Tech football adds 10 on February 2020 signing day
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- As the ink dries on the National Letters of Intent, the Tennessee Tech football team wraps up the February 2020 Signing Day as they add 10 players to the roster on Wednesday. The newcomers hit several areas of need as the Golden Eagles look to continue building on its 6-6 record in 2019, tied for the second-best turnaround in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- As the ink dries on the National Letters of Intent, the Tennessee Tech football team wraps up the February 2020 Signing Day as they add 10 players to the roster on Wednesday. The newcomers hit several areas of need as the Golden Eagles look to continue building on its 6-6 record in 2019, tied for the second-best turnaround in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
The February signees include:
Jacob Gragg | LS | 6-0 | 195 | South Paulding HS | Douglasville, Ga.
A fantastic long snapping prospect out of South Paulding High, Gragg impressed many at the Rubio Long Snapping camps over the years. Gragg will provide depth behind Livingston product Jarrett Key and give Tech a reliable long snapper for years to come.
Adrian (AJ) Hall, Jr. | DL | 6-0 | 255 | Rockledge HS | Rockledge, Fla.
A.J. Hall helped lead his Rockledge team to three district championships in four seasons for head coach Wayne Younger. He also won the team's CCC Award, as well as the Defensive Player of the Year honor. He was also twice named a game MVP. He was also named to the All-Space Coast Defensive first-team roster.
Daniel Rickert | DL | 6-1 | 255 | Nolensville HS | Nolensville, Tenn.
A force up front on the defense, Rickert helped lead Nolensville to a TSSAA Class 4A semifinal appearance this year with an 11-3 record. In his senior campaign, Rickert recorded 75 tackles, including 12 TFL and 7.5 sacks, while also picking off a pass and recovering two fumbles, scoring twice on the takeaways. He ended his career with 106 total tackles. Rickert was named twice to the all-region roster as well as earning region Lineman of the Year honors. He was also selected as an honorable mention to the All-Williamson County team, selected to the TACA East/West All-Star Game and was on the Tennessee Football Coaches Association's All-State team.
Preston Perdue | OL | 6-5 | 324 | Lewis Co. HS | Hohenwald, Tenn.
A highly decorated offensive lineman for LCHS head coach Bobby Sharp, Preston Perdue will bring an impressive presence up front. Perdue spent all four years on the all-region team and was a four-time selection as the region's Offensive Lineman MVP. Perdue was a fixture on both the Tennessee Sports Writers Association and Tennessee Football Coaches Association's All-State teams with three appearances on each. Perdue wrapped up his career with 89 tackles – 42 solo, 47 assisted –while collecting two sacks, two fumble recoveries and 65 pancakes.
Hayden Olsen | K | 5-9 | 160 | Buford HS | Flowery Branch, Ga.
An excellent kicker who has spent plenty of time perfecting his talents, Olsen has been a multiple first-team all-Region 8-AAAAA selection in Georgia. He also won the 2014 FBU Orlando Youth Field Goal championship, was a two-time FBU All-American selection, was the 2014 FBU Charlotte Youth co-MVP, was the 2019 Georgia Spring Camp Field Goal Champion, a Vegas XXXIV punt finalist and a Top 12 Camp invitee this year. He recently helped lead Buford to a Class AAAAA state championship victory over Warner Robins, hitting the game-winning field goal in overtime. Olsen was named first-team all-region and all-state.
Deterius (DT) Gideon | ATH | 5-6 | 165 | Escambia HS | Pensacola, Fla.
A threat on offense and special teams, D.T. Gideon will remind fans of Ladarius Vanlier with his stature and speed. This past season, Gideon caught 56 passes for 1,138 yards and 12 touchdowns. In his career, Gideon caught 112 passes for 1,674 yards and 15 scores. However, Gideon is also a threat to score on special teams, returning three punts for touchdowns as a senior and a kickoff return score as a junior. In his career, he recorded 2,391 all-purpose yards, including 240 kick return and 319 punt return yards. Gideon helped Escambia reach the Florida Class 6A state title game against Miami Central, where he caught 12 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown, ran for a six-yard score and returned four kickoffs for 125 yards as he ended the day with 382 all-purpose yards.
Isaiah Woods | DL | 6-3 | 253 | Weaver HS | Weaver, Ala.
A three-sport athlete in football, track and field and wrestling, Woods was another solid performer up front on the defensive side of the ball. Woods was a three-time all-state selection, while also earning three all-county and four all-region picks. He was also selected as a NUC All-American. Woods was also a two-time Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State pick in 2017 and 2018.
