Golden Eagles ink 12 to close out 2019 signing class
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech football team already had a haul of a signing class back in December, but, on Wednesday, the Golden Eagles bolstered their ranks even further, adding more student-athletes to the signing class of 2019. The Tech football team will host an event tonight at the Hooper Eblen Center’s Eagles Nest, starting at 5:30 p.m., as head coach Dewayne Alexander introduces the signing class of 2019. Wednesday’s signees included:
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech football team already had a haul of a signing class back in December, but, on Wednesday, the Golden Eagles bolstered their ranks even further, adding 12 more student-athletes to the signing class of 2019.
In all, the Golden Eagles are bringing in 26 players with the 14 signed on the early date in December.
The Tech football team will host an event tonight at the Hooper Eblen Center's Eagles Nest, starting at 5:30 p.m., as head coach Dewayne Alexander introduces the signing class of 2019.
Wednesday's signees included:
Christian Watson (DB, 6-0, 182, Northview HS, Duluth, Ga.)
Watson finished the 2018 season with 50 total tackles, while also returning an interception 25 yards for a touchdown. In all, he also had seven pass breakups, five tackles for-loss and three sacks. He also played on the offensive side of the ball, rushing 20 yards on two carries, while also catching 15 passes for 162 yards and four touchdowns.
In his career, he had six interceptions – including two for touchdowns – in addition to 134 tackles, three sacks, 22 pass break-ups and six receiving touchdowns.
He was a first-team selection to the all-county and all-region teams as well as selected as the team MVP.
John Jones (RB, 5-10, 170, Pierce County HS, Waycross, Ga.)
Jones was an explosive back in the 2018 campaign, rushing for 1,745 yards and 25 touchdowns on 222 carries. He averaged 134.2 yards per game and 7.9 yards per carry. He also caught 14 passes for 146 yards and a score. He averaged two touchdowns and 12.0 points per game.
He was the Region 2-AAA Player of the Year, while also earning two first-team all-region and a first-team all-state selection. He also ran track and field, placing sixth in the 4x100 relay in the state meet.
Jones finished his prep career with 2,907 rushing yards on 414 carries with 35 touchdowns.
Michael Dixon (DL, 6-3, 240, North Cobb HS, Kennesaw, Ga.)
A 3AAAAAAA all-region selection, Dixon finished 2018 with 38 tackles and three sacks. In his career, he totaled 63 tackles and six sacks. He won his team's leadership award and defensive MVP, while also serving as a team captain. His father played three seasons of football for Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Willie Miller (QB, 5-11, 170, Clay-Chalkville HS, Pinson, Ala.)
Miller passed for 15 touchdowns and ran for 19 more as a senior, helping lead his Clay-Chalkville team to the AHSAA Class 6A semifinal and a 12-2 record. As a junior, he passed for 2,363 yards and 25 touchdowns, while also throwing for 1,929 yards and 20 touchdowns as a sophomore.
He was an All-6A Region 6 first-teamer and an all-state honorable mention.
His father, Willie Jr., played football at Colorado State, while cousin Desmond Jennings played Major League Baseball for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Ellis Adams (OL, 6-4, 310, Hoover HS, Hoover, Ala.)
Adams was a big part of Hoover's offensive success in 2018 as he was graded out at 92 percent and had 47 knockdowns without allowing a sack. While at Hoover, Adams was part of three region championships and two state titles and also competed in wrestling.
He was named second-team all-state in Class 7A by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and was on the All-South Metro team. His father played basketball at Fisk, while his brother recently completed his collegiate football career at Samford.
Jacquise Oglesby (DL, 6-3, 310, Spring Hill HS, Columbia, Tenn.)
Injury ended his 2018 season early into the campaign, but Oglesby was a highly-touted prospect. The cousin of December signee Justin Oden, Oglesby recorded 23 tackles (15 solo and eight assisted) in two games last season. A first-team all-district selection, he recorded 162 career tackles, six sacks and 25 tackles for-loss.
Spencer Stachyra (OL, 6-4, 280, Snow College, Harbor, Ind.)
A transfer from Utah's Snow College, Stachyra helped pave the way for an offense that rushed for 2,033 yards and 22 touchdowns, while also passing for 2,943 yards and 24 touchdowns. The team averaged 184.5 yards per game rushing and 267.5 yards passing.
While at Westfield (Ind.) HS, Stachyra was a two-time Indiana All-State selection by the Associated Press and helped lead the team to its first-ever state championship.
Miles Younger (DL, 6-3, 191, Johns Creek HS, Duluth, Ga.)
Younger recorded 58 total tackles in the 2018 season, including 22 tackles-for-loss and 8.5 sacks en route to a 7-AAAAAA Defensive Player of the Year nod. He was twice named to the first-team all-region squad, was All-Metro First-Team Defense as a senior and was an all-state honorable mention.
His father played basketball and baseball at Spring Hill College, while his brother, Brandon, is currently a freshman on the UNC Charlotte men's basketball team.
