National Signing Day arrives

For University of Central Arkansas football coach Clint Conque, some of the misses were just as significant as the hits on National Signing Day.

During his news conference to discuss the 2009 recruiting class, Conque noted the Bears lost one recruit they thought they had locked up at the last minute to a Sun Belt Conference team and engaged in some fierce battles In the Houston area with Southland Conference rivals as well as with Ohio Valley, Southwestern Athletic and Conference USA teams in some areas.

Becky Rasnick, academic advisor for athletes, greets Walter Taylor.

"Four years ago, we weren't in those battles at all," Conque said.

Conque introduced a 24-member signing class that included 19 high school recruits.

The marquee name on the list is quarterback Nathan Dick, a transfer from the University of Arkansas. Among the five Arkansas high school recruits was Vilonia's Tyler Stauch, an all-state offensive lineman who is projected as a tackle.

The class, which Conque emphasized was "recruited for need" included five offensive linemen, four tight ends, three wide receivers, three safeties, three linebackers, two cornerbacks, two quarterbacks, one defensive end and one deep-snapper. There were five recruits from Arkansas, six from Texas, four each from Louisiana and Mississippi, two from Tennessee and one each from Alabama and Arizona.

"This class should create depth and competition and some of these may be able to help immediately," Conque said. "When you create competition, the cream rise. I don't think you can have enough good football players at every position."

Seven of the recruits were captains of their high school teams.

"Our assistant coaches created a model and a profile for the type of athlete we wanted and then they went out and turned over every stone and got players who fitted that profile," Conque said. "I can't say enough about the work ethic of our assistants. At our level, we don't have private planes and we don't fly to places. A conservative estimate is we traveled 60,000-plus miles. We did it the old-fashioned way."

Most of the players recruited were overall strong athletes who can also play at positions other than projected.

"There are certain positions that you have to have certain elements involved, but at other positions, if you recruit the best football players, you can mold them into what you want."

At the news conference, Conque also announced:

Fullback Spencer Hebert has transferred and linebacker Jamario Douglas has left the team. Lineman Brandon Hyslop will not longer play football because of medical reasons.

Conway lineman Tyler Gray and back Isaiah Jackson have had successful offseason knee surgeries and should be 100 percent by spring drills. Offensive lineman Will Merritt had his appendix removed Wednesday and will be limited for spring. Linebacker Jacob Bane is scheduled for shoulder surgery soon. Lineman Marshall Loyd has been granted a medical hardship, which will give him four years of eligibility. Back/linebacker Rico Moss is on track in his rehabilitation.

He repeated his goal of naming a defensive coordinator by March 1.

Spring drills will begin March 15 for three days. They will be completed after spring break with the spring game set Friday, April 17.

UCA will soon announced the 2009 schedule. It's an 11-game schedule right now, but the Bears are allowed 12 because of the season-opener in Hawaii. Currently, there are five home games and six on the road.

The season finale, which is on the first weekend of the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, will be against North Dakota at home the weekend after the McNeese State game on the road.