The #HTownTakeover Signs 23 to 2016 Class
2/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
HOUSTON - Thirty-five days following Houston's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl win over then-No. 9 Florida State, the No. 8 Houston Football program added 23 new members to the #HTownTakeover Wednesday. Welcomed to the program on Houston Football digital platforms by a star-studded cast that included D.J. Hayden, Case Keenum, Dallas Keuchel, Slim Thug, Paul Wall, Andre Ware, J.J. Watt and Z-Ro, the group is being praised as the top signing class in Houston Football history.
"I am very excited about this signing class. We made history. We have signed the highest-ranked non-Power 5 recruiting class in the history of college football, and that should be commended," said Houston head coach Tom Herman. "Our staff, support staff, coaches, everybody who has a hand in recruiting should be commended for that. That is something that we don't take very lightly. We know that we are a lot better coaches when we have a lot better players."
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The class includes three players in the ESPN 300 â€" defensive tackle Ed Oliver, receiver Courtney Lark and quarterback D'Eriq King â€" and seven players ranked in the top 10 nationally at their positions â€" quarterback Kyle Allen (No. 1 quarterback in 2014), running back Duke Catalon (No. 10 running back in 2014), defensive back J.J. Dallas (No. 9 junior college cornerback), offensive lineman Keenan Murphy (No. 5 center), Oliver (No. 2 defensive tackle), offensive lineman Na'Ty Rodgers (No. 4 junior college offensive tackle) and defensive back Terrell Williams (No. 9 junior college safety).
"We have to recruit really good players, and we did that. We addressed quite a few needs," added Herman. "One of the unique things, and maybe the thing I'm most proud of this class, is of all the high school players that signed with us today, all but one of them committed before we had ever played a football game as a staff. Why did they do that? The answer again is relationships, because they have tremendous relationships with their recruiting coaches."
The class of 23 signees consists of 19 players from the state of Texas and one each from Arizona, Louisiana, Maryland and Oklahoma. Of the 17 high school players in the class, 16 hail from the state of Texas with one from neighboring Louisiana. The class covers seven position groups with six defensive backs, four offensive linemen, four receivers, three quarterbacks, three defensive linemen, two running backs and one tight end.
Members of the class have led their teams to 76 high school state playoff appearances with every player in the class earning at least one all-district honor in their career.
Eight from the class have already enrolled at the Tier One University and started classes at the beginning of the spring semester on Jan. 19. The group of eight consists of three four-year transfers in QB Kyle Allen (Texas A&M), RB Duke Catalon (Texas) and TE Alex Leslie (Iowa State), three junior college transfers in DB J.J. Dallas, OT Na'Ty Rodgers and DB Terrell Williams, and two early enrollees in WR Terry Mark and QB Bowman Sells.
With signing day complete, Herman and the Houston Football program turn their attention to 2016 Spring Practice with the session's first practice kicking off on Monday, March 7. Houston will hold its 2016 Spring Game on Saturday, April 16, at 2 p.m. inside TDECU Stadium. Check in with UHCougars.com for more details regarding the 2016 Spring Game.
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Kyle Allen | QB | 6-3 | 210 | Scottsdale, Ariz. | Texas A&M
Mulbah Car | RB | 5-11 | 194 | Austin, Texas | John H. Reagan HS
Duke Catalon | RB | 6-0 | 210 | Houston, Texas | Texas
Keith Corbin | WR | 6-2 | 175 | Beaumont, Texas | West Brook HS
J.J. Dallas | CB | 6-0 | 200 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Blinn CC
Aymiel Fleming | DT | 6-2 | 284 | La Marque, Texas | La Marque HS
Hasaun Glasgow | DE | 6-3 | 243 | Manvel, Texas | Manvel HS
Braylon Jones | OL | 6-3 | 278 | Tyler, Texas | John Tyler HS
D'Eriq King | QB | 5-10 | 170 | Manvel, Texas | Manvel HS
Courtney Lark | WR | 6-1 | 163 | Bellaire, Texas | Bellaire HS
Alex Leslie | TE | 6-5 | 240 | New Braunfels, Texas | Iowa State
Terry Mark | WR | 6-1 | 190 | Lufkin, Texas | Lufkin HS
Keenan Murphy | OL | 6-2 | 295 | Crosby, Texas | Crosby HS
Ed Oliver | DT | 6-2 | 290 | Houston, Texas | Westfield HS
