ABILENE – Even after adding 12 players to their 2019 roster during the early signing period in December, the ACU Wildcat football coaching staff knew it still had work to do to in order to make Wednesday's National Signing Day a success.
And head coach
Adam Dorrel believes he and his staff were successful in their endeavors as they added 11 more players on Wednesday, a haul that includes two wide receivers, two tight ends, two offensive linemen, two defensive ends, two linebackers and one cornerback, all from the high school ranks. And in the December class, the Wildcats added a high school quarterback and running back, and then bolstered the class with transfers at tight end (two), offensive line (three), defensive line (two), defensive tackle (one), linebacker (one) and wide receiver (one).
The Wildcats added a player at every position on the field except for punter and placekicker, a testament, Dorrel said, to the hard work done by his coaching staff on the recruiting trail.
"Our guys did a tremendous job this recruiting season," said Dorrel, whose team was 6-5 last year and returns the bulk of the starting lineup on both sides of the ball. "We take a deep dive into a player's background first. We want to know exactly what kind of kid we're bringing in here. We've got a detailed list of questions that we want answered, and that means we talk to more people than just the head coach.
"It's a time-consuming process for our coaches when we're out on the road, but that's how thorough I want us to be," he said. "We shoot high when we're out there. We're targeting non-Power 5 and mid-major FBS talent because we want to build this program into one that wins at every level: spiritually, academically and athletically. We aren't going to shy away from continuing to go after those type of kids, and we were able to get a lot of those type of kids in these two signing classes."
Dorrel said the momentum the program built last year when the Wildcats recorded the program's first winning season since 2013 when ACU was 6-5 in its only season as an NCAA Division I independent and first winning Southland Conference record (5-4) since re-joining the league in 2014 helped to make players more receptive to what Wildcat coaches were pitching. The wins on the field are a direct correlation, Dorrel said, of the wins the program has enjoyed off the field where the overall team GPA has been on the rise (nearing a 3.0 last fall), and participation in community service projects is at an all-time high.
"What's been so fun is to be able to reflect back on how far we've come since January 2017," Dorrel said, "and think about how far we've grown as a program. We did a lot of great things on the field last season, but the things we did in the classroom and the community are just as important. Our GPA has been on the right track, and that's something in which we take great pride. We've got great academics here at ACU, and the kids have to work at it. We're doing what we said we would do when we came here and that's improve the academic performance, get out in the community, build men of character and put the toughest team in the Southland Conference on the field every Saturday. Each one of the young men we signed in December and (Wednesday) will help reach each of those goals."
Here's a brief look at each of the players the Wildcats signed Wednesday, and here are two links to ACU's December signing class and the four transfers who joined the Wildcats on the first day of classes in January:
CODY ANTHONY, OL, 6-6, 260, fr, HS, Sumner, Texas (North Lamar High School) – Played on both sides of the line, as well as some tight end, but will be an offensive lineman at ACU. … Finished his career with 94 tackles and eight sacks at diefensive end and 93 pancake blocks at offensive tackle. … As a senior in 2018 he was a first team all-district and first team All-Red River Valley selection, as well as the team's MaxPreps Player of the Year. … Also selected to the ESPN Radio Smoaky All-East Texas Team. … First team all-district and All-Red River selection as a junior. … First team all-district and second team All-Red River pick as a sophomore.
Personal: Born 07 December 2000. … Son of Jay and Kristi Anthony. … 2019 graduate of Paris North Lamar High School.
Coach Dorrel says: "We've been tracking Cody for a while and he's a player we really went after. He's long and rangy and has a unique skill set. He's a terrific basketball player and I was sold after I went and watched him play earlier this year. He's unselfish and comes from a great family."
JOSTEIN CLARKE, WR, 6-3, 185, fr, HS, Prosper, Texas (Prosper High School) – Helped his team to a combined 19-6 record in 2017 and 2018, including a 10-win season as a junior in 2017. … Prosper won the district championship in 2017 before finishing as the runner-up in 2018. … The Eagles went three rounds deep in the Class 6A playoffs in 2017 and two rounds deep in 2018. … As a senior, Clarke caught 50 passes for 891 yards and 14 touchdowns earning first team all-district and team Offensive MVP honors. … Three-year letterman in basketball.
