2008 UNA Football Signees

UNA ADDS 29 FOOTBALL SIGNEES

FLORENCE -- University of North Alabama Head Football Coach Mark Hudspeth has announced the signing of 29 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent with the Lion football program.

Included in UNA's class of 2008 are nine community college transfers, including four players from Coahoma (Miss.) Community College. The Lions added 17 players that are expected to play on the offensive side of the ball, eight of which are receivers.

The Lions also have already added seven other transfers who are currently enrolled at UNA and will take part in Spring drills in March.

2008 UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA FOOTBALL SIGNEES

Daniel Almon WR 6’ 190 FR Shoals Christian School/Florence, Ala.

Marty Anderson LB 6’ 220 FR Goshen High School/Troy, Ala.

Justin Brown WR 5’10 185 FR Athens High School/Athens, Ala.

Derrick Chatman DE 6’1 245 JR Coahoma Community College/Clarksdale, Miss.

Cory Cox QB 6’2 195 FR Blountstown High School/Blountstown, Fla.

Svante Davenport RB/WR 5’10 175 FR Charles Henderson High School/Troy, Ala.

Zac Davis OL 6’5 295 FR Gardendale High School/Gardendale, Ala.

Ernest Duren LB 6’1 215 FR Lee High School/Huntsville, Ala.

Dominique Duster DT 6’ 300 FR Florence High School/Florence, Ala.

Marco Ewing DB 6’ 180 JR Northeast Community College/Booneville, Miss.

Rodney Ewing OL 6’3 295 JR Independence Community College/Independence, Kan.

Tarvis Grandberry DB 6’3 180 JR Coahoma Community College/Memphis, Tenn.

Terrence Jackson RB 6-0 205 FR Charles Henderson High School/Troy, Ala.

Fred Lyons DB 5’10 180 JR East Central Community College/Decatur, Miss.

Derrick Malone DB 5’11 170 FR Tanner High School/Tanner, Ala.

Kyle Mitchell WR 6’1 200 FR Brooks High School/Killen, Ala.

Brent Nation WR 5’9 165 FR Mortimer Jordan High School/Morris, Ala.

Austin O’Connor OL/DL 6’5 235 FR Theodore High School/Mobile, Ala.

Blake Ray OL 6’5 305 FR Wetumpka High School/Wetumpka, Ala.

Chris Simpson WR 5’10 190 FR Florence High School/Florence, Ala.

Timothy Smith WR 6’3 195 FR Midfield High School/Birmingham, Ala.

Omar Spears DE 6’3 230 JR Hinds Community College/Baton Rouge, La.

Michael Stroecker OL 6’5 235 FR W.P. Davidson High School/Mobile, Ala.

Jonathan Sullivan DE 6’4 215 FR Spain Park High School/Hoover, Ala.

Jimmy Vaughn RB 5’9 210 FR J.O. Johnson High School/Huntsville, Ala.

Nicholas Walker LB 6’2 240 JR Coahoma Community College/Memphis, Tenn.

Nigelas Walker DE 6’1 260 JR Coahoma Community College/Memphis, Tenn.

Lewis Haley WR 5-10, 180 FR, Prattville High School Prattville, Ala.

Albert Russell LB 6-2, 230, SO, L.A. Pierce College, Canyon County, Calif.

2008 FOOTBALL TRANSFERS ENROLLED AT UNA

Genario McNealy QB 6-0 200 JR Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Antyon Gray WR 6-2 180 JR Holmes Community College

Baylor Dampeer QB 5-11 190 SO Itawamba Community College

Darron Dampier CB 5-10 185 JR Copiah-Lincoln Community College

Travis Robinson CB 5-10 170 JR Univ. of Alabama/East Central Community College

Ray Frierson S 5-11 190 JR East Central Community College

Stanley Lykes LB 6-2 215 SR NE Miss. Comm. College/Univ. of Alabama-Birmingham

UNA FOOTBALL SIGNEE BIOGRAPHIES With Coach Hudspeth Quotes . . .

DANIEL ALMON – WR – 6’ – 190

Shoals Christian School(Florence, Ala.)

AWARDS: All State, All Region

“Daniel comes from an athletic family – his brother is also a UNA baseball signee. He set the Alabama single season reception record with 106”

MARTY ANDERSON- LB – 6’ - 220

Goshen High School (Troy, Ala.)

AWARDS: Honorable Mention All State/All District “Physical player with good size and speed. He will be a great fit at MLB in our 4-3 scheme.”

JUSTIN BROWN – WR - 5’10 – 185

Athens High School (Athens, Ala.)

“Justin is an all around receiver possessing speed and quickness.”

DERRICK CHATMAN – DE – 6’3– 245

Coahoma CC (Clarksdale, Miss.)

AWARDS: JUCO All Star Game – Honorable Mention All State “If you are a two year starter in the MS JUCO league, you have to be pretty tough! He has the size and athletic ability that we are looking for.”

CORY COX – QB – 6’2 – 195

Blountstown High School (FL)

AWARDS: All State, All Big Bend, Florida Top 100 “Cory’s arm, athletic ability and size will give him an opportunity to be a great quarterback in our system.”

SVANTE DAVENPORT- DB/WR – 5’10 – 175

Charles Henderson HS (Troy, AL)

AWARDS: All County Player of the Year, 1st Team All State, All County Defensive Team “He is a great athlete that can play either side of the football. Could have the opportunity to play early.”

