Feb. 7, 2007

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford head football coach Pat Sullivan announced his first Samford signing class on Wednesday. The class includes two transfers and 20 freshmen.

"I want to thank our coaches, staff, faculty and administration for their efforts in recruiting these student-athletes to Samford University," Sullivan said. "I don't know when I have been more excited about a recruiting class. We are looking forward to working with these young men to help them develop as students and as athletes over the next few years. I believe this class will provide a solid foundation for Samford football for the future. We want to welcome them to our Samford football family."

Below is a short biography on each signee.

Riley Barnacastle, LB, 6-1, 200, Birmingham, Ala. (John Carroll HS)
Served as a four-year letterwinner at John Carroll High School . . . in 2006, recorded 142 tackles, two sacks and one interception . . . for his career, had 417 tackles, five sacks and three interceptions, returning two for touchdowns . . . named 2006 team captain . . . in 2006, named Honorable Mention All-State by The Birmingham News and Alabama Sports Writers Association . . . won John Carroll's Scholar Athlete, Outstanding Linebacker and Team Captain awards . . . named Scholar Athlete by The Birmingham News . . . as a junior, named All-State by The Birmingham News, the Montgomery Advertiser and ASWA . . . chose Samford over Davidson and Mississippi College.

Alex Barnett, DB, 5-9, 187, Niceville, Fla. (Niceville HS)
Played both running back and cornerback, and was a four-year starter at Niceville High School . . . as a senior in 2006, set a school record with 1,624 rushing yards in only eight games . . . named Northwest Florida Player of the Year . . . also scored 18 touchdowns as a senior at Niceville High School . . . set a school record for all-purpose yards in a single game with 355 against Gainesville High School . . . set a school single-game rushing record with 327 in a playoff game in 2006 . . . named 2006 first-team All-State for 5A . . . named to the Northwest Florida Daily News Dandy Dozen . . . chose Samford over UAB, Florida International and Louisiana-Lafayette.

Scott Basham, OL, 6-6, 262, Atalla, Ala. (Etowah HS)
Served as a two-year starter at left tackle . . . graded 80 percent or better in all games . . . two-time member of All-Region team for 5A Region 6 . . . two-time MVP of his team's offensive line . . . named to Gadsden Times All-Area team . . . led team to 18-5 record over last two seasons . . . team reached second round of playoffs in 2005 and first round in 2006 . . . also lettered four years in baseball and two in basketball . . . chose Samford over Jacksonville State.

Thomas Broussard, DB, 6-0, 190, Baton Rouge, La. (Catholic HS)
Named All-State for 5A by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association . . . named MVP of the Baton Rouge Area All-Star game as a senior . . . was a two-time All-Metro and three-time All-District selection . . . recorded 12 career interceptions, returning three for touchdowns . . . helped his team to a 13-1 record and an appearance in the state semifinals . . . led team to 25-2 record over the last two seasons . . . also ran track and was part of the state champion 4x400 relay team as a junior . . . chose Samford over Louisiana-Monroe, Memphis and Southern Illinois.

Kanon Burt, DL, 6-5, 247, Vance, Ala. (Bessemer Academy)
A four-year starter . . . led team to 2002, 2004 and 2006 state championships . . . team compiled a combined record of 63-1 . . . named All-State as a senior and Honorable Mention All-State as a junior . . . named 2006 AISA and Alabama Sports Writers Association Lineman of the Year . . . named 2006 All-Star game Offensive Lineman of the Game . . . named team captain in 2006 . . . posted 125 tackles, 12 sacks, 19 tackles for a loss, five fumble recoveries and two blocked punts . . . chose Samford over Middle Tennessee.

