2010 Football Signing Day
2/3/2010 2:00:00 PM | Football
Willie Fritz produced one of Sam Houston's largest recruitings classes on his first National Signing Day as the new Bearkat head football coach.
The Bearkats signed 24 high school seniors and already have two junior college transfers enrolled this semester.
"With 27 seniors on last year's team and only 64 kids on the roster right now, we had to bring in a lot of kids right now," Fritz said. "We've very pleased with the reception we received across the state and are excited about this year's recruiting class."
Building more depth for the Bearkats was the main focus but the coaching staff also looked at specific needs.
"Offensive and defensive linemen were a priority but we need to build our numbers at all positions," Fritz said.
Fritz was hired as Sam Houston head coach on Dec. 21, but the coach and his staff immediately jumped into recruiting.
"Early on, the late start was a concern, but with a lot of hard work by the staff, we caught up quickly," Fritz said. "We only recruited two junior college kids. We really want to build a solid foundation for all team with high school players who fit our academic mold. We have to give a big thank you to everyone here on campus who helped us with recruiting over the past month. It definitely was a team effort."
SAM HOUSTON STATE 2010 SIGNINGS
| NAME | POS | HT | WR | HOMETOWN / HIGH SCHOOL | VIDEO |
| Forbes Baggett | DL/OL | 6-2 | 270 | Huntsville, TX / Huntsville | WATCH |
| Brian Bell | QB | 6-2 | 170 | China Spring, TX / China Spring | WATCH |
| Rob Boyd | DL/OL | 6-2 | 240 | Ennis, TX / Ennis | WATCH |
| Colton Cline | OL | 6-4 | 305 | Seminole, OK / Norman North | |
| SaQwan Edwards | WR | 6-1 | 170 | Manvel, TX / Manvel | WATCH |
| Ridgeway Frank | RB | 5-9 | 180 | Spring, TX / Spring | WATCH |
| Cory Hamlett | CB/SAF | 6-0 | 190 | Jacksonville, TX / Jacksonville | WATCH |
| Justin Havard | OL | 6-6 | 260 | Diboll, TX / Diboll | WATCH |
| Jeremy Jackson | LB | 6-0 | 215 | Bellville, TX / Bellville | WATCH |
| Drew Johnson | OL | 6-0 | 240 | Denton, TX / Guyer | |
| Ken Jones | OL | 6-1 | 230 | Spring, TX / Klein Collins | WATCH |
| Dwight Kennedy | DE/DT | 5-11 | 250 | Terrrell, TX / Terrell | WATCH |
| Gary Lorance | DT | 6-0 | 270 | New Boston, TX / New Boston | |
| Aaron Mueller | DE/TE | 6-3 | 230 | Caldwell, TX / Caldwell | WATCH |
| Chuks Orabuchi | CB/SAF | 6-0 | 165 | Denton, TX / Guyer | WATCH |
| Rickey Smith | WR | 6-1 | 190 | College Station, TX / A&M Conso. | WATCH |
| Koko Smith | RB | 5-6 | 170 | Daingerfield, TX / Daingerfield | WATCH |
| Bookie Sneed | CB/SAF | 6-0 | 180 | Conroe, TX / Conroe | WATCH |
| Steve Solomon | OL | 6-4 | 242 | Lovelady, TX / Lovelady | |
| Tyler Sweatt | TE/FB | 6-1 | 230 | Argyle, TX / Argyle | WATCH |
| Adrian Tarpley | OL | 6-3 | 280 | Longview, TX / Spring Hill | WATCH |
| John Trotter | DE | 6-3 | 240 | Rusk, TX / Rusk | WATCH |
| Michael Wade | SAF | 6-0 | 185 | Arp, TX / Arp | WATCH |
| Ryan Wilson | RB | 5-10 | 185 | Carrollton, TX / Creekview | WATCH |
| Jarvis Young | CB/SAF | 5-11 | 175 | Houston, TX / Jersey Village | WATCH |
| TRANSFERS | |||||
| Grant Merritt | WR | 6-1 | 203 | Sugar Land, TX (Blinn JC) | |
| Seth Patterson | WR | 6-3 | 185 | Round Rock, TX (Western Michigan) | |
| Garrett Roget | LB | 6-1 | 185 | Arlington, TX (Tyler JC) | WATCH |
HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR BIOS
FORBES BAGGETT
Huntsville, TX / Huntsville HS
6-2 270
Defensive Line / Offensive Line
High School Coach: Mitchell Coey
Team Record: 2008 9-4, 2009 9-4
State Playoffs: Second round, 2009
Honors: Three-time All-District 18-4A selection on defense ... twice All-District as offensive lineman including first team honors as a senior
Other Sports : Baseball, power lifting (450 squat 300 bench)
BRIAN BELL
China Spring, TX / China Spring HS
6-2 170
Quarterback
High School Coach: Mark Bell
