Nine ink football NLI during early signing period

Nine ink football NLI during early signing period

12/16/2020 9:30:00 AM | Football

ABILENE – Abilene Christian football Wednesday announced its early signing class, which is composed of seven high school standouts and two Texas State transfers. Former Bobcats John Brannon and Anthony Smith will join head coach Adam Dorrel and the Wildcats in January, while the rest will report in August.

With this first crop of recruits, the Wildcats have bolstered their depth at linebacker (Brannon, Cirby Coheley, Kyle Pointer) and running back (Smith, Jar'Quae Walton). They also signed Keller quarterback Hayden Anderson, versatile Lubbock Monterey defensive end Tyrin Bradley, Quinlan's powerlifting tight end Colt Cooper, and Brock High School All State safety Luke Dillingham.

Profiles of each signee are listed in alphabetical order.

2019 First Team All-District 5-6A
Football and track letter winner
Son of ACU alumni Amy and Christopher Anderson
Selected for Superintendent's Cabinet
Finance major

We are extremely excited about Hayden and what he adds to our football family both on and off the field. He is extremely athletic and is a dual threat quarterback that has the ability to move an offense with his arm and his legs. He is extremely intelligent and has a very high football IQ. He has demonstrated great leadership capacity throughout his high school career and has an infectious positive personality. I believe he will be a great addition to our offense and our football family in every area!

Assistant head coach Josh Lamberson (Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks)

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Three-year football letter winner
Credited with 34.0 tackles and 5.0 sacks the last two seasons according to MaxPreps
Tossed two touchdown passes in 56-28 win vs. Midland HS
Management major

We are extremely excited to have Tyrin Bradley joining the Wildcat family. During his time at Monterey-Lubbock, Tyrin showcased not only his athletic ability but also his selflessness playing multiple positions on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. His combination of size, length and quickness make him perfectly suited for the defensive end position.

Assistant coach Cody Scribner (Defensive Ends)

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Appeared in 21 games for Texas State between 2017-19, racking up 20 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack.
Football, track and field and powerlifting letter winner
Recorded 140 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, nine sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries at Prosper HS during his senior year of 2016
Tallied 504 career tackles
Member of the DFW All-Decade Team
Named to the Class 5A All-State Second Team
Chosen District 14-5A Defensive MVP and First-Team All-Collin County
Named All-District and Academic All-District all four years
Helped guide Prosper HS to three playoff appearances
NFF Award Winner
Pursuing a Masters in Cyber Security
Father, Trae, played football at Louisiana Tech from 1988 to 1992

We're excited about John becoming a Wildcat. He brings playing experience ... he's athletic and runs well. He'll be an immediate impact for us at the Mike or Will position. He has the athleticism to play Will and the physicality to be a Mike for us. He's a hard worker and very coachable.

Assistant Coach Clint Brown (Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers)

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2019 First Team All-District 3-4A honoree at WR and OLB
District MVP
AB honor roll
Part of team that reached the 2018 state semifinals
Football, baseball, basketball and track letter winner
Criminal Justice major

Cirby is a very versatile athlete. He was a wide receiver as a junior and a quarterback as a senior. He's also played safety and corner on defense. He's a four-sport athlete who I think will develop into a great player for the Wildcats. We're excited about his coverage skills and what he brings to the table as a linebacker.

Assistant Coach Clint Brown (Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers)

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Football, track, powerlifting, and golf letter winner
First team All-District 9-4A tight end and linebacker in 2019
Credited with 55 pancake blocks
Averaged 20.0 yards per catch
Academic All District
Business major

We're extremely excited about Colt. He's a jack of all trades. He can flex out, put his hand in the dirt, line up in the backfield and do all the things we would ask our tight ends to do. He is a strong kid who has a chance to win the state powerlifting meet. He is everything you could want in a recruit; hard working and selfless. He will be a great addition to our program.

Assistant Coach James Curlee (Recruiting Coordinator / Tight Ends and Fullbacks)

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2019 TSWA Class 3A All-State Third Team
2019 APSE Class 3A All-State honorable mention
2019 First Team All-District 4-3A
District Co-Defensive MVP
First Team All-Parker County
Football and track and field letter winner
Preseason All-State
Team captain who finished career with a 37-6 record as starter, guiding the 2018 and 2019 teams to the state semifinals
National Honor Society
First Team Academic All-State
Ranked top 10% of class
Involved with PALS program
Parents Ross and Missy were student-athletes at Western Carolina

Luke comes from a good high school football program at Brock. We really like his maturity and work ethic. He has all the intangibles we are looking for. From an on field standpoint, we love his physicality and ability to tackle in the open field. He shows great range and instincts to read the quarterback. He's a smart football player who will be able to direct traffic on the field. We're excited to see what Luke will do during his time at Abilene Christian.

Assistant Coach Zach Williams (Safeties)

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Two-time Second Team All Region
Football and lacrosse letter winner
Part of team that won the 3A state championship
All-Academic Team
Biology major

Kyle is physical and athletic, and someone we think will be a great mentor. He possesses versatility and the potential to be a third down past rush specialist. He comes from a good program at Casteel, and we're looking forward to seeing what Kyle can do this fall.

Assistant Coach Clint Brown (Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers)

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Bobcats’ second-leading rusher on the team in 2017 with 352 yards and three touchdowns on 74 carries
Redshirted in 2018
Moved to linebacker after the 2019 season
2016 All-District 3-6A as a senior after rushing for 1,538 yards and 17 touchdowns
Finished high school career at Fossil Ridge rushing 376 times for 2,773 yards and 29 touchdowns
2015 All-District 3A-5
Voted team’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016
Football and track letter winner
Pursuing a Masters Of Science In Management

Anthony has excellent instincts along with tremendous balance and good speed. These assets merged with his strong frame provide him with the potential to be productive both in and out of the tackle box.

Assistant Coach Bryce Baccarini (Running Backs)

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2018 Collin Street Bakery TSWA Third Team Class 4A All-State
2018 APSE Class 4A All-State honorable mention
2019 First Team District 5-4A running back
School’s all-time rushing leader
Football, basketball and track letter winner
Part of a 10-3 team that won the 2018 state championship, and was state runner up in 2019
2019 Academic First Team All-District 18-4A for boys basketball
Physical therapy major

Quae can find the slightest hole and make a defense pay with the combination of elite vision, sudden acceleration and allusive change of direction. He is the definition of versatile.

Assistant Coach Bryce Baccarini (Running Backs)