SWAC: National Signing Day Summary

ALABAMA A&M PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Danny Johnson  QB 6-2  185 Huntsville, Ala. Johnson  LINK Devon Johnson WR 6-1 180 Huntsville, Ala. Johnson LINK Jay Rogers RB 5-11 210 Madison, Ala. Bob Jones LINK Kailan Jackson DE 6-2 245 Huntsville, Ala. Johnson LINK Vernon Moland LB 6-1 215 Birmingham, Ala. Minor LINK Dominique Goodwin DB 5-11 175 Birmingham, Ala. Minor LINK Charles Buchannon RB 5-11 190 Pleasant Grove, Ala. Pleasant Grove LINK Patrick Burroughs DE 6-4 230 Pleasant Grove, Ala. Pleasant Grove LINK Roderick Randolph WR 6-1 210 Madison, Ala. Bob Jones LINK Daveon Dillard LB 5-10 205 Cedar Hills, Texas Cedar Hills LINK Jalon Douglas LB 5-11 200 Bellaire, Texas Bellaire LINK LaDarion Heath WR 6-4 195 Phenix City, Ala. Smiths Station LINK Aviree Giles DL 6-2 320 Lilburn, Ga. Berkmar LINK Taivon Thompson TE 6-5 240 Hampton, Ga. Dutchtown LINK Justin Brown DB 5-11 195 Odenville, Ala. St. Clair LINK Jordan Strong DE 6-2 235 Phenix City, Ala. Central LINK Dequan Young DB 5-11 175 Pensacola, Fla. West Florida Tech LINK Deonte Nicholson DB 5-11 175 Pensacola, Fla. Tate LINK Octayvius Miles WR 5-10 180 Mesquite, Texas Mesquite LINK Damion May QB 6-1 190 Biloxi, Miss. Biloxi LINK Cody Lui-Yuen QB 6-3 225 Honolulu, Hawai'i Radford LINK Chandler Campbell TE 6-5 250 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Fort Lauderdale LINK Devonte Simon ATH 5-11 170 Reform, Ala. Pickens County LINK Kenneth Davis LB 6-0 210 Pensacola, Fla. West Florida Tech LINK ALABAMA STATE PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO  Thomas Bartley III OL 6'3  280 Seffnar, Fla. Armwood LINK  Davian Brantley DB 5'10 170 Selma, Ala. Selma LINK Jaderryc Brown OL 6'3 265 Montgomery, Ala. Lee LINK Preston Clark K 6'1 175 Jacksonville, Fla. University Christian LINK Cordelral Cook QB 6'0 205 Stone Mountain, Ga. Stone Mountain LINK Joshua Davis WR 6'1 185 Tallahassee, Fla. Florida State High LINK Khalige Flegar RB/S 6'0 200 Augusta, Ga. Glenn Hills LINK Hyriam Frederick DE 6'1 240 Seffnar, Fla. Armwood LINK Damont Gamble OL 6'6 270 Slocumb, Ala. Slocumb LINK Brandon Harris LB 6'5 205 Conyers, Ga. Rockdale LINK Darius Holmes DB 5'11 175 Columbus, Ga. Northside LINK William Kelly ATH 5'8 185 Tallahassee, Fla. Rickards LINK Shakym Peters DB 6'0 170 Conyers, Ga. Rockdale LINK Kyle Thies OL 6'4 260 Royal Palm Beach, Fla. Royal Palm Beach LINK Joe Williams IV WR 6'2 175 Ft. Myers, Fla. Dunbar LINK Andre Wilson DT 6'1 295 Savannah, Ga. Calvary Day LINK ALCORN STATE PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Michael Brooks  DE  6-3  205  Brandon, Miss. Brandon  LINK Brandon Campbell DL 6-4 255 Delray Beach, Fla. American Heritage LINK Cameron Carter LB 6-0 210 Prentiss, Miss. Prentiss LINK Daniel Franklin DB 5-10 160 Memphis, Tenn. Memphis East LINK Ashton Hall RB 6-0 205 Jacksonville, Fla. First Coast LINK Tavares Johnson QB 6-1 170 Vickburg, Miss. Vicksburg LINK Jeremy Jordan DE 6-3 265 Madison, Miss. Germantown LINK Kris Lingo OL 6-7 260 Tallahassee, Fla. Leon LINK Christopher McCrea OL 6-5 280 St. Petersburg, Fla. St. Petersburg LINK Darryan Ragsdale RB 6-0 198 Brandon, Miss. Hinds CC LINK Frederick Ross LB 6-1 205 Madison, Miss. Madison Central LINK Lamar Scott DB 6-0 180 Germantown, Miss. Germantown LINK Sterling Shippy DT 6-2 265 Miami, Fla. Coral Reef LINK Eric Snow OL 6-4 292 Moorhead, Miss. Mississippi Delta CC LINK GRAMBLING STATE PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Ryan Moore OL 6-1 270 New Orleans, La. St. Augustine  LINK DeVante Brown OL 6-3 270 New Iberia, La. Westgate  LINK Devohn Lindsey WR 6-3 200 North Little Rock, Ark. North Little Rock  LINK Charlie Payne DE 6-1 265 LaPlace, La. East St. John  LINK De'Vante Davis WR 6-3 190 Maurice, La. Kaplan  LINK Marcus Perkins WR 5-9 165 Garland, Texas Naaman Forest  LINK Raymond Richardson DL 6-3 230 Birmingham, Ala. Wenonah  LINK Marc Orozcon P/K 5-9 190 Denton, Texas Ryan  LINK Deangelo Gaston DE 6-2 222 