Signing off: Linemen highlight Steers' recruiting class
| Published on Wednesday, 6 February 2013 23:42 Written by Harold Wilson |
|
The Texas College Steers sized up National Signing Day as a step in the right direction.
The Steers added ideal size to their roster Wednesday in attempt to beef up their team for a more physical style of play in 2013.
The Steers secured more than 35 signees with a mixture of prepsters and transfers, nearly half who play in the trenches.
The group included a pair of Mississippi Valley State transfers: defensive tackles LaKendrick Abney (6-0, 275) and Kristian Graves (6-2, 315).
The Steers scooped up three John Tyler products, defensive tackle Earnest Jackson, a 6-1, 320-pounder who spent half a year at Tyler Junior College, and current high school seniors Duan Brooks and Jamarcus Warren.
Michael Cheatham (6-4, 350) and Joshua Trahan (6-4, 320), who transferred from Evangel (Mo.) and Blinn, respectively, added much-needed size to a Steers team that rushed for an average of 106 yards per game during last year’s 2-9 season.
“Offensive and defensive lineman are our major need at this point,” Cumby said. “I think we had a good turnout with the spring transfers, which are half the kids. A good number are already here.”
The Steers see themselves lining up in more power sets in the fall, making the fullback and tight end staples of the offense. Cumby hopes the current crop of newcomers marks a step in the right direction.
“Normally it takes about four years to get the kids in that you want,” Cumby said. “We really believe this is going to be the year for us. We had our first 7-on-7 (Tuesday) and we looked 100 times better than last year.”
STEER SCOOP: TC senior linebacker Dontay Livingston recently earned Central States League Defensive Player of the Year honors. Livingston, a Dallas native, finished with 129 tackles. Other Steers making the first team were sophomore defensive lineman Luis Castro (six sacks), junior offensive lineman Joseph Cook, sophomore defensive lineman Sam Houston (seven sacks), senior receiver Johnny Thomas (26 receptions, 472 yards) and senior defensive back Demetrius Ward (56 tackles, two interceptions). …The Steers are working to complete their 2013 schedule. TC has lined up non-conference games with Incarnate Word, Hardin Simmons and Houston Baptist. The Steers are attempting to line up a classic game against Langston at Kinkaid Stadium in Dallas.
———
2013 Texas College Signees
Athlete, Position, Last School Attended/Hometown
LaKendrick Abney, DT, Mississippi Valley State/Dallas
Wilson Bien-Aime, OL, King
Sir Michael Branch, WR, Waco High
Duan Brooks, RB, John Tyler
James Calvin, OL, Fort Worth Dunbar
Terrell Campbell, DE, Tyler JC, Alief
Michael Cheatheam, OL, Evangel (Mo.)/Dallas
Trevor Conley, ATH, Dallas Roosevelt
Emmanuel Cross, OL, Faulkner (Ala.)/DeSoto
Romario Dunbar, OL, King
Michael Edwards, DE, Dallas Samuell
Byron Evans, WR, Waco High
Datron Fairfax, FB, Dallas Roosevelt
Josue Gonzalez, RB, King
Jonathon Graves, OL, Fort Worth Dunbar
Kristian Graves, DT, Mississippi Valley State/Dallas
Darion Gregory, RB/S, Gladewater
Dexter Harmon, LB, Southeast Prep/Fort Bend
Joseph Heyward, OL, King
Earnest Jackson, DL, Tyler JC/Tyler
Kasey Johnson, LB, Gladewater
Charles Jones, LB, Langston/Texarkana
Austin Long, OL, King
Julius Lujan, OL, Fort Worth Dunbar
Dennis Meyer, OL, King
Londell Perkins, LB/RB, Marshall
Joshua Porter, RB, Waco High
Dailen Powell, WR, Dallas Roosevelt
Antonio Ragston, QB, Hempstead
Herbert Rivers, LB, Conrad
Juan Robinson, TE, Dallas Roosevelt
I’Keem Smith, WR, Dallas Roosevelt
Bobby Tatum, OL, TJC/Forney
Morris Toe, DB Conrad
Joshua Trahan, OL, Blinn/Orange
Ronald Turner, RB, Hempstead
Jamarcus Warren, DB, John Tyler
