News Taffy

With a 2012 recruiting class that includes 11 committments from within the state, first-year Arkansas State head football coach Gus Malzahn made good on his promise to make recruiting Arkansas for Red Wolves a priority.

 “If you remember when we first got here, we said that we were going to recruit this state like it had never been recruited before," Malzahn said. "Eleven is a great start, but I really feel like it will grow in the future." 

During a press conference Wednesday afternoon at the ASU Football Facility, Malzahn announced that 27 high school and junior college standouts from eight different states signed with the Red Wolves on National Signing Day. Later Wednesday, Malzahn and his coaching staff presented the new class to ASU fans during a Recruiting Roundup held at the ASU Fowler Center, where an estimated 700 people gathered for their first opportunity to hear from the new coaching staff and watch video highlights of the newest members of the Red Wolves football team.

With a Parade All-Amercian, Under Armour All-American, NJCAA All-American, 24 players that earned either junior college all-conference or high school all-state recognition and 18 players rated at least three stars by one or more of the major recruiting sources, the 2012 class could be considered one of the best in the history of the ASU football program.

While the 2012 class rankings are not final, as of Wednesday evening Arkansas State had the top-rated class in the Sun Belt Conference by Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports.com.

The Red Wolves’ first recruiting class under Malzahn is made up 22 high school players and five junior college transfers. Defensive end Lawrence Cayou will also continue his career at ASU after inking with the Red Wolves during the mid-term signing period, and along with FBS-transfers Michael Dyer (RB) and Travis Bodenstein (OL) will be available for spring camp.

The Red Wolves signed five offensive linemen, the most among any position, and have signed 11 players expected to play on the offensive side of the ball. Including three defensive ends and four interior defensive linemen, A-State inked 12 defensive players and an additional four players listed as athletes that could potentially play on either side of the ball.

"I really feel like we filled our needs,” said Malzahn. “There were a couple of glaring areas that I felt like we needed to address.  We lost some very good defensive linemen last year, and we feel like we addressed that. We lost three very good offensive linemen off last year's group, and we feel like we addressed that also. The college football game is won up front, so we feel very good about that and we mixed in some very good skill players to boot."

In addition to the 11 players from Arkansas included in the class, five are from Texas, four from Alabama, four from Mississippi, three from Kansas and one each from Georgia, Oklahoma and Tennessee.  The 11 players from Arkansas, which includes Bodenstein, are the most to join the Red Wolves in an incoming class since the 2005 season.

"Buckle up because the best is yet to come," Malzahn told the crowd at the conclusion of the event.

