Football Signing Day
2/1/2012 12:00:00 PM | Football
Sixteen top high school seniors have signed letters-of-intent to attend Sam Houston State and play football for head coach Willie Fritz.
The 2012 football signing class includes seven offensive linemen, two defensive linemen, two linebackers, two defensive backs, and a tight end, quarterback and running back.
"With our Southland championship, the 14-1 record and the drive to the national championship game, we had a lot of momentum coming into recruiting this winter," Fritz said. "Our goal is to continue this level of excellence and this year's outstanding recruiting class brings us quality young men who will help us.
"We lost two All-Southland offensive linemen from this year's championship team and we have three seniors back next year, so the offensive line was a point of emphasis for us this winter. We have seven offensive lineman in the recruiting class and we look some of these young men to compete for playing time immediately.
"Defensively, we will have a very experienced team but several of the players are kids who have started or been front line reserves the last three years. We need some young players to come in and learn the system to keep our continuity for the future.
"With as many starters and reserves back, the majority of next year's freshmen probably will red-shirt and have the opportunity to learn the system. Certainly, any of these young men that can help us win next year will get the chance for time.
Sam Houston State also announced an additional transfer as former Houston Kempner defensive back Quaylon Ewing-Burton joins the team. Ewing-Burton started four games at Boise in 2011 and played in seven games in 2010.
| Mouf Adebo | LB | 6-1 | 215 | Mansfield / Mansfield HS | VIDEO |
| Jarell Crenshaw | DB/RS | 5-11 | 185 | Pearland / Dawson HS | VIDEO |
| Shelby Davis | CB/RS | 5-11 | 170 | Texarkana / Texas HS | VIDEO |
| James DeLaRosa | DL | 6-1 | 275 | Fort Worth / Brewer HS | VIDEO |
| Brandon DeWitt | OL | 6-3 | 285 | Lawton, Okla. / Lawton HS | VIDEO |
| Roclan Drain | OL | 6-4 | 255 | Chatfield / Corsicana HS | VIDEO |
| R. J. Earls | OL | 6-2 | 265 | Clute / Brazoswood HS | VIDEO |
| Steven Hicks | RB | 5-8 | 190 | Mesquite / Poteet HS | VIDEO |
| Donald Jackson III | OL | 6-2 | 270 | Kilgore / Kilgore HS | VIDEO |
| Braden King | TE/DS | 6-4 | 240 | Longview / Longview HS | VIDEO |
| Don King III | QB | 6-2 | 205 | Waxahachie / Waxahachie HS | VIDEO |
| Sione Latu | DL | 6-0 | 270 | Euless / Trinity HS | VIDEO |
| Richard LoLohea | OL | 6-1 | 305 | Euless / Trinity HS | VIDEO |
| Nigel Robertson | LB | 5-11 | 225 | Dallas / Skyline HS | VIDEO |
| Zachary Stevens | OL/DS | 6-1 | 270 | Cypress / CyFair HS | VIDEO |
| Shane Weeks | OL | 6-3 | 265 | Garland / Sachse HS | VIDEO |
Transfer |
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| Quaylon Ewing-Burton | DB | 6-1 | 184 | Houston / Kempner HS (Boise) |
MOUF ADEBO
6-1 215 Linebacker
Mansfield High School
First team All-District 5-5A defensive end for coach Jeff Hulme ... starter on playoff teams that reached the bi-district finals in 2010 and the area finals in 2011 ... totaled 24 quarterback sacks, 63 solo stops and 39 tackle assists ... intercepted three passes
JARELL CRENSHAW
5-11 185 Defensive back / Return Specialist
Pearland Dawson High School
Two-time first team All-District 24-4A and honorable mention All-Greater Houston selection for coach Eric Wells ... four-year starter ... led team to state semifinals in 2009 and 2011 and to regional semifinals in 2010 ... "Special Teams Player of the Year" ... totaled 88 tackles (57 solo, 31 assists), five interceptions, seven pass break-ups and had one return for a touchdown ... baseball and track letterman, earning All-District honors as outfielder in baseball
SHELBY DAVIS
5-11 175 Cornerback / Return Specialist
Texarkana Texas High School
All-area and first team All-District 13-4A cornerback for coach Barry Norton ... led Tigers to district championship and three consecutive playoff appearances ... totaled 54 tackles including 35 solo stops ... forced two fumbles and intercepted five passes ... returned 15 kickoffs for 470 yards including a 95-yard TD ... caught 11 passes for 269 yards and four TDs ... intercepted four passes as a junior ... also lettered in track and field
JAMES DeLaROSA
6-1 275 Defensive lineman
Fort Worth Brewer High School
First team All-District 5-4A, district "Defensive Player-of-the-Year", team "Most Valuable Player" and captain for Coach Paul Sharr ... totaled 20 tackles for losses including nine quarterback sacks ... credited with 78 tackles including 34 solo stops ... played both ways as junior, totaling 46 stops and six sacks in 2010
BRANDON DeWITT
