Feb. 4, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford head football coach Bill Gray announced the signing of 17 student-athletes for the 2004 season on Wednesday.

Samford surprised most predictions during its inaugural OVC campaign in 2003. The Bulldogs finished with a 7-4 record and swept the post-season conference honors, with receiver Efrem Hill being named the Offensive Player of the Year, safety Cortland Finnegan being named the Defensive Player of the Year and head coach Bill Gray earning Coach of the Year honors.

"We entered recruiting with some numbers and areas that we needed to fill," Gray said. "Offensively, we only lost one offensive lineman, and we are bringing in two. We only recruited one quarterback, and feel good about the one we signed. We felt like we could have signed a number of receivers, and we are excited about the ones we are bringing in. They can stretch the field and run routes, so we feel good about what we've done at receiver. At running back, we have signed a good one in Philip Hyde.

"After losing three out of four up front on defense, there was definitely a need for us to bring in some ends and tackles, and we feel like we've done that," Gray said. "We signed quite a few linemen last year, so we will be young, but we've got numbers, which creates depth, and that is what we've been missing in years past. We feel good about the speed we've brought in at the linebacker position. In the secondary, we've signed kids that are athletic enough that they can do more than one thing, and we've got enough of a mixture there that we feel like we can put the pieces where they need to be. We feel good about this class. Our coaches did a good job of getting out and seeing what was the best fit for our team."

Below are capsules on Samford's 2004 signees:

Tommy Smith, DT, 6-2, 275, Whitehaven HS, Memphis, Tenn. - Smith was selected as an All-City and All-Region team member. He played in the AXA Liberty Bowl High School All-Star Game as a senior. He played offensive line in high school, allowing just one sack in his senior season. Smith chose Samford over offers from Arkansas State, Tennessee Tech and Tennessee State.

Joe Jones, WR, 5-11, 155, Mountain Brook HS, Mountain Brook, Ala. - Jones was a first team All-State and All-Metro selection. As a senior, he led the state in receiving yards with 1,215 yards on 68 receptions, 17 for a touchdown. His receiving total from last season was the 10th highest single-season total in state history. Jones posted a 3.9 grade point average. He is a member of the National Honor Society, and chose Samford over Furman and Chattanooga.

Brandon Hartloge, DB, 5-10, 183, Hoover HS, Hoover, Ala. - Hartloge was a two-time All-State and All-Metro team member. He led his team and was third in the state in receptions. Also led his team in all-purpose yards. Hartloge was a two-time recipient of the Super Senior of the Week Award. He was a member of the 2002 state championship team, and served as a captain of the 2003 team that won a second-straight state title.

Bryan Hassel, WR, 5-10, 166, The Bolles School, Jacksonville, Fla. - Hassel played on the 2002 Florida state championship team, and was on the 2003 team that finished as the state runner up. He led his team in yards per carry (7.5), yards per reception (21.1) and kickoff return yards (32 ypr.). Hassel was a three-sport letteman, as he was a member of the 2002 state championship baseball team, and he was a 2003 All-State performer in track.

Mitchell Waters, OL, 6-4, 246, Trinity Presbyterian, Montgomery, Ala. - Waters was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association 4A Lineman of the Year, and the Montgomery Advertiser Class 4A-5A Player of the Year. He was also named to the Class 4A All-State Team by both the Birmingham News and the Montgomery Advertiser. Waters was a member of the Birmingham News Super All-State team and the Montgomery Advertiser All-Metro team for Class 4A-5A. He was a three-year starter who was a member of the National Honor Society. He chose Samford over Furman and Wofford.

Justin Washington, WR, 6-0, 177, St. Paul's, Mobile, Ala. - Washington was named to the Mobile County All-Region team in 2003. He was named the Most Versatile Player in 2002 and 2003, and the Most Superlative Player in 2003. As a senior, he rushed for 627 yards on 69 carries and nine touchdowns, and caught 20 passes for 529 yards and six touchdowns. Washington registered six interceptions in 2003, and was a member of the secondary that set a school record for interceptions in a season. He was the recipient of the Big Play Maker Award in 2003. He also competed in track and basketball in high school.

