Conque pleased with variety in recruiting class
University of Central Arkansas coach Clint Conque announced a 23-player recruiting class Wednesday and 19 new signees that include seven offensive linemen, four defensive linemen, four wide receivers, three defensive backs, two linebackers, a kicker, a running back, a quarterback and a 4-H champion in showing swine.
Fourteen of the new recruits are from Texas, four from Mississippi, two from Arkansas and one each from Kansas Louisiana and Tennessee. At least a third of the class were captains of their high school teams.
“I feel the quality of athletes and character continues to improve,” Conque said. “We’ll go to Jupiter to find a good football player.
“We got length, size, speed and excellent skill sets. And a lot of these players are contact players, good physical players. Several of these young men have good football IQ’s. We think we addressed immediate and future needs.”
With the harvest in Texas, the UCA coaches had to face unusual logistical issues because the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, a rich recruiting area, was virtually shut down because of snow and ice. That meant schools were closed and many recruits did not have immediate access to fax machines to send in their letters of intent.
“One had a fax at home but we got faxes from hotels, Walgreen’s, Kinkos — our assistants did a good job of working things out,” Conque said.
The Bears had two players sign from Arkansas. Conque said his coaches offered six in-state players but lost four to Memphis, Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas State and the University of Arkansas. Other major losses were to Northern Iowa, Miami and Lamar. The in-state signees were running back Wesleigh Foster of Clarksville, whom Conque called the “fastest player in the state,” and offensive lineman James Bodron of Heber Springs.
But the Bears won several battles involving all SLC schools, Missouri State and Northwest Missouri State.
“Last year, the University of Memphis was our biggest competitor for recruits; this year it was Air Force, but I have a son at West Point and I’m not gonna say anything negative about the service academies. Engineering seemed to be the major of choice,” Conque said.
The 4-H champion showing swine is offensive lineman D.J. Appe, 6-foot-3, 280, from Covington, La.
“First time I’ve signed a player with that resume,” Conque said.
The Texas influence?
“We’re constantly looking at our footprint and states to extend our footprint,” Conque said. “Our footprint has a lot to do with the personalities and talents of our staff.
“Winning has a lot to do with it. We have a winning record against all the Southland Conference schools in Texas. Our exposure in Texas is greater. We play a lot in Texas. When players get to see you play and see you win, they take a look at you. There are more high schools in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio than in Arkansas. There are big fish ponds down there.”
With contacts in Louisiana and traditional success in Louisiana, Appe was the only Louisiana recruit.
“We lost two coaches (Hud Jackson and Matt Middleton) who primarily recruited Louisiana,” Conque said. “We took a deep breath down there. When you lose staff, you tend to take a step back and consolidate some. We still know a lot of people down there. We’ll be back.”
Conque gave a rundown of starters produced from the last five recruiting classes: 2010 (eight true freshmen regulars and 13 redshirts); 2009 (eight starters, 16 lettermen); 2008 (nine starters); 2007 (five starters); 2006 (one starter last year, Tok Opeloye).
“Is this our best class? Give us a couple of years, and we’ll know,” Conque said.
2011 University of Central Arkansas recruiting class
MID-YEAR ADDITIONS
Kevin Buford, 5-11, 185
Kicker-punter Northwest Mississippi Community College (Washington School).
2010 - averaged 41.6 yards punting; 2009 - averaged 39.5 yards punting; 33-of-36 PATs; NJCAA National Player of the Week on Oct. 5, 2010; 2010 Mississippi Junior College First Team All-State; 2010 NJCAA All-Region XXIII.
Conque says: “With our appeal process on Eddie Carmona extended, he has a chance to come in and make an immediate impact.”
Devin Hawkins 606, 225
DE, Caledonia, Miss., East Mississippi Community College, Caledonia HS
2010 - recorded 33 tackles and 4 sacks in 6 games; 2009 Mississippi Bowl champions; Two-time all-distrct selection; Averaged 10 tackles per game in high school.
Conque says: “He’s a very athletic young man who played two or three sport in high school.”
Arturo Hernandez, 6-3, 290, OL
Olive Branch, Miss., Itawamba Community College, Olive Branch HS
2010 Mississippi Junior College All-State selection; 3-year letterwinner at Olive Branch High School; Two-time all-conference; Two-time state runner-up ; Member of National Honor Society.
Conque says: “He was offered by Missouri State. We’re excited to have him here.
