Georgia Southern signs 21 prospects

Posted 6:49PM on Wednesday 5th February 2003 ( 22 years ago )

STATESBORO - Georgia Southern hopes to keep its talent pipeline flowing, signing 21 players Wednesday for another run at the Southern Conference title. The six-time defending champions focused heavily on the quarterback position, signing four players who could take snaps in the run-oriented offense. The Eagles landed Kenard Bradford (5-foot-10, 180 pounds) of Apopka, Florida; Nate Crookshank (5-11, 185) of Nanty Glo, Pennsylvania; Jayson Foster (5-8, 170) of Canton; and Lee Miles (5-8, 180) of Cartersville. Crookshank and Miles also can play defensive back. Coach Mike Sewak said, ``We always try and recruit the best athletes, which is why we are excited to have been able to bring four new quarterbacks into our system. Some of those particular guys can also play other positions, as well, which enables us to have an added sense of versatility. We are in a fortunate position.'' Georgia Southern, which reached the Division 1-AA semifinals last season, also concentrated on bulking up in the trenches. The Eagles signed three offensive linemen, six defensive linemen and one who can go either way. The Eagles rounded out their class with four running backs, two linebackers and a defensive back. They stuck to their traditional recruiting base, landing 14 players from Georgia and four from neighboring Florida. ``We wanted to go after the bigger players, which we got, but we didn't have to sacrifice any of our team speed, which is such a pivotal part of our program,'' Sewak said. ``I think this group will certainly hold their own, that's for sure.'' The players who signed football scholarships with Georgia Southern Wednesday, with player, position, height, weight, previous school, hometown: Kenard Bradford, qb, 5-10, 180, Apopka, Fla., Apopka HS Will Campbell, rb, 5-10, 180, Sylvania, Ga., Screven Co. HS Nate Crookshank, qb/fs, 5-11, 185, Nanty Glo, Pa., Bishop Carroll HS Jayson Foster, qb, 5-8, 170, Canton, Ga., Cherokee Co. HS Lynon Jefferson, rb/wr, 5-10, 175, Guyton, Ga., Effingham Co. HS Dane Jensen, ol, 6-3, 255, Jacksonville, Fla., Ed White HS Timothy Kirk, dl/ol, 5-11, 275, Dawson, Ga., Terrell County HS Marquice Maynard, rb, 5-7, 170, Senoia, Ga., East Coweta HS Ken Middleton, rb, 5-10, 187, Vidalia, Ga., Vidalia HS Lee Miles, qb/db, 5-8, 180, Cartersville, Ga., Hargrave Military Academy J.T. Nash, db, 6-1, 180, Griffin, Ga., Griffin HS Russell Orr, ol, 6-3, 250, Thomasville, Ga., Thomas County Central HS Cortez Reed, de, 6-3, 225, Folkston, Ga., Hargrave Military Academy Drew Robinson, lb, 6-1, 210, Cedertown, Ga., Cedartown HS Demorris Russell, dl, 6-1, 265, Roswell, Ga., Centennial HS Eric Selbach, dl, 6-3, 235, Kissimmee, Fla., Osceola HS Bobby Sherman, lb, 6-0, 210, Birmingham, Ala., Briarwood Christian HS Reginald Thomas, de, 6-1, 200, Albany, Ga., Dougherty HS Joseph Tuttle, dl, 6-4, 240, Spring Hill, Fla., Land O' Lakes HS Lance Watkins, ol, 6-1, 275, North Augusta, S.C., North Augusta HS T.J. Watkins, de, 6-2, 255, Franklin, Ga., Heard County HS

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