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Franchione’s First Recruiting Class Includes 22 New Players

San Marcos, Texas – For new Texas State head coach , time was of the essence. Franchione returned to Texas State and assumed the helm of the Bobcat football program on January 7. Following the announcement of his hiring, Franchione couldn’t be on the road recruiting for the next six days during the football coaches’ convention in Dallas. He spent that time in his office getting himself organized and hiring a new staff.

“I have been through some transitions before, but this may have been the shortest amount of time to recruit with which I have ever been involved,” said Franchione. “Following the coaches convention, we had six days or three weekends for official visits and spent 11 actual days on the road recruiting. If someone had told me on January 6 when I took the job that this is how it would turn out, I would have said, ‘Dang good, I’ll take it’. What did help, was having some real positives with which to work.”

“Obviously, Texas State is a good product. The move to the FBS, the affiliation with the Western Athletic Conference, and the upgrade in facilities are all positives for us to sell. However, with that being said, I am anxious to have a full year to recruit and looking forward to being a full-fledged FBS member in the Western Athletic Conference next year when recruiting.”

Franchione and his staff put together a recruiting class that includes five offensive linemen, five defensive linemen, four wide receivers, three defensive backs, two tight ends, two running backs, and one punter/place kicker have signed with Texas State.

“Transition years are a bit blind in terms of recruiting because you don’t know what you really have on your team. All you can do is look at a depth chart and see what people have been. The offensive and defensive linemen were the things that jumped out to us. We felt like we had to get some new players on the offensive line since we lose so many players there after next season. We needed to bring in some players to help bridge that transition.”

Franchione was quick to praise Texas State recruiting coordinator Charlie Reeve, who was a holdover from the previous staff and spent most of his time on the road while the school searched for its new football coach.

“I want to commend Charlie Reeve for merging our transition because he deserves a lot of credit for how this turned out. He kept this going in the right direction. I also want to praise our staff because of their tireless effort and without their previous connections, this could not have happened.”

In addition to the offensive and defensive linemen, Franchione feels that he helped add some more speed in addition a pair of “quality” tight ends to Texas State’s roster.

2011 Texas State Football Recruits

Justin Bean, WR, 6-2, 197, Tupelo, Mississippi (Tupelo High School/Itawamba Community College)
Junior College: Two-star recruit by Rivals.com …played two years at Itawamba Community College … played in five games his sophomore season and caught four passes for 40 yards … played in four games his freshman season and caught six passes for 99 yards and 2 TDs … played for coach Jon Williams.
High School: Played at Tupelo High School under head coach Darryl Carter … also competed in swimming, track and field and basketball … son of James and Barbara Bean … plans to major in

Jackson Costello, OL, 6-4, 293, The Woodlands, Texas (College Park High School)
High School: Earned First-Team All-District 14-5A honors under head coach Richard Carson … named to Vype magazine’s Top 100 … set school record in shot put with 52.8 m … plans to major in computer science at Texas State … son of Tom and Nancy Costello.

Zach Crawford, OL, 6-2, 280, Austin, Texas (Westwood High School)
High School: Earned All-District 16-5A honors three times under head coach Anthony Wood … was a Second-team All-Centex selection by the Austin American Statesman after playing for the 5-6 Bi-District Finalist Warriors … helped lead the way for an offense that averaged 358 total yards and 28.7 points per game … competed in the shot put and discus events … son of Chris and Kaye Crawford … also recruited by UTSA.

Jeremy Dickey, S, 6-0, 195, Liberty, Texas (Liberty High School/Tarleton State)
College: Redshirted at Tarleton State under coach Cary Fowler … also recruited by Sam Houston State and Northeastern.
High School: Named a First-Team All-District 22-3A punter under coach Shane Deel … also played quarterback at Liberty … finished his senior season completing 70 of 130 passes for 877 yards and 7 TDs … rushed for 601 yards and 3 TDs his senior season … competed in the 100, 200 and 4x100-meter events in track … also competed in power lifting … member of the National Honor Society … son of Jim and Sherry Dickey … his father coaches at Liberty High School and his uncle, Darrell Dickey, is a coach at Texas State.

Kyle Doll, TE, 6-5, 220, College Station, Texas (A&M Consolidated High School/Blinn College)
Junior College: Played in 11 games for coach Brad Franchione … caught two passes for 30 yards.
High School: was a First-Team All-District 12-5A selection … named First-Team All-Brazos County pick for 7-4 Co-District 12-5A champions …was a two-year letterman under coach Jim Slaughter … son of Kirk and Kathy Doll … his father, Kirk, is an assistant coach for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League.

