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FIRST COMMITMENT RELEASEMOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Morehead State football program has added 16 student-athletes on defense and two on special teams for the 2014 season. The list includes five linebackers, four corner backs, four safeties, three linemen, one kicker/punter and one long snapper.
"Our coaching staff worked hard putting together this 2014 recruiting class," Head Coach Rob Tenyer said. "I'm excited about this year's group because we've attracted many high-character individuals who are quality football players."
MSU has seven road games beginning Aug. 30 and five home contests starting Sept. 6. The Eagles will host in-state opponent Pikeville (Sept. 6), Campbell (Oct. 4), Jacksonville (Oct. 11), Valparaiso (Oct. 25) and new foe Stetson (Nov. 15).
"These young men accomplished a lot in high school," Tenyer said. "Morehead State will be a new chapter for all of them, and it should be an exciting one. We are happy they chose us for their college education and a quality football experience."
MSU is expected to welcome 42 new players this fall. The list of offensive players has already been released. The defensive and special teams players are listed below:
(NOTE: click on each name for video highlights)Kody Arnett LB 6-2 215 Fr. Hazard, Ky. (Hazard HS)A four-year starter who played on both sides of the ball … Ranked second on his team as a senior with 100 tackles and third with 44 points … Helped the Bulldogs to a Kentucky High School Athletic Association 1A runner-up finish in 2010 and state championship in 2011 … Hazard won regional titles his freshman and junior seasons, plus a district championship his senior campaign … Earned First-Team All-District honors at defensive end in 2011 and 2012 … Notched First-Team All-District accolades at linebacker in 2013 … Picked up Honorable Mention All-State laurels his final campaign.
Melon Barnes S 6-2 180 Fr. Cleveland Heights, Ohio (Cleveland Heights HS)Posted 50 tackles as a junior and 63 as a senior … Recorded five interceptions over his final two seasons … Helped the Tigers to an 18-4 record in his two varsity campaigns … Cleveland Heights won Lake Erie League championships in 2012 and 2013 … One of his cousins, Mike McGruder, spent time with the Green Bay Packers (1989), Miami Dolphins (1990-91), San Francisco 49ers (1992-93), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1994-95) and New England Patriots (1996) … Another cousin, Desmond Ridenour, is a sophomore basketball player at Duquesne.
Shavi Bash K/P 6-3 175 Fr. Roswell, Ga. (Roswell HS)Connected on 8-of-9 field-goal attempts as a senior … Named team Most Valuable Player his final year and earned all-region honors.
Tyler Burdick LB 6-2 220 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio (Glen Este HS)Earned four varsity letters … Registered 68 tackles as a sophomore, 89 stops as a junior and 106 tackles as a senior … Collected 8.5 career sacks, forced five fumbles, recovered two fumbles and snagged one interception … A First-Team All-Fort Ancient Valley Conference selection in 2011 … A First-Team All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference pick in 2012 and 2013 … An Honorable Mention All-City honoree his sophomore and junior seasons … A First-Team All-City selection his senior campaign … Earned Second-Team All-Southwest Ohio District accolades his final year … His grandfather, Bob Kopich, played football at Cincinnati from 1962-64 … Another grandfather, Dick Burdick, played football at Cincinnati and Miami (Ohio) … Another grandfather, James Arnold, played basketball and baseball at William Carey (Miss.) … His uncle, Shaun Burdick, played football at Cincinnati from 1983-86 … Another uncle, Kyle Judy, played football at Miami (Ohio) … Another uncle, Jim Arnold, played baseball at William Carey.
Jamil Butler DL 6-2 215 Fr. Louisville, Ky. (Butler HS)Recorded 61 tackles as a junior and 96 stops as a senior … Credited with 13 sacks and nine tackles for loss over his last two seasons … Earned First-Team All-District accolades.
Malik Carr LB 6-0 215 Fr. Louisville, Ky. (Saint Xavier HS)Posted 25 tackles as a junior and 62 stops as a senior … Collected seven sacks over his last two campaigns.
Brandyn Duncan CB 5-8 170 Fr. Lexington, Ky. (Dunbar HS)Helped the 2013 Bulldogs to a 6-6 record, which was the school's best mark in nine seasons … Earned Honorable Mention All-City honors as a freshman, sophomore and junior … Picked up First-Team All-City and Academic All-State accolades as a senior … Invited to multiple All-Star Games after his final campaign.
