Babers signs talented class at EIU
Updated: February 6, 2013
CHARLESTON, Ill. (EIU Release)- Eastern
Illinois head coach Dino Babers
addressed several positions with the 2013 Eastern Illinois football
class with some players filling immediate needs while others will help
fill gaps in the future.
The class includes five wide receivers, four offensive linemen, four
defensive linemen, two quarterbacks, two linebackers, one running back,
one defensive back, one long snapper and one athlete.
"I
feel that we have recruited a very diverse class this season with some players who are bigger, stronger and faster," Babers said.
"The
junior college players and four-year transfers are guys who need to be
able to step in and compete for starting jobs, especially the defensive
line where we lost a number of senior players. If one of the freshmen is athletically able to step in and contribute
then they will compete for playing time, but our expectation is for them to be able
to help us 2, 3, 4 years down the road."
EIU completed the 2012 season with a 7-5 record winning the Ohio Valley Conference regular
season title with a 6-1 record. EIU made its 14th FCS playoff appearance. EIU's high-powered, fast-paced offense featured
two players that finished in the top ten in the voting for the Walter Payton Award in junior wide receiver Erik Lora (4th) and
junior quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10th). Head coach Dino Babers was third in voting for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year
after winning OVC and AFCA Region 3 Coach of the Year honors.
EIU will open the 2013 season at San Diego State on Saturday, August 31.
HIGH SCHOOL CLASS
NAME POSITION HT WT HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Addison Bounds Quarterback 6-4 195 Fairbury, Ill. Prairie Central HS
Kurtis Brummerstedt Offensive Line 6-7 315 Yorkville, Ill. Yorkville HS
Daniel Chism Defensive Line 6-2 260 Warrenville, Ill. Wheaton-Warrenville South
HS
Matt Christensen Wide Receiver 6-3 175 Racine, Wis. Wilmot Union HS
Austin Green Quarterback 6-3 200 Rochester, Ill. Rochester HS
AJ Hantak Long Snapper 6-4 200 Fenton, Mo. Rockwood Summit HS
Malik Harrison Athlete 6-1 185 Springfield, Ill. Springfield HS
Kashmiere Hughes Wide Receiver 6-5 215 Peoria, Ill. Peoria Manual HS
Xzavier McAllister Offensive Tackle 6-5 325 Canton, Ohio Canton McKinley HS
Seth McDonald Linebacker 6-1 210 Sandwich, Ill. Sandwich HS
Tray Mitchell Wide Receiver 5-11 175 Wentzville, Mo. Holt HS
Daviante Sayles Running Back 5-10 180 Vista, Calif. Rancho Buena Vista HS
Max Sidney Offensive Tackle 6-7 290 Chesterfield, Mo. Marquette HS
Vince Speller Safety 6-1 195 Chicago, Ill. Chicago Mt. Carmel HS
JUNIOR COLLEGE CLASS (Denotes year they will be at EIU in fall 2013)
NAME POS HT WT YR HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL/JC/LAST)
Adolphus Barnes OT 6-4 270 JR (St. Petersburg, Fla/Hillsborough HS/Merced College)
Laquesse Taylor DT 6-2 305 JR (Fresno, Calif./Edison HS/College of the Sequoias)
Marques White DL 6-3 265 R-JR (Folsom, Calif./Vista Del Lago HS/Saddleback College)
Jarell Wright DT 6-3 300 JR (Long
Beach, Calif./Jordan HS/LA Harbor College)
MID-YEAR TRANSFERS (Denotes year they will be at EIU in fall 2013)
NAME POS HT WT YR HOMETOWN (HIGH SCHOOL/JC/LAST)
Devante Davis LB
6-2 205 R-SO Dallas, Texas (Lincoln HS / Baylor University)
Jeff LePak WR 6-6 215 R-JR Belton, Texas (Belton HS / Baylor University)
Nico Shepherd WR 6-2 205 R-FR Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (St. Thomas Aquinas HS / FIU)
Addison Bounds (6-4, 195, QB, Fairbury, Ill./Prairie Central HS)...
