Memphis, TN - University of Memphis head football coach Justin Fuente had just two months to put together his first signing class and today announced 27 standouts who will join the Tigers for the 2012 season.
Included in the announced group today are seven players who have already enrolled in classes at the U of M and will be available for spring practice, which begins on Feb. 22. During the mid-year period, Fuente added offensive linemen Antonio Foster (6-4, 290) and MarKeith Minnick (6-6, 295) as well as defensive lineman Anthony Brown (6-3, 240). Brown and Foster were previously teammates at Northeast Mississippi Community College. Also ready for practice this spring are safety Fritz Etienne (6-1, 200), linebacker Bronterrious Jakes (6-0, 215), tight end Jesse Milleson (6-4, 255) and quarterback Jacob Karam (6-1, 200). Karam will have two seasons to play for the Tigers and is immediately eligible after transferring from Texas Tech because he has already earned his degree.
There were 18 high school standouts that inked with the Tigers today, including seven from Memphis and two additional from just across the state line in Olive Branch, Miss. The Memphis signees include Whitehaven offensive lineman Tony Mays (6-4, 270) and defensive back Derrick Bobo (509, 180). Wide receiver Daniel Hurd (6-2, 205) and defensive lineman Carl Mitchell (6-4, 240) both hail from Wooddale High and Fuente also landed quarterback Will Gross (6-1, 170) from Melrose High, tight end Latarius Brady (6-3, 255) from East High and offensive lineman Cody Quon (6-5, 220), who prepped at St. Benedict.
Just across the state line were teammates and cousins Wynton McManis ( 6-0, 200) and Leonard Pegues (5-11, 210), who were both linebackers for Olive Branch High, which won a state title and remained undefeated in 2011.
Fuente and his staff inked five prep stars out of Florida. Kerwin Harrison is a tight end out of Kathleen High in Lakeland, Fla., while Paxton Lynch is a quarterback, who prepped at Trinity Christian Academy in Deltona, Fla. Also included in the group from Florida are defensive backs Chauncey Lanier (6-1, 170) of Nova High; Chris Morley (5-11, 175) of South Plantation High; and Dion Witty (5-11, 175) of Coral Springs High.
Signing Letters of Intent for the Tigers out of Texas are freshmen tight end Daniel Montiel (6-5, 240) from Arlington High and offensive lineman Micah Simmons (6-4, 295), who played at Lindale High. In addition, safety Anthony Watson (6-1, 200) is from Houston, and is transferring to Memphis from Blinn Junior College.
Fuente has also added one player from Georgia, Missouri and Louisiana in his first signing class. Safety Dontavious Heard (6-0, 180) prepped at Martin Luther King High in Lithonia, Ga., and offensive lineman Michael Stannard (6-3, 270) played at Rock Bridge High in Columbia, Mo. Running back Jai Steib (5-11, 220) is originally from Hahnville,La., and is joining the Tigers out of College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Calif.
Spring practice will begin on Feb. 22 and the 2012 Blue-Gray Game will be held at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on March 31, at noon. Season ticket prices have been lowered and just $55 will cover a ticket in the fun zone seats for all six home games. Prime seats are available at just $150 for all six games. The tickets can be purchased online at GoTigersGo.com, or by contacting the U of M Ticket Office at 901-678-2331.
Mid-Year Signees
Anthony Brown DL 6-3 240 Jr. Cairo, GA (Cairo HS/Northeast Miss. CC)
Fritz Etienne SAF 6-1 200 So. Miami, FL (MSGR Pace HS/Coffeyville CC)
Antonio Foster OL 6-4 290 Jr. Valdosta, GA (Valdosta HS/Georgia Tech/NE Miss CC)
Bronterrious Jakes LB 6-0 215 So. Phenix City, AL (Central HS/Holmes CC)
Jacob Karam QB 6-1 200 Jr. Friendswood, TX (Friendswood HS/Texas Tech)
Jesse Milleson TE 6-4 255 Jr. Phoenix, AZ (Sunnyslope HS/Glendale CC)
MarKeith Minnick OL 6-6 295 Fr. Philadelphia, PA (Delaware Valley Charter/Hargrave)
February 1 Signees
Derrick Bobo DB 5-9 180 Fr. Memphis, TN (Whitehaven HS)
Latarius Brady TE 6-3 255 Fr. Memphis, TN (East HS)
Will Gross QB 6-1 170 Fr. Memphis, TN (Melrose HS)
Kerwin Harrison TE 6-3 225 Fr. Lakeland, FL (Kathleen HS)
Dontavious Heard SAF 6-0 180 Fr. Lithonia, GA (Martin Luther King HS)
Daniel Hurd WR 6-2 205 Fr. Memphis, TN (Wooddale HS)
Chauncey Lanier CB 6-1 170 Fr. Miramar, FL (Nova HS)
Paxton Lynch QB 6-5 225 Fr. Deltona, FL (Trinity Christian Academy)
Tony Mays OL 6-4 270 Fr. Memphis, TN (Whitehaven HS)
Wynton McManis LB 6-0 200 Fr. Olive Branch, MS (Olive Branch HS)
Carl Mitchell DL 6-4 240 Fr. Memphis, TN (Wooddale HS)
Daniel Montiel TE 6-5 240 Fr. Arlington, TX (Arlington HS)
Chris Morley CB 5-11 175 Fr. Pompano, FL (South Plantation HS)
Leonard Pegues LB 5-11 210 Fr. Olive Branch, MS (Olive Branch HS)
Cody Quon OL 6-5 220 Fr. Memphis, TN (St. Benedict HS)
Micah Simmons OL 6-4 295 Fr. Lindale, TX (Lindale HS)
Michael Stannard OL 6-3 270 Fr. Columbia, MO (Rock Bridge HS)
Jai Steib RB 5-11 220 Jr. Hahnville,
E-mail
Print