Feb. 3, 2012 Special Section, Signing Day

National Signing Day 20122012

WKU signs 13 'quality' players

PHOTO BY COOPER BURTON/HERALDPHOTO BY COOPER BURTON/HERALD

"Ace" Wales picks WKU p. 4 Complete list of WKU signees p. 5

22 FEBRUARY 3, 2012COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

33FEBRUARY 3, 2012 COLLEGE HEIGHTS HERALD

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How WKU’s 2012 class stacks up with the Sun Belt

1. Arkansas State2. WKU3. Florida International4. Florida Atlantic5. Louisiana-Lafayette6. Troy7. North Texas8. Louisiana-Monroe9. Middle Tenn. State

Rivals.com

1. Arkansas State2. FIU3. ULL4. North Texas5. Troyt6. FAUt6. South Alabama8. MTSU9. ULM10. WKU

Scout.com 24/7sports.com

1. Arkansas State2. FAU3. FIU4. North Texas5. Troy6. ULL7. WKU8. ULM9. MTSU

All recruiting service rankings as of Thursday afternoon. South Alabama will compete in Sun Belt football starting in 2013.

“Depth” was a buzzword for Willie Taggart last Nov. 12.

That day, his Toppers fell 42-9 to No. 1 Louisiana State as the Tigers’ talented bench wore down a pesky but thin WKU squad.

On Wednesday, Taggart signed his third recruiting class as head coach, this one consisting of 13 players due to limited scholarship numbers.

He said the 2012 class accomplished two goals: addressing specifi c position needs and adding that much-needed depth.

“I think in the fi rst two years you try and get the best talent,” Taggart said. “But I think now, going into year three, we got that talent in here. We need to start addressing needs.

“That showed this season at LSU. They had a team that was full of depth and we ran out of depth… I feel like this class that we’re bringing in now is going to help us get to that next step.”

The class features seven three-star players and ranks No. 2 in the Sun Belt Conference, according to Rivals.com.

Taggart and his staff made an especially big push to add depth along the defensive line, inking three defensive tackle and two defensive end prospects.

WKU lost only two key members to graduation along its front four in 2011, but several more are slated to graduate after the 2012 season.

Therefore, Recruiting Coordinator Eric Mathies said the large defensive line group was all about always planning one or two years in advance and keeping the cupboard full.

“You want to make sure you build your

defense up strong,” he said. “And it all starts up front.”

The class also featured four signees from Kentucky, doubling the two combined in-state recruits from Taggart’s classes of 2010 and 2011.

That group was headlined by three-star defensive tackle Tyrone Pearson, a former Louisville Seneca High School standout, and three-star running back Anthony “Ace” Wales of Louisville Central High School.

Both waited until ceremonies on Wednesday to announce their fi nal decisions.

“To be able to get those guys is huge and can hopefully be a sign of a new beginning in the state of Kentucky,” Taggart said.

There were no kickers nor quarterbacks in the signing class, though class of 2011 four-star Seneca quarterback DaMarcus Smith enrolled at WKU in January and is awaiting word on his eligibility.

When asked about Smith’s status, Taggart said only that he was enrolled and that he hoped Smith and other players in similar situations would “come and be a big plus to the WKU football program.”

As for other areas of needs, the Toppers added three total running backs, two offensive linemen, one linebacker, one defensive back and one wide receiver — Austin Aikens, a three-star signee from Tampa, Fla., (Plant High School).

Taggart said he was pleased with how his staff handled the low number of available scholarships by prioritizing needs and landing solid prospects.

“We’ve got to continue to build our football program not just now but for the future,” he said. “I think we did a good job of doing that with this added depth.”

Toppers address needs, build depth with signing classBy BRAD [email protected]

Arkansas State Head Coach Gus Malzahn said at his introductory press conference in December that he envisioned the Red Wolves’ upstart football program as becoming the “Boise State of the South.”

Those that follow college football are well aware of how Boise State, a school outside of the six Bowl Championship Series conferences, is annually in the Top 10 rankings and often mentioned as a potential national title team.

It’s easy for schools like Arkansas State and WKU — both relatively similar in size to Boise State — to look at that program and try to mirror its winning methods.

But Willie Taggart isn’t subscribing to that. No, he has his own plan.

“I tell you this now because you hear

people using it,” Taggart said to fans at the Smith Stadium Topper Club Wednesday during WKU’s National Signing Day reception. “‘Oh, we’re going to be the Boise (State) of the South.’ No, we’re not going to be the Boise of the South. We’re going to be Western Kentucky University that’s doing things like Boise’s doing, and that’s winning, and winning big.”

Does Taggart want what Boise State has achieved? Absolutely. What coach wouldn’t want that?

But he doesn’t want his program to be known as “the next Boise State,” or any other program for that matter.

He simply wants it to be known as WKU — certainly not “W. Kentucky.”

“You know when you watch ESPN and it says ‘W. Kentucky’ on there? No, it’s going to say ‘WKU’ across the screen,” he said. “We’re going to make them all know. If they don’t know the fi rst time, we’re going to hit’ em again — what’s our name?”