2012 ARKANSAS STATE FOOTBALL INCOMING CLASS

1. Dexter Blackmon:  6-4, 283, Jr., DL, Selma, Ala. (Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College)
2. Travis Bodenstein:  6-5, 310, Jr., OL, Springdale, Ark. (Kansas)**
3.  Tevin Bryson:  6-4, 285, DL, Humboldt, Tenn. (Humboldt)
4.  Lawrence Cayou:  6-4, 260, Jr., DE, New Orleans, La. (Highland (Kan.) Community College)*
5.  Jemar Clark:  6-6, 305, OL, McCrory, Ark. (McCrory)
6.  Kendrick Daniels:  5-7, 155, RB, Sulphur Springs, Texas (Sulpher Springs)
7.  Michael Dyer:  5-9, 210, Jr., RB, Little Rock, Ark. (Auburn)**
8.  Michael Flint:  6-3, 297, OL, Oxford, Ala. (Oxford)
9.  John Gandy:  6-0, 245, DE, Houston, Texas (Blinn (Texas) College)
10. Bryce Giddens:  6-0, 265, OL, Moultrie, Ga. (Colquitt County)
11. Michael Gordon:  5-9, 190, RB, Camden, Miss. (Velma Jackson)
12.  Ishmail Hayes:  6-6, 245, DE, Jr., Houston, Texas (Blinn (Texas) College)
13. Rocky Hayes:  5-11, 177, DB, Heflin, Ala. (Cleburne County)
14. Quanterio Heath:  6-2, 200, LB, Rison, Ark. (Rison)
15. Tres Houston:  6-2, 183, Soph., DB, College Park, Ga. (Northeast Mississippi Community College)
16. Chris Humes:  5-11, 190, DB, Hoover, Ala. (Spain Park)
17. Colton Jackson:  6-5, 240, OL, Ozark, Ark. (Ozark)
18. Derek Keaton:  5-11, 170, ATH, Camden, Ark. (Camden Fairview)
19. Fredi Knighten:  5-10, 160, QB, Little Rock, Ark. (Pulaski Academy)
20. Warren Leapheart:  6-4, 205, WR, Morrilton, Ark. (Morrilton)
21. Todd Mays:  5-11, 200, ATH, Olive Branch, Miss. (Olive Branch)
22. Devin Mondie:  6-6, 300, OL, Olive Branch, Miss. (Olive Branch)
23. Austin Moreton:  6-3, 295, ATH, Fort Smith, Ark. (Southside)
24. Eddie Porter:  6-3, 235, Jr., LB, Woodlands, Texas (Blinn (Texas) College)
25. Braelon Roberts:  6-5, 170, WR, Dallas, Texas (Bishop Dunne)
26. Darrius Rosser:  6-4, 260, DL, Marion, Ark. (Marion)
27. Dezmond Stegall:  6-1, 208, QB, Searcy, Ark. (Searcy)
28. Quintaz Struble:  6-2, 235, DL, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Heritage Hall)
29. Marquis Walker:  5-11, 172, DB, Rison, Ark. (Rison)
30. DeKeathan Williams:  6-1, 200, ATH, West Helena, Ark. (Central)

*Junior College Midterm Signee and is available for spring practice
**FBS transfer available for spring practice.

BY STATE

Arkansas (11):  Jemar Clark (OL), Quanterio Heath (LB), Colton Jackson (OL), Derek Keaton (ATH), Fredi Knighten (QB), Warren Leaphart (WR), Austin Moreton (ATH), Darius Rosser (DL), Dezmond Stegall (QB), Marquis Walker (DB), DeKeathan Williams (ATH)

Texas (5):  Kendrick Daniels (RB), John Gandy (DE), Ishmail Hayes (DE), Eddie Porter (LB), Braelon Roberts (WR)
Alabama (4):  Michael Dyer (RB), Michael Flint (OL), Rocky Hayes (DB), Chris Humes (DB)

Mississippi (4):  Michael Gordon (RB), Tres Houston (DB), Todd Mays (ATH), Devin Mondie (OL)
Kansas (3):  Dexter Blackmon (DL), Travis Bodenstein (OL), Lawrence Cayou (DE)

Georgia (1): Bryce Giddens (OL)

Oklahoma (1): Quintaz Struble (DL)

Tennessee (1): Tevin Bryson (DL)

BY POSITION
Offensive Line (6):  Travis Bodenstein, Jemar Clark, Michael Flint, Bryce Giddens, Colton Jackson, Devin Mondie
Defensive End (3):  Lawrence Cayou, John Gandy, Ishmail Hayes
Defensive Back (4):  Rocky Hayes, Tres Houston, Chris Humes, Marquis Walker
Running Back (3):  Kendrick Daniels, Michael Dyer, Michael Gordon
Quarterback (2):  Fredi Knighten, Dezmond Stegall
Wide Receiver (2):  Braelon Roberts, Warren Leaphart
Defensive Line (4):  Dexter Blackmon, Tevin Bryson, Darius Rosser, Quintaz Struble
Linebacker (2):  Quanterio Heath, Eddie Porter
Athlete (4):  Derek Keaton, Todd Mays, Austin Moreton, DeKeathen Williams

HIGH SCHOOL SIGNEES: 22
JUNIOR COLLEGE TRANSFERS: 6
FBS TRANSFERS: 2