2016 FB Signing Day Release
For Immediate Release February 3, 2016 Contact: Don Tomkalski Phone: 918-631-3200 Cell: 918.640-0683
Tulsa Football Signs 20 to National Letters-of-Intent Tulsa, Oklahoma –– University of Tulsa Head Football Coach Philip Montgomery announced today a signing class of 20 players who will join the Golden Hurricane football team in 2016. The class includes 18 high school seniors and two junior college transfers, while the group is split evenly with 10 offensive players and 10 defensive players. “I’m excited about this class. We were able to sign a lot of tremendous kids. I feel that our class overall will be one of the best that we’ve had here in some time. We’ve added speed and athleticism across the board,” said Montgomery. Unlike last year when the newly appointed head coach and his assembled coaching staff had only 10 days on the road to recruit, Montgomery and his staff had the full year to recruit and sign his second class of newcomers. Tulsa’s 2016 class totals five players from Oklahoma, 11 players from Texas, two from Louisiana and one each from Pennsylvania and California. The players from Pennsylvania and California are Tulsa two junior college transfers. Pennsylvania signee, Deya Mhiesen (Day-ah Mah-high-sen), played at Arizona Western College, while Keanu (Key-ah-new) Hill, a California native, played at Long Beach City College. Two of Tulsa’s newcomers – Manny Bunch and Clay Greathouse – have already enrolled in classes and will participate in spring drills. Montgomery emphasized that adding to the trenches on both sides of the ball was a priority with the 2016 class. “As we looked at it, we really had to start up-front on both sides of the ball with this recruiting class,” said Montgomery. “As we went through the season, it was pretty apparent that upfront was an area where we needed to get bigger and more athletic.” The Hurricane added five offensive linemen and four players on the defensive front. Tulsa stayed in Oklahoma for two of the five offensive lineman with Broken Arrow High School standout Rowdy Frederick and Tiller Bucktrot from Stroud Oklahoma, both tipping the scales over 330 pounds. Clay Greathouse (6’5”, 290), who enrolled at Tulsa for the spring semester, and Waahid Muhammad (6’7”, 295) played their prep football in Texas. The fifth player up front for the Hurricane offense is 6’7”, 305-pound junior college transfer Deya Mhiesen, who played last season at Arizona Western College. “The emphasis up front was about size. We have some guys that can move people. They’re long, can bend really well, have good feet, but have some girth to them. They’re guys that can maintain
a single block, are strong and athletic, but have great size and that’s what we were looking for on the offensive line,” said Montgomery. Size was added to the defensive line as well for the Hurricane. “When you lose guys like Derrick Alexander and Derrick Luetjen, we knew we had some big shoes to fill and had to address those needs,” added Montgomery Tulsa addressed those needs with tackles Tyarise Stevenson (6’4”, 320), from Louisiana, and Tulsa Central’s Shemarr Robinson (6’4”, 280), and two ends from the state of Texas – Jimmy Nelson (6’3”, 248), from Arlington Martin High School, and Johnnie Williams (6’5”, 275), from Austin’s LBJ High School. “We feel like we have an outstanding class in the trenches both on offense and defense. We were able to add some big guys – players that can move and can make plays in certain situations, especially when you need them,” said Montgomery. Tulsa added three defensive backs and three linebackers, all with good size, to compliment the incoming class of linemen on the defensive front. “We addressed some things in the back-end of the defense by adding a junior college corner to add a little experience and a high school corner and safety,” said Montgomery. Keanu Hill, the 6’2” cornerback from Long Beach City College, totaled 40 tackles and 10 passbreak-ups a year ago. Montray Norris is also a 6’2” cornerback coming from the high school ranks in Houston, Texas. The safety, 6’2” Manny Bunch, is already attending classes after an all-state season at Roland (Okla.) High School. “We brought in three linebackers because that’s an area in a year from now that will be hit hard from a scholarship standpoint. We felt that we had to take three linebackers and those we have – Robert Revels III, DJ (Allen) and Cooper (Edmiston) – are outstanding football players who will bring a lot to our team,” added