Anthony EvansAnthony Evans, OL, 6-1, 285, Abilene, Texas (Cooper High School)
High School: Was a First-Team All-District 3-5A selection for head coach Mike Spradlin … helped Cooper to an 11-2 record and a 4-1 District 3-5A mark … Cooper advanced to the 5A Division 2 Regional finals ... paved the way for an offense that averaged 462.0 total yards and 40.3 points per game … plans to major in music at Texas State … son of Regina Evans.

Matt Freeman, C, 6-2, 264, Abilene, Texas (Cooper High School)
High School: Two-time All-District 3-5A selection … was an All-State selection … named Second-Team All-American … helped lead Abilene Cooper to a district championship and a regional finals appearance against Denton Guyer … helped pave the way for Cooper’s offense to average 462.0 total yards and 40.3 points per game … named to 2011 U.S. Under-19 National Team, assembled by USA Football … had 91 knockdowns during junior season … Three-year starter for coach Mike Spradlin … also competed in the discus … plans to major in criminal justice at Texas State … son of Nora and Michael Freeman.

Tim Gay, RB, 5-11, 185, Houston, Texas (Chavez High School)
High School: Two-star recruit by Rivals.com … two-time First-Team All-District 20-5A selection … earned District 20-5A Offensive MVP honors for 6-5 Bi-District Finalist Lobos … rushed for 1,341 yards and 13 TDs to go with 12 catches for 244 yards and 2 TDs his senior year … rushed for 601 yards and 14 TDs along with 6 catches for 179 yards and 4 TDs his junior year … ranks third in all-time rushing yards and rushing TDs at Chavez High School with 2,215 yards and 27 TDs respectively … ranks second all-time in points scored at Chavez with 210 points … Regional qualifier in track … named most hard working and most dedicated for Lobos track team … son of Sherronda Tisdale and Timothy Gay … related to former Cleveland Browns running back Ben Gay … related to former jazz musician and NBA player Wayman Tisdale … plans to major in education at Texas.

Chase Harper, TE, 6-5, 260, Austin, Texas (Pflugerville Connally High School/Navarro College)
Junior College: Three-star recruit by Rivals.com … member of Navarro’s national championship team in 2010 … caught 13 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore for coach Nick Bobeck … named to the Southwest Junior College All-Conference Second-Team … also plays basketball at Navarro for Johnny Estelle and was an All-Conference Third-Team selection after helping the Bulldogs reach the 2010 NJCAA National Tournament.
High School: Caught 32 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns as a senior at Connally … best game that season was against Lake Travis when he had 13 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns … also recorded six receptions for 131 yards and two TD’s versus Killeen .. earned All-District First-Team honors in both football for coach Howard McMahan and basketball for coach Marshall Sanders … was named an All-Centex selection by the Austin American Statesman…son of Rhonda Austin and Nathaniel Harper … plans to major in occupational.

Darius Hood, DT, 6-0, 280, Plano, Texas (Plano East High School)
High School: Two-time All-District 8-5A selection …named Old Coach Defensive MVP his junior season … earned Second-Team All-Region honors his junior year … named to 5A All-Junior team after helping Plano East to a 5A Area appearance against Coppell in 2009… Three year letterman for head coach Johnny Ringo … member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes … plans on majoring in physical therapy at Texas State … son of Anita and Bryant Hood.

Stephan Jacobs, OL, 6-3, 264, Houston, Texas (Nimitz High School)
High School: Named to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine Top 300 … All-District 19-5A Academic selection for coach Robert Toomer … plans on majoring in business management at Texas State … son of Lyntrice Strauss.

Will Johnson, Punter/Kicker, 6-3, 192, Bryan, Texas (Rudder High School)
High School: Named All-District 16-4A kicker in 2008-10 … chosen Academic All-District in 2010 … was an Academic All-State choice in 2010 … ranked eighth among his class by Chris Sailor Kicking website kicked five field goals and 35 extra points for Rudder … averaged 40.9 yards on 15 punts … also played safety and recorded 42 tackles in 2010 … played for coach C.M. Pier … also played baseball and was named All-District defensive player in 2010, District Newcomer of the Year in 2008 and an All-State selection as a junior in 2010 … son of Stanley and Sue Johnson … plans to major in wildlife biology at Texas State.