Na'Ty Rodgers | OT | 6-5 | 290 | Pomfret, Md. | Iowa Western CC
Patrick Rosette | DB | 6-1 | 195 | Richmond, Texas | Foster HS
Bowman Sells | QB | 6-2 | 182 | Lucas, Texas | Lovejoy HS
Javian Smith | DB | 6-1 | 165 | Richmond, Texas | Bush HS
Ka'Darian Smith | DB | 6-0 | 172 | Spring, Texas | Spring HS
Marquez Stevenson | WR | 6-0 | 175 | Shreveport, La. | Northwood HS
Collin Wilder | DB | 5-11 | 175 | Katy, Texas | Katy HS
Terrell Williams | DB | 6-3 | 210 | Lawton, Okla. | Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
Dixie Wooten | OL | 6-5 | 322 | Houston, Texas | Lamar HS
Kyle Allen | QB | 6-3 | 210 | Scottsdale, Ariz. | Texas A&M
At Texas A&M: Saw action in 20 games with 14 starts in his two seasons with the Aggies ... sophomore season saw Allen lead Texas A&M in passing and total offense, completing 160-of-283 passes for 2,210 yards and 17 touchdowns against seven interceptions ... also added 102 yards on the ground as he became just the eighth quarterback in Texas A&M history to pass for 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in a season ... threw for 1,322 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman against seven interceptions on 118-of-192 passing ... closed the year with MVP honors in an AutoZone Liberty Bowl win over West Virginia, throwing for 294 yards and four touchdowns while adding 33 yards rushing against the Mountaineers.
High School: Rated the nation's top quarterback by ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports after throwing for more than 8,000 yards and 86 touchdowns over his high school career ... 2014 US Army All-American ... completed 186-of-272 passes as a senior for 2,535 yards and 29 touchdowns … coached by Tony Tabor at Desert Mountain HS.
Mulbah Car | RB | 5-11 | 194 | Austin, Texas | John H. Reagan HS
Three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … No. 43 running back by ESPN … No. 81 player in the state of Texas by ESPN … set the Austin Independent School District career rushing record … named second-team AP Texas All-State and district 26-4A MVP as a senior after running for 1,675 yards and 33 touchdowns … named all-central Texas first team running back as a junior after rushing for 1,655 yards and 20 touchdowns … rushed for 1,178 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore to earn district 26-4A Newcomer of the Year award … competed in the Texas State Wrestling Championships as a sophomore … chose Houston over Indiana, Iowa State, Nebraska, Oregon State, Purdue and Texas Tech among others … coached by Keith Carey at John H. Reagan HS.
Duke Catalon | RB | 6-0 | 210 | Houston, Texas | Texas
At Texas: Catalon redshirted his lone season (2014) at Texas before returning home.
High School: Was a three-time all-district honoree and four-year letterman for Aldine Eisenhower ... named the No. 10 running back nationally and No. 25 player in the state of Texas by 247Sports ... rushed for 866 yards on 125 carries (6.9 yards per attempt) and had 410 yards receiving as a senior ... also started five games at cornerback and recorded 38 tackles and one interception, helping Eisenhower to an appearance in the 5A DII bi-district playoffs in 2013 ... named second-team All-District 18-5A and third-team DCTF Super Team as a running back in 2012, rushing for 1,331 yards and 10 TDs on 182 carries with 12 receptions for 152 yards and a TD as a junior, helping Eisenhower to an appearance in the 5A DII bi-district playoffs in 2012 ... selected as the top all-purpose player and Newcomer of the Year in District 18-5A in 2011 after rushing for 1,156 yards and seven TDs on 172 carries as a sophomore ... played in seven games as a freshman with one start, rushing for 211 yards and averaging 5.1 yards per carry … coached by Kerry Bamburg at Aldine Eisenhower HS.
Keith Corbin | WR | 6-2 | 175 | Beaumont, Texas | West Brook HS
Three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … No. 81 player in the state of Texas by Rivals … No. 86 receiver by Rivals … named all-district 21-6A in 2015 and 2014 … earned honorable mention all-state honors as a junior … pulled in 45 receptions for 896 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior .. had 54 receptions for 893 yards and 12 touchdowns his junior year … had 23 receptions for 506 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore to earn second team all-district 21-6A … chose Houston over Mississippi, Nebraska, TCU, Texas Tech and Wisconsin among others … coached by Kevin Flanigan at West Brook HS.