Farmville, La. Union Parish  LINK Jordan Powell WR 6-3 190 Shreveport, La. C.E. Boyd   Eugene Wells ATH 5-9 190 Kenner, La. East Jefferson   JACKSON STATE PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Frank Carter OL/DL  6-3  330 Tampa, Fla. Hillsborough  LINK Shawn Bishop DE/LB 6-0 235 Jackson, Miss. Callaway  LINK Christian Jacqueim K 5-11 180 Miami, Fla. Coral Reef  LINK Brent Lyles II QB 6-2 175 Indianapolis, Ind. Pike  LINK Rodney Shorter II DE/LB 6-1 230 Long Beach, Fla. Poly  LINK Asam Obi OG 6-2 310 Baton Rouge, La. McKinley  LINK Quatez Harris S 6-0 215 Greenwod, Miss. Greenwood  LINK Jonathan Burnett LB 6-4 220 Terry, Miss. Terry  LINK Keontre Anderson DE 6-4 230 Canton, Miss. Canton  LINK Vincent Davis QB 6-2 205 Tuscaloosa, Ala. Central  LINK Joshua Edet DB 6-0 180 Smyrna, Ga. Hargrave Military   Duante Fisher OG 6-3 345 Houston, Texas Yates   MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Ben Lyda OL  6-1  250 Tallahassee, Fla. Godby LINK Tavis James WR 5-11 180 Tallahassee, Fla. Godby LINK Javon O'Neal WR/DB 6-1 185 Tallahassee, Fla. Godby LINK Nelson Hale DT 6-1 265 Pensacola, Fla. Pensacola Catholic LINK PRAIRIE VIEW A&M  PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Josh Bighems S  5-10   170 Dothan, Ala. Northview   TyQuan Fields LB/SS 6-0 190 Pompano Beach, Fla. Ely   Jalen Graves DT 6-2 265 Bogalusa, La. Bogalusa   Willie Green DE 6-4 230 Birmingham, Ala. Huffman   James Harper DT 6-0 300 Waco, Texas Waco   Damond Jackson S 6-0 195 New Orleans, La. Landry-Walker   Joshua Johnson QB 6-2 185 New Orleans, La. Warren Easton   Gus Lopez OL 6-3 320 Rosenberg, Texas Lamar Consolidated   Desmond Mitchell DT 6-3 247 Pembroke Pines, Fla. Flanagan   Anthony Okray WR 6-2 185 Los Angeles, Calif. Santa Monica   Yzerrick Oliver WR 5-10 160 Houston, Texas Worthing   Cederic Porter DB 6-4 170 Bogalusa, La. Bogalusa   Don Rittenhouse LB 6-0 225 Baytown, Texas Memorial   William Stanley WR 5-10 170 Mequite, Texas West Mesquite   Johnathan Taylor DE 6-4 220 San Antonio, Texas Roosevelt   Dominique Weaver DB 5-10 165 Dallas, Texas Dallas Christian   Tyrone Williams RB 6-1 210 Denton, Texas Ryan   SOUTHERN PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Eddie Nickles  OL  6'3  280 Missouri City, Texas Hightower LINK Lemar Martin LB 5'10 200 New Orleans, La. Edna Karr LINK Bryan Anderson S 6'1 195 New Orleans, La. Edna Karr LINK Kentavious Preston LB 6'1 240 Conyers, Ga. Rockdale County LINK Simeon Houston OL 6'3 230 Houston, Texas Westbury LINK Danny Johnson ATH 5'11 175 Jackson, La. East Feliciana LINK Jordan Taylor LB 6'0 210 Kentwood, La. Kentwood LINK TEXAS SOUTHERN PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Keyshawn Parrish DT 6-2 290 Lithonia, Ga. Martin Luther King   Caleb Jenkins DT 6-1 300 Clemmons, N.C. Mount Tabor   Darius Stephens DE 6-1 250 Union, N.J. Milford Academy   Travis Hutchinson LB 6-0 220 Jacksonville, Fla. Atlantic Coast   Archie Rice DB 6-0 190 Avondale, Ariz. Riverview   Willie Hobdy DB 6-1 185 Garland, Texas North Garland   Jahil Mathis-Ellis OL 6-3 315 Fairburn, Ga. Langston Hughes   Terrence Williams OL 6-3 320 Rosedale, Miss. Coahoma CC   Kaelin Cooksey OL 6-3 320 Manville, Texas Manville   CJ Edison RB 5-10 190 Odessa, Texas Odessa   Joe Robinson WR 6-5 195 Aliceville, Ala. Aliceville   Trayvion Harris WR 6-4 200 Plain Dealing, La. Plain Dealing   ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF PLAYER POS HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO Kavin Alexander DB  5-10  190 North Little Rock, Ark. North Little Rock   Lawrence Berry WR 5-1 170 Little Rock, Ark. Parkview   Isaiah Briggs OL 6-4 315 Baton Rouge, La. Southern Lab   Kyron Lawson OL 6-6 230 Little Rock, Ark. Mills   Lawrence Mosley S 6-2 195 Memphis, Tenn. Craigmont   Kaleb McDonald DL 6-2 280 Arlington, Texas Sam Houston   LaEarl Patterson QB 6-1 175 Memphis, Tenn. Melrose   Eric Reid DL 6-5 240 Nashville, Tenn. Pearl-Cohn   Patrick Rowland WR 5-10 165 Little Rock, Ark. Parkview

