Photo: Tab Brockman
Head football coach Mitch Stewart is pleased to announce the commitment of 25 student-athletes who have chosen to continue their academic and athletic careers at Murray State. This is Stewart’s first class since taking over as head coach in December.
Of the 25 student-athletes in Stewart’s inaugural haul, 12 are defensive players, 11 are offensive players and two are specialists. The class includes six defensive linemen, five offensive linemen, four members of the secondary, three quarterbacks, two linebackers, two wide receivers, a tight end, a long snapper and a punter/kicker. This year’s class also features one five-star recruit, two three-star recruits and three two-star recruits.
Morgan Alexander · Nickel · 6-2 · 215 · Paducah, Ky./McCracken HS
Alexander is a three-year letterwinner for the Mustangs, where he was a three-year starter on offense and defense. In 2013, Alexander was a first-team All-West Kentucky Conference selection and following his senior year he was chosen to play in both Best of the Blue Grass and the National Guard Border Bowl All-Star games. In addition, he was the 2014 Kentucky high school state weightlifting champion in the 205-pound weight class.
Noah Banks · OL · 6-6 · 310 · Pensacola, Fla. /West Florida HS
Banks played for West Florida where he helped lead the Jaguars to a district title and a trip to the regional semifinals. To begin his senior season, he was named to the All-Panhandle Preseason Elite Team and following the season was an All-Area selection and was chosen to play in the 2014 Subway High School All-Star football game. He is a three-star rated recruit by 247sports.com and a two-star rated recruit by Scout.com.
Chase Boling · LB · 6-2 · 235 · Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic HS
Boling was a four-year letterwinner for the Knights where he helped lead them to four district titles, four region titles and four state semi-final appearances. In 2013 he had a breakout junior year; he posted 82 tackles for 13.5 total yards for loss, five hurries, 4.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries and two interceptions. He continued his growth in his senior season with 121 tackles, two interceptions and five fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown. He is a three-time All-City selection and a third team All-State honoree in 2014.
Matthew Christian · QB · 6-3 · 205 · Opelika, Ala./Opelika HS
Christian was a three-year starter for the Dawgs where he racked up a 25-8 record as a starter. In 2014, he was 118-for-164 for a total of 1,972 yards and 25 touchdowns and just one interception. He also ran the ball 64 times for a total of 214 yards and is Opelika’s all-time leading passer. After leading the Bulldogs to an area title, he was chosen as a first-team All-Area selection and a second team All-State selection. In addition, he was a first-team All-State selection in baseball last season where he hit. .442 with 33 RBIs, 19 doubles, 10 stolen bases and three home runs.
Braxton Couch · S · 5-11 · 180 · Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic HS
Couch was a four-year letterwinner for the Knights where he helped lead them to four district titles, four region titles and four state semi-final appearances. He was chosen as an All-City selection in 2013 and 2014 and was also chosen to play in the National Guard Border Bowl following his senior year. In his final two seasons at Lexington Catholic, he amassed 167 tackles, 13.0 sacks, 28 tackles for loss and two interceptions.
Wes Drewery · LS · 6-3 · 230 · Franklin, Tenn. /UAB
Drewery is transferring to Murray State after spending his last season at UAB, which cut its football program in November. Originally from Franklin, Tennessee, Drewery prepped at Centennial High School. In 2013, he was named to the 11-AAA All-District team, on top of being named as the district’s offensive lineman of the year.
Jensen Feggins · WR · 6-2 · 200 · Bowling Green, Ky. /Warren Central HS
Feggins played senior season at Warren Central, after beginning his prep career at Highlands HS. In 2011 and 2012, he helped guide the Blue Birds to a Kentucky state title. After the 2013 season, he received first-team All-Conference, All-County, All-Region, All-Area and All-State honors. In one season at Warren Central, he broke the school’s reception record in just eight games and ended with 96 catches for 1,100 yards and 11 scores. Following his senior year, he was chosen to play in the National Guard Border Bowl All-Star game.
