SAN MARCOS, Texas – New Texas State head coach Everett Withers announced Wednesday that he has added 23 new recruits to play for the Bobcat football team in 2016.
"We are excited to welcome 19 young men and four midyear players who have joined the Texas State Bobcat football program," said Withers.
The four midyear additions are junior college transfers who joined the team at the beginning of the spring semester and are already participating in offseason strength and conditioning drills with returning players from last season. Those four players are Levi Boyd, Elijah King, Gabe Loyd, and Quinn Tiggs. They also will participate in spring practice, which begins on March 21.
Withers also signed 19 high school players who either previously committed to attend Texas State or were players he and his new staff added after he was named head coach on Jan. 7.
"It is always a unique and complex time when a coaching change occurs during the recruiting process. I commend the signees that kept their commitment to Texas State," said Withers. "I also commend the additions to the 2016 class that our coaches worked diligently to add to the Texas State football family."
The 2016 class includes 12 defensive players and 11 offensive players. The Bobcats added three defensive linemen, three linebackers, four cornerbacks and two safeties on defense. The offensive additions include a dual-threat quarterback, four offensive linemen, two running backs, two wide receivers and two tight ends.
The defensive linemen are John Lilly, Ramon Readus and Dean Taylor. The linebackers include Loyd, Nikolas Daniels and Hal Vinson. The cornerbacks are Jordan Eastling, Anthony Taylor, Tiggs and JaShon Waddy. The two safeties are Markeveon Coleman and Kumonde Hines.
The offensive linemen were Aaron Brewer, Jaquel Pierce, Charlie Vatterott and Josiah Washington. Vatterott is a second-generation Bobcat. His father was a two-time All-Conference offensive linemen who played with the Bobcats from 1982-86.
The wide receivers include King and Thurman Morbley. They are joined by tight ends Boyd and Brendon Rushing, running backs Robert Brown and Tyler Tutt and quarterback Devin Williams.
There are 18 players from Texas with one player each from Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and West Virginia.
"As we continue to learn everyday about our current team, we will continue to build our relationship with each individual who has committed and signed with the Texas State football program," concluded Withers. "This class will be the foundation for the future of Texas State Football. The 2016 Journey of the Texas State football program is in Quarter Number One! Eat ‘Em Up Cats!"
2016 Texas State Signees
Aaron Brewer, Offensive Guard, 6'3″, 295 lbs., Dallas (Skyline HS)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals … earned All-District 9-6A First-Team honors as an offensive guard … played for coach Derick Roberson.
Robert Brown, Running Back, 5'9", 175 lbs., Houston (Eisenhower HS)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals, 247Sports and Scout … named one of Vype Magazine's Hot 100 prospects in Houston … chosen All-District 18-6A MVP … tabbed All-District 18-6A Offensive Player of the Year as a junior after rushing for nearly 1,400 yards … earned All-District 18-5A Second-Team honors as a sophomore … played for coach Kerry Bamburg.
Markeveon Coleman, Safety, 6'2″, 190 lbs., Dallas (Skyline HS)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals … earned All-District 9-6A First-Team honors as a strong safety … played for coach Derick Roberson.
Nikolas Daniels, Linebacker, 6' 0", 235 lbs., League City, Texas (Clear Creek HS)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals … named All-Greater Houston and was a finalist for the Houston Touchdown Club's Top Defensive Player … earned District 24-6A Defensive MVP honors … earned All-District 24-6A First-Team honors as a junior defensive end after being named to the First-Team Defense as a defensive lineman … played for Darrell Warden.
Jordan Eastling, Cornerback, 5'10", 180 lbs., Decatur, Ga. (Southwest DeKalb HS)
Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports … named a two-star recruit by Rivals and Scout … recorded 18 tackles, including 11 solo stops, and an interception as a senior … named All-Region 6-5A Division A selection as a running back … played for Michael Tanks.
Kumonde Hines, Safety, 6' 3", 208 lbs., Chesterfield, Va. (Bird HS)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports … named Honorable Mention All-Metro selection by Richmond Times … played in Virginia National Guard All-Star game … tallied 41 tackles, eight for loss, while recovering two fumbles and intercepting a pass … scored two defensive touchdowns, including a 41-yard fumble return, as a senior … also played wide receiver and helped Bird win its third straight championship as a junior … played for David Bedwell.
