2013 UT Martin Football Signees - UTM Sports

For Immediate Release: Feb. 6, 2013Contact: Joe Lofaro, Sports Information Director2013 UT MARTIN SIGNING DAY BIOSDevontay Barnett, DB, 6‐1, 198, Taylorsville, Miss. Jones County CC)Joins the Skyhawks from Jones County Junior College where he played for head coach RayPerkins … He was third on the team in 2012 with 73 total tackles … Had one interception andone fumble recovery … Was a second team MACJC South Division Athlete … Played in theMACJC All‐Star Game.Kadarren Bond, OL, 6‐4, 282, Brownsville, Tenn. (Haywood County HS)Played defensive line for head coach Slade Calhoun … Recorded 200 tackles and six forcedfumbles … Made 10 interceptions … Participated in the Atlanta Diamond Flight Camp and TheProdigy Camp … Was runner‐up in the fastest man competition at The Prodigy Camp … Namedto the all‐region team … Selected to the Jackson Sun’s All‐West Tennessee Team … Played onthe North team in the inaugural West Tennessee All‐Star game.LaQuante Bone, ATH, 5‐11, 170, Gurley, Ala. (Madison County HS)Was a four‐year starter for head coach Scott Peavey at Madison County High School in Gurley,Ala. …. Played wide receiver on offense, cornerback on defense and also was the team’sprimary kick/punt returner … Helped lead the Tigers to a 12‐2 record and a No. 3 state rankingin 2012, making their first‐ever state semifinal postseason appearance in school history … Wasan All‐Region wide receiver in 2012 … Had a four‐touchdown game (three receiving, one puntreturn) against DAR … Returned four kickoffs/punts for touchdowns … Best defensive gamecame against Hazel Green, when he tallied eight tackles.Robert Burleigh, OL, 6‐5, 170, Gurley, Ala. (Madison County HS)Played football for head coach Jerry Hayes at South Side High School where he was a two‐yearstarter … Was named first team All‐ District 14‐AA his junior and senior years … Named toMurphy Fair Class 4‐A All‐State Preseason team and Jackson Sun All‐ West Tennessee … Namedthe Bancorp South Player of the Week vs. McNairy County … Played in the Toyota East‐West All‐Star Classic and also invited to play in the North vs. South All‐Star game. Had 43 tackles and fourtackles for loss his junior season … Had 41 tackles, eight tackles for loss, one sack, three hurries,and two caused fumbles his senior season … Was a team captain his senior year.

James Cotton, LB, 6‐3, 223, Belleville, Ill. (Belleville‐East HS)Played at Belleville‐East where he was the recipient of the Lancer Medallion award … Playedboth offense and defense … Made 34 catches for 265 yards … Rushed for 20 yards and hadseven touchdowns … Made 69 tackles and had nine sacks, four forced fumbles, twointerceptions, one blocked punt and three fumble recoveries.Reuben Duckworth, RB, 5‐11, 210, Mt. Olive, Miss. (Jones County CC)Joins the Skyhawks from Jones County Junior College where he played under the direction ofhead coach Ray Perkins … Led the state and finished six in the nation with 1,030 rushing yardson 184 rushing attempts … Led the state in scoring with 16 total touchdowns … Was NJCAAHonorable Mention All American ... Named MACJC South Division Most Valuable Back … FirstteamMACJC South Division … Also was a member of the Mississippi All Region 23 team …Cousin of former Skyhawks Jason McNair and Julius McNair.Khalid Hagens, QB, 6‐3, 195, Maplewood, Mo. (Maplewood‐Richmond Heights HS)Joins the Skyhawks after a prolific run at Maplewood‐Richmond Heights High School underhead coaches Brandon Gregory and Rich Nixon … In three years as the starting quarterback,Hagens compiled 6,222 passing yards, a 59.6 percent completion percentage (344‐for‐577) and63 passing touchdowns (against only 14 interceptions) to go along with 1,971 rushing yards and35 rushing touchdowns … Led the Blue Devils to a 35‐7 record in three years, guiding the teamto their first‐ever Class 2 state championship game (2010), state semifinals (2011) and statequarterfinals (2012) … Was named a Missouri state honorable mention by ESPN.com in 2011and was a 2012 all‐state Class 2 second team quarterback … In his three‐year tenure as startingquarterback, MRHS scored 1,590 points in 42 games (37.9 per game), scoring season‐highs of80 points in 2010, 75 points in 2011 and 60 points in 2012.Donte Harrell, RB, 6‐0, 187, St. Charles, Mo. (Francis Howell HS)One of the top 20 recruits from Missouri … Rushed for more than 1,490 yards his senior season… averaged 6.6 yards per carry … Had more than 200 yards receiving … Scored 25 touchdowns… Also played defense … Helped lead the Vikings to a 12‐2 won‐loss record and a No. 2 rankingin Missouri’s Class 6.Chauncey Ingram, RB, 5‐11, 175, Austell, Ga. (South Cobb HS)Joins the Skyhawks out of South Cobb High School, playing for head coach Ed Koester…Was partof a dynamic offensive attack at SCHS, as he tallied 1,022 rushing yards on 132 carries and 429receiving yards on 31 receptions in 2012…Racked up 15 touchdowns as a senior…Caught 26passes for 286 yards as a junior, leading the Eagles to an 8‐4 record…Was part of the school’sfirst‐ever state playoff victory (over Windsor Forest in 2011) in its 60‐year history…Was namedfirst team all‐region and second team all‐county as well as earning team MVP honors.