John Michael Clay, DL, 6-5, 232, Vestavia Hills, Ala. (Vestavia Hills HS)
In 2006, had 82 tackles, two fumble recoveries and four sacks . . . named Earnest McCarty Ford Defensive Player of the Year . . . named first team All-Over the Mountain and Honorable Mention All-State as a senior . . . also named to All-Metro team as a senior . . . received the Robbie Brookis Courage Award and Thompson Reynolds Scholar Athlete 4.0 Award in 2006 . . . won the Dedicated Athlete of the Year Award in 2005 . . . won the J. Chapman Team Before Self Award in 2004 . . . named the Cooper Ray Freshman Male Athlete of the Year in 2003 . . . was a two-time member of the National Honor Society . . . is the son of two Samford graduates . . . also participated in baseball and wrestling at Vestavia Hills . . . chose Samford over UAB.

DeMarcus Covington, ATH, 6-2, 195, Birmingham, Ala. (John Carroll HS)
Played both offense and defense at John Carroll High School . . . in 2006, had 75 catches for 1,250 yards and 10 touchdowns . . . also returned 17 kicks for 309 yards (18.2 ypr.) . . . on defense in 2006, had 60 tackles and five interceptions for 63 yards . . . for his high school career, caught 172 passes for 2,500 yards and 17 touchdowns . . . also had 14 interceptions, three for touchdowns, and 192 tackles in his high school career . . . played in the North/South All-Star game in 2006 . . . named to the All-Over The Mountain team in 2005 and 2006 . . . named to the All-State and All-Metro teams . . . also named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State team . . . winner of team's Outstanding Receiver award in 2004, 2005 and 2006 . . . named team captain in 2005 and 2006 . . . won team's MVP award in 2006 . . . chose Samford over UAB, Tennessee-Martin and Jacksonville State.

Justin Craig, WR, 6-1, 192, Quinton, Ala. (Sumiton Christian School)
Played quarterback and running back, and returned punts and kickoffs during his high school career . . . ranked in the top 10 in state history for passing yardage in a game (460 yds.), rushing yards in a game (330 yds.) and all-purpose yards in a season (3,889 yds.) . . . accumulated 7,417 all-purpose yards in three seasons of varsity football . . . as a senior, had 15 rushing touchdowns, 13 passing touchdowns and two kickoff returns for touchdowns . . . named Player of the Week by The Birmingham News and Scout.com for week five of his senior season . . . named Daily Mountain Eagle Player of the Week three times in three seasons . . . named All-State as a senior by The Birmingham News . . . chose Samford over UAB, Memphis and Middle Tennessee.

Chris Evans, RB, 6-0, 195, Alexandria, Ala. (UAB/Alexandria HS)
Redshirted in 2006 at UAB . . . produced one of the most prolific seasons by a running back in state history as a senior in 2005 . . . was named to the 2005 All-State team by the Alabama Sports Writers Association . . . also tabbed to the ASWA "Super 12" list . . . was a finalist for the 2005 Mr. Alabama Football and the recipient of the Class 4A Mr. Alabama Football honor . . . rushed for 2,683 yards and 42 touchdowns in 2005, ranking among the top 10 of all-time in the state for yards in a season . . . for his high school career had 7,308 rushing yards, 893 receiving yards, 106 rushing touchdowns and 12 receiving touchdowns . . . ranks among the top five in Alabama prep history in scoring and touchdowns . . . ranks among the top six in state history in career rushing yards and top 10 all-time in Alabama in rushing yards in a season with his 2,883 he posted as a senior . . . also was awarded as the Class 4A "Back of the Year" by the Alabama Sportswriters Association . . . helped lead Alexandria to three consecutive semifinal appearances in the Class 4A playoffs . . . earned honorable mention all-state honors as sophomore . . . named all-county three consecutive years.

Richie Fordham, QB, 6-1, 185, Birmingham, Ala. (Oak Mountain HS)
Was a three-year starter at Oak Mountain . . . led the team in total offense each season, and amassed over 5,000 career yards and 44 touchdowns . . . named to the All-State team for 6A . . . also named All-County and Birmingham All-Metro . . . named Shelby County Offensive Player of the Year as a junior . . . recognized by The Birmingham News as a Super Senior, Player of the Week and Scholar Athlete . . . chose Samford over Navy and Southern Illinois.

