Colonels sign 13 on signing day

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University head football coach Dean Hood announced today that 13 student-athletes will join the Colonel program beginning this spring and next fall.

The 2015 signing class includes four defensive backs, two linebackers, two defensive linemen, two running backs, one quarterback, one tight end and one kicker. The class features seven players from Florida, two from Tennessee, one from Georgia, one from Virginia, one from Ohio and one from Pennsylvania.

“This is not a big class,” Hood said. “But it certainly addresses all of our needs, looking to next year and even beyond. We graduated three all-conference players in defensive back Brandon Stanley, linebacker Tyrelle Johnson and kicker Andrew Lloyd, so there are spots to fill and some of these guys could come in and contribute immediately.”

Colonel fans are invited to Arlington for lunch on Thursday, Feb. 5 to listen to Hood’s thoughts on the 2015 signing class. The luncheon is scheduled to start at noon.

Last fall, Eastern Kentucky (9-4, 6-2 OVC) reached the FCS playoffs for the third time in seven seasons under Hood and finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference standings.

EKU is poised to return eight starters on both offense and defense for 2015. The Colonels kick off their 2015 schedule with a home Thursday night contest against Valparaiso on Sept. 3.

Clayton Schmerber
TE, 6-7, 230
Centerville, Ohio, Centerville High School
–Second team All-GWOC

Ethan Thomas
RB, 5-11, 205
Elizabethton, Tenn., Elizabethton High School
–Three-time all-state running back
–Two-time Conference Player of the Year
–MVP of the Tennessee East vs. West All-Star game
–Ranks among the top 10 in Tennessee high school history in rushing yards (6,436 yards – ninth), rushing touchdowns (77 – ninth), career touchdowns (79 – 10th), consecutive 100-yard rushing games (17 – fourth) and career 100-yard rushing games (35 – second)

Sam Hayworth
K/P, 5-11, 165
Ormond Beach, Fla., Seabreeze High School
–Five-star kicker/punter as rated by One-on-One Kicking
–First team all-district honors (District 9)
–Member of the All-Central Florida team
–All-State team, Florida
–MVP of the district championship game
–Played in the North-South All-Star Classic game
–NAIA Champions of Character award winner

Brycen Lee
QB, 6-5, 185
Mayo, Fla., Lafayette High School
–Completed 197-of-292 passes (67 percent) for 3,062 yards and 30 touchdowns
–Ranked sixth in the state in passing yards
–First team all-state (Class A)
–Three-star athlete on 247 Sports (rated 68th best quarterback in the nation)
–Runner-up for Class A Player of the Year
–Gainesville Sun Times Player of the Year (North Florida)
–Threw three touchdowns passes in the Georgia-Florida all-star game

Tomas Ward
DB, 5-11, 170
DeLand, Fla., DeLand High School
–Rivals two-star athlete
–Played in the Central Florida all-star game
–Posted 87 tackles, four pass break-ups and three interceptions

Michael Scott
RB/Slot, 5-8, 165
Winter Garden, Fla., West Orange High School
–All-Orange County selection
–Tallied 25 rushes for 230 yards and three touchdowns
–Hauled in 22 catches for 351 yards and five scores

Taquan Evans
DE, 6-3, 220
Douglasville, Ga., South Paulding High School
–First team all-region honors
–Team MVP
–Registered 50 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, two pass break-ups and two forced fumbles

Ben Bascom
DB, 5-9, 170
Apopka, Fla., Apopka High School
–Four-year starter
–Team won two state championships and was finalist another year
–Team had a 14-1 record in the playoffs his final three seasons
–Played in eight games as a senior with 51 tackles, five tackles for loss, five pass break-ups and one interception

* D’vonta Derricott
LB, 6-1, 230
Richmond, Va., Hermitage High School
–Transfer from Kansas State University
–2013 first team All-Jayhawk Conference
–Four-star prospect by Rivals
–Ranked No. 3 junior college outside linebacker in the nation by ESPN in 2013
–Posted 67 tackles, nine tackles for loss, one sack, three interceptions and four pass break-ups in 2013

Dilan Thomas
DB, 6-1, 195
North Lauderdale, Fla., American Heritage High School
–2014 Sun-Sentinel All-County second team defense
–Started on state championship team as a junior and senior
–Played in the 2014 Public vs. Private County all-star game

Domonique Williams
CB, 5-11, 175
Knoxville, Tenn., Fulton High School
–Two-time all-state, all-conference and all-area player
–2014 Conference Player of the Year
–2013 MVP of state championship game
–Member of three-time state championship team (2012, 2013, 2014)
–1,796 all-purpose yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior which included 26 carries for 403 yards and seven touchdowns, 30 catches for 682 yards and 12 touchdowns, 22 punt returns for 478 yards and six touchdowns, eight kick-off returns for 187 yards and a touchdowns, one fumble return for 46 yards and a score

* Noah Spence
DE/OLB, 6-3, 255
Harrisburg, Pa., Bishop McDevitt High School
–Transfer from Ohio State University
–First team All-Big Ten
–Posted 15.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks at Ohio State
–Played in 24 games with 13 starts at Ohio State
–Five-star recruit and Parade All-American
–No. 1 player in Pennsylvania and No. 2 defensive end in the nation as a senior
–Set Under Armor All-American game record with three sacks

Corey Glass
OLB, 6-0, 195
Jacksonville, Fla., Ed White High School
–First team All-Gateway Conference and All-District 6A
–Two-time team Defensive Player of the Year
–Recorded 90 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, seven sacks, five pass break-ups, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two returns for touchdowns as a senior

* mid-year transfer