MOREHEAD, Ky.—Morehead State football coach Matt Ballard announced the 2011 recruiting class Thursday. The Eagles will add 46 new players to their ranks this fall.
The majority of the class hails from Kentucky and Ohio, but there are also a small handful of players from Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Indiana, Pennsylvania, California, Michigan and Virginia.
“This is a diverse recruiting class with a very good skill set that we should be able to develop and mold into potential All-PFL type players,” Ballard said. “They complement each other and what we already have on our roster and I’m excited about the potential some of these young men have. There are some prospective starters in this group, including some guys that can help us right out of the gate. We’re excited about this class and I want to commend my staff, especially recruiting coordinator Thomas Duffy, on all of their hard work.”
The 2011 MSU recruiting class includes:
Justin Andler 6-0, 208, LB, Amelia, Ohio, Amelia High School - Had 95 tackles and six sacks his senior year while recovering two fumbles. Andler was a Gold Certificate Ohio Coaches Association Scholar Athlete in football, basketball, baseball and golf.
Desi Banks, 6-0, 180, WR, Atlanta, Ga., Cedar Grove High School - Recorded 47 catches for 896 yards with eight touchdowns during his senior year. He was named to the First Team All-County and Second Team All-State squads. Banks was also on the A-B Honor Roll at Cedar Grove.
Chris Benton, 6-1, 230, LB, Lebanon, Ohio, Lebanon High School - Benton had an outstanding senior year at Lebanon High. He recorded 158 tackles with seven and a half sacks, two interceptions and three fumble recoveries. He was named First Team All-Division GWOC and GWOC Athlete of the Year. He was also named to the Dayton All-Area First Team and was voted Southwest Ohio Defensive Player of the Year.
Quentin Brooks, 5-9, 185, RB, Bardstown, Ky., Nelson County High School - Brooks finished his senior campaign with 1,340 rushing yards with 18 touchdowns. He was All-District Honorable Mention.
Joshua Brunner, 6-4, 250, OL, Pittsburgh, Pa., Keystone Oaks High School - During his senior year on the defensive line he recorded 69 tackles, six sacks and a fumble recovery. Brunner was the captain of his team, was named the most improved senior, and was an outstanding volunteer in the community by collecting over 120 hours of community service working in a soup kitchen and helping senior citizens.
Brent Brussell, 6-2, 275, OL, Bardstown, Ky., Nelson County High School - Brussell was named Academic All-State Honorable Mention his senior year of high school.
Frank Chambers, 6-1, 205, LB, Johnstown, Ohio, Johnstown-Monroe High School - He collected 84 tackles, one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery as a senior. He was named on several post season awards lists including Academic All-Ohio, First Team All-Region, First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-District.
Jelani Cleghorne, 5-11, 200, RB, River City, Calif., Riverside Community College, Upland High School – Played in eight games, rushing for 210 yards and scoring a touchdown as a freshman at RCC. He was an honor roll student and played two years of varsity football at Upland High School too.
Ronald Cooper, 6-4, 250, DE, Atlanta, Ga., Banneker High School - Recorded 33 tackles, seven sacks and three fumble recoveries during his senior year at Banneker High School.
Justin Cox, 6-4, 235, DE, Franklin, Ohio, Fenwick High School - Recorded 90 tackles with four and a half sacks his senior year. He was named to the Secondary Honors Program All-State, Third Team for the Tri-State All-Star team and was First Team GCL.
Parker Devers, 6-6, 315, OL, Fairland, Ind., Triton Central High School - Devers was named team MVP during his senior year. During his junior season he was named his team's most improved offensive lineman.
Todd DeWoody, 6-2, 270, OL, Lawrenceburg, Ky., Anderson County High School - He recorded 59 tackles and six sacks his senior year. He was named First Team All-District and Honorable Mention All-State.
Willie Dungan, 6-2, 290, DL, Somerset, Ky., Southwestern High School - Dungan recorded 60 tackles, eight sacks, four fumble recoveries and one interception. During his senior year he was named to the Academic All-State honor roll.
Timothy Dysart, 6-3, 230, DE, Independence, Ohio, Independence High School - Dysart recorded 30 tackles with four sacks and three fumble recoveries during his senior year. He was named to the All-City Team, and was a part of the National Honor Society.
