Football | 2/3/2016 8:25:00 AM
SAN MARCOS, Texas – New Texas State head coach
Everett Withers announced Wednesday that he has added 23 new recruits to play for the Bobcat football team in 2016.
"We are excited to welcome 19 young men and four midyear players who have joined the Texas State Bobcat football program," said Withers.
The four midyear additions are junior college transfers who joined the team at the beginning of the spring semester and are already participating in offseason strength and conditioning drills with returning players from last season. Those four players are
Levi Boyd,
Elijah King,
Gabe Loyd, and
Quinn Tiggs. They also will participate in spring practice, which begins on March 21.
Withers also signed 19 high school players who either previously committed to attend Texas State or were players he and his new staff added after he was named head coach on Jan. 7.
"It is always a unique and complex time when a coaching change occurs during the recruiting process. I commend the signees that kept their commitment to Texas State," said Withers. "I also commend the additions to the 2016 class that our coaches worked diligently to add to the Texas State football family."
The 2016 class includes 12 defensive players and 11 offensive players. The Bobcats added three defensive linemen, three linebackers, four cornerbacks and two safeties on defense. The offensive additions include a dual-threat quarterback, four offensive linemen, two running backs, two wide receivers and two tight ends.
The defensive linemen are
John Lilly,
Ramon Readus and
Dean Taylor. The linebackers include Loyd,
Nikolas Daniels and
Hal Vinson. The cornerbacks are
Jordan Eastling,
Anthony Taylor, Tiggs and
Jashon Waddy. The two safeties are
Markeveon Coleman and
Kumonde Hines.
The offensive linemen were
Aaron Brewer,
Jaquel Pierce,
Charlie Vatterott and
Josiah Washington. Vatterott is a second-generation Bobcat. His father was a two-time All-Conference offensive linemen who played with the Bobcats from 1982-86.
The wide receivers include King and
Thurman Morbley. They are joined by tight ends Boyd and
Brendon Rushing, running backs
Robert Brown and
Tyler Tutt and quarterback
Devin Williams.
There are 18 players from Texas with one player each from Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and West Virginia.
"As we continue to learn everyday about our current team, we will continue to build our relationship with each individual who has committed and signed with the Texas State football program," concluded Withers. "This class will be the foundation for the future of Texas State Football. The 2016 Journey of the Texas State football program is in Quarter Number One! Eat 'Em Up Cats!"
2016 Football Signing Class
*Levi Boyd
Tight End
6'5"
230 lbs.
Itasca, Texas
Itasca HS/Grossmont CCTransferred to Texas State from Grossmont Community College … played eight games in the 2015 season … caught 17 passes for 260 yards to average 32.5 receiving yards per game … played in five games as a freshman and caught eight passes for 96 yards and a touchdown … played for Mike Jordan … played tight end and linebacker at Itasca High School … was named an All-District First Team selection as a tight end as a junior and senior … also earned All-District honors as a linebacker in his senior season when he recorded 53 tackles, including 19 solo stops, three sacks, and an interception … also caught nine passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns … played for Craig Horn.
Aaron BrewerOffensive Line6'3?295 lbs.Dallas Skyline HS Rated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals … earned All-District 9-6A First-Team honors as an offensive guard … played for coach Derick Roberson.
Robert BrownRunning Back5'9"175 lbs.Houston Eisenhower HS Rated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals, 247Sports and
Scout … named one of
Vype Magazine's Hot 100 prospects in Houston … chosen All-District 18-6A MVP … tabbed All-District 18-6A Offensive Player of the Year as a junior after rushing for nearly 1,400 yards … earned All-District 18-5A Second-Team honors as a sophomore … played for coach Kerry Bamburg.
Markeveon ColemanSafety6'2?, 190 lbs.Dallas Skyline HS Rated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals … earned All-District 9-6A First-Team honors as a strong safety … played for coach Derick Roberson.
Nikolas DanielsLinebacker6' 0", 235 lbs.League City, Texas Clear Creek HSRated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals … named All-Greater Houston and was a finalist for the Houston Touchdown Club's Top Defensive Player … earned District 24-6A Defensive MVP honors … earned All-District 24-6A First-Team honors as a junior defensive end after being named to the First-Team Defense as a defensive lineman … played for Darrell Warden.