Henry Karimu (DL, 6-2, 220, Citrus College, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
A transfer from California's Citrus College, Karimu recorded 37 tackles last season, had eight sacks for 66 yards, 16 tackles for-loss and a forced fumble.
While at Rancho Cucamonga HS, Karimu had 70 tackles in his final two seasons with 6.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Karimu was twice named the Western State Conference defensive player of the year and led the State of California junior college system in sacks.
Clay Massengille (LB, 6-2, 215, Cookeville HS, Cookeville, Tenn.)
A force on the Cookeville High defense, Massengille led the Cavaliers with 101 total tackles, including 81 solo and 20 assisted stops, eight for-loss for 13 yards. He also had a sack, an interception, a forced fumble, one fumble recovery, a pass break-up and two passes defended.
Massengille was named to the All-Region 3-6A team.
DeMarious Stoudemire (DL, 6-4, 225, Eagleville HS, Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
A versatile athlete playing dual positions on the football field, as well as putting up solid numbers on the basketball court, Stoudemire should be an excellent addition to the Tech defense with a tremendous frame and excellent ability. He is currently playing for the top-ranked Eagleville boys basketball team. With fantastic ability and upside, Stoudemire could be a great pick up for the Golden Eagles.
Myles Spurling (DB, 5-11, 180, Hoover HS, Hoover, Ala.)
As a senior, Spurling was a big piece of the defense for the storied Hoover program. Last season, he picked off two passes and recovered two fumbles as the team won a region championship. Spurling was a part of two state championship teams in his tenure.
The signees on Wednesday complete the 2019 signing class, which also included the following players from December:
Taylor Burns (OL, 6-4, 309, Episcopal HS (Va.), Moncton, New Brunswick)
The 6-4, 309-pound Burns has an impressive pedigree as the son of former Canadian Football Leaguer Darin Burns, but has put up great numbers himself. This past season, he won gold as a member of Team Canada in the U-20 division at the IFAF World Championship of American Football. He was named to the All-IAC first-team and was named to the 2016 NBIAA All-Provincal team.
He is experienced at the offensive line, playing every position there except center.
Burns has spent four years playing high school football, playing two at Riverview HS, then the last two as a standout at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va.
Josh Reliford (DB, 5-11, 196, Hutchinson [Kansas] JC, Fitzgerald, Ga., Fitzgerald HS)
Last season at Hutchinson Junior College, Reliford recorded 62 total tackles (34 solo, 28 assists), while also picking off two passes and recovering a fumble.
While at Fitzgerald, he had 97 tackles, a sack, five interceptions and a blocked field goal. He was a Class AA first-team all-state selection by the Georgia Sports Writers Association in 2016.
His grandfather, Joe Reliford, is the youngest player to participate in professional baseball, appearing in a game at the age of 12, playing for the Fitzgerald Pioneers in July 1952.
Justin Oden (WR, 6-3, 180, Spring Hill HS, Columbia, Tenn.)
As a senior, he caught 16 passes for 195 yards in an injury-plagued season, but as a junior, Oden had 27 catches for 477 yards and six touchdowns. He was a three-star recruit by 247sports and Rivals, getting attention from many Division I schools last season.
He played four seasons at Spring Hill, earning all-region and all-district honors in both football and basketball, where he was a 1,000-point scorer.
Jamal Boyd (DB, 6-0, 190, Cedar Shoals HS, Athens, Ga.)
Boyd had a solid season for Cedar Shoals, recording 60 total tackles in the 2018 campaign, including 42 solo tackles and 18 assisted. He picked off a pass and defended two, while also blocking a punt and a field goal. On the offensive side, he also caught one pass for seven yards. He was selected to the Northeast Georgia FCA All-Star Game last weekend.
Boyd was also a standout on the Cedar Shoals wrestling team.
Demetrien Johnson (WR/FS, 6-3, Knoxville Central HS, Knoxville, Tenn.)
Johnson was also a versatile athlete, playing both wide receiver and safety. In the TSSAA Class 5A title game against Henry County, Johnson recorded one tackle, caught a pass for 14 yards, rushed once for eight yards, returned two punts for 19 yards and led the team in all-purpose yards for the game.
Johnson finished the season as a receiver with 61 catches for 1,109 yards and 11 touchdowns, then also rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Defensively, he had eight interceptions, 32 tackles and six passes defended. He also returned 14 punts for 256 yards with a longest return of 61 yards and two touchdowns.
He was also selected to the TACA All-Star Game. Johnson also is a standout on the Knoxville Central basketball team.
Trevor Stephens (OL, 6-5, 324, Woodstock HS, Woodstock, Ga.)
The Tech offensive line added some size up front with the addition of Stephens. A four-year player who started a school-record 44 consecutive games, Stephens was selected first-team all-region twice and was named to the Cherokee Tribune all-county team three times.
While on the team, Woodstock reached the state Sweet 16 in 2016 and 2017. He is also a multi-sport athlete, competing in wrestling and lacrosse.