Brett Soft, 6-3, 205, WR
Wichita, Kan., Butler Community College, Maize HS
2010 All-Jayhawk Conference selection
7 touchdown receptions in 2010; 2010 national runner-up; Butler CC Career Stats: 59 receptions, 771 yards, 13.1 yards per reception; Set Kansas high school records with 81 receptions and 1,422 yards; Three-year letterman in football, basketball and baseball; Rivals 3-star recruit
Conque says: “He was an all-state selection as a junior. He broke his leg his senior year or he might have expanded on that. He lettered in football, baseball and basketball in high school.”
Taurean Anderson, 6-0, 185, DB
Cibolo, Texas , Steele HS
2010 5A Division II Texas State champions; Two-time all-district selection; Three-year letterman in football and track (sprints); 112 career tackles, 7 interceptions, 16 pass breakups, 4 fumble recoveries. Conque says: “He is a big, physical young man who can really really run. He was our first high school commitment and he held all the way through.”
D.J. Appe, 6-3, 280, OL
Covington, La., Covington HS
Two-time 7-5A all-district selection; Three-year letterman in football, two-year letterman in baseball; 2010 team captain; 2010 Covington HS Coaches Award for Leadership; Member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Honor Roll; 4-H Grand Champion.
Conque says: “He cold project to play any position in our offensive line and has a great chance to make an impact early in his career.”
Blake Childress , 6-1, 200, LB
Mesquite, Texas • West Mesquite HS
Two-time all-district selection; 249 career tackles, 5 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 3 blocked kicks
Conque says: “He’s extremely athletic. He can run. He’s a contact player and may be the player in our program most excited to be at UCA.”
James Bodron, 6-4, 275, OL
Heber Springs
Three-year letterwinner in football and basketball; 2010 2-4A all-conference; 2010 Arkansas 4A all-state selection; 2010 4A Offensive Lineman of the Year; Beta Club
Conque says: He’s a very smart young man who originally committed to Lamar.”
Derek Floyd , 6-3. 220 • DL
Dallas, Texas • Lake Highlands HS
Three-time 9-5A all-district selection; Three-year letterman in football and track; 224 career tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 7 sacks; Regional qualifier in shot put
Conque says: “He’s a very active young man and another physical contact player we’ll size down t o defensive end. He’s a very explosive athlete.”
Wesleigh Foster , 5-11, 195, RB
Clarksville
111th nationally-ranked running back by Scout .com; 2010 8th overall prospect in Arkansas by Arkansas 360 Magazine; Two-time Arkansas 4A All-State selection; 4A State record in 100 meters (10.72) and 200 meters (21.8); Career stats: 339 carries, 2,328 yards, 25 touchdowns; 92 receptions, 1,368 yards, 16 touchdowns; 2-star recruit by Rivals and Scout
Conque says: “He got a lot of attention from FBS schools. He excellent in space and has good hands. He domiinated at the 4A level. He won the Meet of Champs in the 100 and 200 meters as a junior, so he’s the fastest young man in Arkansas. We’re very excited about the different ways of creativity we can use him in our offense.”
Bryce French. 5-11, 170, DB
Marshall, Texas • Marshall HS
Two-year letterman in football; Two-time 13-4A all-district on offense and defense; 2010 Harrison-Marion County Offensive Player of the Year; 2009 Harrison-Marion County Newcomer of the Year; Two-time team MVP; 2,814 career all-purpose yards, 20 touchdowns, 54 tackles, 5 interceptions
Conque says: We project him at corner. He played some quarterback in high school out of necessirty.
Blake Gardner , 6-0, 170, WR
Cibolo, Texas • Steele HS
2010 5A Division II Texas state champions; Two-time All-District selection; Two-time All-San Antonio Metro selection; Three-year letterwinner in football and track (sprints); 2011 Nominee for Texas Coaches Association All-Star Game; 2009 Top 100 Texas Recruits
78 career receptions, school records with 1,328 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Conque says: He’s a big-play guy who can get off press coverage and separate. He and Taurean Anderson are from the same high school and they’re winners.
D.J. Holland , 6-1, 215, LB
Fort Worth, Texas, North Crowley HS
Three-year letterman in football; Two-year starter; 2010 All-District selection at safety; 2010 team MVP and team captain; 2010 stats: 80 tackles, 2 interceptions, 3 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles; Honor Roll
Conque says: “He was a safety in high school. He comes from a great family. Both parents are retired Air Force. He and Blake Childress give us a great combination at linebacker in this recruiting class.”
Dezmin Lewis , 6-4, 185, WR
Mesquite, Texas • North Mesquite HS
Two-year letterman in football and basketball; 2010 all-district selection; 2010 team MVP/Stallion Award; 19 career receptions, 497 yards, 5 touchdowns, 26.2 yards per reception; Member of National Honor Society.