Christian Ford CB 6-0 175 Fr. Powder Springs, Ga. (McEachern HS)Managed 100 tackles, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over his final two seasons … Credited with 73 stops as a senior … Helped the Indians to a 2012 Georgia High School Association 6A region championship and final four appearance in the 2013 state tournament … Earned Second-Team All-County honors his final year.
Carter Hahn LB 6-0 215 Fr. Wilmore, Ky. (West Jessamine HS)A three-year starter who saw action on offense, defense and special teams … Posted 11 receiving touchdowns in 2013, which set West Jessamine's single-season record.
Anthony Hamblin DL 6-3 245 Fr. Louisville, Ky. (Central HS)Recorded 125 tackles and 14 sacks over his final three years … Tallied 58 tackles as a junior and 52 stops as a senior … Central won Kentucky High School Athletic Association 3A state titles in 2010, 2011 and 2012 … Named team Most Valuable Player in 2012.
Braden Hicks DL 6-4 220 Fr. Fort Thomas, Ky. (Highlands HS)Highlands won the Kentucky High School Athletic Association 5A state championship in 2010 … Helped the Bluebirds to KHSAA 4A state titles in 2011 and 2012, plus a runner-up finish in 2013 … Has two sisters, Molly and McKenzie Hicks, who played soccer at Morehead State.
Joe Iuliano LS 6-0 205 Fr. Springfield, N.J. (Jonathan Dayton HS)Played three varsity seasons … Led the Bulldogs in tackles as a senior … Played 10 different positions his final campaign … Named team Defensive Most Valuable Player in 2013 … Earned First-Team All-Conference, Second-Team All-County, Second-Team All-Area and Second-Team All-State accolades as a senior … His mother, Elisa Iuliano, was a figure skater in the 1984 Winter Olympics.
Chauncey Johns CB 5-11 170 Fr. Louisville, Ky. (Eastern HS)Registered 80 tackles over his final two seasons and 10 interceptions over his final three years … Helped the Eagles to district titles in 2011 and 2012, plus a region championship in 2012 … Picked up First-Team All-Conference honors as a sophomore and junior.
Sayyid Kanu S 6-0 185 Fr. Columbus, Ohio (St. Francis DeSales HS)Ranked second on his team with 50 tackles as a senior … Posted eight interceptions over his final two campaigns … Earned All-Central Catholic League, First-Team All-District and Third-Team All-State honors in 2012 and 2013 … A Second-Team All-Metro choice his final season … A two-sport athlete who also competed in track & field … Helped the Stallions to district championships in football and track as a sophomore.
Kyle Keszei S 6-0 170 Fr. Cincinnati, Ohio (Glen Este HS)Credited with 103 tackles and four interceptions over his final two seasons … Collected 8.5 tackles for loss as a senior … Set a school record in 2012 with a 91-yard interception return … Named team Most Valuable Player his sophomore campaign … Earned All-Eastern Cincinnati Conference accolades his junior year … A two-sport athlete who also played basketball.
Xavier Lavender S 6-1 195 Fr. Decatur, Ala. (Decatur HS)Recorded 129 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two sacks over his final two seasons … Managed 79 stops as a senior … Helped the Red Raiders to four consecutive appearances in the Alabama High School Athletic Association State Tournament … His uncles, PheArthur Edwards and Terry Cook, played football at Jacksonville State.
Michael Ryan CB 6-0 185 Fr. Kennesaw, Ga. (Harrison HS)Posted 33 tackles, 12 pass break-ups, four tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries and one interception … Earned Second-Team All-County accolades as a senior … Picked up several Player of the Week awards.
Lawrence Waters LB 6-3 215 Fr. Austell, Ga. (Whitefield Academy)Managed 45 tackles and two interceptions as a sophomore … Posted 59 tackles in five games before an injury as a senior … Named team Most Valuable Player his final campaign … A two-sport athlete who also played basketball … Helped the Wolfpack to a Georgia High School Association state runner-up finish in basketball his senior season … His brother, Thomas Flowers, played at Georgia from 2003-07 and spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2008-09.
NOTE: Student-athlete pronunciations are listed below *
SHA-VEE BAHSH *
MAH-LEEK Carr *
BRAN-DIN Duncan *
Joe YOU-LEE-ON-OH *
SIGH-YEED CAN-KNEW *
Kyle KEZ-EYE