J.J. Dallas | DB | 6-0 | 200 | Corpus Christi, Texas | Blinn CC
Three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports … No. 9 junior college cornerback by ESPN … No. 13 junior college cornerback by 247Sports … will have three years of eligibility remaining … led Blinn Community College with two interceptions in eight games, one of which was returned for a touchdown … had 17 tackles, including one for loss on the 2015 season … a native of San Diego, played for Eddie Hesseltine at Corpus Christi King High School . . . named All-District . . . high school made state semifinals in 2011 and first round in 2013.
Aymiel Fleming | DT | 6-2 | 284 | La Marque, Texas | La Marque HS
Three-star recruit by ESPN … No. 79 defensive tackle by ESPN … had 133 tackles and seven sacks during his career … named to the District 10-4A All-District first teams in 2014 and 2015, unanimously in 2015 … received honorable mention All-Galveston County honors in both 2014 and 2015 … coached by Mike Jackson at La Marque HS.
Hasaun Glasgow | DE | 6-3 | 243 | Manvel, Texas | Manvel HS
Three-star recruit by ESPN and 247Sports … had 24 tackles, including seven for loss and four sacks, as a senior … named first team all-district 22-6A in 2015 … named to the Houston Chronicle's 2016 Top 100 list … ranked the No. 58 player in the Houston area by VYPE Houston … had 57 tackles, two sacks, eight pass breakups, two interceptions and one touchdown as a senior … totaled 35 tackles, four sacks, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one defensive touchdown as a junior … collected 24 tackles and two sacks as a sophomore … chose Houston over Louisville among others … coached by Kirk Martin at Manvel HS.
Braylon Jones | OL | 6-3 | 278 | Tyler, Texas | John Tyler HS
Three-star recruit by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … No. 54 defensive tackle by Scout … No. 10 defensive tackle in the state of Texas by Scout … had 70 tackles and two forced fumbles as a senior to earn first team district 16-5A honors on both offense and defense … totaled 95 tackles and seven sacks as a junior en route to earning second team district 16-5A honors … had 61 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery as a sophomore and was named district 16-4A Defensive Newcomer of the Year … owns 195 career tackles … coached by Ricklan Holmes at John Tyler HS.
D'Eriq King | QB | 5-10 | 170 | Manvel, Texas | Manvel HS
Four-star recruit by ESPN … member of ESPN 300 … No. 14 athlete in the nation by ESPN … No. 31 player in the state of Texas by ESPN … No. 202 overall player nationally by ESPN … named district 22-6A MVP as a senior … named first team All-Greater Houston … Elite 11 semifinalist … ranked the No. 11 player in the Houston area by VYPE Houston … closed out his high school career with over 10,000 career passing yards and 3,000 career rushing yards … threw for 2,898 yards and 43 touchdowns against just five interceptions as a senior while rushing for 640 yards and eight touchdowns … named to the Houston Chronicle's 2016 Top 100 list … as a junior threw for 3,193 yards and 47 touchdowns with just three interceptions while rushing for 780 yards and 12 touchdowns … ran for 1,289 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore while throwing for 2,628 yards and 36 touchdowns … had 1,745 passing yards as a freshman to go along with 14 touchdowns through the air and 11 on the ground with 731 rushing yards … chose Houston over Baylor, Clemson, Michigan State, TCU and UCLA among others … coached by Kirk Martin at Manvel HS.
Courtney Lark | WR | 6-1 | 163 | Bellaire, Texas | Bellaire HS
Four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … No. 27 player in the state of Texas by Rivals … No. 32 receiver by Scout … No. 36 receiver by ESPN … No. 169 player nationally by Scout … No. 203 overall player nationally by Rivals … pulled in 68 receptions for 1,222 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior … named to USA Today's All-USA Texas Football second team … named district 20-6A MVP as a senior … received first-team all-district honors in each of his senior, junior and sophomore seasons … ranked the No. 19 player in the Houston area by VYPE Houston … totaled 58 receptions for 1,138 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior … had 38 receptions for 583 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore … chose Houston over Baylor, Nebraska, TCU, Texas Tech and UCLA among others … coached by Herb Kunz at Bellaire HS.
Alex Leslie | TE | 6-5 | 240 | New Braunfels, Texas | Iowa State
Will have two years of eligibility remaining after spending two seasons at Iowa State, redshirting in 2013 … was ranked the No. 31 tight end in the nation coming out of New Braunfels High School by ESPN … All-District 25-5A first team as a wide receiver during senior season … played on Team USA in International Bowl … All-District first team as a tight end as a junior … caught 56 passes for 720 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior … caught 25 passes and four touchdowns as a junior … earned All-County honors his junior season … coached at New Braunfels by Chuck Caniford.