Xavier Washington (LB, 5-10, 200, Knoxville Central HS, Knoxville, Tenn.)
One of the top defenders in the Knoxville area, Washington will add another powerful piece in the Golden Eagles' linebacker corps. This season, Washington recorded 127, total tackles – 90 solo – and 23 for-loss. He also had nine sacks, three interceptions, defended 10 passes and forced three fumbles for a Knoxville Central program that also produced Tech linebacker Josh Poplar.
Washington ended his career with 244 total tackles, five interceptions and four forced fumbles. In the TSSAA Class 5A State Championship, he recorded seven tackles – three solo and two for-loss – and a pass breakup in the 14-9 win over Henry County.
Washington was also a selection for the TACA All-Star Game.
Chris Stevenson (LB, 6-1, 205, Austin-East HS, Knoxville, Tenn.)
A four-year standout at Austin-East, Stevenson played two positions and excelled at both, helping the Roadrunners to the TSSAA Class 3A state quarterfinals. During his career, he earned All-Region, All-State and Defensive Player of the Year honors. In his senior campaign, he had 149 tackles with 37 for-loss and six sacks in 13 games. He scored seven offensive touchdowns -- three receiving and four rushing.
He was selected to the TACA All-Star Game. He also competes in track and field.
Jamaal Singleton (DB, 5-9, 170, Buford HS, Buford, Ga.)
Singleton finished the 2018 campaign with a great year for traditional Georgia power Buford. He ended the year with 40 tackles in 13 games, while recording one interception as the team reaches the state quarterfinals. Buford, while Singleton was there, also reached the state semifinals in 2017 and was the state runner-up in 2015 and 2016.
He earned an All-Region 8-AAAAA nod this season. He was selected to the Northeast Georgia FCA All-Star Game last weekend. He has also competed in track and field, putting together fantastic times in the 100-meter dash and the 4x100 relay.
Christian Cantrell (DL, 6-1, 250, Oakland HS, Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
Cantrell was a three-year starter for the Oakland HS squad, helping his Patriots squad to the recent TSSAA Class 6A State Championship in the BlueCross Bowl at Tucker Stadium.
This past season, he was named to the all-region team and was a preseason all-state selection. He earned all-state, all-region and defensive lineman of the year honors in his region as a junior.
He is also a versatile player, playing tight end and fullback as well for head coach Kevin Creasy. He recently was selected for the TACA All-Star Game roster.
Cameron Hudson (DB, 5-11, 165, Cedar Shoals HS, Athens, Ga.)
Hudson caught six passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns for Cedar Shoals HS, then returned seven kickoffs for 128 yards. He shined on the defensive end, collecting 41 total tackles – 36 solo and five assisted – while picking off three passes and recovering a fumble. He was named first-team all-region as a junior and senior. He also won the Georgia 5A state championship in track and field in 2017 and was a runner-up in 2016.
Heath Price (LB, 6-1, 190, Watertown HS, Watertown, Tenn.)
An athlete in every sense of the word, Price was everywhere on the field for Watertown. At quarterback, he passed for 217 yards on 14-of-16 passing. As a running back, he rushed for 643 yards and 13 touchdowns on 69 carries. As a receiver, he caught 24 passes for 558 yards and 11 touchdowns.
But he's coming to Tech as a linebacker and he put together tremendous numbers on the defensive end. He recorded 144 tackles this season, including 18.5 for loss and averaging 11.1 per game. He also had two sacks for 10 yards, an interception returned 90 yards for a touchdown, four pass deflections, one fumble recovery and four forced fumbles.
En route to the Region 4-2A Most Valuable Player award, Price scored 198 points as a senior with 29 touchdowns, 22 2-point conversions and going 2-for-3 on PATs, averaging 15.2 points responsible for per game. Price was selected for the TACA All-Star game and was a semifinalist for the TSSAA Mr. Football Award.
He is also a four-sport athlete at Watertown, competing in football, basketball, baseball and track and field.
Metrius Fleming (WR, 6-0, 175, Elbert County HS, Elberton, Ga.)
A fantastic receiver out of Elbert County HS, Fleming put up big numbers this season. He caught 66 passes for 1,180 yards, averaging 17.9 yards per catch and 118 yards per game. He also saw action at running back, rushing 11 times for 182 yards, and at quarterback, completing a pass for 56 yards.
In track and field, Fleming recorded a state championship in both the long jump and 110-meter high hurdles.
Fleming was named All-Region and Honorable Mention All-State in 2017, while named the Region 8AA Athlete of the Year, preseason All-State by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the team's Golden Helmet MVP winner this season.
Kail Dava (DT, 6-4, 280, Mississauga, Ontario, Clarkson Secondary School)
Dava barnstormed this fall in a 12-game schedule for Clarkson Football North. He played three seasons for head coach Larry Jusdanis, and was named the team's Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Defensive MVP.
He has great size and speed for the defensive front with his 6-4, 280-pound frame.
