ULM Warhawks

HEAD COACH TERRY BOWDEN OVERVIEW:
"We were very selective heading into this February Signing Day and targeted these three prospects. Given this year's unique portal situation, we need to be patient and save multiple spots for later this spring. With every college player being granted an extra year of eligibility, you really have an opportunity to flip the roster and add a lot of experience."
 
 
FITZROY GARDNER
DE | 6-3 | 220 | Tampa, Fla.
Iowa Western Community College | Coach Scott Strohmeier
 
JUNIOR COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS: Recorded 36 tackles (22 solos, 14 assists), with 8.5 resulting in losses (33 yards) including 2.0 sacks (16 yards), and recovered five fumbles as a red-shirt freshman in 2019 … selected Iowa Community College Athletic Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after being credited with three tackles, a forced fumble and fumble recovery at Fort Scott … contributed six tackles vs. Snow College, with two for losses of 12 yards including a 9-yard sack, and two pass break-ups … scored a defensive touchdown for the second week in a row, returning a fumble 21 yards vs. Ellsworth … registered a season-high eight tackles at Dodge City, including a half sack for 3 yards, and returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown to earn ICCAC Defensive Player of the Week honors … matched his season-high with two tackles for loss (4 yards) at Iowa Central … produced four stops, including a half sack for 4 yards, and recovered two fumbles in his Reiver debut vs. Coffeyville … redshirted in 2018 … HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS: Named All-Big County Preps First Team as a senior for Coach Evan Davis at Armwood High School in Seffner, Florida, after helping the Hawks to a 14-1 record in 2017 … led the team in sacks (16 for 75 yards) while ranking second in both tackles (100: 67 solos, 33 assists) and tackles for loss (34) as a senior … registered double-figure tackles in six games, including the first four in a row … produced multiple tackles for loss in nine games … also credited with 11 quarterback hurries, three pass break-ups, three forced fumbles and an interception in 2017 … helped anchor a Armwood defensive that recorded four shutouts … matched his season high with 10 stops vs. Northwestern … totaled four stops behind the line of scrimmage in a 22-0 win over Hillsborough, including three sacks (16 yards) … tallied three sacks vs. Brandon (15 yards) and recorded a safety … made 10 tackles vs. Plant, with five resulting in losses including two sacks for 11 yards … credited with 10 stops vs. Chamberlain, with three coming behind the line of scrimmage including two sacks for 13 yards, to go along with three QB hurries … matched his season highs for tackles (10) and tackles for loss (5) vs. Blake … amassed 10 stops vs. Jefferson, with four for losses including three sacks for 15 yards … had a dominating performance in the season opener vs. Tampa Bay Tech, finishing with 10 tackles including nine solo stops … earned first-team all-district honors as a junior at Lennard High School in Ruskin, Fla. … led the Longhorns in tackles (117: 85 solos, 32 assists), tackles for loss (22), sacks (9 for 72 yards) and QB hurries (10) … posted double-digit tackles in all nine games in 2016 … matched his career high with 16 stops in the season finale vs. Plant City … tallied 15 tackles vs. Tampa Bay Tech, with five resulting in losses including a 6-yard sack … made 13 stops, including three for losses, and produced a safety vs. Strawberry Crest … registered a career-high 16 tackles vs. Durant, including a 6-yard sack, and three QB hurries … recorded 10 tackles vs. King, including a career-best five sacks for 48 yards, and three QB hurries … born Nov. 3, 1998 … son of Mary Fleming.
 
BOWDEN ON GARDNER:
"Fitzroy Gardner really jumped off the video when we watched him play on special teams. Fitzroy displayed great burst, was almost always the first guy down the field on kick-off coverage, and he simply blew people up. He's a rangy defensive end, who can really run and has the knack for making big plays."
 
 
ANDREW HENRY
RB | 5-10 | 185 | Dallas, Texas
Trinity Valley Community College | Coach Sherard Poteete
 
