Football inks 31 on National Signing Day
“We had a lot to sign this year after losing a big sophomore class,” said Cannon. “We targeted a lot of guys in the surrounding areas and were able to get some guys that wanted to be Indians.”
Football inks 31 on National Signing Day
Adam Gore & Lee Adams/LetsGoICC.com
FULTON, MS – Coach Sean Cannon announced the Indians signed 31 high school players as part of their 2016 recruiting class.
"We had a lot to sign this year after losing a big sophomore class," said Cannon. "We targeted a lot of guys in the surrounding areas and were able to get some guys that wanted to be Indians."
The Indians had to replace 27 sophomores of last year's team that advanced to the semifinals of the MACJC playoffs.
"We had to get some guys in key positions and we felt like we filled those with this signing class," commented Cannon.
One of the biggest gaps left to fill on offense for ICC was the role of quarterback.
The Indians picked up Class 6A state champion quarterback Montario Montgomery (Starkville) and dual-threat QB Dan Ellington (Center Hill), who earned Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) All-State honors as a junior and senior.
The talented duo will have multiple options at wide receiver to spread the ball around to next season after adding Class 6A state champion Rontavis Clark (Starkville), a pair of 6-foot-4 targets in Kameron Coleman (Horn Lake) and Kedryan Wilson (Northview, AL) 6-foot-5, 235 pound tight end Chris Long (Nettleton), and running back/wide receiver Braudrique Boyd (New Albany).
Athlete Christian Saulsberry (Northpoint), who was named Overall Division MVP and All-Division First Team, will look to contribute in multiple ways for the Indians' offense next season.
ICC beefed up its offensive line with Dallas Danner (Rosa Fort), Jalyn Galmore (South Panola), Preston Haynes (Lewisburg), Aaron Sholar (Olive Branch) and Jarvis Smithey (Tupelo).
ICC also loaded up on defensive talent.
[CLICK HERE FOR FULL LIST OF 2016 SIGNEES]
Linebacker Daniel Freepon (Itawamba AHS) was one of seven ICC signees selected to participate in the Bernard Blackwell All-Star game. Linebacker Tay Carouthers (Aberdeen) was selected to the MAC Class 3A All-State First Team while safety BJ Williams (Aberdeen) and defensive back Kirkland Horton (Water Valley) earned second-team honors.
Linebacker Daylon Fox (Southaven) was named to the MAC Class 6A All-State Second Team. Defensive end/linebacker Travis Sailo (Sipsey Valley, AL) and defensive lineman D'Angelo Jones (Gordo, AL) were named to the All-State Second Team by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.
Jones will be joined by fellow Green Wave defensive lineman Malek Steele (Gordo, AL).
Linebacker Tyree Bryant (Northpoint) was named Co-Defensive Player of the Year and was an All-Division First Team selection.
Other defensive additions include: defensive back Donald Twilley (South Panola), who earned MAC Class 6A All-State Second Team honors as a wide receiver; defensive back Tommie Burt (Winona); safety Devan Hollins (Southaven); defensive back Que Lott (Grenada); defensive back Kevonte' Marble (Houston); linebacker Tray Miller (Itawamba AHS); defensive lineman Jacquez Neilson (Oxford); linebacker Stone Parrish (Senatobia).
Jawanz Fraizer (Clarksdale) will look to contribute on both sides of the football as a defensive back and wide receiver next season.
Cannon anticipates more additions to the signing class in the near future.
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