Team Record: 2008 12 -1 ... 2009 9-3
State Playoffs: District champions, area finalists, 2009
Honors: First team All-District 7-3A ... District Most Valuable Player ... honorable mention All-State and Super CenTex
ROB BOYD
Ennis, TX / Ennis HS
6-2 240
Defensive Line
High School Coach: Sam Harrell
Team Record: 2008 11-2 ... 2009 5-5
State Playoffs, 2008: Regional semifinals
Honors: First team All-District 16-4A ... Academic All-State ... led team in tackles
Other Sports: State qualifier in power lifting
COLTON CLINE
Seminole, OK / Norman North HS
6-4 305
Offensive Line
High School Coach: Lance Manning
Team Record: 2009 6-6
Honors: First team All-State and All-District selection
Other Sports: Ranked No. 1 in Oklahoma wrestling as a junior ... 28-3 with 27 pins as a senior competing in heavyweight class
SAQWAN EDWARDS
Manvel, TX / Manvel HS
6-1 170
Wide Receiver
High School Coach: Kirk Martin
Team Record: 2009 5-5
Honors: Two-time All-District and All-County ... honorable mention All-State ... Rivals.com 3 Star WR
Other Sports: Sprinter in track ... 4x200 relay regional qualifier
RIDGEWAY FRANK
Houston, TX / Spring HS
5-9 180
Running Back
High School Coach: Sonny Karas
Team Record: 2009 4-5
Honors: All-District ... All-State as a junior
Other Sports: Track and Field ... ran on district champion 4x100 relay as a junior
CORY HAMLETT
Jacksonville, TX / Jacksonville HS
6-0 190
Cornerback / Safety
High School Coach: Steve Wells
Team Record: 2008 3-8 ... 2009 8-2
State Playoffs: 2008 bi-district finalist ... 2009 first round
Honors: All-District 14-4A honorable mention selection
Other Sports: Track and field, basketball and baseball
JUSTIN HAVARD
Diboll, TX / Diboll HS
6-6 260
Offensive Lineman
High School Coach: Thomas Sheppard
Team Record: 2008 8-3 ... 2009 2-8
State Playoffs: 2008 bi-district finalist
Honors: Second team All-District ... Academic All-State and All-District
Other Sports: Track and field
JEREMY JACKSON
Bellville, TX / Bellville HS
6-0 215
Linebacker
Head Coach: Doug Foster
Team Record: 2008 12-2 ... 2009 6-4
State Playoffs: 2008 regional finalist
Honors: Two-time All-District 25-3A first team selection ... Defensive MVP as senior
Other Sports: Regional qualifier as a power lifter ... regional qualifier in track in 100m, discus and sprint relays
DREW JOHNSON
Denton, TX / Guyer HS
6-0 240
Offensive Line
Head Coach: John Walsh
Team Record: 2009 13-2
State Playoffs: 2009 semifinalist
Honors: Deep snapper ... All-District 5-4A first team and All-Area second team selections
Other Sports: Designated hitter in baseball
KEN JONES
Spring, TX / Klein Collins HS
6-1 230
Offensive Line
High School Coach: Drew Svoboda
Team Record: 2008 6-3 ... 2009 12-1
State Playoffs: Third round
Honors: First team All-District 13-5A deep snapper ... Academic All-District
Other Sports: Threw discus in track and field
DWIGHT KENNEDY
Terrell, TX / Terrell HS
5-11 250
Defensive End / Defensive Tackle
High School Coach: Chris Gilbert
Team Record: 2009 3-7
Honors: Two-time first team All-District 15-4A selection ... first team All-Area and All-Metropex ... honorable mention All-State
Other Sports: Track and field
GARY LORANCE
New Boston, TX / New Boston HS
6-0 270
Defensive Tackle
High School Coach: Rick Barker
Team Record: 2008 10-2 ... 2009 5-5
State Playoffs: 2008 regional semifinalist
Honors: Two-time first team All-District 16-3A ... two-time All-Bowie County ... Bowie County Defensive MVP and District Defensive MVP as junior in 2008
Other Sports: Regional qualifier in power lifting ... threw shot put and discus in track and field
AARON MUELLER
Caldwell, TX / Caldwell HS
6-3 230
Defensive End / Defensive Tackle
High School Coach: Dale Williams
Team Record: 2008 6-4 ... 2009 9-2
State Playoffs: 2009 bi-district champions
Honors: First team All-District 24-3A, second team All-Brazos Valley and honorable mention All-State
Other Sports: Basketball, baseball and track and field
CHUKS ORABUCHI
