Wednesday, February 5, 2014

16 New Tigers Set to Join the TSU Football Program

HOUSTON, Texas  -- The Texas Southern Tigers football program signed twelve recruits to kick-off national signing day, with another four student-athletes already on campus and ready to go.

Texas Southern head coach Darrell Asberry says it's a great day to be a Tiger.  Asberry says recruiting this season was great and the kids were more receptive to becoming a TSU Tiger.

"We got all the kids that we went after," Asberry said.  "This is the first time we had four or five 2-star players to sign with us."

TSU signed six defensive and six offensive players…half of those are lineman.  The mid-year signees include a defense tackle, linebacker, long snapper and offensive lineman.

Four of the new Tigers are from Texas; two are from the Houston area including offensive lineman Kaelin Cooksey from Manvel High School.

"We were attracted to Cooksey because of his size and his sound fundamentals," Asberry said. "He brings a lot to the table since he was well coached and he can play the guard and tackle positions."

Asberry says Sikiru Asifatu is a Houston kid who played linebacker in junior college and brings experience and athleticism to the team.

"We believe we got something special when you add the 2014 class to the two classes we already signed," Asberry said.  "The coaches did an exceptional job recruiting and the future looks a lot brighter for the Tigers." 
 
Signees
NamePosHtWtClHometown (Previous School)
Keyshawn Parrish DT 6-2 290 Fr Lithonia, GA (MLK HS)
Caleb Jenkins DT 6-1 300 Fr Clemmons, NC (Mt. Tabor HS)
Darius Stapleton DE 6-1 250 Fr Union, NJ (Milford Academy)
Travis Hutchinson LB 6-0 220 Fr Jacksonville, FL (Atlantic Coast HS)
Archie Rice DB 6-0 190 Fr Avondale, AZ (Riverview HS)
Willie Hobdy DB 6-1 185 Fr Garland, TX (North Garland HS)
Jahlil Mathis-Ellis OL 6-3 315 Fr Fairburn, GA (Langston Hughes HS)
Terrence Williams OL 6-3 320 SO Rosedale, MS (Coahoma CC)
Kaelin Cooksey OL 6-3 320 Fr Manvel, TX (Manvel HS)
CJ Eddison RB 5-10 190 Fr Odessa, TX (Odessa HS)
Joe Robinson WR 6-5 195 Fr Aliceville, AL (Aliceville HS)
Trayvion Harris WR 6-4 200 Fr Plain Dealing, LA (Plain Dealing HS)
Mid-Year Signees
NamePosHtWtClHometown (Previous School)
Derrick Lyles DT 6-1 280 SO Wesson, MS (Mississippi Gulf Coast JC)
Sikiru Asifatu LB 6-1 225 SO Houston, TX (College of Desert JC)
Terry Smith LS 5-6 240 JR Port Gibson, MS (Copiah Lincoln JC)
Jaime Gleaton OL 6-4 320 JR Leesville,SC (San Jose JC)


2014 Recruit Details
  
Name                                   Pos         Ht            Wt               Cl            Hometown (Previous School)
Keyshawn Parrish             DT           6-2          290             Fr                Lithonia, GA (MLK HS)
Parrish is a Rivals 2 star athlete.  His versatility and abilities allows him to dominate on both sides of the ball.  He has a natural feel for defense but he sacrificed for his team and played offense as well.  Parrish was ranked 7th in the offensive guard position and 96th among the top 100 high school seniors in Georgia.  His honors include 2013 Preseason first team 5-A All-State (GA) and 3rd team Offense All-Georgia.  He was recruited by Eastern Michigan, University of South Alabama and Georgia State.
Parrish HUDL

Caleb Jenkins                     DT           6-1          300             Fr            Clemmons, NC (Mt. Tabor HS)
Jenkins is very strong and agile.  He will help the interior of TSU defense.
Jenkins HUDL

Darius Stapleton                DE          6-1          250             Fr            Union, NJ (Milford Academy)
Stapleton is big, strong and has good hands to create separation and get off blocks.  He is quick off the ball and has the speed to get in the back field.
Stapleton HUDL

