JSU Signings
At least 6 newcomers could earn starting berths for rebuilding JSU
By Mark Alexander
malexander@clarionledger.com
Coming off a 2-10 season, Jackson State football coach James Bell made it a priority to find immediate help by signing transfers from junior colleges or Division I-A programs to fill key areas.
Mission accomplished.
Of the 20 players Jackson State reeled in Wednesday on National Signing Day, four are junior college players and two are transfers from Division I-A Arkansas State, all of whom are expected to battle for starting positions.
Additionally, two junior college quarterbacks, Terrance Matthews of Hinds and Anthony Johnson of Pearl River, are still considering signing with the Tigers.
"That's the whole purpose of bringing those guys in," Bell said of the transfers. "You do as necessary to win. I'm hoping they have a big impact. They'll have the opportunity.
"We were looking to fill our needs. Nobody gets everything they're looking for, but we filled the majority of our needs. And we've still got some guys out there that we're waiting on."
Five of the transfers, Jones JC linebacker Cornell Blakely, Holmes CC receiver Byron Johnson, Glendale (Ariz.) JC defensive lineman Brandon James and Jermaine Montgomery and Darrian Billups from Arkansas State, enrolled in January and can participate in spring practice.
"I can't wait to get those guys out there so they can learn the system," Bell said. "We'll know more then about how much they're going to help us."
Pearl River running back Curtis Hayes , who signed Wednesday, won't be able to go through spring practice but could be a key player in what figures to be a wide-open running back derby. A hard-nosed runner, the 5-foot-11, 215-pound Hayes rushed for 694 yards and five touchdowns on 118 carries in helping Pearl River win the junior college state championship.
"Jackson State is getting a really good football player," Pearl River coach Tim Hatten said. "If he would've been a mid-semester guy, he probably would've been Division I-A. He's quick, he's strong, he's fast, and he can catch the ball out of the backfield."
JSU signed 14 high school players. Eight are in-state players, six are from out of state. Four of those players are lineman, three are linebackers and four are two-way players, giving Bell some flexibility.
One of those players is Callaway's Tomarcio Levy, who played cornerback, safety, linebacker, running back and even deep snapped for the Chargers last season.
"I like those multi-dimensional players," Bell said. "That's what we were looking for."
Corinth offensive lineman William Davis, a member of The Clarion-Ledger Top 40, is the top-rated in-state player to sign with JSU. Clinton offensive lineman Ben Davis was a second-team All-Metro pick. Bell was hoping to add at least one junior college/transfer offensive lineman but hasn't been able to land one yet.
"Overall, I think we had a good (recruiting) year," Bell said. "I feel like we're a lot better off than where we were last year. Are we where we need to be? No. But we've increased our talent level, and that competition (in practice) will make us better."
Jackson State signees
The Clarion-Ledger
Signee Pos. Ht. Wt. School/Hometown
Darrian Billups DL 6-3 295 Ark. St./Grand Prairie, Texas
Cornell Blakely LB 6-0 225 Jones CC/Waynesboro
Anthony Coleman DL 6-1 300 Fairview/Camden, Ark.
Ben Davis OL 6-2 255 Clinton
William Davis OL 6-4 295 Corinth
E.J. Hampton LB 6-3 210 Meridian
Curtis Hayes RB 5-11 220 Pearl River CC
Brandon James DL 6-2 295 Glendale (Ariz.) JC
Byron Johnson WR 6-0 185 Holmes CC/Canton
Tomarcio Levy DB/RB 5-11 190 Callaway
Brandon Montgomery FB/LB 5-10 245 Duncanville (Texas) High
Jermaine Montgomery RB/LB 6-0 220 Ark. State/Dallas
Kevin Murriel K 5-11 190 Brandon
Olandus Rogers RB 5-9 195 Whitehaven/Memphis
Andrew Smith OL 6-2 285 Hattiesburg
Reggie Smith WR 5-9 175 Noxubee County
Justin Spencer LB 6-1 205 Daphne (Ala.) High
Brandon Walls LB 6-3 200 Picayune
Randall Ward WR/DB 5-11 180 Bro. Rice/Southfield, Mich.
Stacy Young DB 5-11 185 Gainesville (Ga.) High