MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Morehead State football program has added 14 newcomers from the state of Kentucky. The list includes five players on offense, seven on defense and two on special teams.
“We are very excited about our 2012 recruiting class, especially these 14 individuals from the state of Kentucky,” said Head Coach Matt Ballard, who enters his 19th season at Morehead State. “Our goal is always to recruit the best student-athletes available, regardless of location, but it’s a bonus when you can attract high-quality individuals from your home state.”
The Eagles open their 11-game schedule on Aug. 30 when Southern Virginia visits Jayne Stadium at 7 p.m. ET. MSU begins its Pioneer Football League slate on Sept. 22 at Drake.
“These young men have certainly accomplished a lot in their high school careers,” Ballard said. “This is a new chapter for all of them and it should be an exciting one. We are happy these individuals chose Morehead State for their college education and a quality football experience. We look forward to watching these young men grow on and off the field.”
Morehead State will welcome 44 new players this fall. The list of out-of-state recruits will be released later this week. The following is a list of players from the state of Kentucky:
Kameron Able -- LB -- 6-2 -- 225 -- Fr. -- Louisville, Ky. (DeSales)
Recorded 134 tackles, including 57 solo stops as a senior … Recorded 1.5 sacks, one interception and two fumble recoveries … Earned Academic All-State and First-Team All-District honors … A Scholar-Athlete and team captain … Named Team Defensive Player of the Year.
Adarius Barnett -- DB -- 5-9 -- 165 -- Fr. -- Bowling Green, Ky. (Warren East)
Tallied 21 touchdowns, including 19 on the ground as a senior … Rushed for 1,461 yards … Collected 303 receiving yards.
Hunter Brewer -- LB -- 6-0 -- 190 -- Fr. -- Louisville, Ky. (Trinity)
Posted 61 tackles, including 40 solo stops and nine sacks as a senior … A First-Team All-District choice … His team’s Most Valuable Player as a junior and senior … A Second-Team All-Catholic Linebacker his final two years … A National Powerlifting Champion his junior year … An honor roll student … Brother, Matthew, has also signed with MSU.
Matthew Brewer -- LB -- 6-0 -- 190 -- Fr. -- Louisville, Ky. (Trinity)
Tallied 45 tackles, including 29 solo stops as a senior … Recorded two interceptions … A First-Team All-District pick … A State Powerlifting Champion his senior year … An honor roll student … Brother, Hunter, has also signed with MSU.
Trent Davis -- K -- 5-7 -- 150 -- Fr. -- Paintsville, Ky. (Johnson Central)
Tallied five field goals and 57 extra points as a senior … Longest field goal was 47 yards and longest punt was 57 yards … Named to the all-area team all four years … A two-time all-state honorable mention … Earned First-Team All-Mountain honors as a senior … Also played soccer and led the state of Kentucky in scoring.
Chase Fisher -- OL -- 6-3 -- 295 -- Fr. -- Madisonville, Ky. (North Hopkins)
Named to the All-Western Kentucky Conference First Team as a senior … A two-time team Lineman of the Year.
Markell Hayes -- DB -- 5-9 -- 165 -- Fr. -- Lancaster, Ky. (Garrard County)
Tallied 79 tackles, including 44 solo stops as a senior … Picked off four balls and recovered one fumble … Rushed for 1,723 yards (124 pg) and 23 touchdowns … Collected 527 receiving yards and six touchdowns … Set career and season records for rushing yards, touchdowns and points scored … Also played basketball, track, tennis and baseball.
Jake Hymore -- OL -- 6-4 -- 265 -- Fr. -- Florence, Ky. (Boone County)
A member of the Top 26 football group in Northern Kentucky … Earned his team’s Offensive Lineman award … Selected to several all-star teams.
Logan Johnson -- QB -- 6-2 -- 193 -- Fr. -- Whitesburg, Ky. (Letcher County Central)
Completed 123-of-198 attempts for 2,163 yards and 25 touchdowns … Rushed 98 times for 398 yards and three scores … Posted 5,422 career passing yards and 60 touchdowns … Also tallied 356 tackles and 18 interceptions on defense …Named First-Team All-District three times … His school’s all-time leader in passing, total offense and touchdown passes … Named Most Valuable Player of the Roy Kidd Bowl.
Rob Lewis -- DL -- 6-5 -- 290 -- Fr. -- Somerset, Ky. (Southwestern)
Posted 72 tackles, including 50 unassisted as a senior … Selected to the All-Region First Team and All-County First Team … Earned all-state honors … Also earned all-region honors in basketball … An honor roll student.
Caleb Noe -- P -- 6-0 -- 175 -- R-So. -- Mt. Washington, Ky. (Central Arkansas)
A transfer from the University of Central Arkansas … Redshirted in 2010 … Did not see game action as a redshirt freshman in 2011 ... Played at Bullitt East High School.
C.J. Phillips -- OL -- 6-1 -- 270 -- Fr. -- Louisville, Ky. (Saint Xavier)
A two-time All-Catholic First-Team and All-District selection … An All-State Honorable Mention pick … A Third-Team All-State choice as a senior … An honor roll student.
Dan Prater -- OL -- 6-3 -- 330 -- Fr. -- Morehead, Ky. (Rowan County)
Honored as his team’s top offensive lineman as a junior and senior after posting 130 pancake blocks each season … A Courier Journal All-State Honorable Mention and All-Area First-Team selection his final two campaigns … A team captain.
Keith Thielemann -- DL -- 6-1 -- 275 -- Fr. -- Danville, Ky. (Boyle County)
Recorded 52 tackles, including 39 solo stops as a senior … Tallied three sacks … Earned all-area honors his junior and senior years ... Helped his team to a Class 4A state championship in 2010.