John Lilly, Nose Tackle, 6'0", 278 lbs., Houston (Strake Jesuit HS)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals, 247Sports and Scout … named to All-Greater Houston Team … chosen All-District 19-6A First-Team selection … tabbed All-Vype First Team … recorded 67 total tackles, including 30 solo stops and 20 tackles for loss … registered 7.5 sacks and forced three fumbles … named to the Top 100 Greater Houston recruits by the Houston Chronicle … chosen among Houston's Hot 100 recruits by Vype Magazine … tallied 25 tackles, including 17 solo stops and five sacks as a junior … played for James Clancy … son of Kevin and Lesley Lilly.
Thurman Morbley, Wide Receiver, 5' 11", 166 lbs., Texarkana, Texas (Liberty-Eylau HS)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports … caught 54 passes for 1215 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior … also returned six kickoffs and seven punts … named Honorable Mention All-State by Associated Press … Earned All-District 7-4A First-Team honors as a senior after being named Second-Team as a junior … played for Steve Wells.
Jaquel Pierce, Offensive Guard, 6'3″, 255 lbs., Duncanville, Texas (Duncanville HS)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports … named All-District 8-6A Second Team as a junior and senior … earned All-District 8-6A Honorable Mention as a senior defensive tackle … played for Reginald Samples.
Ramon Readus, Defensive Tackle, 6'2″, 270 lbs., McKinney, Texas (Boyd HS)
Rated as a three-star recruit by Scout … was tabbed a two-star recruit by Rivals … was named Scout's Midlands Recruit on the Rise … named an All-District 6-6A First-Team selection as a senior … tallied 49 solo tackles and 2.0 sacks as a senior … also recovered a fumble … sat out junior season with an injury ... was named District 10-5A Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore … played for Don Drake.
Brendon Rushing, Tight End, 6'4", 200 lbs., DeSoto, Texas (De Soto HS)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals, 247Sports and Scout … named an All-District 8-6A Second Team selection … chosen All-State Academic Second Team by the Texas High School Coaches Association … tabbed to the All-District 8-6A Academic First-Team in basketball as a junior … caught 21 passes for 285 yards in eight games … played for Todd Peterman after playing previously for former Bobcat All-American running back Claude Mathis.
Anthony Taylor, Cornerback, 5'8", 177 lbs., Tyler, Texas (Allen HS)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals, 247Sports and Scout … named an Honorable Mention 6A All-State selection as a defensive back by Associated Press Sports Editors … earned All-District 6-6A Second-Team honors as a cornerback … chosen All-Collin County … named Performance Course Star of the Year during the 2015 summer … played for Tom Westerberg.
Dean Taylor, Defensive End, 6'5″, 230 lbs., Pearland, Texas (Pearland HS)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals … named All-District 22-6A First-Team as a defensive end … selected as Pearland's Newcomer of the Year after recording 13 tackles, including seven solo stops, and causing a fumble as a senior … also had 2.0 sacks and registered 6.0 tackles for loss … played for Tony Heath.
Tyler Tutt, Running Back, 5'11", 208 lbs, Keller, Texas (Keller HS)
Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Scout … listed as one of the Top 100 running backs in Texas … named a two-star recruit by Rivals… chosen Honorable Mention All-State by Associated Press Sports Editors … earned All-District 5-6A First-Team selection … rushed for 1,651 yards and 21 touchdowns on 254 carries as a senior … caught seven passes for 46 yards as a senior… was named the Dallas Morning News and NBC 5 Offensive Player of the Week after setting Keller's single game records when he rushed for 342 yards and six touchdowns on 26 carries against Rowlett … was NBC 5 Bobble Head recipient … also set a school record for most yards rushing in a season as a senior … named All-District 5-6A Second Team after running for 1,369 yards and 15 TDs as a junior … competed in track and field at Keller … played for Carl Stralow … son of Laurence and Miranda Tutt.
Charlie Vatterott, Offensive Guard, 6'4", 265 lbs., Houston (St. Thomas)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals, 247Sports and Scout … named a TAPPS Division I All-State selection … earned All-District 3-Division I First-Team honors … four-year starter who helped St. Thomas post a 40-5 combined record and win four consecutive district titles … his father, Charles, played at Texas State from 1982-86 and was a two-time All-Gulf Star Conference Second-Team selection in 1985 and 1986 … played for Timothy Fitzpatrick.
