Wonder Boys football signs 35 on National Signing Day
Despite losing their fall 2020 season and having to embark on a recruiting cycle like none other thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Arkansas Tech football team continued to add the building blocks to the foundation of their upward-trending program with the addition of 35 new signees for the 2021 season.
"We are very excited to be adding these young men to our football program. We feel like this is a very strong group athletically, academically, and morally," said ATU head football coach, Kyle Shipp. "With this class, we were able to address several needs on offense, defense and special teams. Overall, I am very pleased with this year's class and can't wait to get them on the field for the long-awaited 2021 season!"
Of the 2021 class of 35 signees, the Wonder Boys loaded up on talent from the Natural State with 20 native Arkansans. The Wonder Boys also took advantage of the region and pulled in players from four other states, all boarding Arkansas. From the talent-rich state of Texas, the Wonder Boys inked eight. Additionally, the Wonder Boys signed three from Louisiana and one apiece from Florida, Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma.
In terms of where the newest Wonder Boys will lineup on Saturday's and select Thursday's in the fall, 19 signees come from the offensive side of the ball, 14 on the defensive end and two that are listed as athletes with the potential to play either.
Shipp also commended the work of his staff in building the class amid the COVID-19 pandemic and inherent challenges that it presented.
"Coach Tommy Crayton has done a tremendous job as our recruiting coordinator and our entire staff has worked extremely hard during this long recruiting season," added Shipp. "I am very lucky to have such a great staff that want to make ATU football a special program once again. With this class, we continue to build our program in a first-class way with young men that will represent ATU the right way on and off the field!"
Below is a list of the 2021 Arkansas Tech Football Signing Class
Darrius Allison S 6-0 170 Morrilton, Ark./Morrilton HS
Jesse Boshears OL6-3 300 Perryville, Ark./Univ. of Central Arkansas
Chase Bunnell DE 5-11225 Argyle, Texas/Argyle HS
Caden CarothersOL6-5260Pottsville, Ark./Pottsville HS
Adam Cousins WR 6-0 170 Pflugerville, Texas/UTEP
Charles Davis WR 6-1 180 Jessieville, Ark./Jessieville HS
Breckin Duck TE 6-5 250 Harrison, Ark./Harrison HS
Koby Edwards DE 6-1 225 Burnet, Texas/Houston Baptist Univ.
Khari Fields WR 6-0 160 Harvey, La./Helen Cox HS
Levern Floyd III DT 6-3 250 Conway, Ark./Conway HS
Armando Harper LB 6-0 200 Gurdon, Ark./Gurdon HS
Peyton Henderson OL 6-1 265 Springdale, Ark./Har-Ber HS
Victor Hill DE 6-2 235 Pensacola, Fla./Univ. of Central Arkansas
Seth Howard TE 6-3 220 Beebe, Ark./Beebe HS
Dawson Hunt DE 6-3 215 Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall HS
Jackson Illingworth LB 6-1200 Elysian Fields, Texas/Elysian Fields HS
Kylan Isabell LB 5-11 200Horn Lake, Miss./Horn Lake HS
Lawsyn Jackson DT 6-3 245 Ozark, Ark./Ozark HS
Brady James RB 5-9 165 Lamar, Ark./Lamar HS
Jayden Jasna CB 5-11 165 Greenwood, Ark./Greenwood HS
Jack Lindsey QB 6-2 205 Fayetteville, Ark./Univ. of Arkansas
Jack Mitchell OL 6-0 230 Marlow, Okla./Marlow HS
Houston Motes TE 6-1 235 Maumelle, Ark./Maumelle HS
CJ Palmer ATH 6-1 190 Pocahontas, Ark./Pocahontas HS
Jalen Penegar DT 6-1 255 Ruston, La./Ruston HS
Colby Rollins WR 6-4 190 Platte City, Mo./Platte County HS
Jaylen Shephard TE 6-4 215 West Memphis, Ark./West Memphis HS
Dylan Simmons DB 6-0 180 Metairie, La. Metairie Park Country Day HS
Andre Sparks LB 6-1 200 Springdale, Ark./Springdale HS
Elvis Stricklin OL 6-4 245 Boerne, Texas/Boerne-Champion HS
Jameson Threadgill ATH 5-9 160 Gurdon, Ark./Gurdon HS
Reggie Toney WR 5-9 160 Morrilton, Ark./Morrilton HS
Charles Walker OL 6-2 285 Red Oak, Texas/Red Oak HS
Ryan Wilkerson QB 6-0 180 Elysian Fields, Texas/Elysian Fields HS
Hunter Wilkinson RB 5-10 185 Greenwood, Ark./Greenwood HS
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