Played for coach Brian Hassett at Prairie Central HS... passed for 1,933
yards and 24 touchdowns earning IFCA Class 4A All-State honors as a
senior... was 117-of-188 with only eight interceptions... rushed for another
616 yards and 11 touchdowns as the team posted
a 7-3 record advancing to the IHSA Class 4A playoffs... as a junior was
105-of-185 with 12 touchdown passes and five interceptions... passed for
1,620 yards while rushing for 742 with 16 touchdowns... team posted a 7-4
record advancing to the IHSA Class 4A second
round... earned first team All-Corn Belt Conference honors as a
quarterback and was s second team selection at defensive back... Academic
All-State selection.
Kurtis Brummerstedt (6-7, 315, OL, Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville HS)...
Played for coach Karl Hoinkes at Yorkville HS... earned first team
Northern Illinois All-Big 12 East Division honors as a senior... is a big,
physical offensive lineman that played in a pro-style offense with
heavy emphasis on running the football...
Dan Chism (6-2, 260, DL, Warrenville, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South HS)...
Played for coach Ron Muhitch at Wheaton Warrenville South HS... missed
junior season with injury returning as a senior to earn IFCA Class 7A
honors as a senior... named Dupage County All-Area team and DuPage Valley
Conference top defensive lineman... registered 43
tackles with 3 sacks as the anchor of the defensive line.
Matt Christensen (6-3, 175, WR, Racine, Wis./Wilmot Union HS)...
Played for coach Mike Greinke at Wilmot Union HS.. three year starter at
wide receiver earning All-Conference honors each season... finished prep
career ranked 9th
all-time in Wisconsin HS history with 2,349 yards receiving... was 21st
on Wisconsin all-time list with 25 touchdown receptions...
as a senior hauled in 40 passes for 764 yards with five touchdown
receptions.... as a senior had 696 yards on punt returns averaging 33
yards per return... was a two-time WFCA All-State selection as a junior
and senior... during junior season had 51 catches for 1,248
yards and 16 touchdowns...
Austin Green (6-3, 200, QB, Rochester, Ill./Rochester HS)...
Played for coach Derek Leonard at Rochester HS... in his lone season as
the starting quarterback he led the program to the IHSA Class 4A state
championship with a 13-1 record... in the championship game he rushed for
130 yards and a pair of touchdowns while passing
for 172 yards and two more scores... passed for 2,794 yards with 23
touchdowns while rushing for 888 yards and 17 touchdowns as a senior...
had three games with more than 100 yards rushing... had two 300+ yard
passing games with a high of 329 against Chatham-Glenwood...
was 205-of-283 with only seven interceptions... first team All-State as a
senior... first team All-Central State Eight... started four games as a
junior for state championship team...
A.J. Hantak (6-4,200, LS, Fenton, Mo./Rockwood
Summit HS)...
Played for coach Mike Bellers at Summit HS... played tight end, defensive
line and long snapper as a senior... finished the year with three catches
for 43 yards... had one fumble recovery on defense... team finished the
season at 8-4 leading the St. Louis Suburban
South Conference in scoring at 37.3 points per game as school advanced
to the quarterfinals of the Missouri Class 5 playoffs... earned Academic
All-State... also a member of basketball team...
Malik Harrison (6-1, 185, ATH, Springfield, Ill./Springfield HS)...
Played for coach RJ Luke as a senior helping Springfield HS advance to
the first round of the IHSA Class 6A state playoffs... two-way starter at
defensive back and running back... on defense recorded 51 tackles with 37
solo stops and one pass break-up... on offense
rushed for 813 yards with seven touchdowns... best rushing game was 158
yards against Jacksonville HS... as a kick returner averaged 29.1 yards
per return... first team All-Central State Eight... All-State in track
placing fourth in the 400m at the IHSA Class 3A state
championships as a junior...
Kashmiere Hughes (6-5, 215, WR, Peoria, Ill./Peoria Manual HS)...