Conque says: “What is eye-popping is 26.2 yards per reception. He palyed in high school behind three Big 12 signees and waited his turn. He has an enormous upsiee. He uses his body control and size to separate and has breakaway speed.”
Cleveland Shelton, 6-2, 265, DL
Crawford, Miss. • East Mississippi Community College • East Oktibbeha HS
2010 Mississippi Junior College All-Star Game selection; 2009 Mississippi Bowl Champion; 2007 Mississippi 3A All-State selection; 2007 East Oktibbeha Defensive MVP; Career stats at EMCC: 76 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 3 sacks.
Conque says: “He will graduate from junior college in the spring. He had a productive year and got some Conference-USA offers.”
CJ Simon, 6-3, 280, OL
Kingwood, Texas • Kingwood HS
Three-year starter for 5A Kingwood High School; Two-time all-district selection; 2010 All-Houston Metro selection; 2010 Bayou Bowl nominee; 2010 team captain and lineman MVP; Two-year lettterwinner in track (shot put); 3-star recruit on Rivals.com
Conque says: “He’s an explosive player who originally committed to UTEP. He can play center and guard and has played tackle.”
Kyle Stouffeer, 6-6, 290 , OL
Dallas, Texas, Highland Park HS
Two-time all-district selection; 2010 Texas 4A Academic all-state; 2010 Texas 4A All-State Honorable Mention; 2010 team captain Scot Award for Leadership and Performance; Member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Honor Society; Powerlifting; Ranked #135 offensive tackle nationally; 2-star recruit on Rivals.com
Conque says: “He had early offers from Texas Tech and Tulsa, but sometimes with those thigns, they expect to get a commmitment pretty early and he wanted to go through the process and those schools decided to go another direction. He’s very athletic for someone his size and he comes in with the physical maturity that gives him a chance to help this fall.”
DeAndre Taylor , 5-11, 175, WR
Brownsboro, Texas • Brownsboro HS
2010 20-3A all-district; 2010 20-3A All-Henderson County; 2010 20-3A All-East Texas; 2010 Texas 3A All-State selection; 2010 Team Captain; Listed in Who’s Who and won English Achievement Award; 81 career receptions, 1,177 yards, 14.5 yards per reception; Rushed for 196 yards and 1 touchdown; Regional qualifier in the 4x100 meter relay in track
Conque says; He’s a projected slot receiver. He fell in love with us this fall. He and his family came to the McNeese game and loved the atmosphere and excitement. That win got him excited about our program.”
Trey Taylor, 6-3, 190, QB
Memphis, Tenn., Houston HS
Two-time 3-5A all-district; 2010 Liberty Bowl All-State Game MVP; All-time leading passer in Houston High (Germantown area) history; Two-year letterman in basketball; ACT 31 & Up Club; Career stats: 275 attempts, 155 completions, 2,341 yards, 784 rushing yards; 2-star recruit by Rivals and Scout
Conque says: “He has the intelligence you hope to have at quarterback. He brings athleticism to the position. He’s not a true dual threat but he can escape and he can make all the throws.”
Cody Ward , 6-3, 265, OL
Conroe, Texas • Oak Ridge HS
Three-year letterman in football; 2010 14-5A all-district; 2010 Bayou Bowl nominee; 2010 Houston Blue Chip Bowl; 2010 Team Captain; Honor Roll
Conque says: “His brother was a four-year letterman at Nicholls. He comes from a football-oriented family. He projects for us at guard.”
Robert Wheeler, 5-10, 180, DB
Tyler, Texas • John Tyler HS
Two-year starter; 2010 14-4A all-district;2010 All-East Texas; Two-time East Texas Pepsi Player of the Week; 2010 East Texas Bowl selection; 138 career tackles, 16 breakups, 5 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries; Member of National Honor Society
Conque says: “He’s a ballhawk, a super young man who is capable of coming in and making an impact.”
Alec Willis , 6-1, 255, OL
Denton, Texas • Guyer HS
Two-time 7-5A all-district; 2010 5A Texas All-State Third Team; 2010 All-DFW Metro Team; Started 31 consecutive games; 2010 5A Division II Texas State Runner-up
Conque says: “He has a big upside and comes from another winning program in Texas. Starting 31 straight games is impressive.”
DJ Willis, 6-1, 300. DL
The Colony, Texas • The Colony HS
Two-time 4-A all-district; 2010 team Defensive MVP; 2009 Texas 4-A State Runner-up ; 100 career tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 21 quarterback hurries, 1 touchdown; 4A runner-up in 4A in power lifting.
Conque says: “One of the great moments of watching video was watching him scoop and score a 70-yard touchdown. He can do a 400-pound bench and a 700-pound squat.”
