NASHVILLE, Tennessee -- With both of Tennessee State’s leading returning receivers being tight ends, the Tigers went looking for wide receivers
in the recruiting season.Four of TSU’s 24 signees are wide receivers, and they will get the chance to make an impact early in their careers, coach Rod Reed said.
The two leading returning pass catchers are tight ends A.C. Leonard (51 catches, 733 yards, six TDs) and Joe Bowens (28 catches, 348 yards, two TDs).
“We feel like we’ve got to be able to get some separation on the outside and get bigger because we’re a play-action team, and those big targets are good to have out there,” Reed said. “We’ve already got two inside guys with A.C. and Joe, so we needed a little bit of length on the outside.”
The Tigers signed 6-foot-3 Dantwaun O’Neal (DeLand, Fla.), 6-3 Quindell Cousin from Blackman, 6-4 Christopher Sanders-McCollum (Creekside, Ga.) and 6-4 Devante Miller, a transfer from College of DuPage (Ill.).
“Not only did we want to get some size out there to get some separation with the defensive backs, but as much as we run the ball, we also need some big guys who can block,” Reed said. “We feel like all of the receivers we signed can do that.”
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Final Updates List of TSU Tigers Signees
| Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | School |
| Cameron Carter | PK/P | 5-10 | 180 | East Hamilton |
| Evan Clay | OT | 6-5 | 295 | Tucker, Ga. |
| Quindell Cousin | WR | 6-3 | 190 | Blackman |
| Adam Davenport | RB | 5-10 | 215 | Navy |
| Rodney Edwards | DT | 6-2 | 295 | Gadsden City, Ala. |
| Leon Holderhead | P | 6-4 | 224 | Butte, Calif., JC |
| Afolabi Laguda | S | 6-2 | 200 | Brookwood, Ga. |
| James Lewis | OT | 6-5 | 295 | Vanderbilt |
| Khari Lewis | RB | 5-10 | 180 | Florida HS |
| Devante Miller | WR | 6-4 | 190 | DuPage (Ill.) CC |
| Roc-M Nesbitt | DE | 6-3 | 250 | Carver, Ga. |
| Everett Nicholas | CB | 5-11 | 185 | Cedar Grove, Ga. |
| Justin North | LB | 6-1 | 220 | Freedom, Fla. |
| Dantwaun O’Neal | WR | 6-3 | 190 | DeLand, Fla. |
| Aaron Piper | ATH | 5-10 | 175 | Duncanville, Texas |
| Baron Poole II | DT | 6-2 | 275 | Southwest DeKalb, Ga. |
| Mark Reeves | LB | 6-0 | 210 | Grady, Ga. |
| De’Ante Saunders | CB | 5-9 | 192 | Florida |
| Christopher Sanders-McCollum | WR | 6-4 | 180 | Creekside, Ga. |
| Jordan Sidney | C | 6-2 | 285 | Riverdale, Ga. |
| Patrick Smith | ATH | 6-0 | 185 | Whitehaven |
| Tevin Spells | RB | 5-9 | 180 | Atlantic, Fla. |
| Ashton Westmoreland | FB | 6-1 | 255 | Beech |
| Chadwick Williams II | LB | 6-2 | 208 | Dr. Phillips, Fla. |
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Tiger Football Signs 23 On National Signing Day
NASHVILLE, TENN. - Tennessee State University head football
coach Rod Reed announced on Wednesday that 23 student-athletes signed their
National Letter of Intent to join the football program in 2013.
"We targeted a lot of guys and in the end, we got a lot of the top guys that we wanted at the top positions," said Reed.
