SAM HOUSTON STATE FOOTBALL 2015 SIGNINGS

Sixteen high school seniors have signed with Sam Houston State University to play football for head coach K. C. Keeler next fall.

"We are very excited about this class. It is an extremely talented group," Keeler said. "Throughout the recruiting process our signees had FBS offers including teams from the SEC, the Big 12 and the Pac 10.

"It's a strong academic group as well. A number of our recruits garnered offers from the academies and the Ivy League,” he said.

Of the 16 incoming freshmen, 14 played their high school football in the state of Texas. The two out-of-state signees are Cayden Burns, a defensive tackle from Santa Monica, Calif., and Jonathan Johnson, a defensive end from Tulsa, Okla.

"We have a lot of leadership in this class,” Keeler said. “Fourteen of the 16 were team captains. We wanted to get bigger and more physical and yet stay dynamic and athletic. We did that."

The signing class was split with five players who featured on the offensive side of the ball in high school, seven on the defensive side and four players who played both ways.

The Bearkats also announced the addition of three transfers. Quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe from Alabama-Birmingham, linebacker JeVonte Cross from Northeastern Oklahoma and offensive guard Curtis Riser from the University of Texas will play for Sam Houston in 2015.

The list of signings today:

High School Seniors

OFFENSE



REMUS BULMER – Running back

5-7 173 Missouri City, Texas / Ridge Point HS

First-team all-district 23-5A and district “Most Valuable Player” for Coach Brett Sniffin … second team all-state selection … Houston Chronicle Top 100 … played on 12-1 state playoff team … rushed for 1,938 yards and 22 touchdowns

ERIC DAVID – Offensive Tackle – Team Captain

6-4 265 Richmond, Texas / Foster HS

Two-time first team all-district 24-5A offensive lineman for Coach Shaun McDowell … academic all-state selection … led offensive line that allowed only one sack … credited with 57 pancake blocks … lettered in track and field

DAVION DAVIS – Wide receiver - Team Captain

5-11 175 Hutto, Texas / Hutto HS

Honorable mention all-state and all district 17-5A for Coach Steven Van Meter … first team All-Central Texas … led Hippos to state playoffs … caught 73 passes for 1,259 yards and 18 touchdowns … rushed for 357 yards and six scores … averaged 38.7 punting

DAEGEN FOWLER – Tight end

6-3 230 Lago Vista, Texas / Lago Vista HS

Two-time first team all-district 10-3A tight end for coach Alan Haire … team captain … led Vikings to state playoffs … regional qualifier as a powerlifter … basketball and track and field letterman

MITCHELL WATANABE – Offensive lineman

6-3 340 San Antonio, Texas / Brennan HS

First team all-district 27-6A offensive lineman and team captain for Coach Stephen Basore … three-year starter … all-area and honorable mention all-state in 2014 … led Bears to district championships the past three seasons … helped lead Bears to Class 4A state championship game as junior … selected to play in 2015 San Antonio Sports All-Star game … 2015 Polynesian All-American Bowl in California



DEFENSE

DANIEL ADAMS – Defensive back – Team Captain

6-0 180 Jasper, Texas / Jasper HS

Two-time first-team all-district 10-4A defensive back and second team all-district wide receiver in 2014 for Coach Darell Barbay … led team to district title … Willie Ray Smith award finalist for best defensive player (all levels) in Southeast Texas … 2014 Bayou Bowl all-star … credited with 95 tackles, three interceptions and 10 break-ups … totaled 97 tackles and seven interceptions as a junior … regional qualifier in track in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays and 200m dash … lettered in baseball

CAYDEN BURNS – Defensive Tackle

6-4 251 Santa Monica, California / Santa Monica

First team all-league defensive tackle for Coach Travis Clark … All-West Side selection and All-CIF honoree … recipient of the Dale Deinke Award

JALEN CAMPBELL – Cornerback - Team Captain

5-11 175 Corpus Christi, Texas / Flour Bluff

First-team all-district 30-5A for Coach Chris Steinbruck … second-team all-state … helped lead Hornets to three district championships in four years … totaled 78 tackles and picked off two interceptions … basketball letterman … reached state meet in track and field

ADRIAN CONTRERAS – Defensive back – Team Captain

5-10 175 Georgetown, Texas / East View HS

First team all-district 25-5A safety for Coach Rob Davies … has earned second-team all-district honors as a running back … honorable mention all-state and second team all-Central Texas safety … led Patriots to district title, bi-district championship and area finals … academic all-state selection … also lettered in track and field and basketball

