Feb. 7, 2001

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford Head Football Coach Pete Hurt announced Wednesday the signing of 20 players to letters of intent to join the Bulldogs during the 2001 season.

Samford, who finished 4-7 last season, signed 10 offensive payers, seven defensive players and three payers whose position has not yet been projected. Five of the 10 offensive players are offensive linemen, a point of emphasis in order to fill in gaps left by the graduation of the Bulldogs' entire offensive line from last season. Below are playe capsules on Samford's 2001 signees.

Ossie Buchanan, 6-0, 180, WR/DB, Carver HS (Birmingham) - A versatile athlete that can play defensive back or wide receiver, Buchanan is a four-year letterman and was team captain as a senior. Ossie made the National Honor Society with a 3.6 G.P.A. off the field, and on the gridiron he earned honorable mention All-American and All-Metro honors at defensive back. As a defensive back Buchanan recorded six interceptions and 45 tackles. As a wide receiver, he snagged 25 receptions for 278 yards and two touchdowns as a senior.

Rob DeLoach, 6-3, 270, OL, Holmes CC (Madison, Miss.) - Already enrolled at Samford for the spring semester, DeLoach can help shore up an offensive line decimated by graduation. At Holmes CC, Deloach earned First Team All-State and MACJC All-Star honors, along with the Best Blocker Award. As a prep he was a two-time Christian Football Player Award winner and an All-District selection.

Thad Henderson, 5-11, 275, DT, Warren Central HS (Vicksburg, Miss.) - This First Team All-State pick is also a three-time All-County selection, a two-time All-District player, a two-time Warren County Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time Warren County Defensive Player of the Year. As a senior he recorded 119 tackles and eight sacks, and during his career he totaled 315 tackles and 26 sacks and posted a career record of 32-16. Thad also played in the Mississippi -Alabama All-Star game and was the Region 2-5A All-District Defensive Player of the Year.

Efrem Hill, 6-2, 170, QB/WR, North Springs HS (Atlanta, Ga.)-During his senior season, Hill rushed for 943 yards and passed for 680 yards. Hill started at quarterback since his sophomore season, earning the team's best back award for two consecutive seasons and the coach's corner award. A member of North Fulton's Super 11, he helped lead North Springs to the quarterfinal round and an eighth-place finish in the state. As a multi-sport athlete, Hill placed ninth in the state in the triple jump with a height of 43'13".

Eddie Mason, 6-0, 290, OL, South Cobb HS (Austell, Ga.)-As a junior, Mason earned the Coach's Award, was an All-Cobb County selection, won the Cobb County JV Shot Put championship and finished as the runner-up in the discus. In 2000, he was South Cobb's Most Valuable Offensive Lineman, an All-County selection and an honorable mention All-State pick.

Jeff Monroe, 6-2, 225, DE, Pope HS (Marietta, Ga.) - A two-sport athlete at Pope, Monroe was the captain of the basketball and football teams and won the honor of the strongest player on the team. He was a member of the 1999 Region 6 4-A All Academic Team and his Pope team won the 1998 and 2000 region championship. Monroe played varsity football for five years and varsity basketball for three, and won the Defensive Player of the Year award as a freshman.

Marcus Montgomery, 6-0, 220, DE, (Stone Mountain, Ga.) - Montgomery is a two-year letterman in football and a one-year letterman in baseball, and his accolades are many. They include First-Team All-County by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Second-Team All-County by the DeKalb Neighbor, and was chosen the top defensive lineman by his teammates. Montgomery camped at Wake Forest, winning the fullback award, and earned awards in English achievement and excellence in mathematics off the field.

Ramon Nelson, 5-11, 175, QB, Theodore HS (Mobile) - As a senior, Nelson threw for 3,302 yards and 33 touchdowns. He also rushed for six TDs and was selected as the Alabama 6-A Back of the Year. The Mobile Press Register made him its choice for Co-Offensive Player of the Year, and he also won first-team honors as a member of the All-Region team.

Duwan Northcutt, 5-7, 155, WR/DB, Brookwood HS, (Snellville, Ga.) - A two-time scholar athlete, Northcutt is a two-year letterman in track and football. He earned two Player of the Week honors during his senior season and was a First-Team All-County selection and Gwinnett County Player of the Month during the 2000 season.

Travis Payne, 6-1, 170, QB, Buford HS (Suwanee, Ga.) - The permanent captain of Buford's varsity football team, Payne earned honorable mention All-State honors as a senior in 2000. He earned several Player of the Week honors during the season and his off-the-field work in the classroom earned him membership to the All-State Academic Team.