COURTESY SWAC.ORG

Late-arriving coaches pushed for quality over quantity for JSU

JACKSON, Mississippi  -- Jackson State is just getting started. It had 12 players sign Wednesday, but the coaching staff said it could have signed 25 guys.

“We wanted to take our time, hand-select our guys, strategically pick them, even though if somebody else liked them,” recruiting coordinator Antonio Knight said. “We wanted to get the guys that fit our program and what we do.”

The Tigers signed players mostly on the defensive line, secondary and offensive line — the biggest needs after losing key players from last year’s team. There’s reason to believe they are not finished signing players. Not by a long shot. With this being about half of the 2014 signing class, more signings should be on the way in the coming days.



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Alcorn State Baseball Releases 2014 Schedule

LORMAN, Mississippi  -- Head baseball coach Barrett Rey and the Alcorn State baseball team has announced his baseball schedule for the 2014 season.

The Braves have a total of 52 regular season games with 18 of those games being played at the Willie "Rat" McGowan Stadium.

This year's schedule features teams form the Big 12, Pac-12, SEC, SoCon, Southland, and the American Athletic Conferences.

Rey and the Braves open up the 2014 season at home against Bradley University in a three-game weekend series beginning on February 14 at 3:00 p.m.

The Braves then travel to Oklahoma to face the Oklahoma State Cowboys and a few days later in a weekend slate against Arizona.

March is a long month for the Braves beginning with the SWAC opener at Alabama A&M. The Braves then hit the road for games against LSU-Shreveport, Alabama State, Missouri, Wofford, Alabama, and New Orleans. The Braves wrap of the month of March at home against rival Jackson State in a weekend series.

The Braves kick off the month of April at Southeastern Louisiana before returning home for five consecutive home games. The Braves hit the road once again from the 15^th to the 29^th against Mississippi State, Memphis, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Mississippi Valley State, and LSU.

In the season finale, the Braves close out the 2014 season in a weekend series Jackson State.

Click on the link below to see the full 2014 baseball schedule.