Samuel Mayes, DT, 6-0, 275, Spring, Texas (DeKaney High School)
High School: Two-time All-District 13-5A First-Team selection … also chosen to the District 13-5A All-Academic team … named a finalist for the Houston Touchdown Club’s top scholar-athlete award … selected to play in the Houston Blue Chip All-Star Classic … played for coach Willie Amendola … also participated in track and field … son of John and Beverly Mayes.

Josh Medford, DB, 6-0, 184, Henderson, Texas (West Rusk High School)
High School: Four-Time All-District selection … Four-year letterman for coach John Fraizer … carried 62 times for 649 yards and six touchdowns on offense while contributing 130 tackles, three sacks, a fumble and an interception on defense as a senior ... named Co-Offensive MVP for District 19-2A his junior season … completed 72 of 148 passes for 1,070 yards and 15 TDs while rushing for 544 yards on 88 carries and 6 TDs … also compiled 86 total tackles, 3 pass deflections, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles and 1 fumble recovery on defense his junior year … son of Forest Medford.

Brad Miller, WR, 6-5, 220, Sealy, Texas (Sealy High School/New Mexico/)
College: Redshirted at the University of New Mexico for head coach Mike Locksley.
High School: Three-time All-District 25-3A selection who was named Second Team All-State by the Associated Press and Rival's as a senior when he racked up 52 catches for 1,253 yards (24.1 avg.) and 11 touchdowns ... First Team All-State tight end by HuddleUpTexas.com ... listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and had a scholarship offer from Boise State as well ... put up career totals of 98 receptions for 2,198 yards (22.4 avg.) and 18 TDs under head coach Jimmie Mitchell ... was also the team's deep snapper and back-up quarterback, and was on the kick-off team ... helped the Tigers go 25-10 and advance to the state playoffs in each of his three varsity seasons ... Sealy posted an 11-1 mark last fall en route to its second district title in three years ... four-year standout for the baseball team (first base) as well and was ranked the 86th-best player in Texas last spring ... also a two-year letterman in basketball ... earned all-district honors in both sports ... named to the school honor roll all four years and was an academic all-district selection as a junior and senior ... active in the community as a coach for the "Little Dribblers" Special Olympics basketball team … son of Mark and Karla Miller …major is political science at Texas State … father Mark played football at LSU.

David Mims II, DB, 5-10½, 175, Daingerfield, Texas (Daingerfield High School)
High School: Two-star recruit by Rivals.com … member of three state championship teams at Daingerfield … helped lead the Tigers to a combined 46-3 record in his three seasons, including a 14-1 mark in 2010 … named All-State defensive back … named to the East Texas “Dream Team” … earned All-District honors… played for coach Barry Bowman … member of the baseball team under coach Curly Burgle and the track team under coach Thomas Hightower … helped Daingerfield win a track and field championship … member of the Honor Roll … son of David and Sonya Mims … his father played at Baylor (1988-93) and for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons in 1993-95.

Chris Nutall, RB, 5-8, 185, College Station, Texas (A&M Consolidated High School)
High School: Two-star recruit by Rivals.com … three-time First-Team All-District 12-5A selection for head coach Jim Slaughter … District 12-5A Offensive MVP his senior season for Regional Finalist Tigers … rushed for 1,905 yards and 20 TDs to go along with 337 yards receiving, 5 receiving TDs, and 56 return yards in his senior season … Third-Team All-State selection … rushed for 1,226 yards and 13 TDs his junior season … rushed for 919 yards and 9 TDs his sophomore season … holds the school record for total yards rushing with 3, 714 yards and 39 rushing TDs to go with 551 career receiving yards and 8 receiving TDs … has made all A’s and B’s … son of Chris and Dina Nutall.

Tylond Robertson, DE/TE, 6-3, 235, Hempstead, Texas (Hempstead High School)
High School: Three-star recruit by Rivals.com … two-time unanimous All-District selection for head coach Ricky Sargent … finished his senior season with 39 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, 2 passes deflected, a fumble forced and a fumble recovered for 7-4 Bi-District Finalist Bobcats … recorded 86 total tackles, 15.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one pass deflection for 7-5 Area Finalist Hempstead … competes in basketball and was named District 26-2A Offensive MVP as junior … Second-Team All-District 26-2A selection as a sophomore … competed in the State Track Championships in his sophomore and junior years … finished fourth in 4x100 meter relay as junior at state meet … plans on majoring in sports management at Texas State … son of Vincent and Dell Robertson …related to 2011 NFL draft prospect Terrence Toliver … related to former Houston Texans Linebackers coach Johnny Holland.