Colin Frickey · DE · 6-3 · 240 · Clearwater, Kan. /Butler CC
Frickey prepped at Clearwater High School before spending the past year at Butler CC. In 2014, he racked up 44 tackle for an average of 4.4 per game. In addition, he had two sacks for 12 yards of loss and six tackles-for-loss for a total of 21 yards.
Ben Luper · OL · 6-5 · 280 · Springfield, Mo. /Fort Scott CC
Before playing the 2013 and 2014 seasons at Fort Scott, Luper attended and played at Lighthouse Christian High School. Luper played on an offensive line that produced the 17th most rushing yards in the NJCAA last season. The Greyhound line allowed its backs to rush for 1,899 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2014. For his work, Luper also earned 2014 KJCCC All-Conference honors.
Griffin Martin · DE · 6-2 · 250 · Elba, Ala./Elba HS
Martin is a two-year letterwinner for the Tigers who helped them to a 14-1 season and an appearance in the state title game in his senior season. After recording 25 total tackles in 2013, he upped the ante in 2014 with 88, including 13 sacks and three fumble recoveries. He was chosen to attend several elite prospect camps and was listed in the 2014 Prep Football report by recruiting insider Tom Lemming.
Rhett Morrison · P/K · 6-3 · 190 · Muscle Shoals, Ala./Muscle Shoals HS
Morrison played two years for the Trojans and was a part of their 2013 area championship and state runner-up squads. Over his two-year career, he converted on 106 of 109 extra point attempts. In 2014, he raised his punting average 3.4 yards from 38.7 to 42. 1 and placed 14 punts inside the 20-yard line. Morrison was a two-time All-Area selection, a 2014 6A All-State honoree and was chosen to play in the annual Alabama/Mississippi All-Star game.
Brant Newman · OL · 6-2 · 286 · Germantown, Tenn./Memphis University School
Newman is a four-year letterwinner for the Owls, where he helped them to win three region titles. In both 2013 and 2014, following the season, he received All-Region honors for his work. In addition to football, Newman is a four-year letterwiner in lacrosse where he hopes to win his fourth state title in four years this spring.
Jake O’Mara · QB · 6-4 · 215 · Maysville, Ky./Mason County HS
O’Mara is a four-year letterwinner for the Royals, where he currently sports a 3.9 GPA. He helped Mason County to back-to-back district titles in 2012 and 2013, as well as back-to-back state quarterfinal appearances. He amassed over 4,000 passing yards in his career to go along with 32 touchdowns via the pass and 24 via the run.
Toby Omli · S · 6-0 · 200 · Brookeville, Kan. /Butler CC
Before arriving at Butler, Omli played high school ball at Ell-saline High School. Omli was a big part of the Grizzlies’ defense last season finishing fifth on the team with 70 tackles for 6.4 per game. He also had one tackle-for-loss for three yards, a forced fumble and a pass break-up. For his efforts, Omli was named as 2014 KJCCC All-Conference selection.
Silas Owens · DE · 6-4 · 240 · New Market, Ala./Buckhorn HS
Owens is a three-year letterwinner for the Bucks, where he was a two-time All-Region selection. In 2013, Owens totaled 43 tackles, 20 solo, and four sacks to go along with two forced fumbles. In 2014, he improved even more tallying 56 total tackles, 37 solo, 1.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and touchdown. For his efforts his senior year he was named All-Tennessee-Valley and second team Class 7A All-State.
Zeke Pike · QB · 6-6 · 250 · Edgewood, Ky./Louisville
One of the most decorated players in the history of Dixie Heights High School, Pike comes to Murray State after a year each at Auburn and Louisville. The former five-star rated recruit by 247sports.com was the No. 1 rated player in Kentucky by Scout.com and the 14th-ranked pro-style quarterback in the nation by 247sports.com. He finished his career with the Colonels at 381-for-677 for 5,816 yards and 48 touchdowns with 1,800 rushing yards and 33 rushing touchdowns. Following his senior year, Pike was selected to play the 2012 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Zeke joined the Racers at Mid-term.