Terry Mark | WR | 6-1 | 190 | Lufkin, Texas | Lufkin HS
Three-star recruit by Rivals, ESPN, Scout and 247Sports ... had 45 receptions for 798 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior ... named 2014 first team all-district ... named 2013 second team all-district after pulling in 34 receptions for 578 yards and six touchdowns ... younger brother of Houston defensive tackle Tomme Mark … coached by Todd Quick at Lufkin HS.
Keenan Murphy | OL | 6-2 | 295 | Crosby, Texas | Crosby HS
Three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … No. 5 center by Scout … three-time unanimous All-District first team selection … received honorable mention AP All-State honors in both 2014 and 2015 … named to the Houston Chronicle's 2016 Top 100 list … ranked the No. 48 player in the Houston area by VYPE Houston … started 39 games over his high school career and helped lead Crosby to 34-5 record over that span … graded out at 92 percent with 100 over pancake blocks in his career … chose Houston over Colorado, Memphis, Missouri and Texas Tech among others … coached by Jeff Riordan at Crosby HS.
Ed Oliver | DT | 6-2 | 290 | Houston, Texas | Westfield HS
Five-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … No. 1 defensive tackle in the state of Texas by Scout … No. 1 defensive tackle in the midlands by Scout … No. 2 defensive tackle nationally by ESPN … No. 2 player in the state of Texas by ESPN and 247Sports … No. 3 player in the state of Texas by Rivals … No. 3 defensive tackle by Scout … No. 4 overall player nationally by ESPN … No. 4 defensive tackle by Rivals and 247Sports … No. 6 overall player nationally by Scout … named Defensive MVP in the 2016 Under Armour All-America Game … named second team All-American by USA Today … named the Scout All-Midlands Defensive Player of the Year … named to USA Today's All-USA Texas Football first team … named all-district 15-6A in 2015 … named to the Houston Chronicle's 2016 Top 100 list … ranked the No. 1 player in the Houston area by VYPE Houston … recorded 83 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, nine sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception as a senior … had 84 tackles and seven sacks as a junior to earn district 15-6A MVP honors … had 62 tackles, including 14 for loss, and one fumble recovery as a sophomore to earn district 13-5A Defensive Newcomer of the Year award … chose Houston over Alabama, Baylor, LSU, Mississippi, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M among others … coached by Matt Meekins at Westfield HS.
Na'Ty Rodgers | OT | 6-5 | 290 | Pomfret, Md. | Iowa Western CC
Four-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … ranked the No. 7 overall junior college player by ESPN … No. 4 junior college offensive tackle by ESPN and 247Sports … helped lead Iowa Western to back-to-back ICCAC Conference Championships … spent the 2013 season at South Carolina where he redshirted before two seasons at Iowa Western CC where he was coached by Scott Strohmeier … attended high school at McDonough High School in Pomfret, Md., where he played in the Chesapeake Bowl all-star game and in the Under Armour All-America Game following the season … coached by Luke Ethington at McDonough HS … chose Houston over Arizona State, Louisville, Missouri, Ole Miss, TCU and West Virginia among others … coached by Scott Strohmeier at Iowa Western CC and Luke Ethington at McDonough HS.
Patrick Rosette | DB | 6-1 | 195 | Richmond, Texas | Foster HS
Three-star recruit by ESPN and 247Sports … named all-district 24-5A in 2015 … totaled 70 tackles, six pass breakups, four fumble recoveries and one interception his senior year … had 63 tackles, four forced fumbles and two pass breakups as a junior … named to the Houston Chronicle's 2016 Top 100 list … ranked the No. 64 player in the Houston area by VYPE Houston … coached by Shaun McDowell at Richmond Foster HS.
Bowman Sells | QB | 6-2 | 182 | Lucas, Texas | Lovejoy HS
No. 16 quarterback by Rivals … No. 67 player in the state of Texas by Rivals … three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … honorable mention AP All-State as a senior … named District 10-5A offensive MVP in 2015 … threw for 3,140 yards and 35 touchdowns as a senior while leading Lovejoy in rushing with 829 yards on the ground and 12 touchdowns … threw for 3,008 yards and 35 touchdowns as a junior while adding 392 yards and five touchdowns on the ground … named all-district 10-5A as a junior … threw for 2,632 yards and 25 touchdowns in varsity action as a freshman before his sophomore season was cut short due to injury … was named district 13-4A Newcomer of the Year as a freshman … chose Houston over Clemson, Iowa, Ohio State and Texas … coached by Ryan Cox at Lovejoy HS.
