Signing Day Central: 4-star WR signs
The best recruiting class under Rich Brooks and potentially one of the most impressive in school history is under way today with five early prospects. Stay tuned all day for updates.
OFFICIAL SIGNED LETTER-OF-INTENT
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* Qua Huzzie – Linebacker, 5-11, 205, Fr-HS, LaGrange, Ga. (LaGrange)
Looking to continue the tradition of great linebackers from LaGrange ( Ga. ) High School … The No. 35 prospect in Georgia, according to SuperPrep … The nation's No. 45 outside linebacker and No. 55 prospect in Georgia as rated by Rivals.com … Has been timed as fast as 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash and has an excellent instinct for finding the ballcarrier … Helped lead LaGrange to an 11-3 record his senior season, including a spot in the semifinals of the state playoffs … Coached by Steve Pardue … Follows in the footsteps of two former Wildcats who were All-Southeastern Conference linebackers from LaGrange, Wesley Woodyard (now with the Denver Broncos) and 2008 senior Braxton Kelley … The Granger tradition also includes former wide receiver/current student coach DeMoreo Ford and current cornerback Randall Burden … Huzzie is a teammate of current Wildcat signees Tristian Johnson and Demetri Merritt … Name is pronounced "KWAY HUZ-ee."
Rich Brooks quote: "Qua is one of the most explosive linebackers that I have seen in a long time. He's in a long line of LaGrange High School players that I think can come in and help us. I am looking forward to getting him on the practice field and watching him make plays. He certainly has outstanding explosion and speed."
* Patrick Ligon – Defensive End, 6-4, 265, Fr-HS, Germantown, Tenn. (Christian Brothers)
Good-sized defensive end prospect … Was a big-play performer at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis … His 44 tackles during his senior season featured a whopping 21 tackles for loss and eight quarterback sacks … Also caused three fumbles and had eight quarterback hurries … Team went to the state playoffs his junior and senior seasons … Coached by Kevin Locastro … Originally committed to his hometown school of Memphis before changing his mind and opting for the Wildcats … Older brother, David, played at Tennessee from 2004-06.
Rich Brooks quote: "Patrick is an outstanding player and a physical defensive end. He looks on film to be explosive enough to stay at that position but we know that he could even get bigger and be in a position to move inside to defensive tackle at a later date."
* Martavius Neloms – Cornerback, 6-1, 185, Fr-HS, Memphis, Tenn. (Fairley)
First-team all-state in Tennessee Class AAAA as a senior … Led the state in interceptions with eight pickoffs, returning two for touchdowns … Only began playing football his junior year at Fairley High School in Memphis … His achievements are amazing for someone who has played football just two years … Has shown remarkable aptitude for the sport and, of course, has tremendous upside for the future … Also named all-metro by the Memphis Commercial-Appeal … Made six interceptions as a junior … Played in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl High School All-Star Game following his senior season and had an interception in that contest, helping his Red team post a 14-0 shutout … The No. 30 prospect in Tennessee by Rivals.com … Coached by Rahnmann Slocum.
Rich Brooks quote: "Martavius is a guy who, in our opinion, has flown under the radar a little bit. He has intercepted 14 passes in his junior and senior years. He has the size at 6-1 and 185 pounds to be a factor as a freshman. He certainly brings great ball skills and playmaking ability to the corner position."
* Anthony Kendrick – Wide Receiver/Tight End, 6-4, 220, Fr-HS, Katy, Texas (Seven Lakes)
Outstanding athlete who is a two-sport star at Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas … Excelled in both football and basketball, receiving Division I scholarship offers in both sports … Earned all-district honors for each sport … Played wide receiver in high school, he could move to tight end in college … The nation's No. 30 tight end prospect by Rivals.com … Caught 31 passes for 539 yards with eight touchdowns as a senior … Grabbed 40 passes for 689 yards and three TDs in his junior year … Noted as a receiver with great hands, not surprising given his proficiency in basketball …Coached by Kevin O'Keefe.
Rich Brooks quote: "Anthony is one of the more impressive young men that I have seen on film in recent years from a size and ball-skill standpoint. He played mostly wideout and is already approaching tight end size. I am sure that he will be a factor for us early in his career at the tight end position. We will also flex him out some, like we did with Jacob Tamme, into the slot. He is a guy that has tremendous playmaking ability."
* Chris Matthews – Wide Receiver, 6-5, 210, Jr-JC, Paramount, Calif. (Dorsey/Los Angeles Harbor College)
Among the nation's top 10 junior-college prospects, and the No. 2 wide receiver, as ranked by Rivals.com … Big receiver posted big numbers at Los Angeles Harbor College … Caught 80 balls as a sophomore, good for 1,235 yards and 11 touchdowns in only nine games … His 80 receptions was tops among all 72 California junior colleges that compete in football … First-team All-California … Caught 32 passes for 529 yards and four TDs as a freshman …. Has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash … Coached by Andrew Avillar and Brett Peabody … Played his high-school football at Dorsey HS in Los Angeles … Was a tight end in high school.
Rich Brooks quote: "Chris will bring experience to a position on our team that was very young a year ago. He obviously has had a great junior college career and we are looking forward to having a very physical and tall receiver compete next fall for playing time. We feel that Chris can bring outstanding playmaking ability and he certainly has great ball skills."
* Donald Russell – Running Back, 5-11, 205, Fr-HS, West Palm Beach, Fla. (Dwyer)
One of the nation's top 50 running backs as projected by Rivals.com … Also on Rivals' list of the top 100 players in Florida … Played both cornerback and running back at Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. … Was a full-time corner with additional duty as a ballcarrier … Rushed for 893 yards and 12 touchdowns during his senior season, going to the semifinals of the state playoffs in Class AAAA … Gained 932 yards and nine TDs as a junior, when his team hit the state quarterfinals … First-team all-conference as a senior, second team as a junior … Named to the "Super 11" team for Palm Beach County … Coached by Jack Daniels … Also a track standout, has run the 100-meter dash under 10.8 seconds … Has a personal best of 23 feet, 11 inches in the long jump.
Rich Brooks quote: "Donald is a running back who has been at the top of our list for a long time and we are thrilled to get a guy of his ability and size. He brings a physical presence to the running back position and has the ability to catch the ball