Ashton Maples | WR | 6-4 | 180 | Maryville HS | Maryville, Tenn.
Maples certainly isn't any stranger to Tucker Stadium, helping lead his Maryville squad to two TSSAA BlueCross Bowl Class 6A state championships in 2017 and 2019. He was recently named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association's Class 6A All-State team and was an All-Region 2-6A selection. In the 2019 campaign, Maples caught 31 passes for 710 yards and 13 touchdowns. In the Rebels' win over Ravenwood in the Class 6A title game, Maples caught two passes for 19 yards and a touchdown.
NyQuann Washington | DB | 5-11 | 170 | Colquitt Co. HS | Norman Park, Ga.
Washington helped slow down opposing offenses in the secondary as he picked off 11 career passes, including four in his senior campaign. This past year, Washington had 50 total tackles, while collecting 123 on his career. He also ended with three career sacks, as well as five fumble recoveries and a fumble forced. A three-year starter, Washington was also selected first-team all-region as a junior and senior after a second-team pick as a sophomore.
Ja'Vone Williams | DB | 6-2 | 175 | Thompson HS | Alabaster, Ala.
Williams found ways to be right where he needed to be on defense, picking off eight passes in 2019 for 237 yards, averaging 29.6 yards per return. He also recorded a fumble recovery and forced a fumble. He ended the season with 53 total tackles and a QB hurry. He also helped lead Thompson to its first Alabama state championship since 1982 in the Class 7A game
Here's a look at the quarterbacks, running backs and tight ends from this year's signing class:
A look at the year's wide receivers:
A look at the offensive line signees:
A look at the defensive line signees:
A look at the linebackers and specialists:
A look at the safeties and cornerbacks:
2019-2020 Tennessee Tech Football Signing Class
Osbaldo Beltran [OL, 6-7, 325, Dalton HS, Dalton, Ga.]
Trent Logan [S, 6-2, 195, Lake Minneola HS, Minneola, Fla.]
Cole Putnam [QB/FS, 6-3, 195, First Assembly Christian School, Cordova, Tenn.]
Issac Cross [OL, 6-2, 280, DeKalb County HS, Smithville, Tenn.]
Tavian Johnson [DL, 6-3, 260, Madison, Miss. Holmes (Miss.) JC]
Kanstin Brooks [DT, 6-2, 270, Greenville HS, Greenville, Ga.]
Jacob Jarrett [WR, 6-3, 190, Roswell HS, Roswell, Ga.]
Jashawun Thornton [LB, 5-11, 200, Thomasville HS, Thomasville, Ga.]
Jyron Gilmore [CB, 5-8, 161, North Marion HS, Citra, Fla.]
Kiston Arnold [DE, 6-3, 215, Summit HS, Spring Hill, Tenn.]
Jacorrian Wrenn [DT, 5-11, 295, Jackson-Olin HS, Birmingham, Ala.]
Kurt Taylor [RB, 5-10, 205, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Michigan/Iowa Central CC]
Hunter Barnhart [TE, 6-3, 225, Oneida HS, Oneida, Tenn.]
Nathan Hodnett [OL, 6-2, 266, Apalachee HS, Winder, Ga.]
Dominic Howard [S, 6-3, 170, Space Coast HS, Cocoa, Fla.]
Jacob Gragg [LS, 6-0, 195, South Paulding HS, Douglasville, Ga.]
A.J. Hall [DL, 6-0, 255, Rockledge HS, Rockledge, Fla.]
Daniel Rickert [DL, 6-1, 255, Nolensville HS, Nolensville, Tenn.]
Preston Perdue [OL, 6-5, 324, Lewis County HS, Hohenwald, Tenn.]
Hayden Olsen [K, 5-9, 160, Buford HS, Flowery Branch, Ga.]
D.T. Gideon [ATH, 5-6, 165, Escambia HS, Pensacola, Fla.]
Isaiah Woods [DL, 6-3, 253, Weaver HS, Weaver, Ala.]
Ashton Maples [WR, 6-4, 180, Maryville HS, Maryville, Tenn.]
NyQuann Washington [DB, 5-11, 170, Colquitt County HS, Norman Park, Ga.]
Ja'Vone Williams [DB, 6-2, 175, Thompson HS, Alabaster, Ala.]
Photos | Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
Videos | Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information and Adam Raymond, TTU Video Production
