All-state WR tops solid class
2/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Wildcats load up on linebackers, linemen
Of 12 signees, eight are either linebackers or offensive linemen
ABILENE -- ACU head football coach Gary Gaines announced Wednesday the signing of 12 high school players to national letters of intent to play football for the Wildcats beginning in the fall of 2003.
The signing class includes -- which also one junior college transfer -- has three first team all-state players and nine who earned first team all-district honors in 2002. The class features four linebackers, four offensive linemen, one wide receiver, one tight end, one defensive back, one defensive lineman and one "athlete."
"We feel like this is a pretty solid group of players," ACU head coach Gary Gaines said. "I don't know that there are any guys on the list that are going to garner a lot of attention state-wide, but they're good players in our estimation."
One player who would probably buck that statement is Abilene High wide receiver Jerale Badon, one of the top playmakers in Class 5A in 2002, and a first team all-state selection by both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Texas Sports Writers Association.
Badon led District 3-5A in receiving with 66 catches for 1,168 yards and 11 touchdowns. As a junior he tallied 50 catches for 685 yards and six touchdowns, giving him 116 catches for 1,853 yards and 17 touchdowns in his career. He finished as one of the top three receives in the illustrious history of the district.
"Jerale is certainly a game-breaker and an exciting player," Gaines said. "He's a very sure-handed player with good speed who will have a chance to make an impact for us as a freshman."
Other standouts who signed with ACU on Wednesday include offensive lineman John Douty of Kennedale, a Class 3A first team all-state selection by the APSE; defensive back Michael Moody of Lubbock High, a two-time all-district performer; linebacker Brandon Farran of Pearland, a first team all-District 23-5A pick who recorded 250 tackles the last two seasons; and athlete Willis Hogan of Sundown, a standout in 2001 who played last summer in the Texas High School Coaches' Association All-Star Game.
Farran, Kevin Walker of Waxahachie, Phillip Muns of Dallas Christian High School and junior college transfer Edward Semien are the four linebackers who chose ACU, while Douty, Nathan Young of Plainview, Tayler Cates of McKinney and Logan Bains of Southlake Carroll are the offensive linemen who will play for the Wildcats.
"We felt like we needed to get some young offensive linemen in here and get them in the weight room and get them ready to play in a couple of years," Gaines said, "and I think we got some good ones. We also needed some depth at linebacker and we feel good about those guys we signed."
ACU is coming off one of its best seasons since the 1977 team won the NAIA Division I national championship. Last fall ACU finished 6-4 and earned a share of the Lone Star Conference South Division title. The Wildcats -- who finished No. 30 in the nation according to the American Football Coaches' Association poll -- reeled off five straight wins midway through the season to recover from an 0-3 start. That 0-3 start came against teams that were all ranked in the nation's top six at the time the game was played.
The Wildcats should return 16 starters from that team in 2003, including senior quarterback Colby Freeman, senior offensive lineman Britt Lively, senior wide receiver DaRay Sims, senior defensive backs David Jones and Kendrick Walker, junior linebacker Shawn Taylor, senior defensive end Brad Walton and junior placekicker Eben Nelson, all of whom earned all-LSC South Division recognition in 2002.
"We think we have a good core of players returning next year," Gaines said. "We'd like to be able to go out and sign 20 kids every year, but you obviously can't do that. We wanted to fill some needs and get some more athleticism on our team, and we feel like we've done that. All of these guys have a chance to be good football players for us down the line."
Here's a quick glance at the players the Wildcats signed Wednesday:
HIGH SCHOOL
Name
Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
School
Comment
Jerale Badon
5-11
175
WR
Abilene
1st team Class 5A all-state by the Associated Press and the Texas Sports Writers Association. 66 catches for 1,168 yards and 11 TDs in 2002. Named to Abilene Reporter-News' All-Big Country Super Team in 2001 and 2002.
Logan Bains
6-2
270
OL
Southlake Carroll
Starter at right tackle for Southlake Carroll, which finished 16-0 and captured the Class 5A Division II state title in its first year in Class 5A. Helped the Dragons post 7,466 yards of total offense in 2002, the third-highest total in 5A state history behind only Stephenville (1998) and Sugar Land (1953).
Taylor Cates
6-3
260
OL
McKinney
Two-year starter at McKinney. District 9-5A honorable mention all-district selection in 2002.
Chris Conklin
6-2
210
TE
Pearland
1st team all-District 23-5A in 2002. Caught 11 passes for 162 yards and 2 touchdowns in 2002. Led Pearland to Class 5A Division I semifinals in 2001 and a Region III-5A Division II semifinal appearance in 2002.
John Douty
6-5
290
OL
Kennedale
1st team Class 3A all-state by the Associated Press and 3rd team Class 3A all-state by the Texas Sports Writers Association. Led team to a 29-7 record in three seasons as a starter.
Brandon Farran
5-11
215
LB
Pearlanc
1st team all-District 23-5A in both 2001 and 2002. Racked up 250 tackles and 8 sacks combined in his last two seasons. Named team captain in 2001 and 2002. Led Pearland to Class 5A Division I semifinals in 2001 and a Region III-5A Division II semifinal appearance in 2002.
Willis Hogan
6-2
250
Athlete
Sundown
Was the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal's Class 2A All- South Plains Player of the Year in 2001. Rushed for 1,006 yards on 150 carries during the 2001 regular season, earning a spot on the North roster for the Texas High School Coaches' Association All-Star Game. Spent the 2002-03 school year at South Plains College playing basketball. Could play either linebacker, tight end, fullback or defensive end.
Nathan Ikel
6-0
215
DE
Tomball
1st team all-District 16-5A in 2002
Michael Moody
5-11
190
DB
Lubbock
One of the top players in the Panhandle, Moody was a three-year starter for the Westerners at quarterback, running back and defensive back. As an offensive player, he racked up 3,241 yards of total offense in three seasons. He was named to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal's Class 5A-4A all-South Plains team in both 2001 and 2002. As a senior in 2002 he was the District 2-5A Offensive MVP after rushing for 858 yards and 9 touchdowns and catching 34 passes for 403 yards and 3 touchdowns. Was also a standout defensive back at Lubbock HS, racking up 76 tackles and 5 interceptions combined as a junior and senior.
Philip Muns
5-11
225
LB
Dallas Christian
1st team TAPPS Class 4A all-state. Starter and team captain on TAPPS Class 4A state runner-up team. 123 tackles, 9 forced fumbles, 6 fumbles recovered and one interception in 2002. Grandson of former ACU head coach and director of athletics, Wally Bullington.
Kevin Walker
6-1
190
LB
Waxahachie
1st team all-District 15-4A in 2002
6-3
280
OL
Plainview
Three-year starter for Bulldogs. Team captain, first team all-district and Class 4A honorable mention all-state in 2001 and 2002. 1st team academic all- state in 2002. Named to Amarillo Globe-News' Super Team in 2001 and 2002. Named to Lubbock Avalanche-Journal's Super Team in 2002, and was an A-J Top-10 recruit in 2002.
JUNIOR COLLEGE TRANSFER
Name
Ht.
Wt.
Pos.
School
Comment
Edward Semien
6-1
245
LB
Dayton / Santa Monica CC
As a senior at Dayton HS in 2000, he led his team to a 10-0 season and a fourth-straight district championship. As a senior he recorded 90 tackles and three fumble recoveries and also rushed for 4 450 yards and seven touchdowns. As a sophomore last year at Santa Monica JC, he had 80 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 blocked field goals and 2 fumble returns for touchdowns.