Jordan EastlingCornerback5'10", 180 lbs.Decatur, Ga. Southwest DeKalb HS Rated as a three-star recruit by
247Sports … named a two-star recruit by
Rivals and
Scout … recorded 18 tackles, including 11 solo stops, and an interception as a senior … named All-Region 6-5A Division A selection as a running back … played for Michael Tanks.
Kumonde HinesSafety6' 3", 208 lbs.Chesterfield, Va. Bird HS Rated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals and 247Sports … named Honorable Mention All-Metro selection by
Richmond Times … played in Virginia National Guard All-Star game … tallied 41 tackles, eight for loss, while recovering two fumbles and intercepting a pass … scored two defensive touchdowns, including a 41-yard fumble return, as a senior … also played wide receiver and helped Bird win its third straight championship as a junior … played for David Bedwell.
*Elijah KingWide Receiver6'2", 180 lbs.Ashland, Ky. Fairview HS/Santa Barbara CCRated as a three-star recruit by
Rivals and
247 Sports… transferred to Texas State from Santa Barbara City College … played 11 games in the 2014 season … caught 54 passes for 637 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman … played three games in 2015 … recorded 19 receptions for 277 yards and one TD … had a 70-yard catch as a sophomore … played for Craig Moropoulos … played running back at Fairview and earned All-Eastern Kentucky Conference First-Team honors after rushing for 1,379 yards and 21 as a senior … played for Nathan McPeek.
John LillyNose Tackle6'0", 278 lbs.Houston Strake Jesuit HSRated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals, 247Sports and Scout … named to All-Greater Houston Team … chosen All-District 19-6A First-Team selection … tabbed All-
Vype First Team … recorded 67 total tackles, including 30 solo stops and 20 tackles for loss … registered 7.5 sacks and forced three fumbles … named to the Top 100 Greater Houston recruits by the
Houston Chronicle … chosen among Houston's Hot 100 recruits by
Vype Magazine … tallied 25 tackles, including 17 solo stops and five sacks as a junior … played for James Clancy.
*Gabe Loyd, Linebacker6'2", 240 lbs.St. Louis, Mo. Miller Career Academy/Fort Scott CCRated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals and
Scout and a three-star recruit by
247 Sports … transferred to Texas State from Fort Scott Community College … named an All-Kansas Jayhawk Second-Team selection in the 2015 season after he tallied 106 tackles, including 54 solo stops … recorded 21 tackles for losses of 84 yards and 4.5 sacks for 37 total yards … made one interception that he returned for a touchdown … had one fumble recovery … Surpassed NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneer linebacker Lavonte' David, becoming the school's all-time career tackles leader with 224 … named an Honorable Mention All-Jayhawk Conference selection as a freshman … played for Curtis Horton.
Thurman MorbleyWide Receiver5' 11", 166 lbs.Texarkana, Texas Liberty-Eylau HS Rated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals and
247Sports … caught 54 passes for 1215 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior … also returned six kickoffs and seven punts … named Honorable Mention All-State by
Associated Press … Earned All-District 7-4A First-Team honors as a senior after being named Second-Team as a junior … played for Steve Wells.
Jaquel Pierce
Offensive Guard
6'3?, 255 lbs.
Duncanville, Texas
Duncanville HSRated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals and
247Sports … named All-District 8-6A Second Team as a junior and senior … earned All-District 8-6A Honorable Mention as a senior defensive tackle … played for Reginald Samples.
Ramon ReadusDefensive Tackle6'2?, 270 lbs.McKinney, Texas Boyd HSRated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals and
247Sports … named All-District 8-6A Second Team as a junior and senior … earned All-District 8-6A Honorable Mention as a senior defensive tackle … played for Reginald Samples.
Brendon RushingTight End6'4", 200 lbs.DeSoto, Texas De Soto HSRated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals, 247Sports and
Scout … named an All-District 8-6A Second Team selection … chosen All-State Academic Second Team by the Texas High School Coaches Association … tabbed to the All-District 8-6A Academic First-Team in basketball as a junior … caught 21 passes for 285 yards in eight games … played for Todd Peterman after playing previously for former Bobcat All-American running back Claude Mathis.
Anthony TaylorCornerback5'8", 177 lbs.Tyler, Texas Allen HSRated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals, 247Sports and
Scout … named an Honorable Mention 6A All-State selection as a defensive back by
Associated Press Sports Editors … earned All-District 6-6A Second-Team honors as a cornerback … chosen All-Collin County … named Performance Course Star of the Year during the 2015 summer … played for Tom Westerberg.
