By Monty Franks
sports@joplinglobe.com
After experiencing a “bumper crop” of 53 high school football players during Wednesday's national signing day, Northeastern A&M; Golden Norseman head coach Don Bigby is excited about next year’s prospects.
"We feel like we were able to address all of our needs, but only time of the practice field will tell,” Bigby said. “I would have to say that this is the best overall recruiting class we've had in quite some time.
“There are still four or five players that we're waiting on,” Bigby said. “We've also got commitments from several area universities to place some players with us.”
Last season the Golden Norse finished 3-6 in Bigby's first season as head coach. Graduation hit the NEO defensive unit hard, so recruitment focused on that side of the football.
“Of the 55 recruits we've signed, 23 of them are defensive players,” Bigby said. “We are very excited about the prospects we've got coming in on defense.
“But we didn't neglect the offensive side either with eight quality running backs signed and four potential quarterbacks,” Bigby said. “We should have plenty of depth on both sides of the football for the first time in a long time.
“We have approximately eight to 10 Division I-type players on offense coming in this fall,” Bigby said. “We may have as many if not more on defense.”
NEO signees
Gerrard Anderson, LB, 6-0, 207, Tulsa Central
Qumain Black, WR, 6-1, 180, Ada
Brenton Bogar, DB, 6-0, 180, Muskogee
Zach Boren, LB, 6-0, 230, Southmoore
Julian Brockinton, DB, 6-2, 170, Del City
D’Juan Brooks, RB, 5-10, 165, Edmond Memorial
LaBron Brown, DL, 6-3, 240, Southmoore
Irvin Caldwell, OL, 6-5, 283, OKC Star Spencer
Londre Carson, RB, 5-8, 170, Muskogee
Stephen Eastham, RB, 5-10, 205, Dewey
Bryce Ebbs, DB, 5-10, 170, Vinita
Josh Engert, QB, 6-1, 185, Nowata
Adam Ford, DL, 6-1, 220, Broken Arrow
Kevin Fortson, DL, 6-4, 265, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Randy Gipson, RB, 5-7, 170, Dallas
Kevin Hampton, RB, 5-9, 215, Dallas
Chris Hummingbird, 6-3, 220, Tahlequah Sequoyah
Franky Jamison, WR, 5-7, 185, OKC Star Spencer
Antonio Jenkins, DB, 5-9, 165, Putnam City North
Tyler Johnson, LB, 5-10, 200, Berryhill
Willie Johnson, DL, 5-11, 260, Tulsa Memorial
Emmitt Jones, OL, 6-6, 280, OKC Star Spencer
Brendon Jordan, athlete, 6-1, 215, OKC John Marshall
Johnny Ketterman, DB, 5-10, 175, Helena
Ricky Lawyer, DB, 5-10, 175, Edmond North
Justin Lepley, LB, 5-0, 195, Claremore Sequoyah
Beau Marsaln, QB, 6-3, 210, Tulsa Metro Christian
Lucas Miller, LB, 6-4, 180, OKC Capital Hill
Deonte Morris, TE, 6-4, 230, Tulsa Union
Tanner Newby, OL, 6-4, 300, Enid
Alex Oden, RB, 6-0, 220, Tulsa Victory Christian
Terence Olds, RB, 6-2, 220, OKC Star Spencer
Chris Patterson, WR, 6-0, 170, McAlester
Brandon Piercy, LB, 6-1, 180, Muskogee
Ronnie Price, WR, 5-10, 175, Broken Arrow
Joel Reser, OL, 6-1, 285, Del City
Brandon Robinson, RB, 6-0, 190, Broken Arrow
Tye Scott, OL, 6-4, 300, Salina
Ryan Smith, WR, 6-3, 175, Muskogee
Travis Smith, OL< 6-3, 280, Durant
Anthony Sparks, TE, 6-4, 230, Stillwater
Casey Strate, WR, 5-11, 175, Dewey
Clint Strate, QB, 6-0, 175, Dewey
Matthew Tingle, DB, 5-10, 165, PUtnam City North
Kobey Trower, OL, 6-1, 240, Hominy
Eddie Venters, LB, 5-10, 220, Muskogee
Dillon Wallace, QB, 6-4, 195, Tulsa East Central
Davis Walton, TE, 6-6, 250, Tulsa Kelley
Raphael Watts, DL, 6-7, 280, OKC Capital Hill
Clifford Weatherford, DL, 6-3, 215, Muskogee
Blair Williams, DB, 5-11, 170, Beggs
James Williams, DL, 6-4, 265, OKC John Marshall
Colton Yeary, K, 5-10, 185, Norman North