ZAC DAVIS – OL – 6’5 – 295

Gardendale HS (Gardendale, AL)

AWARDS: North Jefferson News Lineman of the Year, First Team All North Jefferson “Zac is a big athletic player that will have a great career here at UNA.”

ERNEST DUREN - LB – 6’1 – 215

Lee High School (Huntsville, AL)

AWARDS: All Region, All City, Regional Def MVP, Super All Metro “Ernest is an athletic/physical LB that will be a great player here at UNA.”

DOMINIQUE DUSTER – DT - 6’ – 300

Florence High School (Florence, AL)

AWARDS: All Area, All Region, Honorable Mention All State “Dominique showed the entire state what type of player he is with his performance versus Hoover in the 6A State Playoffs. He has the ability to play as a freshman with the departure of four defensive linemen from our 2007 team.”

MARCO EWING – CB – 6’ – 180

Northeast CC (Booneville, MS)

AWARDS: Played in MS JUCO All Star Game, Honorable Mention All State “Should help create immediate depth at corner. He is a big corner that has great speed.”

RODNEY EWING – OL - 6’3 – 295

Independence CC (Independence, KS)

AWARDS: Jayhawk All Conference 06,07 and Pre Season All American 07 “We were very fortunate to land Rodney. He should make an immediate impact to our offensive line.”

TARVIS GRANDBERRY- CB –6’2 – 180

COAHOMA CC (Memphis, Tenn.)

AWARDS: JUCO First Team All State, MS JUCO All Star Game “Tarvis is a lock down corner that loves to compete. He will give us the ability to play more man to man coverage.”

TERRENCE JACKSON – RB – 6’ – 205

Charles Henderson HS (Troy, AL)

AWARDS: All County, All State Honorable Mention

FRED LYONS - CB – 5’10 – 180

East Central CC (Decatur, MS)

AWARDS: All State Honorable Mention, JUCO Scholar Athlete, Academic All American “Fred was a two year starter at East Central CC. Every player from ECCC has had great careers for us.

He will be no different.”

DERRICK MALONE - DB– 5’11 – 170

Tanner HS (Tanner, AL)

AWARDS: All County 1st Team, All Area 1st Team “We are glad to keep a great player like Derrick in the area.”

KYLE MITCHELL – WR – 6’1 – 200

Brooks HS (Killen, AL)

AWARDS: 2nd Team All State, All Region, Lauderdale County MVP, MS/AL All Star Game “Kyle is a player that we have been watching since 8th grade. He is a great athlete that could play many positions. I believe his best fit will be at wide receiver in our system.”

BRENT NATION - WR – 5’9 – 165

Mortimer Jordan HS (Morris, AL)

AWARDS: All North Jefferson, All State Honorable Mention “Brent has great lateral ability and speed. He made a lot of big plays for Coach Watts.”

AUSTIN O’CONNOR –OL/DL –6’5 – 235

Theodore HS (Mobile, AL)

“Austen has a great frame and reminds us a lot of Lee Vickers. His athletic ability will make him a great tackle in our system.”

BLAKE RAY – OL – 6’5 – 305

Wetumpka HS (Wetumpka, AL)

AWARDS: All County, All Metro, Honorable Mention All State “Blake is a part of the largest offensive line class that we have signed in the last six years. His size and maturity will give him a chance to contribute early.”

CHRIS SIMPSON – WR – 5’10 -190

Florence HS (Florence, AL)

AWARDS: All Area, All Region

“Chris is one of the strongest high school wide receives that I have ever seen. We are glad that we can keep him at home.”

TIMOTHY SMITH – WR – 6’3 – 195

Midfield HS (Birmingham, AL)

“Tim has great size, speed and play making ability.”

OMAR SPEARS – DE – 6’3 – 230

Hinds CC (Raymond, MS)

AWARDS: Played in MS JUCO All Star Game, First Team All State “Omar has great pass rushing ability. He should make an immediate impact and battle playing time early.”

MICHAEL STROECKER -OL –6’5 – 235

W.P. Davidson HS (Mobile, AL)

AWARDS: Honorable Mention All Area

“Michael has a great frame. If he continues to develop, he will be a very good player. He has a mean streak on the field.”

JONATHAN SULLIVAN - DE – 6’3 – 215

Spain Park HS (Hoover, AL)

AWARDS: 2nd All Metro, All State Honorable Mention, Played 6A State Championship Game “Jonathan is a tall athletic end that has a great motor. It will be great to have him in our system for four years.”

JIMMY VAUGHN – RB – 5’9 – 210

J.O. Johnson HS (Huntsville, AL)

AWARDS: All City, All Metro, Super All Metro, “I feel like Jimmy is one of the best running backs that came out of the State of Alabama this year. He fits the mold perfectly for what we are looking for in a super back.”

NICHOLAS WALKER – LB – 6’2 – 240

COAHOMA CC (Memphis, Tenn.)

AWARDS: 1st Team All State JUCO, MS JUCO All Star Game “Nicholas is a very versatile player that could play up or down.”

NIGELAS WALKER- DE – 6’1 – 260

COAHOMA CC (Memphis, Tenn.)

AWARDS: MS JUCO All Star Game

“Nigelas is a Defensive Lineman that can play inside or on the edge. His athletic ability will enable him to make a lot of plays.”

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