Dean TaylorDefensive End6'5?, 230 lbs.Pearland, Texas Pearland HSRated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals … named All-District 22-6A First-Team as a defensive end … selected as Pearland's Newcomer of the Year after recording 13 tackles, including seven solo stops, and causing a fumble as a senior … also had 2.0 sacks and registered 6.0 tackles for loss … played for Tony Heath.
*Quinn TiggsCornerback6'0", 190 lbs.Tupelo, Miss. Tupelo HS/Itawamba CCRated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals and
247 Sports… transferred to Texas State from Itawamba Community College … recorded 44 tackles and two interceptions as a sophomore … had 40 solo tackles … and broke up five passes … recorded nine tackles against Northwest Mississippi Community College (9/17/15) … averaged 11.7 yards on 12 punt returns … named to the 2015 MACJC North Division All-State First-Team … played for coach Sean Cannon.
Tyler TuttRunning Back5'10", 205-lbsKeller, Texas Keller HSRated as a three-star recruit by
247Sports and
Scout … listed as one of the Top 100 running backs in Texas … named a two-star recruit by
Rivals … chosen Honorable Mention All-State by
Associated Press Sports Editors … earned All-District 5-6A First-Team selection … rushed for 1,651 yards and 21 touchdowns on 254 carries as a senior … caught seven passes for 46 yards as a senior… was named the
Dallas Morning News and
NBC 5 Offensive Player of the Week after setting Keller's single game records when he rushed for 342 yards and six touchdowns on 26 carries against Rowlett … was
NBC 5 Bobble Head recipient … also set a school record for most yards rushing in a season as a senior … named All-District 5-6A Second Team after running for 1,369 yards and 15 TDs as a junior … competed in track and field at Keller … played for Carl Stralow.
Charlie Vatterott
Offensive Guard
6'4", 265 lbs.
Houston
St. ThomasRated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals, 247Sports and
Scout … named a TAPPS Division I All-State selection … earned All-District 3-Division I First-Team honors … four-year starter who helped St. Thomas post a 40-5 combined record and win four consecutive district titles … his father, Charles, played at Texas State from 1982-86 and was a two-time All-Gulf Star Conference Second-Team selection in 1985 and 1986 … played for Timothy Fitzpatrick.
Hal Vinson
Linebacker
6'1?, 217 lbs.
Dallas
South Oak Cliff HSRated as a three-star recruit by
247Sports … named an Honorable Mention Class 5A All-State selection by
Associated Press Sports Editors … earned All-District 13-5A First-Team honors as a defensive end … recorded 40 tackles and five sacks as a junior … played for coach Jason Todd.
JaShon WaddyCornerback5'11", 170 lbs.Angelton, Texas Angelton HS Rated as a two-star recruit by
Rivals and
Scout … played on defense and offense as a cornerback and wide receiver … earned All-District 24-5A First-Team honors as a cornerback and Second-Team honors as a wide receiver … named All-Lower Brazoria County First-Team selection by the
The Facts … recorded 51 tackles, including 42 solo stops, and a sack … also had two interceptions and nine breakups … returned one interception for a touchdown … competed in basketball as a shooting guard and on the track team in the long jump and relay teams … played for Ryan Roark.
Josiah WashingtonOffensive Tackle6'6", 290 lbs.DeSoto, Texas De Soto HSRated as a three-star recruit by
247Sports and a two-star recruit by
Rivals and
Scout … earned All-District 8-6A Honorable Mention honors … three-year starter on De Soto's offensive line … played for Todd Peterman after playing previously for former Bobcat All-American running back Claude Mathis.
Devin WilliamsQuarterback5'11", 180 lbs.Mansfield, Texas Timberview HSRated as a three-start recruit by
Scout and a two-star recruit by
Rivals and 247Sports … dual-threat quarterback who completed 127 of 228 passes for 1,942 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior … also rushed for 399 yards and eight TDs on 92 carries … ranked among the Top 150 recruits by
Dave Campbell's Texas Football … named All-State Honorable Mention by
Associated Press Sports Editors in 2014 … named District 14-5A Offensive MVP after throwing for 2,275 yards and rushing for 604 yards while being responsible for 31 touchdowns as a junior … played for James Brown.
*-midyear addition this season
