By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – With the improvement the Tennessee Tech football team had in 2019, the Golden Eagles are setting their sights higher. To accomplish that starts with the recruiting effort, and with the new flock of Golden Eagles inked on Wednesday on the December signing day, the sky is certainly not the limit.
As Wednesday came to a close, 15 student-athletes signed their National Letters of Intent to join the Tech program. Those signees included:
Osbaldo Beltran [OL, 6-7, 325, Dalton HS, Dalton, Ga.]
A physical presence for Dalton High School up front, Beltran was a two-year starter for the school. A selection to the GACA All-Star Game, the opportunity will allow Beltran to be the first in his family to attend college. A decorated lineman, Beltran was named second-team all-region in 2018, then first-team all-region in 2019.
Trent Logan [S, 6-2, 195, Lake Minneola HS, Minneola, Fla.]
Logan finished the season with 59 tackles and six tackles-for-loss, while also collecting two sacks, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and scoring two defensive touchdowns. He also played wide receiver, catching 18 passes for 453 yards as he averaged 25 yards per catch.
Cole Putnam [QB/FS, 6-3, 195, First Assembly Christian School, Cordova, Tenn.]
Putnam put together tremendous offensive numbers as a senior as he passed for 872 yards and 11 touchdowns, while also rushing for 1,478 yards and 18 more scores. He averaged 79.3 passing and 134.4 rushing yards per game. He had six games where he rushed for 100 or more yards. Putnam was responsible for 118 points as a senior. He also saw action on special teams, punting the ball away 34 times for 1,174 yards, and average of 34.5 yards per punt with a long of 56 yards.
Issac Cross [OL, 6-2, 280, DeKalb County HS, Smithville, Tenn.]
A great offensive lineman from nearby DeKalb County High, Cross was named Region 3-4A's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman for the past two seasons, while also earning Defensive Lineman of the Year honors for three years. He was also the recipient of the Clay Edwards "Tiger Pride" Award and was named Mr. DCHS.
Tavian Johnson [DL, 6-3, 260, Madison, Miss. Holmes (Miss.) JC]
In nine games this past season, Johnson recorded 26 total tackles for Holmes JC – six solo and 20 total – averaging 2.9 tackles a game. He also had three sacks for 14 yards, as well as 7.5 tackles-for-loss for 18 yards. Johnson also recovered a fumble. Holmes JC went 4-5 this past season, with a 4-2 record in conference play. In high school, he helped lead Germantown High to a Region 2-5A championship and earned first-team all-region honors and co-defensive MVP. While at Holmes, Johnson was named as an honorable mention to the Mississippi Junior College all-state team and was first-team all-conference by the MACJC.
Kanstin Brooks [DT, 6-2, 270, Greenville HS, Greenville, Ga.]
A force on the defensive line, Brooks recorded 84 tackles this past season, including 12 for-loss. He also had a rushing and receiving touchdown. Brooks was a first-team All-Region 4-A selection and was a Recruit Georgia All-State honorable mention.
Jacob Jarrett [WR, 6-3, 190, Roswell HS, Roswell, Ga.]
Jarrett ended the season with 18 receptions for 316 yards and seven touchdowns, earning first-team all-Region 4-AAAAAAA honors in 2018 and 2019. He was also Roswell's Offensive Player of the Year and was selected for a spot on the 2018 Georgia Elite Classic team. Also an outstanding baseball player, Jarrett was named second-team all-Region 4-AAAAAA.
Jashawun Thornton [LB, 5-11, 200, Thomasville HS, Thomasville, Ga.]
A captain on the 2019 Bulldog squad, Thornton helped lead his Thomasville team to a Region 1-AA championship and a state final four appearance. He was the Region 1-AA Defensive Player of the Year after recording 79 tackles, three sacks and two fumble recoveries. He could also prove to be a threat on the ground, carrying the ball 14 times for two touchdowns.
Jyron Gilmore [CB, 5-8, 161, North Marion HS, Citra, Fla.]
A versatile athlete who played multiple roles, Gilmore joins the Golden Eagles after a season with 43 total tackles, three interceptions – including one for a touchdown, while also rushing for 610 yards and 13 scores and catching 18 passes for 340 yards and four more TDs. He ended his prep career with 31 total touchdowns and a school-record 21 interceptions. Gilmore was named second-team all-state for Class 5A, while also garnering first-team all-district, all-region and all-Marion County honors. He also recently won Florida's Scot Brantley Award.
Kiston Arnold [DE, 6-3, 215, Summit HS, Spring Hill, Tenn.]
Arnold played his final high school game at Tucker Stadium in the TSSAA BlueCross Bowl Class 5A championship against Knoxville Central, recording 10 tackles in the game. Over the course of the season, Arnold recorded 14.5 tackles-for-loss, 5.5 sacks, a safety, a pass breakup, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Jacorrian Wrenn [DT, 5-11, 295, Jackson-Olin HS, Birmingham, Ala.]
Wren finished the 2019 campaign with 37 tackles, including nine for-loss. He also had a sack and a fumble recovery.
Kurt Taylor [RB, 5-10, 205, Fort Dodge, Iowa, Michigan/Iowa Central CC]
Taylor ran for 3,023 yards and 40 touchdowns at Grayson HS in Covington, Ga. Originally signing with Michigan in 2017, Taylor spent two seasons there but was unable to play. He then transferred to Iowa Central CC, where he recorded solid numbers as he ran 150 times for 711 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 59.3 yards per game and 4.7 yards per carry. He also caught six passes for 32 yards and returned two kicks for 13 yards.
Hunter Barnhart [TE, 6-3, 225, Oneida HS, Oneida, Tenn.]
A TACA All-Star Game selection, Barnhart finished the season with 10 receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown. He brings a physical presence as he also played linebacker, where he recorded 135 tackles this season with four for-loss and picked off a pass.
Nathan Hodnett [OL, 6-2, 266, Apalachee HS, Winder, Ga.]
A proven leader on the field, Hodnett was a two-year team captain and served on various leadership councils. He was a three-time first-team All-Region 8-AAAAAA selection and was named to the Athens All-Area team.
Dominic Howard [S, 6-3, 170, Space Coast HS, Cocoa, Fla.]
Howard finished the 2019 campaign with 68 tackles and four interceptions. Selected to appear in two Florida all-star games, Howard was a defensive captain for Space Coast High and was an All-Cape Coast Conference honorable mention pick.
