
passing yards (3,126), completions (240), attempts (409) and touchdown passes
(28); and the career records for passing yards (7,352) and passing touchdowns
(63)...all-state basketball player and an all-district baseball pitcher...as a
left-hander, throws an 88 MPH fastball...as a sophomore posted a 6-1 record
with a 0.89 ERA
Personal: Full name is Kolton
R. Browning...born Oct. 17, 1990, in Mesquite, Texas...son of Karl and Panda
Browning...has a brother, Kory...uncle James Braswell played football at Tyler
Junior College and brother played basketball at Minot State University
Cordario Calvin
WR, 6-3, 202
Greenville, Miss. (Mississippi Delta
CC / Greenville-Weston HS)
Mississippi Delta CC: Earned Mississippi Association of
Community and Junior Colleges All-State North First Team honors as a
sophomore...finished the season ranked among the nation's leaders in receiving
yards (29th) and touchdown receptions (16th)
Prep: Was a two-sport all-state performer at Greenville-Weston
High School...earned all-state honors in both football and basketball -- also
lettered in track...holds the Hornets record for most receptions
Personal: Full name is Cordario Marzet Calvin...born
March 19, 1987, in Greenville, Miss...son of Elderick Brown and Sonya
Lewis...has a brother, Willie, and a sister, Tinisha
Blake Cogswell
DL, 6-1, 285
Shreveport, La. (Evangel Christian
Academy)
Prep: Had a dominating
senior season finishing with 135 tackles, 13 sacks, two fumble recoveries and
31 tackles for loss...started all four years on the Eagles' varsity
team...helped lead Evangel to three Louisiana State Championships...he is also
a three-time state powerlifting champion and four-time national powerlifting
champion...lettered in wrestling, track and powerlifting in addition to
football for the Eagles
Personal: Full name is
Jonathan Blake Cogswell...son of Don and Teresa Cogswell...born Jan. 12, 1990,
in Shreveport, La...has a brother, Josh...grandfather Thurman Terry played
football at Rica University and with the Baltimore Colts ? played with Johnny
Unitas
Jyruss Edwards
RB, 6-0, 180
White Castle, La. (White Castle HS)
Prep: Rushed for 1,100
yards and 15 touchdowns in just five games as a senior ? White Castle had games
canceled due to Hurricane Gustav and he suffered a minor injury...as a junior,
led the state of Louisiana with 2,210 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns on 254
carries (8.7 yards per carry)...rushed for 394 yards and six touchdowns on 34
carries against East Iberville
Noa Galeai
DS, 6-0, 200
Euless, Texas (Euless-Trinity HS)
Prep: Prepped at Euless
Trinity High School where he was their tight end and deep snapper...caught 10
passes for 199 yards during his senior season...helped Trinity reach No. 1 in
the state of Texas and garner national rankings as they finished the season
13-1 after an upset loss in the region finals
Ben Giles
LB, 6-0, 234
Pace, Fla. (Pace HS)
Prep: Finished his senior
season with 89 tackles, 11 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles
as he earned first team all-area honors...recorded 70 tackles and nine sacks
during his junior season...holds the Pace High School power clean record at 350
pounds...lettered in weightlifting...high school teammate of ULM signee Aaron Munoz
Personal: Full name is Ben
Joseph Giles...born Dec. 22, 1990, in Pensacola, Fla...son of Glenda Giles
Nick Hawkins
OL, 6-4, 268
Carrollton, Texas (Newman Smith HS)
Prep: Named first team all-district in his first season as an
offensive lineman at Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas... played
defense up until his senior season...57 pancakes and graded out at 92 percent
for the season...also lettered in basketball
Antonio Hoskins
LB, 6-2, 220
Water Valley, Miss. (Water Valley HS)
Prep: Selected to play in the Mississippi/Alabama
High School All-Star Game as a linebacker...rated among the top 40 recruits in
the state of Mississippi by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger following his senior
season...that newspaper selected him second team all-state as a linebacker
following his senior season at Water Valley High School...28th-ranked
linebacker in the nation by Scout.com following his senior year...credited with
running a 4.54 40-yard dash by Rivals.com...led the state's Class 3A schools
with 191 total tackles and 10 quarterback sacks during his junior season for
the Blue Devils...signed with Mississippi State in 2008 out of high school