Adam Sallaz, 5-11, 180, DB, Collins Hill HS (Lawrenceville, Ga.) - The second leading tackler on his team during his junior and senior seasons, Sallaz helped his team to the second round of the playoffs in 2000 and 2001. Adam earned two letters in football and a letter in track and soccer, and was chosen by the Atlanta Journal Constitution to the All-County team. Academically, he participated in the Governor's Honors Program in 2000 and won a perfect attendance award.

Payton Sides, 6-4, 220, OL, Walker HS (Jasper) - The All-County player posted 34 tackles, 30 assists, seven tackles for losses of 56 yards, three sacks for -19 yards, eight QB pressures, one fumble recovery and one blocked punt.

Randy Smith, 6-0, 185, WR/DB, Gadsden HS (Gadsden) - As a senior, Smith was named a 5A All-State defensive back, honorable mention Super All-State selection and listed on the Top Ten Prospects to Watch and Top Returning Defensive Players by the Birmingham News. He was also an American General nominee for the 5A Back of the Year Award, a Dixie Blue Chipper pick by Pigskin Prep Magazine and an All-Area defensive back and Dirty Dozen No. 1 pick by the Gadsden Times. He holds the GHS record for interception return for a TD - 102 yards. He also finished second in the state in interceptions with 10 as a junior and was All-County and All-Area as a junior.

Howard Terrell, 5-10, 195, LB, Tupelo HS (Tupelo, Miss.) - A product from the same school that gave Samford linebacker Jason Long, Terrell earned 1999-2000 All-County honors and membership to the 2000 All-Region team. For his career, Terrell recorded the following: 136 tackles, 56 assists, 14 tackles for losses, two caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one blocked kick, two QB sacks and six pass break ups.

Gerald Thompson, 6-2, 200, QB, Alma Bryant HS (Irvington) - A three-year starter at quarterback, Thompson completed 73 of 156 passes for 1,012 yards and nine touchdowns. He also rushed 148 times for 841 yards and 11 touchdowns, and earned 1999 All-Area honors as a junior. As a senior, Gerald was a 2000 All-Metro honorable mention pick, and began the season as one of Alabama's best 100 players.

Corey Turner, 5-11, 175, LB, Shades Valley HS (Birmingham) - A Birmingham News First-Team All-Metro defensive player, Turner was also a member of the Pigskin Football Prep magazine All-Southeast Defensive Team. A Player of the Week several times on the field, Cory got the job done off the field as well. The Birmingham News selected Turner to its All-Academic Team, and he was a member of Who's Who Among High School Students for two consecutive years.

Chris Williams, 6-1, 260, OL, Hoover HS (Hoover) - A captain on the offensive line for the largest high school in Alabama, Williams was a three-year starter on the line and was listed in the Birmingham News Super Seniors: Class of 2001. Played for the 2000 state champions and was featured in several recruiting publications including Forrest Davis. Projected as offensive tackle.

John Williams, 5-8, 165, RB, Stone Mountain HS (Stone Mountain, Ga.) - The Dekalb County rushing champion as a senior, rushing 135 times for 1.503 yards and 19 touchdowns, averaging 11.2 yards per carry. First-Team All-County and All-State honorable mention by the Atlanta Journal Constitution. As a junior Williams was ranked sixth in the nation in the 60 meters, 9th nationally in the 200 meters and first for juniors in 60 meters. As a sophomore he was named Atlanta Track Club Man of the Year for the 200 meters, and is only the third person in Georgia history to win the 100 and 200 meters in consecutive years. Timed at 21.0 second in the 200 meters.

Steve Wisdom, 6-1, 215, DE, Deshler HS (Tuscumbia) - A versatile athlete, Wisdom made plays for Deshler on offense and defense. A First-Team All-Area and honorable mention All-State player, Wisdom caught 12 passes for 280 yards and two TDs. Defensively, he recorded 75 tackles, eight sacks, 30 assists, three fumble recoveries and three caused fumbles as a senior.

Ryan Vandervort, 6-4, 295, OL, Pine Forest HS (Pensacola, Fla.) - Vandervort played for the 2000 Florida 4A state champions and was considered one of Florida's best 12 offensive linemen by the Orlando Sentinel. Academically Ryan was honored with the FHSAA Scholar Athlete Award. The Pensacola News Journal picked him to its All-Area Team, and he also held membership to the All-Northwest Florida Team, the Pensacola News Journal Super Senior List and the Florida Sportswriters All-Florida Team 2.