Personal: Born 21 December 2000 in Hanau, Germany. … Son of James and Susie Clarke. … 2019 graduate of Prosper High School.
Coach Dorrel says: "Jostein has really good ball skills for a kid as long as he is. Usually you find those kind of ball skills in slot receivers. Both of his parents are U.S. Army veteranx, and I love the family. He needs to bulk up, but we're going to get him in here this summer and work him because he's got a chance to help us in 2019."
DEVIN DAVIS, WR, 6-4, 200, fr, HS, Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite High School) – First team all-district selection as a junior and selected to the academic all-state team. … Also had interest from Air Force, Army, Navy, North Texas and SMU and was offered by all three service academics, as well as ACU and North Texas. … Finished his senior season with 25 catches for 489 yards and five touchdowns, averaging almost 20 yards per reception.
Personal: Born 11 October 2000. … Son of Tyrone and Vernettia Davis. … 2019 graduate of Mesquite High School.
Coach Dorrel says: "Devin was the captain of a team that won one game as junior in 2017 and came back to make the playoffs in 2018. We had a great conversation about how they turned around the culture of the program. He talked about how the players on the team took ownership of everything they did every day, and that's what we preach in our program. He'll be a great fit on and off the field for us."
DARRYL MINOR JR., LB, 6-1, 205, fr, HS, Lake Dallas, Texas (Lake Dallas High School) – As a senior in 2018, Minor – who also played running back in high school – finished with 97 tackles (13 for loss) and two interceptions. … he was a first team All-District 7-5A Division II selection and was a second team pick on the Denton Record-Chronicle's All-Area team.
Personal: Born 08 December 2000. … Son of Darryl and Zsazsa Minor. … 2019 graduate of Lake Dallas High School.
Coach Dorrel says: "We got on Darryl a little bit late, but our coaches did a great job with him. He runs extremely well and has great physicality. Linebackers in the Southland Conference have to be able to cover running backs, slot receivers and tight ends and he can certainly do that."
WILL MORGAN, DE, 6-2, 250, Forney, Texas (Forney High School) – Played both tight end and defensive end at Forney, but will be a defensive lineman at ACU. … As a senior he had 17 catches for 267 yards and two touchdowns and carried the ball twice, scoring one touchdown. … On the defensive side of the ball he had 51 tackles (14 for loss) and four sacks. … He was a first team All-District 8-5A Division II selection at both defensive end and tight end as a senior.
Personal: Born 06 January 2001. … Son of Jeremy and Teri Morgan. … 2019 graduate of Forney High School.
Coach Dorrel says: "Will's dad is a high school football coach, and he's an extremely competitive player. He's got a great frame and a chance to get even bigger than he is right now. He'll be a great fit here."
JAMES NEAL, LB, 6-0, 190, fr, HS, Paris, Texas (Paris High School) – Two-time first team All-District 7-4A Division I selection at outside linebacker. … Helped lead Paris to a 9-3 record and area championship as a senior in 2018. … Finished his career with 164 tackles, five forced fumbles, six sacks, eight pass breakups, 20 tackles for loss, 14 quarterback pressures and four fumble recoveries.
Personal: Born 16 July 2001. … Son of Yolanda Jackson. … 2019 graduate of Paris High School.
Coach Dorrel says: "James spent a lot of time playing running back, so when you watch his film you realize he's only played full-time linebacker for one season. When you think about that, what you see on film becomes even more impressive. He can really run, and when he gets where he's going he's not afraid of contact."
OSARETIN OBADEYI, DE, 6-3, 225, fr, HS, Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite High School) – Second team All-District 11-6A selection as a senior when he helped the Skeeters to a playoff berth. … Finished his senior season with 67 tackles and 10 sacks as Mesquite reached the state playoffs for the first time in 10 seasons.
Personal: Born 14 December 2000. … Son of Monday Obadeyi. … 2019 graduate of Mesquite High School.
Coach Dorrel says: "He's got a great smile and a great spirit to him; always positive and always encouraging. He's the epitome of the kind of kid we're looking for here: high character, high academics, from a great family, and a great frame with the potential to continue growing into a great player. He's a football junkie who wants to be great, and those are the kind of kids you want to coach."