TYLER EDWARDS – Defensive lineman – Team Captain

6-4 280 Buna, Texas / Buna HS

First team all-district 12-3A for Coach Bradley Morgan … second team all-district tight end … led Cougars to district championship and state playoffs … totaled 63 tackles and caught five touchdown passes … four-year starter in basketball …. 12 News-Wendy's 12-Star athlete-of-the-week for win over Kountze (15 points, 19 rebounds)

JUSTIN GIL – Linebacker – Team Captain

6-2 210 Spring, Texas / Klein Collins HS

Defensive “Most Valuable Player” and co-captain for Coach Drew Svoboda … led the Tigers to bi-district and area championships to advance to regional finals … Academic All-State honoree … lettered in track & field and basketball

NAVONE GURLEY – Linebacker – Team Captain

6-1 165 Katy, Texas / Morton Ranch HS

All-district 19-6A and “Most Valuable Player” for Coach Dave Meadows … totaled 46 tackles with six sacks ... force four fumbles … lettered in track & field and basketball …. clocked at 4.35 in 40 at camp … ran lead leg of sprint relay that posted best time of 40.2

ANTHONY JOHNSON – Cornerback – Team Captain

6-0 202 Cibolo, Texas / Steele HS

All-district 25-6A cornerback for Coach Scott Lehnhoff … two-year starter … first team all-area as senior … led Knights to district championships in 2013 and 2014 … helped lead Knights to Class 6A state semi-finals last fall … totaled 62 tackles, five pass deflections, two interceptions and a touchdown

JONATHAN JOHNSON – Defensive end – Team Captain

6-3 237 Tulsa, Oklahoma / East Central HS

First team all-district for Coach Kenny Evans … credited with 54 tackles including 11 quarterback sacks and 17 tackles for losses … helped lead team to district championship and state playoffs in 2012 … also played basketball in high school

BRYSON WALLACE – Linebacker – Team Captain

6-0 215 Mansfield, Texas / Lake Ridge HS

Defensive “Most Valuable Player” for Coach Kirk Thor … earned defensive line MVP honors as well … led team to area and regional championships … track and field letterman

TORIAN WILLIAMS – Defensive lineman – Team Captain

6-1 250 Missouri City, Texas / Ridge Point HS

Second team all-state and first-team all-district 23-5A for coach Brett Sniffin … district defensive “Most Valuable Player” … second team All-Greater Houston … led squad to 12-1 record … Listed by Max Preps as Class 6A sacks leader (14) … totaled 74 tackles and 23 tackles for loss … baseball letterman

TRANSFERS

JEREMIAH BRISCOE – Quarterback

6-3 210 Houston, Texas / Stratford HS (Alabama-Birmingham)

Passed for 361 yards and three TDs in six appearances as backup quarterback at UAB in 2014 … red-shirt in 2013 … totaled 2,358 yards passing and 23 TDs as junior at Second Baptist Prep in Houston in 2011 … rated No. 18 prep QB by ESPNU … threw for 1,863 yards and 12 TDs with only three interceptions as senior at Stratford … coached by Eliot Allen who also coached Colts' Andrew Luck … as pitcher in high school posted 2.40 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 48 innings … played baseball at UAB as freshman



JeVONTE CROSS – Linebacker

6-1 238 Tulsa, Oklahoma / East Central HS (Northeastern Oklahoma)

All-Conference linebacker in the Texas League Conference … all-state, all-district, team captain and “Most Valuable Player” for Coach Travis Hill at Tulsa East Central HS … Rivals 3-Star recruit … set school record with 195 tackles as a senior … led team to district titles each of his years at East Central

CURTIS RISER – Offensive guard

6-4 310 DeSoto, Texas / DeSoto HS (University of Texas)

Played as a reserve offensive lineman for the Longhorns after red-shirting as a true freshman in 2012 … All-America, all-state, all-area and three time all-district performer for Coach Claude Mathis … played in 2012 Under Armour All-America Game … ESPNU top 150 national prospect … helped DeSoto to 10-2 record and playoffs as senior, totaling 87 pancake blocks … Rivals 4-Star Recruit …ranked 4th best offensive guard in the nation coming out of high school