Denton, TX / Guyer HS
6-0 165
Cornerback
Head Coach: John Walsh
Team Record: 2009 13-2
State Playoffs: 2009 semifinalist
Honors: First team All-District 5-4A selection
Other Sports: Track and field ... best times include 10.7 100m
RICKEY SMITH
College Station, TX / A&M Consolidated HS
6-1 190
Wide Receiver
Head Coach: Jim Slaughter
Team Record: 2008 6-5 ... 2009 7-4
State Playoffs: 2008 Bi-District finalists ... 2009 first round
Honors: First team All-District 12-5A ... second team All-Brazos Valley
KOKO SMITH
Daingerfield, TX / Daingerfield HS
5-6 170
Running Back
High School Coach: Barry Bowman
Team Record: 2008 15-1 ... 2009 15-1
State Playoffs: Two-time state champions
Honors: Two-time first team All-State, All-Area, All-District 17-2A and District MVP ... rushed for 3,853 yards and 52 touchdowns as a junior and senior
Other Sports: Baseball and track and field ... competed in the 100m dash and long jump
BOOKIE SNEED
Conroe, TX / Conroe HS
6-0 180
Cornerback
High School Coach: Roger Holtkamp
Team Record: 2008 6-4 ... 2009 6-5
State Playoffs: 2008 Bi-District finalist ... 2009 first round
Honors: Two-time first team All-District 14-5A and All-County selection
Other Sports: Basketball and track ... regional and state qualifier in 4x400 relay ... best marks include 3:15.33 in 4x400 and 48.33 in 400m
STEVE SOLOMON
Lovelady, TX / Lovelady HS
6-4 242
Offensive Lineman
High School Coach: Kerry Therwhanger
Team Record: 2008 5-5 ... 2009 12-1
State Playoffs: Lost to eventual state champion Cayuga in third round
Honors: First team All-District 22-1A offensive lineman and second team All-District defensive lineman
Other Sports: Basketball
TYLER SWEATT
Argyle, TX / Argyle HS
6-1 230
Tight End / Fullback
High School Coach: Todd Rodgers
Team Record: 2008 8-4 ... 2009 12-1
State Playoffs: 2008 area finalist ... 2009 third round
Honors: First team All-District 9-3A ... All-Region selection
Other Sports: Power lifting
ADRIAN TARPLEY
Longview, TX / Spring Hill HS
6-3 280
Offensive Lineman
High School Coach: Robert Bero
Team Record: 2008 3-7 ... 2009 4-6
Honors: Three-time All-District 17-3A selection ... second team All-East Texas
JOHN TROTTER
Rusk, TX / Rusk HS
6-3 240
Defensive End
High School Coach: Ted Patton
Team Record: 2008 6-4 ... 2009 5-5
Honors: First team All-District 18-3A both as an offensive and defensive lineman as senior ... second team All-District on defense as a junior
Other Sports: Track and field ... power lifting
MICHAEL WADE
Arp, TX / Arp HS
6-0 185
Safety
High School Coach: Dale Irwin
Team Record: 2008 11-1 ... 2009 11-2
State Playoffs: 2008 and 2009 regional semifinalist
Honors: First team All-District 19-2A ... District defensive MVP
Other Sports: Basketball and Track and Field
RYAN WILSON
Carrollton, TX / Creekview HS
5-10 185
Running Back
High School Coach: Kyle Geller
Team Record: 2008 7-4 ... 2009 5-5
State Playoffs: 2008 bi-district finalist
Honors: Two-time All-District 9-5A selection ... Rivals.com 3-Star runningback ... brothers Travis and Corey Wilson both played at Oklahoma
Other Sports: Track and field
JARVIS YOUNG
Houston, TX / Jersey Village HS
5-11 175
Safety / Cornerback
High School: David Snokhou
Honors: First team All-District 15-5A ... "Comeback" Player of the Year ... Academic All-District
Other Sports: Track and Field ... two-time regional qualifier in 200m ... best time 21.6
TRANSFERS
GARRETT MERRITT
Sugar Land, TX
6-1 2-3
Wide Receiver
Blinn Junior College: Caught passes for 606 yards for Blinn's 11-1 national championship team
GARRETT ROGET
Arlington, TX
6-1 185
Linebacker
Tyler Junior College: Credited with 66 tackles for 7-3 Apache squad ... SWJCFC Player of the Week after victory over Cisco in which he made 15 points and returned an interception 30 yards for a touchdown
SETH PATTERSON
Round Rock, TX
6-3 185
Wide Receiver
Transfer from Western Michigan ...All-District wide receiver at Round Rock on teams that rolled up 16-7 record