LOGAN SMITH, TE, 6-4, 260, fr, HS, Spring Branch, Texas (Smithson Valley High School) – Helped lead Smithson Valley to a pair of Class 6A playoff berths as a junior in 2017 and senior in 2018. … As a junior his team finished 10-2 and won District 26-6A and reached the area round of the playoffs. … As a senior Smithson Valley finished 5-5 and was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. … A standout lacrosse player, Smith was the 2015 Defensive Player of the Year for his club team and in 2017 he earned Division 2 all-state honorable mention honors as a goalie.
Personal: Born 30 August 2000. … Son of Steve and Dana Smith. … 2019 graduate of Smithson Valley High School.
Coach Dorrel says: "Logan played mostly offensive tackle in high school and didn't really take up the tight end spot until I told him to get a quarterback and learn to be a tight end over the Christmas break. He texted me a video on Christmas Day of him running routes and catching the ball and I almost fell out of my chair. He's a huge kid, but he can really move his feet and he's got great balance. He could be a force in the run and the pass game as a blocker and receiver."
GABE SONNIER, TE, 6-5, 245, fr, HS, Lumberton, Texas (Lumberton High School) – Finished his career with 50 catches for 400 yards and was a first team all-district selection. Personal: Born 26 April 2001. … Son of David Sonnier and Amy Bobbitt. … 2019 graduate of Lumberton High School.
Coach Dorrel says: "A lot of people recruited him as an offensive lineman, but that's not his position simply because of his ball skills. He makes great adjustments to the ball and he's only going to get bigger, better and stronger."
RYAN STAPP, CB, 5-11, 175, fr, HS, College Station, Texas (College Station High School) – Stapp had a terrific career at College Station, finishing with 141 tackles, eight interceptions, 32 pass breakups and seven tackles for loss from the cornerback position. … As a junior he helped College Station to a 14-2 record and Class 5A Division II state championship. … The Cougars beat Aledo, 20-19, for the title, snapping the Bearcats' 31-game winning streak in the process. … College Station was 9-3 and an area finalist in 2018. … As a senior, Stapp was a first team all-state, first team All-Central Texas and first team all-district selection at defensive back, a first team all-state selection as a return specialist and an academic all-district pick. … As a junior he was a second team all-district selection. … An accomplished track and field athlete, he is a four-year letter winner in track and field and is the defending district champion and area champion in the 110-meter hurdles. … In early January, he posted the second-fastest high school time in the country in the 60-meter hurdles, winning the Texas A&M High School Classic in 8.02 seconds.
Personal: Born 29 March 2001. … Son of Ken and Julie Stapp. … 2019 graduate of College Station High School.
Coach Dorrel says: "Ryan has a great wingspan, but he's also a kid with one of the top 60-meter hurdle times in the nation. You can coach a lot of things at this level, but you can't coach top-end speed and he's got it."
WYATT TATE, OL, 6-6, 305, fr, HS, Seguin, Texas (Navarro High School) – Terrific high school career as he was credited with 86 pancake blocks in three years as a starter. … Helped lead Navarro to a 35-6 record over the last three years, including a regional championship and a trip to the state semifinals. … Tate was a first team all-state, all-area and all-district selection in 2018 after earning first team all-district, all-area and honorable mention all-state honors as a junior in 2017. … District Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore in 2016.
Personal: Born 09 November 2000. … Son of Bill and Kathy Tate. … 2019 graduate of Navarro High School.
Coach Dorrel says: "
Wyatt played in a Wing-T offense and I don't think in all of the film I watched I ever saw him do more than run block out of a four-point stance. You can project a lot of things onto kids when you recruit them, but you can't project 6-6, 305 pounds. The kid is gifted and he could really be a good player for us."
ACU FOOTBALL NOTES
• ACU spring football will begin on Feb. 26 with the final date of camp set for Friday, April 5.
• The final day of spring ball will be a busy one as ACU hosts the annual Don Smith Golf Tournament at the Abilene Country Club that morning, followed by the start of Junior Day on campus around noon and then the Purple-White Spring Game that evening at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium.
• Aside from the signees, the Wildcats added these preferred walk-ons in defensive end Jacob Thielen (Faith Christian Academy HS / Arvada, California), linebacker Max McCalley (Coram Deo Academy / Flower Mound, Texas), and running back Colton Pool of Boerne (Boerne HS).