Justin Jackson, DB, 5‐10, 175, Johns Creek, Ga. (Chattahoochee HS)Was a big part of Chattahoochee High School’s success the past three seasons, as the Cougarstallied a 32‐6 record on their way to three straight playoff appearances under head coach TerryCrowder … CHS won the state championship in 2010, won the Region 7AAAA championship and2011 and reached the playoffs again in 2012 with a 7‐4 overall record …Played wide receiverand cornerback but made his biggest impact on special teams, where he was named an All‐Region 6AAAAAA first team returner by the Atlanta Journal Constitution …Best game of theseason came against North Forsyth, when he returned two punts for touchdowns.Tae Martin, ATH, 6‐3, 187, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (Seigel HS)Played for head coach Greg Wyant … Helped the Stars compile a 5‐0 District 7AAA worksheetand a perfect 10‐0 record … Helped the team advanced to Class 6A state semifinals … Made 51catches for 1,012 yards and 13 touchdowns his senior season … Was a two‐time all‐stateselection … Named all‐region and all‐district for the past two seasons … Elected to participate inthe Toyota East vs. West All‐Star Game.Mitch Mersman, K, 6‐2, 190, Dickson, Tenn. (Dickson County HS)Played at Dickson County High School under head coach Troy Williams…Helped lead theCougars to a 10‐2 record and a second‐round berth in the TSSAA state playoffs in 2012…Tallied41 touchbacks in 49 kickoff attempts…Also added eight field goals and 46 PAT’s…Was a big partof DCHS’s prolific offense, as he had five games of six or more PAT’s…Played a big part in theCougars’ 19‐14 win over Springfield, racking up four field goals and a PAT (13 points)…Kicked acareer‐long 48‐yard field goal as a junior…Was selected to participate in the Kentucky‐Tennessee National Guard Border Bowl on Jan. 12 at the University of the Cumberlands inWilliamsburg, Ky.Alex Roberts, OL, 6‐5, 265, Webster Groves, Mo. (Webster Groves HS)Comes from the highly successful Webster Groves High School program, which has produced a44‐6 record over the past four seasons under head coach Cliff Ice ... Helped lead the Statesmento a 9‐3 mark in 2012 and an appearance in the Class 5 district 2 championship game … WCHSended the season with a No. 8 state ranking in the Missouri Class 5 ranks … Helped block forone of the top scoring teams in Class 5 (28.1 points per game)…Helped WCHS rush for 2,488yards (6.8 yards per carry, 207.3 yards per game) in 2012 … Was named by the St. Louis PostDispatch as a 2011 Suburban South first team offensive player and second team offensiveplayer in 2012.DJ Simmons, LB, 6‐0, 200, Rogersville, Ala. (Lauderdale County HS)Played for Bob Grisham at Lauderdale County High School … He is a two‐time honorablemention all‐state selection … three‐time All‐Lauderdale County … Named the 2012 LauderdaleCounty Defensive Player of the Year … Made first‐team All‐Region 8 … two‐time Daily all area …2012 Lauderdale County High School MVP … Voted 2012 permanent team captain … Led theteam with 91 solo tackles … Presented the 2012 Big Play Award.

Trey Warren, DE, 6‐2, 193, Marietta, Ga. (Marietta HS)Comes to UT Martin from Marietta High School, where he played under head coach ScottBurton…Led the Blue Devils to an appearance in the second round of the Georgia state playoffslast season…Tallied 57 tackles and 9.5 sacks as a senior…Had four sacks in a 27‐13 victory overHillgrove…Came up big in the postseason, recording a pair of sacks on the final drive of a 30‐27road win over Lowndes in the first round of the playoffs.Caylon Weathers, WR, 6‐4, 207, Germantown, Tenn. (Germantown HS)Joins the Skyhawks from Germantown High School where he played under the direction ofCharlie White … Tallied 35 receptions for 1,067 yards and nine touchdowns for his career …Averaged 23.6 yards per catch … Played free safety on defense … Named first‐team allconferenceand all‐county … Recognized as second team all‐region … Played in the AutozoneLiberty Bowl High School All‐star Game.Will Whitley, WR, 6‐3, 187, Memphis, Tenn. (Memphis University School)Joins the Skyhawks from Memphis University School under the direction of Bobby Alston …Whitley caught 34 passes for 437 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior … Averaged 12.85 yardsper catch … Caught four passes against Briarcrest Christian for 92 yards and two touchdowns …Led the Owls to a 10‐3 finish and a spot in the TSSAA Class 2A State Championship … Played inAutozone Liberty Bowl High School All‐star Game.