Skyhawks recruiting class focused around defense

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Story Created: Feb 1, 2012 at 7:17 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 1, 2012 at 7:17 PM CDT

MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin football team added 26 players today during National Signing Day. Head coach Jason Simpson introduced each player and showed video clips during a press conference in the Boling University Center on campus.

Among the 26 signees are six junior college players, 12 players from Tennessee, five from Mississippi, two each from Florida, Georgia, Missouri, and one each from Alabama, Indiana and Kentucky. The Skyhawks added 11 offensive and 15 defensive players.

“We had some specific needs on the defensive side of the ball that we had to fill,” Simpson said. The Skyhawks added six defensive backs and four defensive linemen.

“We lost players such as All-American CJ Estelle and Kendal Harper in our secondary so we had to go out and get some guys. We also needed to build some depth on our defensive line.”

Simpson and the Skyhawks also added a local flare with three players from Class 5A state champions Henry County. The trio includes Shaq Allen (RB), Caleb Counce (LB) and Najee Ray (QB). The Skyhawks also added Dresden product Tyler McPeak and Obion County Central’s Ladevin Fair.

The Skyhawks open their 2012 season Saturday, Sept. 1 at Memphis.

  
2012 UT MARTIN FOOTBALL SIGNEES
Name                                            Pos.       Ht.          Wt.        Previous School, Hometown
Trevor Adkison                         OL           6-5          320         Zionsville Community HS, Zionsville, Ind.
Shaq Allen                                   RB           5-10       195         Henry County HS, Paris, Tenn.
Jvontez Blackmon                    S              6-0          193         Hines CC, Bryam, Miss.
Derrick Bourne                          CB           5-10       187         Pearl River CC, Columbia, Miss.
Stevie Bush                                DB          5-10       185         Liberty Magnet HS, Jackson, Tenn.
Jeremy Butler                            WR         6-3          205         College of Sequoias CC, Bradenton, Fla.
Caleb Counce                            LB           6-0          205         Henry County, Paris, Tenn.
Kenneth Crenshaw                 OL           6-1          260         Tucker HS, Stone Mountain, Ga.
Anthony (Blake) Edwards     OL           6-4          300         Adamsville HS, Michie, Tenn.
Ladevin Fair                               RB           5-9          180         Obion County Central HS, Troy, Tenn.
Roland Genesy                         RB           6-1          220         Millington Central HS, Millington, Tenn.
Enoch Glenn                              DE           6-2          218         East Mississippi CC, Brooksville, Miss.
Deantae Glover                        DE           6-1          240         Riverdale HS, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Amiri Hawkins                           S              6-2          205         Hillsboro HS, Hermitage, Tenn.
Keith Jones                                 DL           6-1          275         McCleur North HS, Florissant, Mo.
Jordan Landry                            DB          5-8          165         Tucker HS, Tucker, Ga.
Emmette Lindsay                     DB          5-11       200         Liberty Magnet HS, Jackson, Tenn.
Elijah McClendon                     LB           6-1          205         Boca Ciega HS, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Tyler McPeak                             TE           6-3          240         Dresden HS, Dresden, Tenn.
Marcus Sease                            LB           6-2          215         Madison Academic, Huntsville, Ala.
Tyler Sweeden                          DE           6-3          220         Trinity HS, Louisville, Ky.
Amos Tatum                              DB          5-11       193         East Mississippi CC, Jackson, Miss.
Drew Thomas                            TE           6-3          210         Arlington HS, Lakeland, Tenn.
McKay Tingle                             OL           6-4          285         Jones CC, Neely, Miss.
Najee Ray                                   QB          6-1          180         Henry County HS, Paris, Tenn.
Jerimiah Wilkins                        LB           6-0          220         Pattonville HS, Bridgeton, Mo.
 
From: UT Martin media relations

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