Personal: Full name is Antonio Terell Hoskins...born
Jan. 1, 1989...son of Rondalyn Hoskins
Quantez
Hunter
DL,
6-4, 250
Salem,
Va. (City College of San Francisco / Salem HS)
City
College of San Francisco: Transferred to
City College of San Francisco after one semester at Grambling State...earned
preseason All-America honors prior to his sophomore season...played in eight
games before missing the remainder of the season due to an injury...finished
the season with 21 tackles (15 solo, 6 assist), with five tackles for loss and
four sacks....the five tackles for loss went for 28 yards and the four sacks
were for a loss of 27 yards...also broke up eight passes, forced a fumble,
recovered two fumbles, blocked a kick and had a quarterback hurry
Emanuel
Jefferies
TE,
6-4, 220
Jackson,
Miss. (Forest Hill HS)
Prep: Was named to the
all-metro first team following his senior season in which he had 30 catches for
537 yards and seven touchdowns...Scout.com ranked him as the 32nd
best player in the state of Mississippi...helped the Patriots post a five-win
improvement from his junior season as they went 7-4...averaged three pancake
blocks per game...also played basketball for the Patriots
Personal: Full name is
Emmanuel J. Jefferies...born Feb. 19, 1991, in Cary, Miss...son of Emmanuel and
Delores Jefferies...has two brothers, Mario Lane and Timothy Jefferies, and a
sister, Dawn Hawkins...cousin Jared Jefferies played basketball at Indiana and
currently plays for the New York Knicks
Tavarese
Maye
WR,
5-11, 172
Petal,
Miss. (Petal HS)
Prep: Earned all-district
and all-area honors following his senior year and pulled down 24 receptions for
654 yards and nine touchdowns on a team that ran the ball nearly 85 percent of
the time...helped lead the Panthers to the Mississippi District 4-5A
Championship with a 10-1 record...also lettered in basketball
Personal: Full name is
Tavarese W. Maye...son of Annie Newsome...born Jan. 3, 1991, in Brookhaven,
Miss...has two sisters, Charmell and Charleston, and a brother, Marquise
Aaron
Munoz
QB,
5-11, 190
Pace,
Fla. (Pace HS)
Prep: Earned all-area
after throwing for nearly 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior...as a
junior, completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 1,961 yards and 18 touchdowns
with just six interceptions...named honorable mention all-state and all-area
for his efforts...also rushed for 346 yards and three touchdowns...teammate
with fellow 2009 signee Ben Giles
Robert
Nelson
DB,
5-10, 165
Suwanee,
Ga. (North Gwinett HS)
Prep: Was a three-sport all-region performer for North Gwinnett
HS...earned first team all-region in football for a team that finished
13-2 and a berth in the state championship game...totaled 26 tackles
including 14 solo tackles...broke up a team-high 15 passes...intercepted
three passes and returned two for touchdowns...scored two touchdowns on
kick returns...holds the school record for the longest interception
return of 88 yards and the longest kick return of 98 yards...lettered
twice in basketball and track & field
Personal: Full name is Robert Chevis Nelson...born on Feb. 16, 1990...son of Carlene Gray and Robert Nelson Sr.
Isaiah
Newsome
RB,
5-11, 192
Petal,
Miss. (Petal HS)
Prep: Rushed for
1,786 yards and 23 touchdowns on 250 carries as a senior despite missing
two games to a minor injury...named to the Clarion Ledger All-State Second
Team...played in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game...electronically timed
at 4.5 in the 40-yard dash by Scout.com...rushed for over 900 yards as a
junior...rushed for 205 on 41 carries and caught a 31-yard touchdown pass
against Top-10 ranked Hattiesburg to earn Mississippi Player of the Week honors
by the Clarion Ledger...finished second in Mississippi in powerlifting
Otis
Peterson
WR,
5-11, 170
Belle
Chasse, La. (Belle Chasse HS)
Prep: Two-time first team
all-district selection out of Belle Chasse High School...finished his senior
season with 42 catches for 1,009 yards and seven touchdowns...had nine
receptions for 197 yards and ran the ball 14 times for 159 yards in the
Cardinal's 35-34 upset of Bastrop in the semifinals of the 2008 Louisiana
playoffs...digitally timed at 4.40 in the 40-yard dash...had 38 catches for 697
yards and seven touchdowns as a junior...holds the Belle Chasse school records
for fastest 40-yard dash and highest vertical jump...also lettered in track for
the Cardinal
Personal: Full name is Otis R.