Jason Gaines, DL, 6-3, 260, Huntsville, Ala. (Sparkman HS)
Named All-Metro and All-Region . . . recorded 50 tackles, four sacks, two fumble recoveries, one interception and 10 tackles for a loss . . . led his team to a 10-2 record . . . described by his coach as a big man who runs well, has great potential and is a quality person . . . chose Samford over Tennessee-Martin and Alabama State.

Jacquez Gray, OL, 6-5, 280, Opelika, Ala. (Opelika HS)
Helped lead his team to the 6A Region 3 championship in 2005 and 2006 . . . won the Offensive Award from his coaches . . . named first team All-Area as a senior and second-team Honorable Mention All-Area as a junior . . . named All-American Scholar . . . four-year winner of the Academic Honors Award . . . selected as a Senior Superlative winner . . . member of the National Honor Society with a 4.15 GPA . . . was a Duke Scholar, junior class representative to SGA and a member of the Future Business Leaders of America . . . chose Samford over Arkansas State and Southern Mississippi.

Thomas Gray, OL, 6-4, 285, Vestavia Hills, Ala. (Vestavia Hills HS)
Named to All-Metro team as a senior . . . named second-team All-State in 2006, also named to All-Over the Mountain team . . . selected as a permanent team captain . . . did not miss a game or practice in his high school career . . . chose Samford over UAB, Arkansas State, Troy and Army.

Seth Harkness, QB, 6-3, 205, Fayette, Ala. (UAB/Fayette County HS)
Redshirted in 2006 at UAB . . . as a senior in high school, named All-State Class 4A by The Birmingham News . . . was 167-of-268 for 2,826 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior . . . led Fayette County to a 9-2 record, including a berth in the Class 4A state playoffs . . . also tabbed to The Birmingham News Super Seniors Class of 2006 "Best of the Rest" . . . named to the Tuscaloosa News' Super 11 as a senior . . . best game was a 335-yard performance against St. Claire County in the playoffs . . . had three games of 300 or more yards passing in 2005 . . . served as team captain his during senior campaign.

Austin Hayes, DT, 6-3, 254, Cedar Bluff, Ala. (Cedar Bluff HS)
In 2006, posted 78 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss and four sacks . . . holds state record for most tackles in a 1A championship game with 17 . . . on the offensive line, graded 96 percent with no penalties . . . as a junior, recorded 100 tackles, 16 for a loss and seven sacks . . . named first-team All-State, team captain and was a finalist for the Class 1A Player of the Year award the last two seasons . . . named Defensive MVP for Class 1A Region 7, and for Cherokee County . . . named All-County, All-Area and All-State . . . was a top performer in the Alabama Junior All-Star Game . . . participated in the U.S. Army All-American combine for juniors in San Antonio . . . helped Cedar Bluff post the most wins in school history and advance to the state finals in 2006 . . . named to High School Gameday.com's Super 22 . . . named to KFC's Pigskin All-Star Round-Up Team . . . also competed in track and basketball . . . chose Samford over Southern Mississippi.

Omar Johnson, CB, 5-10, 180, Mobile, Ala. (St. Paul's Episcopal School)
Tallied 108 tackles, 10 interceptions, one fumble recovery, one sack and two forced fumbles . . . awarded Chrichton Optimist Club Player of the Week . . . named member of the Black Watch and Super Champion Club . . . named winner of Weinacker Award for Excellence . . . as a junior, recorded 41 tackles, four interceptions, nine pass break-ups and two forced fumbles . . . chose Samford over Army, Navy and Louisiana-Lafayette.

