Weatherford, OK - Southwestern Oklahoma State University has announced that 38 student-athletes have agreed to play football next season for the Bulldogs, dramatically improving their chances in the rugged Lone Star Conference.
Second-year coach Ryan Held and his staff revealed the list today (Wednesday, Feb. 1) in conjunction with the National Letter of Intent signing date. SWOSU recruited heavily from area junior colleges and brought in transfers from nearby four-year schools with they eye cast towards immediate needs. An even half (19-of-38) were from junior colleges or transferring from other NCAA schools.
“We needed to get older and in a hurry,” Held said. “With the amount of freshman and sophomores we already have in place, it was important to add kids that can provide some leadership and experience to the mix we have in place.”
SWOSU, which finished 2005 with a 1-10 record, started no fewer than 10 different freshmen at one time or another last season. The Bulldogs 54-player travel roster was made up of 27 freshmen during the final two road games.
“We needed to get better in the offensive and defensive lines,” Held said. “This group allows us to be more physical up front so we can better run the ball. Ballgames are won up front. This group gives us that chance.”
The headliner of the group is Mike Davison, a 6-2, 290 pound center from Butler (Kan.) Community College. Davison, a first-team junior college all-American, is among four former Butler players headed for SWOSU.
The 18 high school players signed by SWOSU include Weatherford’s own Kyle Yoder.
Yoder is a two-sport standout who is considered among the state’s best heavyweight wrestlers. The 5-10, 250-pound athlete had 66 tackles last year, including eight quarterback sacks.
“We know how important it is for us to get the best kids in our area,” Held said. “We got (linebacker) Matt Brown last year and Kyle this year. Those are the two of the best Weatherford football players in the last two years.”
Among the list of 38 players, 14 are currently already enrolled at SWOSU and participating in off-season workouts, including running back Reshard Dudley, who signed originally with the University of Georgia out of high school in 2002.
“We will be a better football team. Already you see the competition we are going to have at each position is upgraded from last year. We got kids that have been with our program, spent time as a redshirt, and are now ready to make an impact.”
The following is a complete list of those football players signed to National Letters of Intent at SWOSU.
| SWOSU 2006 Football Signees |
| Player |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Class |
Previous School |
| Joe Castle |
DE |
6’2 |
220 |
JR/TR |
Tyler TX CC |
| Eddie Walton |
DT |
6’0 |
285 |
JR/TR |
Tyler TX CC |
| Mike Davison |
C |
6’2 |
290 |
JR/TR |
Butler KS CC |
| Jerrod Hunt |
OL |
6’3 |
300 |
SO/TR |
Butler KS CC |
| Josh Postin |
FB |
6’2 |
260 |
JR/TR |
Butler KS CC |
| Perry Carr |
DE |
6’4 |
250 |
JR/TR |
Butler KS CC |
| Daniel Marshall |
QB |
6’3 |
200 |
JR/TR |
Abilene Christian |
| Devin McCrory |
DE |
6’3 |
250 |
JR/TR |
San Bern. CA CC |
| Reshard Dudley |
RB |
6’0 |
220 |
JR/TR |
Langston |
| Falante Hill |
FS |
6’3 |
220 |
FR/TR |
Southern Arkansas |
| Austin Wuthrich |
SS |
6’3 |
215 |
SR/TR |
Panhandle State |
| Jason Hill |
TE |
6’3 |
240 |
SO/TR |
Panhandle State |
| Adam Hooton |
LB |
6’1 |
240 |
SR/TR |
Panhandle State |
| Greg Hamilton |
LB |
6’1 |
220 |
FR/TR |
Panhandle State |
| Austin Ellis |
OL |
6’3 |
315 |
JR/TR |
New Mexico Highlands |
| Matt Wakefield |
OL |
6’4 |
300 |
JR/TR |
Oklahoma State |
| Kacy Burnett |
DE |
6’0 |
230 |
JR/TR |
Independence KS CC |
| Garrett Hunt |
DL |
6’0 |
280 |
JR/TR |
Holy Cross U. |
| Marlon King |
OL |
6’6 |
315 |
SO/TR |
Ranger TX CC |
| Kyle Yoder |
DL |
5’10 |
250 |
FR |
Weatherford OK H.S. |
| Terrence Henderson |
LB |
6’0 |
200 |
FR |
Garland TX H.S. |
| V’Keon Lacy |
WR |
6’4 |
210 |
FR |
Arlington TX H.S. |
| William Brown |
WR |
5’11 |
180 |
FR |
Duncanville TX H.S. |
| Darian McGee |
LB |
5’10 |
190 |
FR |
Duncanville TX H.S |
| Andrew Britton |
QB |
6’0 |
175 |
FR |
Austin Lanier TX H.S |
| Harold Thomas |
RB |
6’0 |
200 |
FR |
South Garland TX H.S. |
| Jamarr Perry |
SS |
5’11 |
190 |
FR |
Enid OK H.S. |
| A-Vel McLamb |
CB |
5’9 |
175 |
FR |
Timberview TX H.S. |
| Matt Steward |
CB |
5’10 |
180 |
FR |
Euless Trinity TX H.S. |
| Jesse Miles |
DE |
6’4 |
225 |
FR |
Edmond Sante Fe H.S. |
| Demarcus Sweet |
WR |
6’0 |
180 |
FR |
Dallas Carter TX H.S. |
| Ryan McAdory |
LB |
6’1 |
210 |
FR |
Northeastern Acad. OK., HS |
| Samuel Burnett |
WR |
6’3 |
190 |
FR |
South Oak Cliff TX H.S. |
| Michael Cooper |
WR |
6’1 |
190 |
FR |
South Oak Cliff TX H.S. |
| Jonathan Haggerty |
WR |
6’3 |
200 |
FR |
Dallas Lincoln TX H.S. |
| Chris Washington |
CB |
5’11 |
190 |
FR |
Dallas Lincoln TX H.S. |
| Bubba Neal |
WR |
5’11 |
175 |
FR |
Grove, OK H.S. |
| Jaron Burges |
WR |
6’4 |
185 |
FR |
Norman North OK H.S. |
