COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech football coach Watson
Brown and his staff had a rather small target to aim toward in
signing recruits during this off-season, and the veteran coach
feels like they’ve hit the bulls-eye, again.
“It was a much smaller number that we could sign this year,
and a very position-oriented group,” Brown said. “It
was a broad range, but it was just one or two guys at this position
or that position, and we feel like we’ve signed an
outstanding group, one that really fills our needs.
“This is a quality class,” he added.
With so many top quality signees in the past couple years who will
be returning in 2013, Brown and his staff had only a handful of
spots available when searching for the 2013 Golden Eagle recruits.
He was highly pleased with the addition of the 17 young men who
submitted their paperwork Wednesday, the first day of the
NCAA’s national signing period.
“We needed a couple offensive and defensive linemen, we
wanted to sign a couple linebackers,” Brown said. “We
did not take many secondary guys, we didn’t look at
receivers, but we wanted athletes, two-way guys where we can pick
where they would be better off. We wanted another quarterback, a
punter/kicker who will come in and compete.”
Brown said his staff was also looking for two-way athletes who can
line up at tight end or defensive end, and the signing class
includes a couple.
“We're getting a couple of those kind of guys,” Brown said. “Guys who can play a lot of places.”
Overall, Brown feels the 2013 signing class will send the Golden Eagles into the future with solid personnel.
“I think so, and we’re not through yet,” he
said. “The plan has gone well. We’ve filled the needs
we have for the next few years with few scholarships.”
Included in the 17 signees are several local players who are
familiar in the area for their success.
“I think this was our best year locally,” Brown
said. “We had two from Livingston (Creed Hayes and
Brock McCoin), one from Rockwood (Hayden Freels), one from
Gordonsville (Tyler Coen). There were some really good
players in the area this year, and we don’t want to let those
get away. We work really hard to take care of the home base and
we’ve signed some high profile kids in the area.”
A capsule look at each of the 17 signees Wednesday:
Josh Belhu – LB, 5-11, 230, Mt. Juliet,
Tenn. / Mt. Juliet HS
In the past two seasons, Josh Belhu has played key roles on both
side of the line of scrimmage for Mt. Juliet High School, helping
the Golden Bears produce a combined 24-3 overall record and reach
the TSSAA semifinals both seasons. As a senior team captain,
playing in 12 games at linebacker, he managed 139 total tackles,
with 64 solo stops and 65 assists. He also had seven
tackles-for-loss, three sacks, six passes defended and 12
quarterback hurries. He was named all-district as an offensive
guard during his junior season, and three times was selected the
Wilson County Player of the Week.
Click here to link to Josh Belhu's video
Brady Bose – DL, 6-4, 285, Ashland City,
Tenn. / Cheatham County HS
A two-way player at Cheatham County High School, Brady accepted
team and district honors on both sides of scrimmage during his
career with the Cubs. He helped the team post a 12-1 record and
advance to the TSSAA playoffs after capturing the District 11-AA
championship. On offense, he won the Best Receiver Award as a
junior, and also captured Hardest Hitter and Offensive MVP honors
while being voted team captain. His senior year netted seven
catches for 122 yards and four touchdowns. Bose was named 11-AA
Most Valuable Tight End as a junior and senior, and all-district as
a defensive lineman as a senior. He was selected for the Tennessee
East/West All-Star game and voted first-team all-state as a
defensive end by the Tennessee Sportswriters Association. He made
33 total tackles as a senior with six tackles-for-loss and seven
sacks.
Brady Bose's video:
Robert Hill Bronson
– LB, 5-11, 205, Brooksville, Fla. / Hernando
HS
A standout athlete at Hernando High School in Brooksville, Fla.,
Bronson was a two-time team Defensive MVP as a linebacker and
finished second all-time in quarterback sacks for his team behind
Philadelphia Eagles All-Pro Jerome Brown. As a senior, he had 90
total tackles with 10 quarterback sacks and 27.5 tackles-for-loss.
He caused four and recovered three fumbles and also blocked a punt.
His post-season awards included All-North Suncoast and
All-Suncoast, as well as third-team Florida 6A All-State. In
addition to football, he also lettered in wrestling, track, soccer
and weight-lifting. He was third in the region in wrestling and a
state qualifier in weight-lifting.
Robert Hill Bronson's video:
Trey Burks – RB, 5-9, 185, Tullahoma,
Tenn. / Tullahoma HS
A 1,000-yard gainer during his senior year at Tullahoma High
School, Burks was named the All-District 8AAA runningback for the
Wildcats when he posted 11 touchdowns and 1,001 yards on 42
carries. He also caught 17 passes for 340 yards and five
touchdowns. On the defensive side, he had 30 total tackles and one
interception. He was named to the Southern Middle Tennessee
all-area team.