Montgomery. All three Tulsa linebackers in this class are from the state of Texas. Allen (5’11”, 225) was a fouryear starter at San Antonio’s Brennan High School, Edmiston (6’3”, 245) started three years at Gatesville High School and Robert Revels III (6’3”, 234) also started three seasons at Houston’s John H. Reagan High School. Revels III and Edmiston were named Defensive MVPs of their respective districts as seniors. The Hurricane added one tight end in Louisiana’s 6’4”, 230-pound David Fitzwater as well as three skilled athletes to the outside receiving corps. Fitzwater spent two seasons playing left tackle at Shreveport’s Calvary Baptist Academy before moving to tight end for his senior season. “We added some length and speed at the receiver position and really believe that we have some outstanding candidates there,” said Montgomery. “I’m excited what they bring to the table and their talent will allow us to keep doing the things we like to do offensively, and that’s pushing the ball down the field, being versatile and allowing them to get one-on-one matchups.” Tulsa’s signees at the wide receiver position include one from Oklahoma – 6’2” Jordan Brown from Stillwater High School – and two from Texas, one from East Texas – 6’1” Keenen Johnson from Alto High School, who is listed as an athlete, but expected to play receiver, and one from the Metroplex – 6’4” Josh Stewart from Cedar Hill High School. Tulsa also brought in one quarterback in the 2016 class. “We don’t have to take a quarterback every year. I like to have at the most 3-4 quarterbacks in the meeting room, and then use those scholarships in other areas to help our football team. Hopefully,
there’s only going to be one of those guys throughout the year that will be getting a whole lot of reps. Luke Skipper, at 6’3”, played his prep football at Forney High School in Texas, where he threw for 2,706 yards and 33 touchdowns and ran for another 1,188 yards and 17 TDs his senior season. “Luke is athletic, tall, has great range, a great arm and is very accurate. He can do the intangible things you want, but can also create on his own and extend plays. I’m excited to see his growth as a quarterback,” said Montgomery. For all news on Tulsa athletics, follow us on www.TulsaHurricane.com.
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Tulsa Football Signs 20 to National Letters-of-Intent Tulsa, Oklahoma –– University of Tulsa Head Football Coach Philip Montgomery announced today a signing class of 20 players who will join the Golden Hurricane football team in 2016. The class includes 18 high school seniors and two junior college transfers, while the group is split evenly with 10 offensive players and 10 defensive players. “I’m excited about this class. We were able to sign a lot of tremendous kids. I feel that our class overall will be one of the best that we’ve had here in some time. We’ve added speed and athleticism across the board,” said Montgomery. Unlike last year when the newly appointed head coach and his assembled coaching staff had only 10 days on the road to recruit, Montgomery and his staff had the full year to recruit and sign his second class of newcomers. Tulsa’s 2016 class totals five players from Oklahoma, 11 players from Texas, two from Louisiana and one each from Pennsylvania and California. The players from Pennsylvania and California are Tulsa two junior college transfers. Pennsylvania signee, Deya Mhiesen (Day-ah Mah-high-sen), played at Arizona Western College, while Keanu (Key-ah-new) Hill, a California native, played at Long Beach City College. Two of Tulsa’s newcomers – Manny Bunch and Clay Greathouse – have already enrolled in classes and will participate in spring drills. Montgomery emphasized that adding to the trenches on both sides of the ball was a priority with the 2016 class. “As we looked at it, we really had to start up-front on both sides of the ball with this recruiting class,” said Montgomery. “As we went through the season, it was pretty apparent that upfront was an area where we needed to get bigger and more athletic.” The Hurricane added five offensive linemen and four players on the defensive front. Tulsa stayed in Oklahoma for two of the five offensive lineman with Broken Arrow High School standout Rowdy Frederick and Tiller Bucktrot from Stroud Oklahoma, both tipping the scales over 330 pounds. Clay Greathouse (6’5”, 290), who enrolled at Tulsa for the spring semester, and Waahid Muhammad (6’7”, 295) played their prep football in Texas. The fifth player up front for the Hurricane offense is 6’7”, 305-pound junior college transfer Deya Mhiesen, who played last season at Arizona Western College. “The emphasis up front was about size. We have some guys that can move people. They’re long, can bend really well, have good feet, but have some girth to them. They’re guys that can maintain
