Eagles Add 31 on National Signing Day
Feb. 4, 2009
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Ken Sparks' Carson-Newman Eagles added 31 players on Wednesday's "National Signing Day."
The group of 31 includes players from six states, as well as 21from Tennessee. The class is expected to grow substantially as the week, and signing period, progresses.
Carson-Newman has won 20 South Atlantic Conference titles under Sparks, who begins his 30th season in the fall. The Eagles were 7-4 in 2008, reaching the NCAA Playoffs.
Ken Sparks, Carson-Newman Head Coach, on his signing class: "I'm grateful that a lot of young men are willing to trust us with their future. We have some special ones coming in this class, and we still have more to add. This is going to be a special class, and I can't wait to see this group in Orange and Blue...Weather has been a factor throughout the region, and we expect a number of kids to get to sign in the next day or two when school resumes...We're glad to get done what we have to this point, but there is still a lot of work to do....It is important we continue to ask kids the same questions we always do. Can they grow with the Lord at Carson-Newman? Can He use them here?"
| 2009 Carson-Newman Football Signees | ||||
| Name | Pos | Ht | Wt | Hometown/Last School |
| AJ Bazzle | QB | 5'11 | 185 | Hickory, N.C./Newton Conover |
| Jamie Bennett | RB | 5'11 | 195 | Morven, N.C./Anson Co. |
| Kartrez Bibbs | DB | 5'9 | 170 | South Pittsburg, Tenn./South Pittsburg |
| Blaine Boone | OL | 6'4 | 330 | Hendersonville, Tenn./White House |
| Chris Campbell | OL | 6'1 | 270 | Rockmart, Ga./Rockmart |
| Cody Clawson | WR | 5'10 | 175 | Nashville, Tenn./Wilson Central |
| Jaycob Coleman | RB | 6'1 | 205 | Norton, Va./John I. Burton |
| Collin Earnhardt | DB | 5'10 | 172 | Mount Juliet,Tenn./Mount Juliet |
| Antwuan Gordon | LB | 6'1 | 200 | Fayettville, Tenn./Lincoln County |
| Brandon Haywood | QB | 5'11 | 185 | Rockmart, Ga./Rockmart |
| Colin Henson | WR | 6'2 | 170 | Chapel Hill, Tenn./Forrest |
| Qua Jackson | DL | 6'0 | 305 | Chattanooga, Tenn./Ooltewah |
| Issac Kinley | DB | 5'10 | 190 | Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill |
| Matthew Kranz | OL | 6'2 | 260 | Chattanooga, Tenn./Ooltewah |
| Lorian Mallory | DB | 5'11 | 175 | Miami, Fla./College of the Desert C.C. |
| Christian McFall | WR | 5'9 | 180 | Jefferson City, Tenn. /Jefferson Co. |
| Thomas McNutt | OL | 6'3 | 260 | Dallas,Tex./Parish Episcopal |
| Montrell Mitchell | RB/DB | 5'8 | 175 | South Pittsburg, Tenn./South Pittsburg |
| Patrick Moore | QB | 6'1 | 180 | Hixon, Tenn./Chatt. Central |
| Johnny Myricks | WR/DB | 6'0 | 165 | Chattanooga, Tenn./Ooltewah |
| Jamar Neal | DE | 6'2 | 245 | Columbia, Tenn./Battle Ground Academy |
| Jamie Plont | OL | 6'3 | 285 | Dandridge, Tenn./Jefferson Co. |
| Miguel Sanchez | OL/DL | 6'0 | 250 | Chattanooga, Tenn./Red Bank |
| Josh Shults | OL | 6'2 | 335 | Newport, Tenn./Cocke Co. |
| Larry Smith | WR | 6'5 | 190 | Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill |
| Zach Smith | OL | 6'1 | 250 | Knoxville, Tenn./Carter |
| Cody Todd | OL | 6'3 | 300 | Twin City, Ga./Emanuel County Institute |
| Britton Twyman | RB | 5'11 | 170 | Fayettville, Tenn./Lincoln County |
| Keith Winston | DB | 5'9 | 175 | Columbia, S.C./Keenan |
| Kemontinez Whitefield | DE | 6'3 | 230 | Nashville, Tenn./Hunters Lane |
| Caleb Yokley | WR | 6'2 | 190 | Dandridge, Tenn./Carter |
Signee Profiles
A.J. Bazzle
QB - 5'11 - 185 - Hickory, N.C./Newton Conover
Played quarterback for Newton Conover High School...Threw for 1,194 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 830 yards and 24 touchdowns...Led Newton Conover to Class 2A state title...Played in North Carolina East-West All-Star Game...All-Region selection.