Peterson...son of Larry and Mattie Peterson...born Jan. 2, 1991, in Houston,
Texas...has a sister, Larrel, and a brother, Anaquan
Andrew
Russell
OL,
6-4, 315
Richardson,
Texas (Richardson HS)
Prep: Earned 9-5A first
team all-district honors following his senior season at Richardson High
School...ranked as the 27th best center in the nation by Scout.com
Jordan
Selexman
WR,
6-3, 205
Bowie,
Texas (Bowie HS)
Prep: Had 38 catches for
600 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior at Bowie High School...had an explosive
junior season with 42 catches for 723 yards and 10 touchdowns...also plays
basketball... transferred to Bowie from Duncanville High School prior to his
senior year
Kevin
Steed
TE,
6-5, 215
Lithia
Springs, Ga. (Lithia Christian Academy)
Prep: Named to the Georgia
all-state team following his senior season after leading the team in receptions
(53), receiving yards (992) and touchdowns (9)...earned all-county and all-region
honors following his junior and senior seasons...also lettered in basketball
and baseball for the Lions...was a three-year varsity starter on the basketball
team
Personal: Full name is Kevin
P. Steed...son of Ina and Robert Steed...born Sept. 20, 1990, in Coevorden, The
Netherlands...has one sister, Nikki
Khairi
Usher
DB,
5-10, 181
Meridian,
Miss. (Meridian HS)
Prep: Named to the Clarion
Ledger All-State First Team following his senior year...finished the year with 88
tackles, five interceptions, two fumble recoveries and four pass breakups..played
in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game... helped Meridian to a 14-1 record and
the Mississippi 5A State Championship...named one of the best “squat” corners
in the South by Scout.com... as a junior, made 73 tackles and had five
interceptions...also lettered in baseball for four seasons -- projected to
letter this year as well
Personal: Full name is Khairi Hakim Usher...born Oct. 21, 1990, in
Canton, Miss...son of Donald and Shirley Usher...has two brothers, Amir and
Jamal...cousin Antoine Walker played basketball at Kentucky and with the Boston
Celtics...cousin Chico Walker played baseball for the Boston Red Sox
Tristan
Warren
DB,
6-2, 175
Brownsboro,
Texas (Brownsboro HS)
Prep: Finished his senior
season with 33 catches for 498 yards and five touchdowns...also had 30 tackles,
two interceptions and two forced fumbles on the defensive side of the ball...as
a junior, had 20 receptions for 450 yards and five touchdowns to go along with
83 tackles, 12 pass breakups and five interceptions...named all-state for his
efforts his senior year
Monterrell
Washington
RB,
5-10, 193
Bryan,
Texas (Bryan HS)
Prep: Had a stellar season
at Bryan High School finishing the year with 1,146 yards on 198 carries and 16
touchdowns...earned Bravo Valley 12-5A first team all-district honors for his
efforts...also a polished track athlete...won the district title in the 800m
and 1600m relays running the final leg...electronically timed at 4.43 in the
40-yard dash and 10.51 in the 100-meter sprint
Brock
Wempa
OL,
6-3, 281
Royse
City, Texas (Royse City HS)
Prep: Three-time
Associated Press all-state selection at Royce City High School...can play both
guard and tackle...first team all-district, second team all-region and
honorable mention all-state as a sophomore...helped the Bulldogs to a 7-4
record and a trip to the playoffs as a senior...originally committed to Iowa
State...state finalist as a powerlifting...finished his senior season with 73
pancake blocks and graded out at 95 percent
Fonda
White
OL, 6-3,
327
San
Antonio, Texas (Tyler JC / Marshall HS)
Tyler JC: Helped the Apaches
to a 5-4 overall record as a sophomore and a freshman...blocked on an offensive
line that paved the way for 166.1 rushing yards per game...first team
all-conference his sophomore year...played both guard and tackle
Prep: Prepped at Marshall
High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he was an all-state and all-district selection...three-time
region finalist in the discus...played tight end
Kevin
White
DL,
6-3, 265
Garland,
Texas (Garland HS)
Prep: Joined the Garland
High School team his senior year and made an immediate impact...named to the
10-5A all-defensive second team...finished the year with 45 tackles, five
tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery...cousin
of current Warhawk J.J. McCoy...also lettered in basketball at Garland...played
half the season at defensive end and the other half at defensive tackle... high
school teammates with ULM signee Chad Brown
Brandon
Williams
WR,
6-2, 185
Monroe,
La. (Ouachita Parish HS)
Prep: Earned 1-5A
all-district honors as a senior finishing with 40 catches for 639 yards and six
touchdowns...averaged 16.0 yards per catch and 53.3 yards per game...helped the
Lions to a 10-3 overall record and a 7-1 mark in district play...OPHS advanced
to the third round of the playoffs in 2008