a single block, are strong and athletic, but have great size and that’s what we were looking for on the offensive line,” said Montgomery. Size was added to the defensive line as well for the Hurricane. “When you lose guys like Derrick Alexander and Derrick Luetjen, we knew we had some big shoes to fill and had to address those needs,” added Montgomery Tulsa addressed those needs with tackles Tyarise Stevenson (6’4”, 320), from Louisiana, and Tulsa Central’s Shemarr Robinson (6’4”, 280), and two ends from the state of Texas – Jimmy Nelson (6’3”, 248), from Arlington Martin High School, and Johnnie Williams (6’5”, 275), from Austin’s LBJ High School. “We feel like we have an outstanding class in the trenches both on offense and defense. We were able to add some big guys – players that can move and can make plays in certain situations, especially when you need them,” said Montgomery. Tulsa added three defensive backs and three linebackers, all with good size, to compliment the incoming class of linemen on the defensive front. “We addressed some things in the back-end of the defense by adding a junior college corner to add a little experience and a high school corner and safety,” said Montgomery. Keanu Hill, the 6’2” cornerback from Long Beach City College, totaled 40 tackles and 10 passbreak-ups a year ago. Montray Norris is also a 6’2” cornerback coming from the high school ranks in Houston, Texas. The safety, 6’2” Manny Bunch, is already attending classes after an all-state season at Roland (Okla.) High School. “We brought in three linebackers because that’s an area in a year from now that will be hit hard from a scholarship standpoint. We felt that we had to take three linebackers and those we have – Robert Revels III, DJ (Allen) and Cooper (Edmiston) – are outstanding football players who will bring a lot to our team,” added Montgomery. All three Tulsa linebackers in this class are from the state of Texas. Allen (5’11”, 225) was a fouryear starter at San Antonio’s Brennan High School, Edmiston (6’3”, 245) started three years at Gatesville High School and Robert Revels III (6’3”, 234) also started three seasons at Houston’s John H. Reagan High School. Revels III and Edmiston were named Defensive MVPs of their respective districts as seniors. The Hurricane added one tight end in Louisiana’s 6’4”, 230-pound David Fitzwater as well as three skilled athletes to the outside receiving corps. Fitzwater spent two seasons playing left tackle at Shreveport’s Calvary Baptist Academy before moving to tight end for his senior season. “We added some length and speed at the receiver position and really believe that we have some outstanding candidates there,” said Montgomery. “I’m excited what they bring to the table and their talent will allow us to keep doing the things we like to do offensively, and that’s pushing the ball down the field, being versatile and allowing them to get one-on-one matchups.” Tulsa’s signees at the wide receiver position include one from Oklahoma – 6’2” Jordan Brown from Stillwater High School – and two from Texas, one from East Texas – 6’1” Keenen Johnson from Alto High School, who is listed as an athlete, but expected to play receiver, and one from the Metroplex – 6’4” Josh Stewart from Cedar Hill High School. Tulsa also brought in one quarterback in the 2016 class. “We don’t have to take a quarterback every year. I like to have at the most 3-4 quarterbacks in the meeting room, and then use those scholarships in other areas to help our football team. Hopefully,
there’s only going to be one of those guys throughout the year that will be getting a whole lot of reps. Luke Skipper, at 6’3”, played his prep football at Forney High School in Texas, where he threw for 2,706 yards and 33 touchdowns and ran for another 1,188 yards and 17 TDs his senior season. “Luke is athletic, tall, has great range, a great arm and is very accurate. He can do the intangible things you want, but can also create on his own and extend plays. I’m excited to see his growth as a quarterback,” said Montgomery. For all news on Tulsa athletics, follow us on www.TulsaHurricane.com.
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