How WKU’s name is listed on television is irrelevant, but Taggart is honing in on something that’s much more important —

creating a national identity.Taggart is in prime position to do that

if he can capitalize on a 7-5 2011 season that brought both WKU and the Sun Belt Conference plenty of national attention.

And although his 2012 Signing Class didn’t rank fi rst in the league like his fi rst two did, Taggart said this year’s class has the potential to be his best.

“I think these guys will come in and help us take the next step to where we’re trying to go and help bring that vision of WKU football to where we can compete on a consistent basis,” he said.

“Now our objective as a football team is to become a dominant football team in the Sun Belt Conference and create national…listen…national identity.”


National Signing Day debates in the state of Kentucky are usually reserved for battles over players between Kentucky and Louisville.

But in 2012, one of the biggest stories of National Signing Day in the Commonwealth was Anthony “Ace” Wales of Louisville Central High School, ranked as the No. 14 all-purpose running back in the nation by Rivals.com.

Wales, Jefferson County’s all-time career leader in rushing yardage, had verbally committed to Louisville on Jan. 16.

But Wales said he was facing pressure from every direction on his decision.

“Most people were telling me to listen to my heart,” he said. “But your heart isn’t always right.”

And on Wednesday afternoon, Wales had offi cially submitted his letter of intent to

play for WKU.“Growing up, I never dreamed I’d be

playing at WKU,” he said. “But when the moment fi nally came, it was so nice to put that WKU hat on. I’ll never forget it.”

Wales is already setting goals for his Topper career.

He said he wants to join his childhood friends, quarterback DaMarcus Smith, wide receivers Michael Fluellen and Jerrell Moore, and several other WKU additions from the Louisville area, in putting the Toppers on the national map.

“I grew up with all those guys, playing Little League,” Wales said. “Now, we’ve got a chance to push each other and work together, to be our best.”

His roots go especially deep with fellow 2012 signee Tyrone Pearson, a three-star prospect out of Louisville Seneca High School.

Pearson said the two played football together from childhood until their freshman

year, when Pearson transferred from Central to Seneca.

“To see us come back together at this kind of stage — the college stage — just feels great,” Pearson said. “We want to be the ones to put WKU on the map.”

Head Coach Willie Taggart said recruiting the best in-state talent, such as Wales, has been a goal during his WKU tenure.

“We want to be able to get those kind of kids to stay not only in-state but be able to come to WKU,” Taggart said. “I think Ace is a tremendous football player, and I think he’ll bring a lot to our football team.”

Individually, Wales said he dreams of playing in the NFL someday.

“I’ll be watching the draft this year, cheering for (former WKU running back) Bobby Rainey,” Wales said. “It’s real

exciting for me to watch. I hope someday I’ll be there too.”

Wales said he understands the disappointment of Louisville fans who disagreed with his decision but asks they also understand his point of view.

“I’m the one that wakes up at 5 in the morning to lift weights and work out,” he said. “I had to choose the school that I felt was best for me and my future. In the end, that school was WKU.”

Wales is still recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered his senior season and plans to spend the remainder of his fi nal high school semester working towards rehabilitation.

Depending on the progress of his rehab, Wales may take a gray shirt from WKU, which would mean he wouldn't enroll with the school and program until January 2013.

“I don’t want to risk re-injuring the shoulder,” he said. “We’re going to see how rehab goes and go from there.”

Former U of L commit ready for WKU career

ANTHONY WALES

Taggart looking for national identity COLUMN

COLE CLAYBOURNCallin' the [email protected]

By JORDAN [email protected]


Florida

Kentucky

New York

Alabama

Arizona

■ Austin Aikens, WR, Tampa, Fla., (Plant) Rivals.com 3 stars“He understands how to run routes, how to play the position.” — Head Coach Willie Taggart■ Leon Allen, RB, Bradenton, Fla., (Manatee) 2 stars“He fi ts in the offense well… can run iso and power.” — Running Backs Coach Terry Obee■ Forrest Lamp, OL, Venice, Fla., (Venice) 2 stars“Opposing coaches say he’s the best offensive lineman on the west coast of Florida.” — Recruiting Coordinator Eric Mathies■ Julian Leslie, DE, Miami (Coral Reef) 2 stars“You all stole one from the guys in Florida.” — Coral Reef Head Coach Chevas Clements■ Daqual Randall, LB, Palmetto, Fla., (Palmetto) 3 stars“He reminds us a little of (sophomore middle linebacker) Andrew Jackson.” — Mathies■ Devante Terrell, DT, Lakeland, Fla., (Lake Gibson) 3 stars“He has a fl at-out explosion off the ball.” —Mathies

■ Anthony “Ace” Wales, RB, Louisville (Central) 3 stars“He can fi ght for a position to play right away.” — Obee ■ Tyrone Pearson, DT, Louisville (Seneca) 3 stars“When I come into the game I’m mentally ready to beat everyone else.” — Pearson ■ Travis Elliott, RB, Union (Ryle) 2 stars“He can do just about anything on a football fi eld.” — Ryle Head Coach Bryson Warner■ Tyler English, OL, Louisville (Trinity) 2 stars“It’s going to be great to play in front of not quite a home crowd, but pretty close to it.” — English