Joshua ‘E Robinson, LB, 5-11, 235, Abilene, Texas (Cooper High School)
High School: Earned All-State honors after earning unanimous First-Team All-District 3-5A honors at Abilene Cooper High School … earned Second-Team All-District 4-4A honors his junior season … helped Cougars finish the 2010 season with an 11-2 record before falling in the State Regional final game against Denton Guyer … finished senior season with 110 tackles, 8 sacks and 12 QB hurries … led a defense that held opponents to 328.3 total yards and 25.8 points per game … finished junior season with 96 tackles , 12 tackles for loss and 5 sacks … named as 2010 Top 300 player in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine …named to 2010 All-Big Country Preseason Super Team by Abilene Reporter-News … Three-year starter for coach Mike Spradlin … native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania … son of Lillian Robinson.

Shaun Rutherford, WR/QB, 6-0, 192, Bay City, Texas (Bay City High School/Blinn College)
Junior College: played two seasons under coach Brad Franchione …Named to First-Team All-SWCJFC team … caught 37 passes for 407 yards and one touchdown to go along with 14 carries for 40 yards his sophomore year for the 8-3 Bucs … best performance came against Cisco when he had over 200 all-purpose yards and scored 3 TDs … caught 18 passes for 214 yards and 3 TDs while rushing for 62 yards on 14 carries with 2 TDs in his freshman season … backed up Cam Newton and completed 20 of 30 passes for 420 yards and a touchdown to help Blinn win the NJCAA National Championship …
High School: Honorable Mention All-State selection for head coach Danny Edleman … First-Team All-Area selection for 6-5 Bi-District Finalist Black Cats … District 24-4A Offensive MVP in his senior year while completing 245 of his 379 passes for 3,309 yards and 24 TDs which lead the Houston area and was good enough for fourth in the state … best performance came in a 42-40 win over Brenham his senior year when he amassed 513 total yards and 6 TDs … named Built Ford Tough Player of the Week … earned First-Team All-Area and First-Team All-District 24-4A honors in baseball for coach Robert Rayos … earned Second-Team All-Conference and Second-Team All-Area honors in basketball for coach Eddie Nelson … son of Melvin and Cheryl Rutherford … cousin of former Texas State WR DaMarcus Griggs …cousin of current Washington Wizards player Rashard Lewis.

Jarvis Walker, S, 6-2, 212, Marrero, Louisiana (Archbishop Rummel High School/Kentucky)
College: Played two seasons at the University of Kentucky under coach Rich Brooks … during a scrimmage last fall, he accumulated 11 tackles … redshirted his freshman year
High School: Two-year pick on the All-District and All-Catholic League teams ... named All-Metro New Orleans as a senior as he totaled 34 tackles, three pass breakups and three interceptions, including a 95-yard return for a touchdown ... made 38 tackles as a junior, plus two interceptions, one of which he brought back 70 yards for a TD in a state playoff game ... was a three-year starter ... projected as one of the nation's top 50 outside linebackers by Rivals.com ... ranked as the No. 29 prospect in Louisiana by Rivals and rated No. 32 in the state by SuperPrep ... helped lead Archbishop Rummel to a 9-2 record and advance to the second round of the state playoffs as a senior ... coached by Jay Roth ... ran on the track team, competing in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes along with three relay units ... participated in the “Big Brothers” program and mentored other students at the school.

Keishe Wilcox, DL/LB, 6-2, 215, League City, Texas (Clear Springs High School)
High School: Three-time All-District 24-5A selection for head coach Clint Hartman … All-Galveston County Honorable Mention for 8-3 Bi-District Finalist Chargers … recorded 78 total tackles, 7.0 sacks and 2 pass deflections as a senior … finished his junior season with 113 total tackles, 5.0 sacks, 3 pass deflections, 2 fumble recoveries and caught one pass for 19 yards to help Clear Springs to a 11-3 season with an appearance in the 5A Division II Quarterfinals … recorded 67 total tackles, 3.0 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, one fumble caused and one pass deflection while catching 2 passes for 12 yards and 2 TDs as a sophomore … plans to major in engineering at Texas State … son of Keithanne and Rochon Singleton.

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