6-3 285 Center/Offensive lineman
Lawton, Okla., High School
Oklahoma All-State, All-District and Class 6A "Offensive Lineman of the Year" for coach Randy Breeze ... team captain ... led team to 2010 city, district and regional championships and the state semifinals ....Oklahoma Top 50 recruit ... offensive lineman who moves well
ROCLAN DRAIN
6-4 255 Offensive line
Chatfield / Corsicana High School
Second team All-State, first team All-Golden Circle and first team All-District 15-4A for coach Phil Castles ... team captain and "Outstanding Lineman" award-winner ... led Tigers to district co-championship and state semifinals ... starter on 7-4 bi-district finalists as junior ... also lettered in baseball and track and field
R. J. EARLS
6-2 265 Offensive lineman
Clute Brazoswood High School
Two-time first team All-County and All-District offensive guard for coach Dean DeAtley ... part of offensive line that did not give up a quarterback sack ... graded out with 90 percent average for the season and four knockdown blocks per contest ... four-sport letterman, also participating in basketball, track and power lifting ... regional qualifier in the discus in track and in powerlifting with 330 bench and 600 squat
STEVEN HICKS
5-8 190 Running back
Mesquite Poteet High School
First team All-District 15-4A running back for coach Randy Jackson ... rushed for 1,215 yards and 18 touchdowns ... caught 23 passes for 232 yards and five TDs ... led team to district co-championship and state playoffs ... rushed for 1,004 yards and 13 TDs as a junior on 12-3 state semifinalist squad ... also lettered in baseball and track and field
DONALD JACKSON III
6-2 270 Offensive lineman
Kilgore High School
All-State, All-East Texas and All-District 15-4A lineman for coach Mike Wood ... named District 14-4A "Offensive Lineman of the Year" ... led Bulldogs to state quarterfinals ... grade 90 percent for the season with 74 knockdown blocks
BRADEN KING
6-4 240 Tight end, deep snapper
Longview High School
Second team All-District 11-5A tight end and deep snaps specialist for coach John King ... led Lobos to school's eighth consecutive district championship and 2011 regional finals ... starter on state semifinalist squad as junior in 2010 ... also lettered in basketball
DON KING III
6-2 205 Quarterback
Waxahachie High School
Honorable mention All-State and first team All-District 15-4A quarterback for coach David Ream ... passed for 2,658 yards and 21 touchdowns ... led team to district championship ... threw for 724 yards and five touchdowns as a junior ... father, Don King Jr., was All-Southwest Conference quarterback for the SMU Mustangs
SIONE LATU
6-0 270 Defensive tackle
Euless Trinity High School
First team All-District 6-5A defensive tackle and district "Defensive Player of the Year" for coach Steve Lineweaver ... helped lead Trojans to 12-1 season, district title and the regional finals ... team earned No. 12 state ranking his senior year ... as junior member of 15-1 district championship squad that reached state finals ... member of 14-2 state championship team as sophomore in 2009
RICHARD LOLOHEA
6-1 305 Offensive lineman
Euless Trinity High School
First team All-District 6-5A offensive tackle for coach Steve Lineweaver ... helped lead Trojans to 12-1 season, district title and the regional finals ... team earned No. 12 state ranking his senior year ... as junior member of 15-1 district championship squad that reached state finals ... member of 14-2 state championship team as sophomore in 2009
NIGEL ROBERTSON
5-11 225 Linebacker
Dallas Skyline High School
All-District 9-5A linebacker for coach Reginald Samples ... led Raiders to three consecutive district championships ... team rolled up 14-1 record reached state quarterfinals in 2011, 9-3 mark and area finals in 2010 and 12-1 mark regional semifinals in 2009 ... totaled 93 tackles as senior and 84 stops as junior
ZACHARY STEVENS
6-1 270 Offensive lineman, Deep Snapper
Cypress Fairbanks High School
All Greater Houston and All-District 17-5A offensive lineman for coach Ed Pustejovsky ... finalist for Houston Touchdown Club offensive "Most Valuable Player" award ... Cy Fair "Offensive Lineman of the Year" ... graded 93 percent for the year with 27 pancake blocks ... led team to 2011 district title and 5A Division I regional finals ... starter on area finalist squad in 2010 ... two-year track lettermen, winning district championship in discus ... power lifting stats include 385 bench and 590 squat
SHANE WEEKS
6-3 265 Offensive Line
Garland Sachse High School
First team All-District 10-5A and "Offensive Lineman of the Year" for coach Mark Behrens ... honorable mention All-District as junior ... helped lead team to state playoff appearance
