BUCS’ SIGNEES ADDRESS CONCERNS IN O-LINE AND DEFENSE
Buccaneers sign 41 players for 2014 season
When Keith Thomas was named the Blinn College football coach on Dec. 19, he knew he had a lot of work to do to catch the rest of the Southwest Junior College Football Conference on the recruiting trail.
Through hard work, hours of phone calls and thousands of miles on the road, Thomas and his staff signed 41 players in time for National Signing Day today.
“I was hired so late that we were already a month and a half behind,” Thomas said. “So when I first took over, my staff and I sat down and broke down every position and looked at where we were really weak, and those are the areas we heavily recruited.”
With holes in the offensive line and various positions defensively, the Buccaneers signed 10 offensive linemen and 14 defensive players, eight of those in the secondary.
Signees include Tralund Webber, a defensive linemen for Cameron Yoe who was named the Class 2A defensive MVP in the state title game; Donnell Greene, a 6-foot-6, 320-pound defensive lineman; and Bailey Burton, an offensive guard from Clear Creek High School.
Thomas said the offensive line will be young this upcoming season, but the Bucs should overcome their inexperience with an explosive offensive style.
“We’re going to be running a fast-paced offense and we’re going to be getting rid of the ball quick,” Thomas said.
Running that offense will be one of five quarterbacks: Luke Klingler, offensive coordinator Jeremy Klinger’s nephew; Jarrett Hildreth, a 6-5, 208-pound two-star recruit from Clear Creek High School; and Shane McCarley, a transfer from Old Dominion University who played under Jeremy Klingler at Manvel High School, all signed with the Buccaneers today.
The Bucs signed five Brenham High School players, including 6-foot, 250-pound offensive lineman Taylon Shephard and wide receiver James Homan. Blinn has also invited Brenham defensive backs Desmond Lockett and Ryan Nunn and offensive lineman Neal Mathis to join the team this fall.
For more information on Blinn athletics, visit www.buccaneersports.com.
Brandon Jackson | A&M Consolidated |
Emmanuel Gabriels | Alief Elsik |
Byron Riggs | Anahuac |
Taylon Shepard | Brenham |
James Homan | Brenham |
Neal Mathis | Brenham |
Desmond Lockett | Brenham |
Ryan Nunn | Brenham |
Tralund Webber | Cameron Yoe |
Luke Klingler | Cinco Ranch |
Trent Soechting | Cinco Ranch |
Logan Machalec | Cinco Ranch |
Bailey Burton | Clear Creek |
Jarrett Hildreth | Clear Creek |
Davin Pierce | Dr. Phillips |
Shawun Lurry | Dwyer |
Jaylon Bowden | Elkins |
Luke Clements | Floresville |
Michael Spiller | Hightower |
Justin Johnson | Judson |
Malik Pryor | Judson |
Donnell Green | Kell |
Dillon Marburger | La Grange |
Wayne Noak | La Grange |
Wes Scott | La Grange |
Cori Jones | La Grange |
Robert Cox | O’Conner |
Craig McWilliams | Pflugerville |
Roderic Rucker | Port Arthur Memorial |
Ovidio Hernandez | Roma |
Paul LeBlanc Jr. | Spring Westfield |
Alexander Hoskins | Teague |
Zach Krolczyk | The Woodlands |
Quinton Trice | Waco University |
Jordan Randolph | Waco University |
Dayon Goodwin | Willis |
Cleophus Toliver | Willis |
Joshua Wilhite | Hightower |
Joshua Cuellar | Porter |
Albert Jacobs | Port Arthur Memorial |
Meldrick Matthews | Port Arthur Memorial |
Avery Jordan | Pearland |
Story courtesy: Matt Keyser, Blinn Information