Played for coach Dan Fauser at Peoria Manual HS... had 13 catches for 219
yards with one touchdown... starter on basketball team where he averaged
20 points per game as a senior being named to the All-Tournament team at
the Pontiac Holiday Tournament... qualified
for IHSA State Track Championships in the high jump and 200m dash...
Xzavier McAllister (6-5, 325, OT, Canton, Ohio/Canton McKinley HS)...
Played for coach Todd Filtz as a senior at Canton McKinley HS... rated the
No. 54 prospect in the state of Ohio by BuckeyeGrove.com... earned second team
Associated Press Northeast Ohio Inland District football team, Division I
as a senior... named first team All-Federal
League and first team All-Stark County... was a three-year starter playing
offensive guard and offensive tackle... helped team advance to the Ohio
State Division I playoffs second round...
Seth McDonald (6-1, 210, LB, Sandwich, Ill./Sandwich HS)...
Played
for coach Dusty Behringer at Sandwich HS... earned IFCA Class 4A All-State
honors as a two-way player, running back and linebacker... made 110
tackles (63 solo) as a senior with nine tackles for loss, five sacks and
two forced fumbles.... as a junior made 104 tackles
with 58 solo stops and two sacks... on offense rushed for 1,206 yards as a
senior as the team advanced to the IHSA Class 4A state playoffs.
Tray Mitchell (5-11, 175, WR, Wentzville, Mo./Holt HS)...
Played for coach Ken Moore at Holt HS... was a running back in high
school... named to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Super 30... as a senior was
GAC Central Conference Offensive Player of the Year rushing for 1,157
yards with 12 touchdowns... caught five passes for 69
yards... on defense playing defensive back made 31 tackles with four
tackles for loss... helped team post a 8-4 record advancing to the
Missouri Class 5 playoffs... named to the Missouri Class 5-6 East Central
All-District team.. as a junior rushed for 862 yards
and five touchdowns... had 19 catches for 239 yards and three touchdowns...
averaged 20.3 yards on kick returns...
Daviante Sayles (5-10, 180,
RB, Vista, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista HS)...
Played for coach Paul Gomes at Rancho Buena Vista HS... opened senior
season with explosive numbers but missed a majority of the year
with an injury... in just five games he rushed for 1,164 yards including a
season high 339 yards on 51 carries against Scripps Ranch HS... scored
15 touchdowns in those five games with 5 TD's in a win over Orange Glen
HS... had a 306 yard rushing game against Westview
HS... helped team get off to a quick start that carried them to the
California Division I quarterfinal playoff round... as a junior played
receiver and wing back... rushed for 394 yards with another 270 yards on
kickoff returns...
Max Sidney (6-7, 290, OT, Chesterfield, Mo./Marquette HS)...
Played for coach Ryan Thornhill at Marquette HS helping team post a 6-5
record as a senior... played offensive tackle and defensive end during his
senior season... powerful, quick lineman that also was a member of the
basketball team...
Vince Speller (6-1, 195, SAF, Chicago, Ill./Chicago Mt. Carmel HS)...
Played for coach Frank Lenti at Chicago Mount Carmel HS helping team win
IHSA Class 8A state championship with a 13-1 record as a senior... played
defensive back and wide receiver... had three tackles with one
interception in state championship game versus Glenbard
North HS... on the season had 13 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns...
recorded 42 tackles with eight tackles for loss... first team All-Chicago
Catholic League as a defensive back.
JUNIOR COLLEGE SIGNEES (Denotes year they will be at EIU in fall 2013)
Adolphus Barnes (6-4, 270, OL, Jr., St. Petersburg, Fla./Hillsborough HS/Merced College)...
Attended Merced College playing two seasons... earned first team
All-Golden Gate Conference as a freshman and sophomore... earned
All-NorCal Region II honors both seasons... team averaged 212 yards
passing during his sophomore season... also competed in track throwing
the shot put and discus during outdoor season... HIGH SCHOOL: played offensive and defensive tackle
at Hillsborough HS... helped team post a 6-4 record as a senior...
