RUSTON, La. (Feb. 6, 2013) – Louisiana Tech head football coach Skip Holtz announced the 2013 signing class – his first at LA Tech – in front of a packed house at the Lincoln Parish Library Special Events Center Wednesday afternoon.
Coach Holtz announced 21 players in all are part of the 2013 signing class with an even mixture of high school and junior college players, offense and defense players, hailing from five different states.
“It is great to finally have signing day,” Holtz said. “When you look at it, it is about a six-week body of work this staff has put together, and I am just really proud of the job this staff has done with this class. When you look at the talent and some of the needs that we have from a position stand point; when you look at the students in this group and the people in this group; I think this staff has really done a nice job putting this group together.”
Louisiana was the most represented state with eight signees overall, split almost evenly between the I-20 corridor in the north and the I-10 corridor in the south.
The Bulldogs are bringing in two former West Monroe High School players in Paul Turner (transferring from LSU) and Xavier Woods.
“Paul Turner is a dynamic, exciting, electric player,” said Holtz. When you look at what we were talking about with that I-20 corridor and having Paul Turner transfer in from LSU; I think that is a chance for him to come in and really be a special player and come in as an elite athlete along with Xavier Woods as a freshman coming in. But, I think those two from West Monroe High School are two huge additions. I think that is part of, hopefully, the beginning of building a bridge from here to Monroe with the great programs that are over in that area.”
Tech gets some immediate needs with four offensive linemen and four wide receivers in the class replacing six graduating starters. The Bulldogs also inked three linebackers and two defensive backs, filling some immediate needs there.
“Well, we needed offensive linemen,” Holtz explained. “I believe there were 10 junior college players in this class, and when you look at the two offensive linemen, I have always said any time you take junior college players you need to try and take high school players with them. “When you look at the two offensive linemen in the junior college players, you are going to look at immediate help from them. There were two wide receiver junior college players that were transfers with Paul Turner and Kevin Gary. We had one defensive lineman. You had two in the secondary; two safeties in the secondary. But, the biggest need was the three linebackers, which is where I think the biggest need for next year could make a difference.”
Spring practice will begin for Louisiana Tech on March 15 and conclude with the T-Day Spring Game on April 13.
For complete coverage of Bulldog Football, please follow @LATechPWalsh on Twitter or visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at LATechSports.com.
Louisiana Tech Football 2013 Signing Class
Name HT WT Pos. Hometown (Previous School)
Chris Aye 6-4 290 OL Houston, Texas (Cypress Ridge HS)
Jonathan Barnes 5-8 150 K Baton Rouge, La. (Woodlawn HS)
Mitchell Bell 6-4 310 OL Houston, Texas (Navarro JC)
Nic Bickham 6-4 230 DE St. Amant, La. (St. Amant HS)
DeAngelo Brooks 6-1 290 DT Shreveport, La. (Kilgore JC)
Tre Carter 6-3 285 OL Buena Vista, Ga. (Georgia Miliary College)
Kevin Gary 6-0 178 WR Snellville, Ga. (Georgia Military College)
Hakim Gray 6-3 250 DE Keachi, La. (North Desoto HS)
Carlos Henderson 5-10 165 ATH New Orleans, La. (McDonogh 35 HS)
Michael Jacob 5-11 165 DB Allen, Texas (Allen HS)
Eddie Johnson 6-3 230 WR Midlothian, Texas (Navarro JC)
Tony Johnson 6-3 250 LB Sulligent, Ala. (Southwest Mississippi CC)
Cam Manning 6-3 265 OL Southlake, Texas (Carroll HS)
Thomas McDonald 6-3 180 S Houston, Texas (Navarro JC)
Logan McPherson 5-10 172 P/K Fort Payne, Ala. (Fort Payne HS)
Terrell Pinson 6-3 210 S Tupelo, Miss. (Itawamba CC)
Trent Taylor 5-9 175 WR Shreveport, La. (Evangel Christian Academy)
Nick Thomason 6-1 230 LB Muscle Shoals, Ala. (Northeast Miss. CC)
Paul Turner 5-11 186 WR West Monroe, La. (West Monroe HS)
Mitch Villemez 6-1 225 LB Hardin, Texas (Blinn JC)
Xavier Woods 5-11 180 DB West Monroe, La. (West Monroe HS)
Head Coach Skip Holtz
Opening comments:
“It is great to finally have signing day. When you look at it, it is about a six-week body of work this staff has put together, and I am just really proud of the job this staff has done with this class. When you look at the talent and some of the needs that we have from a position stand point; when you look at the students in this group and the people in this group; I think this staff has really done a nice job putting this group together.”
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