Jamie Bennett
RB - 5'11 - 195 - Morven, N.C./Anson County
All-Conference selection at running back at Anson County High School...Also an All-Conference athlete in track and wrestling.
Kartrez Bibbs
DB - 5'9 - 170 - South Pittsburg, Tenn./South Pittsburg
Played defensive back for South Pittsburg High School in South Pittsburg, Tenn. ...Earned All-Region 3-A honors...Also earned All-Region honors in track...Led South Pittsburg to an 11-1 record and a berth in the Class A state quarterfinals.
Blaine Boone
OL - 6'4 - 330 - Hendersonville, Tenn./White House
Named 3A finalist for Mr. Football award...Named first team All-State by Tennessee Sports Writers Association and Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association...Named 2008 Second Team All-Midstate Team...Played at White House High School in White House, Tenn.
Chris Campbell
OL - 6'1 - 270 - Rockmart, Ga./Rockmart
Played at Rockmart High School in Rockmart, Ga. ...Named team captain and team Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2008...Earned All-Area honors in 2007 and 2008...Led Rockmart to a 7-4 record and a berth in the Class 2A state playoffs.
Cody Clawson
WR - 5'10 - 175 - Nashville, Tenn./Wilson Central
Leading rusher for Wilson Central with 467 yards and six touchdowns...Averaged 9.6 yards per carry...Led Wilson Central to 8-4 record and a berth in the Class 5A state playoffs...Won track state championship in the 4 x 200 event in 2006 with John Paul High School.
Jaycob Coleman
RB - 6'1 - 205 - Norton, Va./John I. Burton
Earned All-State, All-Region, All-District, All-Southwest Virginia honors...Named Watauga Orthopedics Player of the Year.
Collin Earnhardt
DB - 5'10 - 172 - Mount Juliet, Tenn./Mount Juliet
Played defensive back for Mount Juliet High School in Mount Juliet Tenn. ...Earned All-Region 6-4A honors...Also was the region champion in the 100 meters in track.
Antwuan Gordon
LB - 6'1 - 200 - Fayettville, Tenn./Lincoln County
Linebacker at Lincoln County High School in middle Tennessee...Played in Tennessee East-West All-Star game in December...Named Tennessee Sports Writers Association 5A All-State.
Brandon Haywood
QB - 5'11 - 185 - Rockmart, Ga./Rockmart
Played quarterback at Rockmart High School in Rockmart, Ga. ...Earned All-Area and Class 2A All-State honors...Named team captain, team Offensive Player of the Year and team MVP...Led Rockmart to a 7-4 record and a berth in the Class 2A state playoffs
Colin Henson
WR - 6'2 - 170 - Chapel Hill, Tenn./Forrest
Played quarterback at Forrest High School in Chapel Hill, Tenn....All-Region selection...Named Region Back of the Year... Likely to move to wideout at C-N.
Qua Jackson
DL - 6' - 305 - Chattanooga, Tenn./Ooltewah
2-5A All-Region selection...Region Defensive Lineman of the Year...Named Best of Preps...All-City selection...All-Tri-State...Tennessee East-West All-Star...Helped lead the Owls to an 11-2 record and a berth in the Class 5A state semifinals.
Issac Kinley
DB - 5'10 - 190 - Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill
First team Big East...First team All- Northeast Tennessee...Played quarterback and was team's leading rusher for Science Hill...Also played defensive back...Had two pass break-ups in Tennessee-Kentucky Border Bowl played in January.
Matthew Kranz
OL - 6'2 - 260 - Chattanooga, Tenn./Ooltewah
Played on the offensive line at Ooltewah High School...All-Region 2-5A selection... Helped lead the Owls to an 11-2 record and a berth in the Class 5A state semifinals.
Lorian Mallory
DB - 5'11 - 175 - Miami, Fla./College of the Desert
Transfer from College of the Desert Community College in Palm Desert, Calif...First Team Juco All-American in 2007...First team All-Conference in '07 and '08.