JUNIOR COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS: Ranked among the nation's Top 10 JUCO running backs (No. 6) by 247Sports.com … also rated among the Top 25 JUCO prospects in Texas (No. 24) by 247Sports.com … Trinity Valley Community College didn't play a fall schedule in 2020 … averaged 7.7 yards per carry (22 rushes for 54 yards) and scored one rushing touchdown in seven games as a freshman at Fort Scott Community College in 2019 … finished off an 11-play, 60-yard drive with a 5-yard TD run in the third quarter at Butler … returned three kickoffs for 77 yards (25.7 avg.), including a season-long 31-yarder in the opener vs. Highland … HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS: Transferred to Allen (Texas) High School to play his senior season under Terry Gambill … rushed five times for 92 yards (18.4 avg.) in the 2018 opener vs. Mesquite Horn, including touchdown runs of 39 and 21 yards, before leaving the game with a season-ending knee injury … spent his junior year at The Episcopal School of Dallas where he accounted for more than 1,300 all-purpose yards … also scored 27 rushing TDs in 2017 … played his first two seasons at Heritage High School in Frisco, Texas … earned second-team all-district honors as a sophomore in 2016 after producing 1,428 all-purpose yards … rushed 141 times for 857 yards (6.1 avg.) and seven TDs as a sophomore … recorded three 100-yard rushing games: 11 carries for 151 yards and one score vs. Centennial, 16 attempts for 113 yards and a TD vs. Independence and set career highs with 21 rushes for 218 yards vs. Colleyville Heritage, including a career-long 73-yard burst to the end zone … had 16 receptions for 184 yards (11.5 avg.) out of the backfield … returned 17 kickoffs for 387 yards (22.8 avg.) … returned four kickoffs for 111 yards (27.8 avg.) in the season finale vs. Centennial, including a 53-yarder … returned three kickoffs for 118 yards (39.3 avg.) in the 2016 season opener vs. Colleyville Heritage, including a 72-yard runback for a TD … amassed 300-plus all-purpose yards twice: 310 vs. Centennial and a career-best 337 vs. Colleyville … also played basketball for the Coyotes in 2016-17 … born Jan. 25, 2001 … son of Cheron Henry.
 
BOWDEN ON HENRY:
"Andrew Henry has all the tools to become an outstanding running back. His drive and passion to be coached will provide him with an opportunity to take his game from good to great.

"Andrew has the ability to see the holes and be explosive once he gets to the second level of the defense. He also has displayed the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, which will help in the passing game. He and (December signee) Hunter Smith complement each other very well as a one-two punch."


RHETT RODRIGUEZ
QB | 6-0 | 197 | Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona | Coach Kevin Sumlin
 
Enrolled at ULM on Jan. 11, 2021, for the beginning of the spring semester and plans to participate in spring football practice . . . Arizona Highlights: Named Pac-12 Football Scholar Athlete in 2020 after being recognized as Arizona Athletics' Valedictorian at the 2020 spring commencement (bachelor's degree in entrepreneurship) … Appeared in 11 games from 2017-20 … accounted for 1,154 yards total offense and four career touchdowns … connected on 51-of-100 career throws (.510) for 578 yards, three TDs and four interceptions … earned a spot on the 2019 Pac-12 Fall Academic Honor Roll … selected to the 2018 Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team … recorded back-to-back 200-yard passing games as a sophomore in 2018 … came off the bench to hit 20-of-38 passes for 226 yards and a touchdown at Utah … earned his first collegiate start the following week at UCLA and completed 15-of-34 throws for 231 yards and two scores … capped off a six-play, 79-yard drive with a 1-yard TD run in his Arizona debut against Northern Arizona in the 2017 season opener … HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS: Compiled a career record of 28-10 (.737) as a three-year starter and two-time team captain for Coach Jeff Scurran at Catalina Foothills High School in Tucson, Ariz. … accounted for 8,304 career yards total offense and 92 touchdowns (62 passing and 30 rushing) … named first-team all-state and all-region honors after leading the Falcons to the 2016 4A Championship Game (11-3 overall) … selected Class 4A Offensive Player of the Year and Southern Arizona Offensive Player of the Year as a senior …  produced 3,588 yards total offense and 45 TDs in 2016 … threw for 2,996 yards, a school-record 30 TDs and three interceptions as a senior … recorded multiple TD passes in eight games … also rushed for 592 yards and 15 TDs in 2016 … hit 11-of-14 passes for a career-high 413 yards and five scores vs. Flowing Wells … accounted for 3,127 yards total offense and 34 TDs as a junior … passed for 2,503 yards, 20 TDs and two interceptions in 2015 … added 624 rushing yards, including three 100-yard games, and 14 TDs in 2015 … scored a career-best four rushing TDs vs. Rincon/University … completed 19-of-23 tosses (.826) for 410 yards and a school-record six TDs … also competed in basketball as a junior in 2015-16 … born May 21, 1998 … son of Rich and Rita Rodriguez … father Rich is in his first year as ULM associate head coach and offensive coordinator; previously served as head coach at West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona … sister Raquel was a four-year member of the Arizona cheer team.
 
BOWDEN ON RODRIGUEZ:
"Rhett Rodriguez is a mature, quick decision-maker who possesses good arm strength and knowledge of the game. Rhett has a unique understanding of concepts and ball placement. He also has valuable game experience under his belt, including a start against UCLA as a true sophomore. His leadership and competitiveness will be an excellent addition to the competition in the ULM quarterback room."

ULM FOOTBALL 2021 RECRUITING CLASS ADDITIONS

Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Hometown (Previous School)
Fitzroy Gardner	DE	6-3	220	Tampa, Fla. (Iowa Western Community College
Andrew Henry	RB	5-10	185	Dallas, Texas (Trinity Valley Community College
Rhett Rodriguez	QB	6-0	197	Tucson, Ariz. (University of Arizona)