Laquesse Taylor (6-2, 305, DT, Jr., Fresno, Calif./Edison HS/College of the Sequoias)...
Attended College of the Sequoias playing two seasons... played eight games
as a sophomore making 22 tackles with six tackles for loss and two
sacks... as a freshman played in seven games with 17 tackles... added 3.5
tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks...
HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Edison HS appearing in the City vs. County All-Star game as a senior... stand out track shot putter who competed
in the AAU Junior Olympic Games...
Marques White (6-3, 265, DE, Folsom, Calif./Vista Del Lago HS/Saddleback College)...
Attended Saddleback College for one season earning first team
All-Southern Conference honors... ranked fifth on the team with 45
tackles... had three sacks, four tackles for loss and one interception... SACRAMENTO
STATE:
Attended Sacramento State for two seasons... redshirted the 2010 season...
played in 10 games making 11 tackles with one sack as a redshirt
freshman... had a season high of three tackles against
both Southern Utah and Portland State... HIGH SCHOOL:
Played at Vista Del Lago HS... played both defensive
end and tight end... had 44 tackles with four sacks as a senior... had 40
tackles with four sacks as a junior... caught 28 passes for 473 yards and
three touchdowns in two seasons.
Jarell Wright (6-3, 300, DT, Jr., Long Beach, Calif./Jordan HS/LA Harbor College)...
Attended LA Harbor College playing two seasons... recorded 41 tackles with
six sacks as a sophomore as LA Harbor posted a 6-5 record allowing just
165 yards rushing per game... earned second team All-Central Conference
honors... played in eight games as a freshman
making 23 tackles with two tackles for loss... HIGH SCHOOL:
Played at Long Beach Jordan HS... during
final two seasons as a starter at defensive tackle made 67 tackles with
three forced fumbles and four sacks... helped team post a 6-5 record as a
senior...
MID-YEAR TRANSFERS (Denotes year they will be at EIU in fall 2013)
Devante Davis (6-2, 205, LB, R-So, Dallas, Texas/Lincoln HS/Baylor University)...
Attended Baylor University for two seasons... redshirted in 2011... as a
redshirt freshman in 2012 saw action in eight games as a nickel back...
made two unassisted tackles in win over Kansas... did not play in Baylor's
Holiday Bowl victory over UCLA...
HIGH SCHOOL:
played for coach James Argenti at Lincoln HS... rated No. 77 recruit in
Dallas Morning News HSGametime Area Top 100... listed
among top 20 linebackers on Dave Campbell's Texas Football Top 300...
named first team All-District 12-4A as a senior... made more than 150
total tackles in final two seasons with 82 tackles as a junior as team
posted a 10-2 record.
Jeff LePak (6-6, 215, WR, R-Jr, Belton, Texas/Belton HS/Baylor University)...
Attended Baylor University for three seasons... played in one game as a
redshirt freshman against Rice, did not have any statistics... did not see
action as a sophomore for Baylor team that finished 8-5... HIGH
SCHOOL:
played for coach Rodney Southern at Belton HS... as a senior was the
team's top receiver as school posted a 10-2 record losing in the 5A
Bi-District playoffs... earned second team All-District
5A-12... as a senior had 28 catches for 409 yards and eight touchdowns,
averaged 14.6 yards per catch... as a junior had 20 catches for 250 yards...
Nico Shepherd (6-2, 205, WR, R-Fr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS/Florida International University)...
Attended Florida International and redshirted 2012 season... HIGH SCHOOL:
played at St. Thomas Aquinas
HS in Florida helping team win a High School National Championship in
2010... team advanced to the Class 7A State Regional Finals in 2011... South
Florida Sun-Sentinel Honorable Mention All-County as a senior... had 18
catches for 373 yards and six touchdowns... selected
to play in the TRU Sports Foundation Public vs. Private All-Star game...
lettered in track where he was the 2012 state champion in the pole vault
clearing 14'7"...