Travis Hutchinson             LB           6-0          220             Fr            Jacksonville, FL (Atlantic Coast HS)
Hutchinson is a physical and explosive player who has a high football IQ. He has played inside and outside linebacker.  As a senior, he had 145 tackles, 128 assists, 10 sacks, 8 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, 4 blocked kicks and 1 touchdown.  He was recruited by Idaho.
Hutchinson HUDL

Archie Rice                          DB          6-0          190             Fr            Avondale, AZ (Riverview HS)
Rice is a very physical defensive back who can also play safety.  He is big and athletic and he has played wide receiver and quarterback.  He has a high football IQ.
Rice HUDL

Willie Hobdy                         DB          6-1          185             Fr            Garland, TX (North Garland HS)
Hobdy is a 2 star athlete from Texas.  He is athletic and very physical.  He has good range and plays big on the field.
Hobdy HUDL

Jahlil Mathis-Ellis               OL           6-3          315             Fr            Fairburn, GA (Langston Hughes HS)
Mathis-Ellis is a Rivals 2 star athlete.  He is physical and can play every position on the offensive line.  He was recruited by University of South Alabama, Georgia State and Savannah State.
Mathis-Ellis HUDL
 
Terrence Williams              OL           6-3          320             SO          Rosedale, MS (Coahoma CC)
Williams is a versatile lineman who can play multiple positions.  He is strong, athletic and aggressive in the pass set. He brings a lot of experience and leadership to the offensive line.
Williams HUDL

Kaelin Cooksey                  OL           6-3          320             Fr            Manvel, TX (Manvel HS)
Cooksey plays guard but can also fill the tackle position.  He has good size and he's strong and aggressive.  He comes from a program with a winning tradition.
Cooksey HUDL


CJ Eddison                          RB          5-10        190             Fr            Odessa, TX (Odessa HS)
Eddison is a very versatile running back with good speed and good hands.  He is a double threat out of the back field.  He has a high football IQ.  As a senior, he rushed for 1836 yards and 25 touchdowns.  His honors include State (Texas) Player of the Week and 2-time West Texas MVP.
Eddison HUDL

Joe Robinson                      WR         6-5          195             Fr            Aliceville, AL (Aliceville HS)
Robinson is a big receiver who is athletic with speed to stretch the field.  As a senior, he had 47 catches for 873 yards and 11 touchdowns.  He averaged 19 yards per reception.  In 2013, Robinson was All-State.  In 2012 & 2013, he was All-Region and All-Area in West Alabama and Tuscaloosa.  He was recruited by Alabama A&M.
Robinson HUDL

Trayvion Harris                   WR         6-4          200             Fr            Plain Dealing, LA (Plain Dealing HS)
Harris is a big and explosive receiver with good speed.  He has good hands and has to ability to make positive yards after the catch.  As a senior, he had 70 catches for 1150 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had an additional four touchdowns by rushing, catching, a kick-off return and an interception.  His honors include First team All-State Wide Receiver, First team All-Parish Defensive Back, Second team All Parish Wide Receiver and First team All-District Wide Receiver.
Harris HUDL
 
MID-YEAR SIGNEES


Derrick Lyles                       DT           6-1          280             SO          Wesson, MS (Mississippi Gulf Coast JC)       
Lyles is very physical and strong.  He will anchor the middle of the Tigers' defense.
Lyles HUDL

Sikiru Asifatu                       LB           6-1          225             SO          Houston, TX (College of Desert JC)
Asifatu was a mid-year signee from College of Desert Junior College.  He is an athlete who brings experience to a young and talent linebacker pool.  He is also versatile with the ability to play inside or outside.   He was recruited by South Dakota State.
Asifatu HUDL

Terry Smith                          LS           5-6          240             JR           Port Gibson, MS (Copiah Lincoln JC)
Smith fills an important void with the Tigers' special teams.  As a long snapper, he has a quick release and he is extremely accurate.
Smith HUDL

Jaime Gleaton                     OL           6-4          320             JR           Leesville ,SC (San Jose JC)
Gleaton is a very big and agile offensive lineman.  He is aggressive and has great pass set.  He can play the tackle and guard positions on both sides.
Gleaton HUDL

By Rodney Bush TSU Sports Information Director
COURTESY TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION

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