Keith Jones, OL, 6-6, 270, Hueytown, Ala. (Hueytown HS)
Jones was named Honorable Mention All-State as a senior . . . also named to the All-Metro team . . . graded out at 80 percent for the season . . . won his team's Pancake Block Award in 2006 . . . two-year starter on the basketball team and participated in track . . . chose Samford over Arkansas State.

Devyn Keith, DL, 6-2, 250, Huntsville, Ala. (Sparkman HS)
Named All-Metro and All-Region . . . recorded 70 tackles, 10 sacks, one interception, two fumble recoveries, 13 tackles for a loss, 16 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles and three pass deflections . . . led his team to a 10-2 record . . . described by his coach as an outstanding person and student, and a great football player and explosive pass rusher . . . chose Samford over Arkansas State.

Jordan Lewis, DB, 5-9, 175, Birmingham, Ala. (Fairfield HS)
Played both offense at defense at Fairfield High School . . . named Honorable Mention All-State for 5A . . . also named Super All-Metro . . . ranked fourth in the Metro area in tackles with over 150 on the season . . . was a four-year starter in the defensive secondary and served as a running back as well . . . chose Samford over Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech.

Ryan McDaniel, WR, 6-3, 198, Buford, Ga. (North Gwinnett HS)
As a senior at North Gwinnett High School, had 69 receptions for 982 yards and 13 touchdowns . . . averaged 13.3 yards per catch . . . had over 580 return yards and one touchdown . . . led the state in receiving yards and touchdowns . . . holds the record for receptions in a single season in Gwinnett County . . . named runner up for the Atlanta Journal Constitution Offensive Player of the Year award . . . chose Samford over Western Carolina, Illinois State and Kent State.

Wes Nichols, OL, 6-2, 280, Birmingham, Ala. (Briarwood Christian)
Selected to the All-County and All-Over the Mountain teams . . . selected by his coaches as the Most Valuable Lineman in 2006 . . . was a two-year starter on the offensive line . . . chose Samford over Jacksonville State.

Bryce Smith, LB, 6-2, 215, Lawrenceville, Ga. (Central Gwinnett HS)
As a senior at Central Gwinnett, posted 136 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries . . . named to the Atlanta Journal Constitution's and Gwinnett Daily Post's first team . . . named Gwinnett Touchdown Club Player of the Month for October . . . was a two-time team captain, and was named team MVP as a senior . . . chose Samford over Chattanooga, Ball State and Western Carolina.

COACH SULLIVAN QUOTES FROM WEDNESDAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE

OPENING STATEMENT
"We wanted to start from our campus and work out with our recruiting base. We signed nine guys from the local area and that's exciting. There are so many good football players in this area. In some ways, I wish it was August 1, so that we could get started, but I know we've got an awful lot of work to do. Obviously, we had specific needs that we wanted to address, one being linemen, and we were able to sign five offensive and five defensive linemen. That's where it all starts."

ON IF IT WAS DIFFICULT TO COMPETE WITH OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE SAME COMMUNITY
"I think each player has to find his niche. I truly believe that if you come to this campus and you see what's going on and the enthusiasm of the resources Samford is now showing off, as far as the facilities that are being built and renovated, any player would love to come to Samford. The coaches definitely deserve a lot of credit, getting out there and working with these kids like they have and getting to know their families, building a trust and a bond. I think that's what we need to do."

ON IF HE IS MORE EXCITED TODAY THAN HE WAS THREE WEEKS AGO
"There's no question about it. I'm a lot more excited than I was three weeks ago. You add 22 guys to your team, and especially the quality that you feel like you've got, I don't think there is any question right now that we are a better football team right now than we were five or six hours ago."

ON HAVING MORE LOCAL PLAYERS HELPING TO BUILD A FAN BASE
"We need to build an awareness here, and these football players that are from around here, we want to keep them here where their families can see them play. At the same time, we will build a fan base. It's a win-win situation. They're here because they are good football players, and that is something that I look for, but I think the quality of the character of this class is something special."