Ja'Cobie Edwards, 6-0, 235, LB, Huntsville, Ala., Madison County High School - Edwards collected 113 tackles with three sacks and recovered two fumbles. He was named First Team All-Region and to the A-B Honor Roll throughout high school. He was also a WAFF TV News Channel 48 Star Student.
Chris Fookes, 6-2, 245, OL, Florence, Ky., Boone County High School - Fookes was an All-Conference offensive lineman during his senior year.
Rob Harden, 6-0 185, RB, Xenia, Ohio, Xenia High School – Harden rushed for 371 yards and five touchdowns during his senior year. He was a four-year varsity player and was named to the GWOC Honorable Mention team.
Alex Hey, 6-8, 275, OL, Bryan, Ohio, Bryan High School - Hey played offensive line for Bryan High School his senior year and was named First Team All-District and Honorable Mention All-State. He also was named to the NOWAL First Team.
Austin Hollingsworth, 6-2, 220, DE, Fort Thomas, Ky., Highlands High School - Hollingsworth was the team captain of his high school team his senior year. He also won the Ron Welch Football Award.
Deion Holloman, 6-0, 220, LB, Birmingham, Ala., Shades Valley - Holloman amassed 336 tackles during a three year playing career at Shades Valley. He also collected 21 sacks and seven fumble recoveries. He was named All-Region his junior and senior year while serving as team captain during those years. He won the George Eastman Leadership Award, the 2010 Coaches Awards and was a Jefferson County Superintendent Top 100 Super Scholar Award winner.
Devante Hunter, 6-2, 255, TE, Cincinnati, Ohio, Summit Country Day - Hunter is coming to Morehead State as a tight end, but played running back in high school. He rushed for 1,227 yards with 15 touchdowns. He was his team’s MVP, was named First Team All-MVC, First Team All-Southwest Ohio, First Team All-City and Second Team All-Ohio.
Michael Jackson, 6-0, 180, WR/DB, Cincinnati, Ohio, Roger Bacon High School - Jackson will play both offense and defense for the Eagles. During his senior year at Roger Bacon he caught 35 passes for 706 yards and 13 touchdowns. On the defensive side of the ball he had 74.5 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery. He also had three blocked field goals on special teams. He was named to the GCL Central All Conference team, and was co-Athlete of the Year. Jackson was also named First Team All-Conference as a receiver and First Team All-Southwest Ohio as a defensive back.
Mason Jones, 6-0, 225, LB/FB, Winchester, Ky., George Rogers Clark - Jones played both sides of the ball his senior year at nearby George Rogers Clark High School. On the offensive side he rushed for 448 yards and five touchdowns. On the defensive side he collected 112 tackles with one sack and one fumble recovery. He was named All-District Linebacker of the Year, 2010 Defensive Player of the Year and was a team captain.
Jared Leet, 6-3, 180, QB, Lewis Center, Ohio, Olentangy Orange - Leet was a three-time All-Conference player at Olentangy Orange High. During his senior year he threw for 752 yards on 36-of-61 passing and connected for nine touchdowns. He also ran for 620 yards and eight touchdowns.
Kitaro Lewis, 6-3, 215, WR, Gwinnett, Ga., North Gwinnett High School - He caught 25 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns during his senior year. Lewis was named to the 2010 Gwinnett All-Star team. He also holds the North Gwinnett High school record in the 300-meter hurdles on the track.
Michael Mann, 6-2, 200, QB, Gulf Breeze, Fla., Gulf Breeze High School - Mann passed for 1,855 yards and 14 touchdowns during his senior year. He was listed on ESPN Rise's top 20 quarterbacks for Florida. Mann was named All-Area Second Team, and was the offensive MVP of the South Region All Star Game. He was a member of the AP curriculum honor roll and was a Florida Medallion Scholarship award winner.
Christian Martinez, 6-3, 295, OL, Hendersonville, Tenn., Beech High School - Martinez was named Region 9 AAA First Team offensive lineman his senior year.
Jon Moore, 6-1, 275, OL, Gulfport, Fla., Boca Ciega High School - Moore was named the captain of his football team his senior year while playing offensive line. He was also a varsity wrestler and holds a state record for fastest pin. He was also a regional qualifier. Moore was a member of the National Honor Society.