With
TSU finishing the season 8-3, the most wins in an 11 game season since 2001, it
made a big difference in recruiting
"It’s easy to go into a school and tell a kid that you are 8-3 instead of 5-6," Reed said. "Kids pay attention to that and winning is important. We not only want to win the Ohio Valley Conference, but we want to win the National Championship. "
Cameron Carter – P/K
5-10, 180 Hamilton HS, Chattanooga, Tenn. A three year starter and a captain during the 2012 for Hamilton high school in Chattanooga, Tenn. … ranked top 10 nationally in punting, kicking, and combination specialists by prokicker.com … made class of 2013 All-American watch list as both a punter and kicker … kickoffs average 70+ yards with 3.8/3.9 seconds hangtime … set a state record for kickoff touchbacks in Tennessee sending 71/82 into or out of the endzone … ended the season with a 42-yard punting average and had 13 punts downed inside the 20 yard line … a member of the FCA ... To watch highlights on Cameron Carter, CLICK HERE. Evan Clay – OL 6-4, 305 Tucker HS, Tucker, Ga. Was a member of the Class 4A State Championship team as a junior … also participated in track throwing the discus and shot put … received offers from Buffalo and Southern Miss. … plans to major in Business of Communications ... To watch highlights on Evan Clay, CLICK HERE. 6-3, 180 Blackman HS, Murfreesboro, Tenn. Caught 26 passes for 494 yards to lead the Blaze in his second season of playing varsity football. He also had three TD catches. … named to the 7AAA All-District Team as a senior … also played basketball at Blackman … Cousin told the Murfressboro News that the opportunity to play close to home was something he couldn't pass up."I'm a hometown kid," Cousin said. "They were the school that was consistent in contacting me. Plus, they have a new indoor facility and their coaching staff is great." Was recruited by Austin Peay, Colorado State, Howard, Tennessee Tech, UT-Chattanooga and UT-Martin. Adam Davenport - RB 5-10, 215 Navy/Riverdale HS, Riverdale, Tenn. Ran a 4.5, 40-yard dash.
Rodney Edwards - DT
6-2, 295 Gadsden City HS, Gadsden, Ala. Was the team captain on defense for Gadsden City … named first team All-State and All-County … named the most outstanding defensive lineman during his senior season while making 53 tackles and 8.5 stops for a loss …played in the 26th annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Game on Dec. 15… had offers from Colorado State, Middle Tennessee State, Murray State, Southern Miss and UAB ... To watch highlights of Rodney Edwards, CLICK HERE. Leon Holderhead - P 6-4, 224 Butte Community College (Australia) Played at Butte Junior College, the #1 ranked team in Northern California, for head coach Jeff Jordan … member of the State Center Bowl Champions and the 2011 Graffiti Bowl Champions … averaged 38 yard per punt during the 2012 season and 37 years per punt in 2011 … had a 3.6 cumulative GPA … hometown is Leongatha, Australia. … plans to major in Occupational Therapy.
Afolabi Laguda – S
6-1, 200 Brookwood HS, Snellville, Ga. Has a vertical jump of 33 inches. To watch highlights of Afolabi Laguda, CLICK HERE
James Lewis – OL
6-5, 295 Vanderbilt/Arlington HS (Arlington, Tenn.)
2012
Has seen limited action, participating in four games on the offensive line.
2011
Lewis did not play during his first season on campus. High School Senior captain... Three-year starter at OT for school near Memphis... As senior, helped Arlington to 8-3 record and first round of 6A state playoffs... Played in two postseason games: Tennessee East-West Game and inaugural All-World Gridiron Classic in Charleston, S.C... Three-time All-District recipient and named to Commercial-Appeal's Best of Preps squad... As junior, helped squad to district title and 10-0 regular season, just one year after a 1-9 campaign... Also played on basketball squad. Personal James Edward Lewis... Son of Bryan and Endia Lewis... Born December 4, 1992... Dad is senior account manager; mom is early intervention specialist... Has a younger brother, Bryan II... An uncle, Darren Hughes, played in NFL... Served as youth coach at summer camps... Plays the tuba. Khari Lewis – RB 5-11, 190 Florida HS, Tallahassee, Fla. Class 4A second-team all-offense selection as a senior … rushed for 1,110 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior ... was named the Charlie Ward Offensive Player of the Year by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club … offered by Gardner-Webb ... To watch highlights of Khari Lewis, CLICK HERE. Devante Miller - WR 6-4, 190 College of Dupage/Curie HS, Curie, Ill. Named first-team All-State by the Atlanta Journal Constitution and the Georgia Sports Writers Association … selected at Region 6B-AAAA Defensive Player of the year … recorded 10 sacks, 63 tackles and six tackles for loss during his senior season … named to the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s Preseason All-State Watch List. … finished first in the shot put in the Atlanta Public Schools Middle School Track & Field Championships with a throw of 42 feet, 6 inches … City of Atlanta Champion in both the discus and shot put as a sophomore … named the Male Most Outstanding Track & Field Athlete at the City of Atlanta Track & Field Champtionships as a sophomore … placed second in the discus and shot put at the Region 6 AAAA meet and qualified for state in both events as a sophomore … plans to major in Sports Medicine ... To watch highlight of Roc-m Nesbitt, CLICK HERE. Everett Nicholas – CB 5-11, 180 Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, Ga. Named a 5AAA All-Region and All-DeKalb county defensive back as a junior … selected as a 5AAA All-State, All-Region and All DeKalb-county DB during his senior season … received offers from Alabama State, Coastal Carolina, Howard and Grambling State. COURTESY TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION |
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