ARKADELPHIA- Ouachita Baptist Head Football Coach Todd Knight announced the signing of 19 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent to begin in the fall of 2010.
Ouachita, which had 27 players sign during last year’s National Signing Day, had 13 players sign this year from Arkansas, five from Texas and one from Kansas. Among the signees include 18 high school players and one junior college transfer.
Joining the team will be Rickey Brown (Ath, Bearden HS), Brent Calhoun (OL, Des Arc HS), Brandon Huckaba (WR, Alvarado HS, TX), Nate Hohulin (QB, Arlington HS, TX), Austen Hybsha (OL, Butler CC, KS), Benson Jordan (QB, Lake Hamilton HS), Cory Matlock (DL, Weatherford HS, TX), Colby Miller (LB, North Little Rock HS), Thamail Morgan (LB, Cave City HS), Jesse Pennington (OL, Alma HS), Tyler Robinson (LB, White Hall HS), Chris Rycraw (RB, Bryant HS), Jeremy Small (DB, Center HS, TX), Jerimichael Smith (Nacogdoches HS, TX), Aaron Sprinkle (OL, White Hall HS), Logan Taylor (LB, Whitehouse HS, TX), Ryan Tibbets (TE, Scurry-Rosser HS, TX), Spencer Vereen (OL, North Little Rock HS), Standrick Williams (WR, Greene Co. Tech HS), Brandon Womble (K, Sheridan HS) and Dion Young (White Hall HS).
The 2010 recruiting class is a continuation of four solid years of great classes,” Ouachita Head Football Coach Todd Knight said. “We addressed many of our depth needs and will count on several of these young men to play immediately. Our coaching staff did a great job bringing in excellent talent and young men that fit our program and University.”
Rickey Brown Ath (6’2, 215, Bearden, AR; Bearden HS) Brown recorded 115 carries for 1,170 yards and 27 touchdowns, including 3 receiving touchdowns for 30 total scores during his senior season. The Bearden native was named to the 2A All-State squad, Class 2A Offensive Player of the Year, Class 2A-8 All-Conference team, Camden News All-Area and Player of the Year and Fordyce Advocate Player of the Year.
Brent Calhoun OL (6’2, 270, Des Arc, AR; Des Arc HS) Calhourn earned Class 2A All-State honors and 6-2A Lineman of the Year. The Des Arc native led his squad to a Class 2A State Runner-Up finish in 2008, and also earned All-Conference honors his sophomore and junior seasons. Calhoun was a starter on both the offensive and defensive lines for his junior and senior seasons and never missed a start on the offensive line.
Nate Hohulin QB (6’0, 180, Arlington, TX; Pantego Christian Academy) Hohulin completed 127-of-221 passes for 1,748 yards for 24 touchdowns and just four interceptions during his senior year. In his career, the Arlington, TX native completed 378-of-701 passes for 5,042 yards and 55 touchdowns with a 53 percent completion rate.
Brandon Huckaba WR (5’11, 180, Alvarado, TX; Alvarado HS) Huckaba was a team captain during his senior season, while earning All-District and Academic All-District honors in recording 12.5 yards per catch at wide receiver.
Austen Hybsha OL (6’2, 280, Andover, KS; Butler Community College) Hybsha started at Center for the 2008 National Championship team at Butler Community College, earning All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2008 and 2009. Hybsha didn’t allow a sack in two seasons, while also totaling 75 knockdown blocks.
Benson Jordan QB (6’2, 215, Hot Springs, AR; Lake Hamilton HS) Jordan completed 127-of-236 passes for 1,924 yards and 16 touchdowns his senior season at Lake Hamilton High School, including 584 yards rushing and 16 touchdowns. Jordan was named to the Class 6A All-State team during his senior season, while earning All 6A-South honors his junior and senior seasons. The Hot Springs native earned honors as the VIPE Top 20 recruit in the state of Arkansas, FOX 16 Top 16 Athlete in the Central State of Arkansas, was a top-10 finalist in the QB Top Gun Challenge and received All-Garland County Football Team honors his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.
Colby Miller LB (5’9, 200, North Little Rock, AR; North Little Rock HS) Miller earned Class 7A All-State honors his senior season, while also earning 7A-Central All-Conference honors. The North Little Rock native was also named to the Arkansas All-Star Football team.
Thamail Morgan LB (6’1, 215, Cave City, AR; Cave City HS) Morgan finished his high school career as the Arkansas state record holder for most career tackles with 567 in his career. The Cave City native recorded 167 tackles during his senior season en route to being named the Class 3-3A outstanding linebacker, while also being named to the 2009 Class 3A All-State team, VYPE 3A Super Team, Hooten’s Arkansas Football preseason Sonic Super Team and is a member of the 2010 Arkansas All-Star team. As a junior, Morgan was named to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Super Team, while also earning honors on the Best Under the Sun team after recording 172 tackles. During his sophomore campaign, the 6’1, 215 product was named as the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Sophomore Defensive Player of the Year as he recorded 234 tackles. In his three-year high school career, Morgan was named to both the All-State and All-Conference teams every season.