Will Myers, 6-2, 201, LB, Clayton, Ohio, Northmont High School - Myers collected 68 tackles and two and a half sacks, while recovering two fumbles during his senior year. He was named team captain and was named GWOC All-Conference. Myers was a three-year member of the National Honor Society.
John Noel, 6-4, 220, DE, Stevensville, Mich., Lakeshore High School - Noel collect 44 tackles and two sacks his senior season at Lakeshore High School. He was a two-time All-Conference player.
Jake Phillips, 6-2, 210, LB, Bryan, Ohio, Bryan High School - Phillips recorded 104 tackles and five sacks with three fumble recoveries during his senior year. He was named All-State Honorable Mention for defense and was First Team All-Ohio Northwest District.
Nehemiah Phillips, 5-7, 160, DB, Cincinnati, Ohio, Shroder High School - Phillips collected 25 tackles and one fumble recovery during his senior year at Shroder High. He also rushed for 221 yards and three touchdowns. He was named All-City Honorable Mention and was a part of his high school’s Academic Team.
CJ Pierce, 6-0, 225, LB, Chesapeake, Va., Oscar F. Smith High School - Pierce recorded 53 tackles and 11 sacks his senior year. He was a Union Missions volunteer as well.
Eric Pugh, 5-10, 160, WR, Independence, Ohio, Independence High School - Pugh is coming to Morehead State as a wide receiver, but in high school he rushed for 838 yards and 16 touchdowns his senior year. He was named Second Team All-City, All-District and All-Metro. Pugh was on the Honor Roll and Super Honor Roll.
Mo Saleh, 5-9 180, DB, Kissimmee, Fla., Erie Community College - Saleh had 11 tackles and one pass break up this past season at Erie Community College. He will have two years of athletic eligibility remaining.
Zach Segina, 6-3, 270, OL, Ashland, Ky., Fairview High School - He was named the EKC Offensive Lineman of Year and was his team’s defensive MVP. Over his career at Fairview, he had 332 tackles, 34 sacks, two interceptions and 15 fumble recoveries. He was named First Team Academic All-State, and All-State Honorable Mention.
Zachary Senvisky, 5-9, 180, FS, Union, Ky., Ryle High School - He collected 106 tackles and one sack his senior year and also had seven interceptions. He was named to the NKFCA First Team, and was a Border Bowl Starter.
Ethan Shirley, 5-10, 180, RB, Cumming, Ga., West Forsyth High School – He averaged 6.26 yards per carry on 62 rushes. He also had 13 catches for 18.15 yards per catch as a senior at West Forsyth High School.
Nico Sidari, 6-2, 190, WR, Parma, Ohio, Padua Franciscan High School - Sidari caught 81 passes for 1,022 yards and ten touchdowns his senior year at Padua Franciscan High School.
Tanner Teepen, 6-3, 225, DT, Union, Ky., Ryle High School - During his senior season Teepen had 63 tackles, five sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery. He was named to the NKFCA First Team on defense.
Cody Wallace, 6-3, 235, DE, Morehead, Ky., Rowan County Senior High School - He had 80 tackles, 10 sacks and one fumble recovery his senior year at local Rowan County Senior High School. Wallace was named First Team All-Area and First Team All-EKC.
Nick Wagoner, 6-1, 275, DL, Shelby, Ohio, Shelby High School - Wagoner was named All-District and All-League his senior year. He was also his high school team’s captain.
Jacob Webb, 6-4, 255, OL, Monroe, Ohio, Monroe High School - Webb was a 4.0 student in high school and was on his school's Honor Roll. He was named Second Team All-Conference, a SWBL Champion and was on the Principal’s List.
Shade Whitfield, 6-1, 190, WR, Turpin, Ohio, Turpin High School - He played in just five games as a senior, but recorded 24 receptions for 505 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was First Team All-FAVC, Second Team All-Southwest Ohio D-ll and Honorable Mention Cincinnati Enquirer All-City. Whitfield holds the Ohio high school record (OHSAA) for touchdown catches in a game with four.
Bret Wisecarver, 6-3, 270, OL, Prospect, Ky., Oldham County High School - Wisecarver had 75 tackles and five sacks his senior year. He was named to the A-B Honor Roll, was First Team All-District and was on the Louisville All-Star football team.
Denzel Young, 6-1, 200, LB, Louisville, Ky., Ballard High School - Played outside linebacker at Ballard High School.