Trey Burks' video:
Michael Cain – DL, 5-9, 295, Nashville, Tenn. / Whites Creek HS
Twice named the Nashville Metro Lineman of the Year and ranked
No. 4 in the nation by National Underclassman Combine, Cain was a
two-time all-state selection while playing at Whites Creek High
School. He put up sensational numbers for the Cobras, including 175
career tackles and 150 tackles-for-loss with 30 quarterback sacks.
He was a three-time All-Metro selection.
Michael Cain's video:
Jordan Carroll – DE, 6-3, 245,
Birmingham, Ala. / Briarwood Christian HS
An all-county selection and team captain, Carroll also earned a
spot on the All-Over the Mountain honor squad at Briarwood
Christian High School, helping the team to its 20th
consecutive state playoff appearance. He posted 104 total tackles
for the Lions, including 41 solo stops and 63 assisted tackles. He
also had nine quarterback sacks and 16
tackles-for-loss.
Jordan Carroll's video:
Tyler Coen – OL, 6-3, 255, Gordonsville,
Tenn. / Gordonsville HS
Voted as Tennessee Mr. Football Class A Lineman and the Upper
Cumberland Defensive Player of the Year, Coen was also a first-team
TSWA All-State pick as an offensive lineman. A team captain he was
also named All-Region 4A for the Tigers, who finished 14-1 and
captured the TSSAA Class 4A state title in Tucker Stadium. As a
senior, he finished with 88 tackles, including 16 tackles-for-loss
and six quarterback sacks. For his four-year career, Coen posted
289 tackles, with 12 sacks and 37 tackles-for-loss.
Click here to link to Tyler Coen's video
Hayden Freels – TE/DE, 6-4, 215,
Rockwood, Tenn. / Rockwood HS
A four-year letterman in both football and baseball along with two
in basketball, Freels is a versatile athlete who can use his
strength on either side of scrimmage. He was named All-State as
well as Defensive Player of the Year while posting 68 total
tackles, eight sacks, eight tackles-for-loss in the defensive line.
As a tight end, he had 24 catches for 317 yards and two touchdowns
for Rockwood High School.
Click here to link to Hayden Freels' video
Maleek Hall – ATH 5-11, 188, Clarksville,
Tenn. / Kenwood HS
An elusive runner, Hall set school records as a senior at Kenwood
High School for most rushing yards with 1,550 and most all-purpose
yards with 2,150. A four-year starter and three-time all-region
pick for the Knights, he was named the Offensive Player of the Year
when he had 100 carries for 1,550 yards and caught 63 passes for
600 yards. He ranked first in the state for average yards per
carry, gaining 9.0 per try. He ranked eighth in Tennessee for
all-purpose yards.
Maleek Hall's video:
Creed Hayes – ATH, 5-9, 180, Livingston,
Tenn. / Livingston Academy
A four-time all-district selection and two-time District 7AA
Running Back of the Year, Hayes also grabbed back-to-back Upper
Cumberland Offensive Player of the Year awards and was named
All-State as a senior for Livingston Academy. For his career, he
piled up 4,248 rushing yards and 58 touchdowns, highlighted by 1886
yards and 26 scores as a senior for the Wildcats. He established a
school rushing record of 1,517 yards as a junior before eclipsing
that total in his senior season.
Creed Hayes' video
Jonathan King – K/P, 6-0, 160, Knoxville,
Tenn. / Farragut HS
Named the National High School Player of the Year and an
All-American by Ray Guy ProKicker.com, King is a combination kicker
from Farragut High School who averaged 46.9 yards per punt and made
six of nine field goal tries as a senior. For his career, King was
27-for-43 on field goal tries and made 55-for-56 PATs. He was named
the 2012 Tennessee Mr. Football Kicker of the
Year.
Jonathan King's video:
Brock McCoin – QB, 6-2, 180, Livingston,
Tenn. / Livingston Academy
Twice named the Upper Cumberland Playmaker of the Year, a
four-time All-District 7AA selection and a TSWA All-State pick
while directing the Livingston Academy offense, McCoin passed for
more than 4,000 career yards and accounted for more than 6,000
yards of total offense as a Wildcat. As a senior, he completed 63
percent of his tosses for 1,536 yards and 17 touchdowns with only
two interceptions, and also rushed 110 times for 820 yards and 14
scores. He finished with 4,022 career passing yards for 45
touchdowns and 13 interceptions, and accounted for 60 touchdowns.