Jesse Pennington OL (6’4, 280, Alma, AR; Alma HS) Pennington earned All-State honors and was also named the 5A-East Outstanding Lineman, Overall Best Lineman in Northwest Arkansas, received 5A-East All-Conference team honors and was named to the Arkansas All-Star Football team during his senior season for the Airedales. Pennington graded at 90 percent for his senior season in not allowing a single sack and totaling 36 pancake blocks in 11 games. Pennington also earned 5A-East All-Conference honors during his junior season, as well. The Alma native was an 5A-East All-Conference thrower during the track and field season, while also earning 5A All-State honors. Pennington was the 5A-East Conference champion, 5A State Runner-Up and Meet of Champs Runner-Up in the Shot Put.
Tyler Robinson LB (6’1, 200, White Hall, AR; White Hall HS)
Chris Rycraw RB (5’8, 185, Bryant, AR; Bryant HS) Rycraw finished his senior season with 1,723 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns in earning Class 7A All-State honors for the second-straight season.
Jeremy Small DB (5’8, 160, Center, TX; Center HS) Small recorded 49 tackles, including 7 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 7 PBUs during his senior season. The Center, TX native was named First Team All-District and Second Team All-East Texas. Small was also First Place in the Region for powerlifting, fourth place in the state for powerlifting, while also becoming the District Champion in both the 100-meter dash and 4×100 meter relay.
Jerimichael Smith DB (5’10, 170, Nacogdoches, TX; Nacogdoches HS) Smith rushed 172 times for 907 yards, while also catching 13 passes for 162 yards and recording 34 returns for 912 yards and 15 touchdowns total during his senior season. On defense, Smith contributed 44 tackles and 13 passes broken up. Smith is the defending District Champion in the 100-meter dash with a 10.38 time and was an All-District running back as a junior.
Aaron Sprinkle OL (6’3, 320, Pine Bluff, AR; White Hall HS) Sprinkle started 24-straight games for White Hall High School, including 159 knockdown blocks and 40 pancake blocks in two seasons.
Logan Taylor LB (6’1, 180, Whitehouse, TX; Whitehouse HS) In his two-year career, Taylor recorded 180 tackles, 3 interceptions and 14 sacks. The Whitehouse, TX native was named to the First Team All-District squad as a linebacker for both his junior and senior seasons. Taylor also was named to the Academic All-State team and Honorable Mention All-East Texas teams.
Ryan Tibbets TE (6’4, 210, Scurry, TX; Scurry-Rosser HS) Tibbets recorded 27 receptions for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns during his senior campaign. On defense, Tibbets recorded 44 tackles, 3 interceptions and 1 forced fumble. The Scurry, Texas native was named to the Honorable Mention All-District and Academic All-State teams.
Spencer Vereen OL (6’0, 265, North Little Rock, AR; North Little Rock HS) Started two years for Head Coach Bobby Bolding at North Little Rock, including leading his team to the Class 7A Semi-Finals in 2009.
Standrick Williams WR (5’9, 165, Paragould, AR; Greene County Tech HS) Williams rushed for 1,355 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also recording 689 yards receiving and 7 touchdowns during his senior season. The Paragould, AR native was named to the Best Under the Sun team, best athlete of 5A-East, Class 5A All-State team, 5A-East All-Conference team and is an Arkansas All-Star team member.
Brandon Womble K (6’2, 200, Sheridan, AR; Sheridan HS) Womble made 5-of-10 field goal attempts in 2009, including a long of 41 yards. The Sheridan native averaged 58.5 yards on kickoffs including a Kickoff long of 65 yards. Womble led Sheridan to playoff appearances in 2008 and 2009, and made 4-of-7 attempts as a junior with a long of 43 yards.
Dion Young DL (6’2, 255, Pine Bluff, AR; White Hall HS) Young recorded 85 tackles, including 25 for loss yards, 13 sacks and 4 forced fumbles during his senior campaign. The Pine Bluff native earned Class 5A All-State honors, Class 5A-Southeast All-Conference accolades, while also being named to the Arkansas All-Star team.
The Tigers signed five offensive lineman, four linebackers, two quarterbacks, two defensive backs, and one each at running back, wide receiver, kicker, defensive lineman, tight end and athlete.
Ouachita finished the 2009 season at 6-4, the second-straight winning season under Knight. Among the victories in 2009, included top-25 Gulf South Conference wins over Valdosta State and Delta State at A.U. Williams Field, which vaulted the Tigers to No. 14 in the American Football Coaches Association Poll. Ouachita capped off the ’09 season with a 35-28 victory over cross-town rival Henderson State.
The Tigers return 10 starters on defense and seven on offense. The Tigers placed a school-record nine players on the All-GSC team, including returners in senior linebacker Clayton Goree, junior tight end Phillip Supernaw, junior offensive guard Kyle Smith, junior offensive tackle Cory Godbolt and senior defensive tackle Bryan Church.