Christian McFall
WR - 5'9 - 180 - Jefferson City, Tenn./Jefferson Co.
All Region 1-5A selection...All-Big East...Played for former C-N All-American offensive lineman Justin Anderson at Jefferson County High School.
Thomas McNutt
OL - 6'3 - 260 - Dallas, Texas/Parish Episcopal
Played on the offensive line at Parish Episcopal High School in Dallas, Texas...Earned All-State honors...Named to the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools first team...Garnered team lineman MVP honors...Led Parish Episcopal to an 8-3 record and a berth in the Division II Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools state playoffs.
Montrell Mitchell
RB/DB - 5'8 - 175 - South Pittsburg, Tenn./South Pittsburg
Played running back and defensive back for South Pittsburg High School in South Pittsburg, Tenn. ...Earned All-Region 3-A and team MVP honors...Named Defensive Back of the Year in Region 3-A...Also earned All-Region honors in track...Led South Pittsburg to an 11-1 record and a berth in the Class A state quarterfinals.
Patrick Moore
QB - 6'1 - 180 - Hixon, Tenn./Chattanooga Central
Three-year starter at Chattanooga Central High School...Named 4-AAAA All-Region and team Most Valuable Player.
Johnny Myricks
ATH - 6'0 - 165 - Chattanooga, Tenn./Ooltewah
2-5A All-Region selection... Named Best of Preps... Tennessee East-West All-Star...Tennessee State Champ in 100M, 4x100M, 4x200M, and state team champion.
Jamar Neal
DE - 6'2 - 245 - Columbia, Tenn./Battle Ground Academy
Played defensive end at Battle Ground Academy in Columbia, Tenn....Had 30 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss to lead his team to an 8-3 record and a Division II-2A playoff berth...Earned first team All-Midstate honors.
Jamie Plont
OL - 6'3 - 285 - Dandridge, Tenn./Jefferson Co.
All-Big East selection at Jefferson County...Team Captain... Played for former C-N All-American offensive lineman Justin Anderson at Jefferson County High School.
Miguel Sanchez
OL/DL - 6'0 - 250 - Chattanooga, Tenn./Red Bank
Played on the offensive and defensive lines at Red Bank High School...Earned Class 4A All-State honors as a defensive lineman...Named Region 4-4A Defensive Lineman of the year in 2007 and 2008...Garnered All-City and Best of Preps honors...Led Red Bank to a 7-4 record and a berth in the Class 4A state playoffs.
Josh Shults
OL - 6'2 - 335 - Newport, Tenn./Cocke County
All-Conference offensive lineman at Newport High School.
Larry Smith
WR - 6'5 - 190 - Johnson City, Tenn./Science Hill
All-Region 1-5A selection in at Science Hill...High school teammate of fellow signee - athlete Issac Kinley...Son of former Eagle Larry Smith.
Zach Smith
OL - 6'1 - 250 - Knoxville, Tenn./Carter
1-3A All-Region selection in '07 and '08...High school teammate of fellow C-N signee Caleb Yokley... Led Carter to a 6-5 record and a berth in the Class 3A state playoffs.
Cody Todd
OL - 6'3 - 300 - Twin City, Ga./Emmanuel County Institute
All-State selection...Four-year starter...2007 Class A State Champions and 2008 Class A State Finalist.
Britton Twyman
RB - 5'11 - 170 - Fayettville, Tenn./Lincoln County
Leading rusher at Lincoln County High School in middle Tennessee.
Keith Winston
DB - 5'9 - 175 - Columbia, S.C./Keenan
Named All-State at defensive back...Named to The State's 2A All-Area Defensive Team...Led team with 134 tackles and three interceptions...Team went 8-3 and reached the first round of the 2A state playoffs.
Kemontinez Whitefield
DE - 6'3 - 230 - Nashville, Tenn./Hunters Lane
Played defensive end for Hunters Lane High School...First team All-Region 5-5A...Led the Warriors to an 8-3 record and a berth in the Class 5A state playoffs.
Caleb Yokley
WR - 6'2 - 190 - Dandridge, Tenn./Carter
Caught 17 passes for 441 yards and five touchdowns...Led Carter to a 6-5 record and a berth in the Class 3A state playoffs.