Dustin Wolcott, DE, 6-3, 210, Americus HS, Americus, Ga. - Wolcott played on high school teams that posted a record of 52-4. He was a member of the top run defense in Class AA in 2003. Wolcott was a first team All-Area selection in 2002 and 2003, and was an honorable mention All-Region selection in 2002. In 2003, Wolcott recorded over 80 solo tackles, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries and three sacks. He is the twin brother of fellow signee Derek Wolcott.

Derek Wolcott, DE, 6-3, 209, Americus HS, Americus, Ga. - Wolcott played four seasons in high school, and his teams posted a record of 52-4. He was a member of the top run defense in Class AA in 2003. He was a first team All-Region team member in 2002, and a first team All-Area selection in 2002 and 2003. As a senior, Wolcott registered more than 80 solo tackles, three fumble recoveries and four sacks. He is the twin brother of fellow signee Dustin Wolcott.

Harley Kenney, OL, 6-4, 289, Grissom HS, Huntsville, Ala. - Kenney was named to the 2003 All-City, All-Metro and All-Super Metro teams. He was also the recipient of the 2003 ABC Booster Club Award, and was named to the 2004 All-City team. Kenney played tight end as a junior, and caught 21 passes for 351 yards and four touchdowns.

Haris Kovacevic, DT, 6-2, 245, Pope HS, Marietta, Ga. - Kovacevic was named All-Region as a junior and senior, and All-County as a senior. He finished his senior season as the leading tackler in Cobb County, with 149 tackles, 93 solo and 56 assists. His 149 tackles set a new school record, and he also set a school record for tackles in a game with 23. Kovacevic was voted the team MVP and best defensive player. Also played offense, rushing for 490 yards and five touchdowns on 38 carries.

Jeff Moore, WR, 5-11, 182, Jim Hill HS, Jackson, Miss. - Moore was named to the Clarion Ledger's first team All-Metro team and the publication's Top 40 Most Wanted Players List. He was also named first team All-District, and the team's Most Valuable Player. As a senior, Moore caught 35 passes for 832 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is a member of the honor roll.

Philip Hyde, RB, 5-9, 194, Sandy Creek HS, Tyrone, Ga. - Hyde was named to the All-State team as both a junior and senior. He was also a two-time Cowetta and Fayette County Player of the Year. In his junior and senior seasons combined, Hyde rushed for 42 touchdowns and 3,500 yards. As a member of the track team, Hyde was the third leg of the state champion 4x100 relay team. Hyde was named to the Georgia Top 100 team.

Kyle Morton, DB, 5-9, 160, Southwest Macon, Macon, Ga. - Morton was named to the first team All-City team. He was also named to the second team All-Middle Georgia team, and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Jeremy Long, LB, 5-11, 190, Sandy Creek HS, Tyrone, Ga. - Long was named first team All-County as a senior. He also competed in track and power lifting. He was the second leg of the 4x100 relay team, and was the two-time county power lifting champion.

Marcus Rice, DB, 5-11, 177, Banneker HS, College Park, Ga. - Rice was a first team All-South Metro selection. As a senior, he received the Coaches Award for the most outstanding senior, and is an honor roll student.

John Post, DT, 6-0, 279, Briarwood Christian, Birmingham, Ala. - Post was named honorable mention All-State. He was also named to the second team of the All-Metro team, and he was a first team Over the Mountain selection.

Dante Williams, QB, 5-10, 199, Duluth HS, Roswell, Ga. - Williams passed for 1,796 yards and nine touchdowns, and rushed for 390 yards as a senior. He was a first team All-County quarterback after leading Gwinnett County in passing. Williams was named the county Player of the Month, and was named the team captain and MVP. He set a school record with 22 completions in a game. He also competed in track in high school.