Texan News

Texan Football Releases Names, Stats, and Highlights of New Recruits

By Alex McDonald, Texan News Service

Football helmets were used as centerpieces for the event.

Photo by Alex McDonald

Tarleton’s coaching staff seemed eager to announce the names of the recruits they signed for the 2012-2013 football season at this year’s Signing Day Special.

In attendance Thursday were members of the community, University President Dominic Dottavio, many family members of the coaching staff, as well as a couple of the recruits and their parents.

A total of 27 future Texans signed a national letter of intent and committed to Tarleton State University. Not only are the young athletes beneficial to the athletic program, but to the academic program as well. A few of them will also participate in other sports for TSU.

Of those signed are one new quarterback, four wide receivers, two running backs, a whopping eight offensive linemen, four defensive linemen, three linebackers, and five defensive backs. Signees, positions and schools are as follows:

Matthew Bishop, QB, Aledo High School
Dominique Martin, WR, Lancaster High School
Andre Plata, WR, Woodrow Wilson High School
Kason Fornes, WR, Kerrville Tivy High School
Tate Whitten, WR, Frisco Heritage High School
Billy Medford, RB/WR, Luling High School
Vaughn Smith, RB, San Mateo Junior College
Xavier Ruben, OL, Blinn Junior College
Laau Asoau, OL, Golden West College
Damon Cowart, OT, Vista Ridge High School
Blake Atnip, OT, Seymour High School
Cody Stephens, OL, Crosby High School
Marcos Dominguez, OL, San Antonio Marshall High School
Kevin Day, OL, Woodrow Wilson High School
Billy Miller, OL, Meridian High School
Ronnie Faimoa, DT, West Hills Community College
Ryan Watkins, DT, Amon-Carter Riverside High School
Jake Blount, DE/OLB, Marcus High School
Damien Ward, DE, Dallas Skyline High School
Ethan Horton, LB, Brownwood High School
Anthony Lee, LB, Trinity Christian High School
DJ Haynes LB Euless Trinity High School
Robert Adkinson, CB, Corsicana High School
Deaveron Dean, DB, Tyler Chapel Hill High School
Daniel Adams, CB/ATH, Waltrip High School
Brayden Coverdale, LB/S, Stephenville High School
Jeremy Louis, DB, Euless Trinity High School

Head coach Cary Fowler spoke highly of the new signees and of his expectations for the team. In expressing his view on teamwork and why, unlike many other teams, the players do not wear last names on their jerseys, he said “we’re playing for the name on the front of the jersey, not the name on the back.”

There was also talk about the current team’s academic standing and work in the classroom, which satisfied the coaching staff.

Excitement was in the air when talking about combining the new recruits with the current team at this summer’s camp. Although there were many seniors this last season, Tarleton will only lose two starting players and will possibly add 27 potential players.

Although this may seem like a lot to add, there are not as many as last year. Fowler is hoping that by recruiting players and training them from the beginning of their college career, they can shape into ideal players that will bring stability to the program.

What will this new group add most to the team? Fowler said, “They’re great students number one. They’re going to bring a lot of height on the offensive line, and then on the defensive line, a lot of speed. Usually when you recruit freshmen you say ‘well only about two or three of them will play every year,’ but there’s probably eight of those that can come in here and play.”

Recruit bios and stats are posted at http://tarletonsports.com/news/2012/2/1/FB_0201120505.aspx.