Hal Vinson, Linebacker, 6'1″, 217 lbs., Dallas (South Oak Cliff HS)
Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports … named an Honorable Mention Class 5A All-State selection by Associated Press Sports Editors … earned All-District 13-5A First-Team honors as a defensive end … recorded 40 tackles and five sacks as a junior … played for coach Jason Todd.
JaShon Waddy, Cornerback, 5'11", 170 lbs., Angelton, Texas (Angelton HS)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals and Scout … played on defense and offense as a cornerback and wide receiver … earned All-District 24-5A First-Team honors as a cornerback and Second-Team honors as a wide receiver … named All-Lower Brazoria County First-Team selection by the The Facts … recorded 51 tackles, including 42 solo stops, and a sack … also had two interceptions and nine breakups … returned one interception for a touchdown … competed in basketball as a shooting guard and on the track team in the long jump and relay teams … played for Ryan Roark … son of Shawna Shanklin.
Josiah Washington, Offensive Tackle, 6'6", 290 lbs., DeSoto, Texas (De Soto HS)
Rated as a three-star recruit by 247Sports and a two-star recruit by Rivals and Scout … earned All-District 8-6A Honorable Mention honors … three-year starter on De Soto's offensive line … played for Todd Peterman after playing previously for former Bobcat All-American running back Claude Mathis.
Devin Williams, Quarterback, 5'11", 180 lbs., Mansfield, Texas (Timberview HS)
Rated as a three-start recruit by Scout and a two-star recruit by Rivals and 247Sports … dual-threat quarterback who completed 127 of 228 passes for 1,942 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior … also rushed for 399 yards and eight TDs on 92 carries … ranked among the Top 150 recruits by Dave Campbell's Texas Football … named All-State Honorable Mention by Associated Press Sports Editors in 2014 … named District 14-5A Offensive MVP after throwing for 2,275 yards and rushing for 604 yards while being responsible for 31 touchdowns as a junior … played for James Brown … son of Sean Williams.
Midyear Junior College Signees
Levi Boyd, Tight End, 6'5", 230 lbs., Itasca, Texas (Itasca HS/Grossmont CC)
Transferred to Texas State from Grossmont Community College … played eight games in the 2015 season … caught 17 passes for 260 yards to average 32.5 receiving yards per game … played in five games as a freshman and caught eight passes for 96 yards and a touchdown … played for Mike Jordan … played tight end and linebacker at Itasca High School … was named an All-District First-Team selection as a tight end as a junior and senior … also earned All-District honors as a linebacker in his senior season when he recorded 53 tackles, including 19 solo stops, three sacks, and an interception … also caught nine passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns … played for Craig Horn.
Elijah King, Wide Receiver, 6'2", 180 lbs., Ashland, Ky. (Fairview HS/Santa Barbara CC)
Rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals and 247 Sports… transferred to Texas State from Santa Barbara City College … played 11 games in the 2014 season … caught 54 passes for 637 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman … played three games in 2015 … recorded 19 receptions for 277 yards and one TD … had a 70-yard catch as a sophomore … played for Craig Moropoulos … played running back at Fairview and earned All-Eastern Kentucky Conference First-Team honors after rushing for 1,379 yards and 21 as a senior … played for Nathan McPeek.
Gabe Loyd, Linebacker, 6'2", 240 lbs., St. Louis, Mo. (Miller Career Academy/Fort Scott CC)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals and Scout and a three-star recruit by 247 Sports … transferred to Texas State from Fort Scott Community College … named an All-Kansas Jayhawk Second-Team selection in the 2015 season after he tallied 106 tackles, including 54 solo stops … recorded 21 tackles for loss of 84 yards and 4.5 sacks for 37 total yards … made one interception that he returned for a touchdown … had one fumble recovery … Surpassed NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneer linebacker Lavonte' David, becoming the school's all-time career tackles leader with 224 … named an Honorable Mention All-Jayhawk Conference selection as a freshman … played for Curtis Horton.
Quinn Tiggs, Cornerback, 6'0", 190 lbs., Tupelo, Miss. (Tupelo HS/Itawamba CC)
Rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals and 247 Sports… transferred to Texas State from Itawamba Community College … recorded 44 tackles and two interceptions as a sophomore … had 40 solo tackles and broke up five passes … recorded nine tackles against Northwest Mississippi Community College (9/17/15) … averaged 11.7 yards on 12 punt returns … named to the 2015 MACJC North Division All-State First-Team … played for coach Sean Cannon.