Orrin Ragland · WR · 6-1 · 186 · Gadsden, Ala./Gadsden City HS
Ragland played two seasons at Gainesville High School (Georgia) before finishing his career at Gadsden City in 2014. In 2012, he helped lead the Red Elephants to a state title and in 2013 he had eight receiving touchdowns and averaged 43.8 all-purpose yards per game. In track his junior season, he set three records in the Hall County Championship in the 100-meter, 200-meter and the triple jump with performances of 11.49, 23.42 and 43-feet, five inches, respectively.
Drew Rutland · TE · 6-5 · 215 · Memphis, Tenn./First Assembly Christian School
Rutland is a four-year letterwinner for the Crusaders where he earned All-District honors in each of his last three seasons and All-Metro honors in his final two. Rutland capped his FACS career by being named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Division II Class A All-State team. He finished his career with 46 receptions for 714 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Marquez Sanford · Athlete · 5-11 · 170 · Macon, Ga./Westside HS
Sanford was a three-year letterwinner for the Seminoles where he helped lead them to 26 wins, a region title and two playoff berths. In his final two seasons with Westside, the two-star rated athlete by Rivals.com racked up eight interceptions, four of which he ran back for touchdowns. In 2013, he totaled 69 tackles and followed that up in 2014 with two receiving touchdowns, a punt return for a touchdown, two forced fumbles and a fumble return. He was a two-time All-Region selection and in 2014, he earned All-State honors.
Kwan Stallworth · OL · 6-4 · 295 · Lithonia, Ga./M.L. King HS
Stallworth was a four-year letterwinner for the Lions where they went 35-13 over his four seasons. The three-star rated recruit by 247sports.com began his prep career by being named to the U.S. Air Force Freshman All-American team and was a three-time All-Region honoree. In 2013, he was selected to play in the Georgia Rising Senior Bowl and in 2014 earned Georgia All-State honors.
AJ Taylor · DE · 6-2 · 260 · Chicago, Ill./IMG Academy
Tylor was a two-year letterwinner for the Ascenders, after playing his first two seasons at St. Rita of Cascia HS. He helped lead his team to a 19-3 record in his two years at IMG and is rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com. In his two seasons at St. Rita, he averaged 22 tackles, five sacks and 2.5 forced fumbles per season. In 2013 at IMG, he upped his game to 39 tackles with 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles. Taylor continued to progress in 2014, racking up 62 tackles, 23 of which were for loss, 10 sacks and three forced fumbles. In addition, he plays basketball for the Ascenders where he averages 15.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
Collin Travis · DE · 6-5 · 230 · Benton Ky./Marshall County HS
Travis is a one-year letterwinner for the Marshalls, where he featured in nine games in his first and only season and also excels in the classroom with a 3.53 GPA. In addition to prowess on the football field, Travis is a key member of Marshall County’s basketball team where he is currently averaging 18 points and 13 rebounds per game.
Ryan Tyler · LB · 6-3 · 215 · Indianapolis, Ind./Arizona Western
After a standout prep career at Indianapolis’ North Central High School, Tyler played last season at Arizona Western. In one season with the Matadors, he racked up 58 total tackles, 24 of which were solo. In addition, he had four sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception.
Drake VanHooser · DE· 6-0 · 245 · Princeton, Ky./Caldwell County HS
VanHooser was a four-letterwinner for the Tigers and helped lead them to two district titles and a state semi-final appearance. He was a two-time All-Western Kentucky Conference first-team selection and was selected to the 2013 Paducah Sun All-Region and All-Kentucky New Era teams. In 2014, he posted 75 tackles, 19.5 of which were for loss, 4.5 sacks and two blocked punts.
Chris White · OL · 6-3 · 310 · Daphne, Ala./Daphne HS
White played for the Trojans where he helped lead them to a 7-4 record last season. The two-star rated recruit by Rivals.com and 247sports.com began his senior season as a second team pre-season All-State selection, however after the season was named first-team All-State by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. He was also chosen to play in the annual Alabama/Mississippi All-Star game after his final season. White is currently enrolled in Murray State, as he graduated high school early this past December.
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