■ Brett Harrington, DB, Alfred, N.Y., (Alfred State C.C.) 3 stars“I plan to make an immediate impact the fi rst day, (Sept. 1) against Austin Peay.” — Harrington

■ Marquez Pride, DT, Madison, Ala., (Bob Jones) 2 stars“He’s a hungry, emotional player.” — Mathies

■ Calvin Washington, DE, Thatcher, Ariz., (Eastern Arizona J.C.) 3 stars“It’s been a long road, and fi nally after all these years it’s paid off.” — Washington

A■

Finding the right pieces


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WKU has fi lled at least one vacancy on its coaching staff, promoting graduate assistant Nick Sheridan to the position of quarterbacks coach.

Sheridan will assume a role formerly held by Head Coach Willie Taggart, who also served as quarterbacks coach in 2011 after former assistant Mike Sanford Jr. departed for Stanford University.

Sheridan’s promotion has not been formally announced by the athletic department.

However, when Recruiting Coordinator Eric Mathies was introducing WKU position coaches Wednesday at the Toppers’ National Signing Day reception, he introduced Sheridan as the team’s quarterback coach.

Sheridan played quarterback at the University of Michigan, seeing action in nine

games for the Wolverines between 2008 and 2009.

Sheridan inherits a quarterback group that includes rising senior incumbent Kawaun Jakes, rising sophomore Brandon Doughty and newcomer DaMarcus Smith, a four-star prospect from the class of 2011 who isn’t currently eligible.

The Toppers’ offensive coordinator and wide receivers coaching positions both remain vacant in the wake of Zach Azzanni’s departure to Wisconsin in January.

Taggart declined comment on the status of these coaching searches.

“We will (comment) once we get this recruiting thing out of the way,” he said. “Recruiting was 1-A on my task list. From there on, we’ll pick up from there. I’m sure we’ll have something here soon.”

Head Coach Willie Taggart is used to signing recruits from his home state of Florida.

That trend didn’t change with the class of 2012, as the Toppers saw six of their 13 signees fax in their letters of intent from the Sunshine State.

But the class of 2012 may also start a new recruiting trend for WKU, one that Taggart said could be a “new beginning” in the state of Kentucky.

The Toppers inked four Commonwealth natives Wednesday, doubling the number of Kentuckians combined between Taggart’s 2010 and 2011 National Signing Day classes.

“We said from day one that we’re going to recruit the state (of Kentucky), and we’re going to recruit it for big time players,” Taggart said. “We need to get those type of guys.”

WKU signed three Louisville natives, Tyrone Pearson (defensive tackle, Seneca High School), Tyler English (offensive lineman, Trinity High School) and Anthony “Ace” Wales (running back, Central High School).

“Everybody always wants to go to U of L or UK, but if we could all go to the same school — all of us Louisville guys — that’s just a great thing,” English said. “It’s going to be a great time.”

Taggart said having a 7-5 season in 2011 helped the coaching staff land some of the top in-state talents.

“I think everyone saw the progress of this football team within two years,” he said.

Also joining Pearson as new Toppers from Seneca are a pair of class of 2011 transfers: Rivals.com four-star quarterback DaMarcus Smith, and 6-foot-5 wide receiver Michael Fluellen.

Both are already enrolled in classes at WKU.

“We’ve all come together at WKU with the mindset to make history,” said Smith, a former Louisville commit and University of Central Florida signee who is currently ineligible.

“So many people expected us to do that at U of L. We want to prove that we can do that here,” he said.

Also already enrolled at WKU are three-star running back/wide receiver hybrids Jerrell Moore (Louisville Fern Creek High School), and La’Mont McMurry (Louisville St. Xavier High School).

Smith said he and Moore have been friends since childhood and always talked about playing college ball together.

McMurry, who had offers from Kentucky and U of L out of high school, said he planned on transferring to U of L after prep school didn’t work out post-high school graduation.

But then he found out Smith, Moore and the others were heading to WKU.

“DaMarcus, Jerrell, and Mike (Fluellen) — we’ve all always wanted to play together,” McMurry said. “I felt this (WKU) would be a better fi t for me.”

Smith said most U of L fans have been supportive of the group, although a few have criticized the players in various forums.

But Smith said he understands the passion some fans have and doesn’t take it personally.

“Sometimes with that passion can come emotion,” he said. “It’s just fans being fans. It’s bound to happen.

“If anything, I use it for my ‘wood words.’ Throw ’em in the fi re, and use them as fuel.”

By JORDAN [email protected]

By BRAD [email protected]

Louisville becomes pipeline for Toppers

Sheridan promoted to quarterbacks coach

NICK SHERIDAN

TYRONE PEARSON

TYLER ENGLISH


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Feb. 3, 2012 Special Section, Signing Day