Alcorn Braves 2014 Baseball Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Home / Away	Conference Game	Location	Day
2/14/2014	2:00 P.M.	Bradley University	H		Lorman, Miss.	Fri.
2/15/2014	2:00 P.M.	Bradley University	H		Lorman, Miss.	Sat.
2/16/2014	1:00 P.M.	Bradley University	H		Lorman, Miss.	Sun.
2/18/2014	4:00 P.M.	Oklahoma State	A		Stillwater, Okla.	Tue.
2/19/2014	4:00 P.M.	Oklahoma State	A		Stillwater, Okla.	Wed.
2/21/2014	6:00 P.M.	Arizona	A		Tucson, Ariz.	Fri.
2/22/2014	2:00 P.M.	Arizona	A		Tucson, Ariz.	Sat.
2/23/2014	1:00 P.M.	Arizona	A		Tucson, Ariz.	Sun.
2/26/2014	3:00 P.M.	Rust College	H		Lorman, Miss.	Wed.
3/1/2014	12:00 P.M.	Alabama A&M	A	*	Huntsville, Ala.	Sat.
3/1/2014	3:00 P.M.	Alabama A&M	A	*	Huntsville, Ala.	Sat.
3/2/2014	1:00 P.M.	Alabama A&M	A	*	Huntsville, Ala.	Sun.
3/4/2014	6:00 P.M.	LSU-Shreveport	A		Shreveport, La.	Tue.
3/8/2014	12:00 P.M.	Alabama State	A	*	Montgomery, Ala.	Sat.
3/8/2014	3:00 P.M.	Alabama State	A	*	Montgomery, Ala.	Sat.
3/9/2014	1:00 P.M.	Alabama State	A	*	Montgomery, Ala.	Sun.
3/11/2014	6:00 P.M.	Missouri	A		Columbia, Mo.	Tue.
3/12/2014	2:00 P.M.	Missouri	A		Columbia, Mo.	Wed.
3/14/2014	6:00 P.M.	Wofford	A		Spartanburg, S.C.	Fri.
3/15/2014	3:00 P.M.	Wofford	A		Spartanburg, S.C.	Sat.
3/16/2014	1:00 P.M.	Wofford	A		Spartanburg, S.C.	Sun.
3/18/2014	6:00 P.M.	Alabama	A		Tuscaloosa, Ala.	Tue.
3/19/2014	6:00 P.M.	Alabama	A		Tuscaloosa, Ala.	Wed.
3/22/2014	12:00 P.M.	Mississippi Valley State	H	*	Lorman, Miss.	Sat.
3/22/2014	3:00 P.M.	Mississippi Valley State	H	*	Lorman, Miss.	Sat.
3/23/2014	1:00 P.M.	Mississippi Valley State	A	*	Lorman, Miss.	Sun.
3/25/2014	6:00 P.M.	New Orleans	A		New Orleans, La.	Tue.
3/26/2014	6:00 P.M.	New Orleans	A		New Orleans, La.	Wed.
3/29/2014	12:00 P.M.	Jackson State	H	*	Jackson, Miss.	Sat.
4/2/2014	6:30 P.M.	Southeastern Louisiana	A		Hammond, La.	Wed.
4/5/2014	12:00 P.M.	Alabama A&M	H	*	Lorman, Miss.	Sat.
4/5/2014	3:00 P.M.	Alabama A&M	H	*	Lorman, Miss.	Sat.
4/6/2014	1:00 P.M.	Alabama A&M	H	*	Lorman, Miss.	Sun.
4/8/2014	3:00 P.M.	LSU-Shreveport	H		Lorman, Miss.	Tue.
4/12/2014	12:00 P.M.	Alabama State	H	*	Lorman, Miss.	Sat.
4/12/2014	3:00 P.M.	Alabama State	H	*	Lorman, Miss.	Sat.
4/13/2014	1:00 P.M.	Alabama State	H	*	Lorman, Miss.	Sun.
4/15/2014	6:00 P.M.	Mississippi State	A		Starkville, Miss.	Tue.
4/18/2014	6:00 P.M.	Memphis	A		Memphis, Tenn.	Fri.
4/19/2014	2:00 P.M.	Memphis	A		Memphis, Tenn.	Sat.
4/20/2014	1:00 P.M.	Memphis	A		Memphis, Tenn.	Sun.
4/23/2014	3:00 P.M.	Arkansas-Pine Bluff	A		Pine Bluff, Ark.	Wed.
4/26/2014	12:00 P.M.	Mississippi Valley State	A	*	Itta Bena, Miss.	Sat.
4/26/2014	3:00 P.M.	Mississippi Valley State	A	*	Itta Bena, Miss.	Sat.
4/27/2014	1:00 P.M.	Mississippi Valley State	A	*	Itta Bena, Miss.	Sun.
4/29/2014	6:30 P.M.	LSU	A		Baton Rouge, La.	Tue.
4/30/2014	3:00 P.M.	Arkansas-Pine Bluff	H		Pine Bluff, Ark.	Wed.
4/30/2014	3:00 P.M.	Arkansas-Pine Bluff	H		Pine Bluff, Ark.	Wed.
5/3/2014	12:00 P.M.	Jackson State	A	*	Jackson, Miss.	Sat.
5/3/2014	3:00 P.M.	Jackson State	A	*	Jackson, Miss.	Sat.
5/4/2014	1:00 P.M.	Jackson State	A	*	Jackson, Miss.	Sun.