Brock McCoin's video:
Charles Rutledge – OL, 6-5, 250, Decatur, Ga. / Columbia HS
A three-year starter on the offensive line and a four-year
letterman at Columbia High School, Rutledge anchored the offensive
line for the Eagles. He was selected to play in the Dekalb County
All-Star game and earned All-Dekalb County honors. An outstanding
athlete, he was also a member of the basketball team that has won
two of the last three state championships.
Click here to view Charles Rutledge's video
Gage Terry – OL, 6-3, 294, Charlotte, Tenn. / Creek
Wood HS
A four-year starter on both the football and baseball teams at
Creek Wood High School, Terry was a three-time all-district
selection in football and twice chosen as team captain. A lineman
on both sides of scrimmage for the Red Hawks, he led the team to
three playoff appearances in his four seasons. A two-time
All-District 11AA pick, he is also a two-time MVP Lineman who
graded out over 90 percent. He was chosen the 2-12 Tennessee Impact
Player of the year, and picked to play in the Down Under Bowl.
Gage Terry's video:
Trey Thompson – LB, 6-1, 210, Cincinnati, Ohio / LaSalle HS
In four seasons, Thompson piled up over 200 career tackles as a
starter at linebacker for LaSalle High School. A versatile athlete
who lettered in football, baseball and basketball, he had 90
tackles in his senior season along with five quarterback sacks and
one interception.
Click here to link to Trey Thompson's
video
Jerquin Vines – CB, 5-10, 180, LaFayette, Ala. / LaFayette HS
A four-year starter at wide receiver and cornerback, Vines was a
first-team All-State selection for LaFayette High School while also
earning first-team all-area honors. A team captain, he was a
two-way threat for the Bulldogs. On offense, he caught 43 passes
for 911 yards and 16 touchdowns, and also had 20 carries for 245
yards and two scores. On defense, Vines had 54 total tackles, six
interceptions, 10 passes defended and forced four fumbles. He
returned two interceptions for touchdowns, and piled up 207 yards
in return yards. He finished his senior season with 1,575
all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns.
Jerquin Vines' video:
Dametris Watson – OLB/TE, 6-4, 235,
Hendersonville, Tenn. / Beech HS
Valuable on both sides of scrimmage, Watson played outside
linebacker and tight end for Beech High School as the Buccaneers
rolled through a perfect 15-0 season on the way to winning the
TSSAA Class 5A state championship in Tucker Stadium. Watson caught
28 passes for 537 yards and eight touchdowns, and on defense he
made 68 total tackles with one quarterback sack, two interceptions
and three recovered fumbles.
Click here to view Dametris Watson's video
Tennessee Tech’s 2013 Football Signees
| Name |
Pos |
Ht |
Wt |
Hometown / High School |
| Josh Belhu | LB | 5-11 | 230 | Mt. Juliet, Tenn. / Mt. Juliet HS |
| Brady Bose | DL | 6-4 | 285 | Ashand City, Tenn. / Cheatham County HS |
| Robert Hill
Bronson |
LB | 5-11 | 205 | Brooksville, Fla. / Hernando HS |
| Trey Burks |
RB |
5-9 |
185 |
Tullahoma, Tenn. / Tullahoma HS |
| Michael Cain |
DL |
5-9 |
295 |
Nashville, Tenn. / Whites Creek HS |
| Jordan Carroll |
DE |
6-3 |
245 |
Birmingham, Ala. / Briarwood Christian
HS |
| Tyler Coen |
OL |
6-3 |
255 |
Gordonsville, Tenn. / Gordonsville HS |
| Hayden Freels |
TE/DE |
6-4 |
215 |
Rockwood, Tenn. / Rockwood HS |
| Maleek Hall | ATH | 5-11 | 188 |
Clarksville, Tenn. / Kenwood HS |
| Creed Hayes |
ATH |
5-9 |
180 |
Livingston, Tenn. / Livingston
Academy |
| Jonathan King | P/K |
6-0 |
160 |
Knoxville, Tenn. / Farragut HS |
| Brock McCoin |
QB |
6-2 |
180 |
Livingston, Tenn. / Livingston
Academy |
| Charles Rutledge |
OL |
6-5 |
250 |
Decatur, Ga. / Columbia HS |
| Gage Terry |
OL | 6-3 | 294 | Charlotte, Tenn. / Creek Wood HS |
| Trey Thompson | LB |
6-1 |
210 |
Cincinnati, Ohio / LaSalle HS |
| Jerquin Vines |
ATH |
5-10 |
180 |
LaFayette, Ala. / LaFayette HS |
| Dametris Watson | OLB/TE |
6-4 |
235 |
Hendersonville, Tenn. / Beech HS |