Javian Smith | DB | 6-1 | 165 | Richmond, Texas | Bush HS
Two-star recruit by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … named first team all-district 23-5A in 2015 and 2014 … named to the Houston Chronicle's 2016 Top 100 list … ranked the No. 60 player in the Houston area by VYPE Houston … had 38 tackles and five pass breakups as a senior … also had 19 kick returns for 374 yards and a touchdown … totaled 31 tackles and five pass breakups as a junior … coached by Allen Aldridge at Bush HS.
Ka'Darian Smith | DB | 6-0 | 172 | Spring, Texas | Spring HS
Three-star recruit by 247Sports … named first team all-district 15-6A in 2015 … named to the Houston Chronicle's 2016 Top 100 list … ranked the No. 70 player in the Houston area by VYPE Houston … had 48 tackles, 14 pass breakups, two interceptions and one fumble recovery as a junior … coached by Sam Parker at Spring HS.
Marquez Stevenson | WR | 6-0 | 175 | Shreveport, La. | Northwood HS
Three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … No. 35 player in the state of Louisiana by 247Sports … No. 38 player in the state of Louisiana by ESPN … named Shreveport All-City Offensive MVP by the Shreveport Times … received first-team all-district honors as both a senior and junior … named honorable mention all-state in 2014 and 2015 … caught 50 passes for 900 yards and eight touchdowns while rushing for 445 yards and five touchdowns as a senior … received second-team all-district honors as a sophomore … chose Houston over Arizona State, Baylor, Miami, Mississippi State, Missouri, TCU and Utah among others … coached by James Gatlin at Northwood HS.
Collin Wilder | DB | 5-11 | 175 | Katy, Texas | Katy HS
Three-star recruit by ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … No. 36 safety by Rivals … No. 77 player in the state of Texas by Rivals … named 2016 Maxpreps All-American … four-year starter at safety for Katy High School, starting 64 straight games capped by a win in the 2015 Texas Class 6A Division II State Championship … ended his career with 413 career tackles … team ended the year ranked No. 1 nationally in both the final MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National rankings and the NationalHSFootball.com's HSFB100 … led a Katy defense that only allowed 62 points the entire season, pitching 10 shutouts in 16 games and giving up more than eight points just twice … named to USA Today's All-USA Texas Football second team … named district 19-6A MVP in 2015 … honorable mention AP All-State as a senior … named to the Houston Chronicle's 2016 Top 100 list … named the 2015 Houston Chronicle Defensive Player of the Year … totaled 124 tackles, 12 pass breakups, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery as a senior … had 118 tackles and three interceptions as a junior … pulled in five interceptions and two fumble recoveries as a sophomore … collected 56 tackles and one interception as a freshman … chose Houston over Missouri, Northwestern, Tennessee, Texas Tech and Wisconsin among others … coached by Gary Joseph at Katy HS.
Terrell Williams | DB | 6-3 | 210 | Lawton, Okla. | Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
Three-star recruit by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports … No. 9 junior college safety by 247Sports … had 51 tackles, four pass breakups and two interceptions as a sophomore in 2015 … received all-SWJCFC first team honors following the season … had 24 tackles, two pass breakups and an interception as a freshman … played high school football at Lawton High School in Lawton, Okla. … had 56 tackles and five interceptions as a senior at Lawton High … chose Houston over Iowa State, Purdue and West Virginia among others … coached by Ryan Held at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Randy Breeze at Lawton HS.
Dixie Wooten | OL | 6-5 | 322 | Houston, Texas | Lamar HS
Three-star recruit by ESPN, Scout and 247Sports … No. 61 guard by ESPN … No. 61 offensive tackle by Scout … No. 8 offensive tackle in the state of Texas by Scout … named first team all-district 20-6A in 2015 … named to the Houston Chronicle's 2016 Top 100 list … ranked the No. 42 player in the Houston area by VYPE Houston … received second team all-district 20-6A honors as a junior and first team all-district 24-3A honors as a sophomore … chose Houston over Illinois, Iowa State and Miami among others … coached by Tom Nolen at Lamar HS.
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