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS

Alabama State addresses need at DB with 2014 signing class

MONTGOMERY, Alabama  -- In 2013, Alabama State's defense was great against the run.

The Hornets, who finished 8-4, were ranked tops in the Southwestern Athletic Conference against the rush, allowing only 4.9 yards per carry. They gave up just 12 touchdowns on the ground all season and allowed only 110 yards per contest. 

 

However, they weren't so against the pass, finishing the season rated ninth among 10 league teams while giving up 280 yards a game. 

As much as it was a personnel problem, Hornets head coach Reggie Barlow sought to rectify the issue in ASU's 2014 recruiting class, signing nine defensive back in a class of 24. 

 

The list of who could see time in the Hornets' secondary  includes five state-grown products in ...

 

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Five Huntsville-area players among Spady's first Alabama A&M recruiting class

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The James Spady era in Alabama A&M football didn't just land 25 signees today. It also brought them an opportunity for a unique spotlight.

Spady signed five Huntsville area high school players, three from J.O. Johnson High and two from Bob Jones.

Twin brothers Danny and DeVon Johnson, a quarterback and wide receiver, along with Johnson High teammate Kailan Jackson, a defensive end, signed.

Alabama A&M reached out to Bob Jones for running back Jay Rogers and receiver Roderick Rogers.

"We wanted to be aggressive in our yard," Spady said. "We felt like we needed to throw a net around the people that play football in Huntsville. We want them to understand Alabama A&M is open for business."

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Nuggets' breast cancer awareness game will be Feb. 17

NEW ORLEANS -- Xavier University of Louisiana's annual women's basketball game for breast cancer awareness will be Feb. 17 when the Gold Nuggets play Philander Smith at 5:30 p.m. at the Convocation Center.

Persons may send names of loved ones who experienced cancer to xugoldnuggets@gmail.com by Feb. 13. Those names will be part of a remembrance celebration at halftime.

Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game. Special T-shirts will be available for purchase, and proceeds will be donated to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

For more information, please send an email to xugoldnuggets@gmail.com.

The Nuggets' game will be followed by a men's basketball matchup between Xavier and Philander Smith at 7:30.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
https://twitter.com/xulagold
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Top-10 Rush, Nuggets play host to Loyola on Friday

NEW ORLEANS -- The men's and women's tennis teams of Xavier University of Louisiana will play city rival Loyola at 2 p.m. Friday at XU Tennis Center.

It will be the season opener for the Gold Nuggets, who are ranked third in the NAIA. It will be the home opener and the second dual match for the Gold Rush, tied for sixth in the NAIA and in the preseason top 10 for the third consecutive year.

The XU men lost 6-3 at Nicholls State in their opener last Friday.

Xavier has several in the ITA/NAIA preseason individual rankings:

* Men's singles: Nikita Soifer 22nd nationally/10th in the South; Kyle Montrel 39th/17th.

* Men's doubles: Jordan Harrell-Soifer 13th/fifth.

* Women's singles: Brion Flowers sixth/fourth; Kourtney Howell 21st/ninth.

* Women's doubles: Howell-Flowers third/second.

New individual rankings will be announced March 12.

Both Loyola teams are 1-1, with victories against Tougaloo and losses to West Alabama. A year ago Xavier defeated Loyola 9-0 in the women's dual and 7-2 in the men's.

This is the second season of competition at XU Tennis Center, a $2.5 million facility which opened in October 2012.

Weather website Intellicast.com predicts cloudy skies on Friday afternoon with a high temperature of 54.

XU coach Alan Green said the Gold Nuggets' Saturday match at Southern was postponed and will be rescheduled.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
XULAATHLETICS
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
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