ADA – The East Central University football team has announced the addition of 39 student-athletes to the 2017 rosters, including seven mid-year transfers and 32 signees on National Signing Day.
The Tigers have added 13 transfer students and 26 freshman to the rosters, with 23 coming from Oklahoma, eight from Texas, six from California and one each from Washington and Missouri.
ECU has filled in several key positions that were lost with the 2016 senior class. The new group includes seven offensive lineman, four defensive ends, four wide receivers, four corners, three tight ends, three quarterbacks, three defensive backs, three linebackers, two defensive tackles, two kicker/punters, two running backs, a fullback and a center.
"We are very excited about this class," said head coach
Tim McCarty. "We feel we went back to our roots with a great group of tough, run and hit players. This is a terrific group of young men who are really excited to play for the Tigers."
Mid-Year Signees
Chauncey Davis (6-6, 250, DE, Jr., Oakland, Calif. (Chabot College))- Finished junior college playing career with back-to-back conference championships…advanced to the playoffs in both seasons…a first team all-conference and first team all-region player…finished with 50 tackles and six sacks.
Travis Degrate (6-3, 240, TE, Fr., Warr Acres, Okla. (Putnam City))- Attended Canada Prep School for Fall 2016…advanced to the state quarterfinals as a senior…a first team all-district and first team all-conference player.
Noah Holle (6-5, 220, QB, Jr., Bakersfield, Calif. (Santa Barbara City College))- Team finished second his sophomore year of junior college…led team to a 7-4 record and an appearance in the Beach Bowl…threw for a 57% completion rate, 1,000 yards passing, 12 touchdowns…earned a state championship his senior year in high school.
Rayjohn Austin-Ramsey (6-2, 205, QB, Jr., San Antonio, Texas (Trinity Valley JC))- Team finished with No. 4 NJCAA ranking…finished career with 56% completion rate, 2,201 yards passing and 18 touchdowns.
McCarthy Tonuao (6-0, 275, DT, Jr., Lacey, Wash. (Fresno City College))- Team finished 5-5 his sophomore year…finished with 10 solo tackles, 15 assists and 3.5 TFL's…was a first team all-conference player.
Devyn Williams (5-11, 185, WR, Sr., Killeen, Texas (Oklahoma Panhandle State))- As a sophomore and junior finished with 90 catches for over 1,200 yards…had over 1,000 all-purpose yards each season…an All-Lone Star Conference performer.
Connor Wilson (6-2, 195, DB, Fr., Argyle, Texas (Texas Tech))- Team earned a class 3A Division II State Championship as a senior and a regional champions as a junior…finished senior year with 126 tackles, five PBU's, four fumble recoveries and eight interceptions…first team all-state, Denton Region Defensive MVP and was rated a 3-star by 247 Sports.
2017 Signees
Wyatt Austin (6-4, 190, K/P, Jr., San Jose, Calif. (De Anza College))- Finished sophomore year making 50% of fields goals… longest field goal of the season was 52 yards…made 88% of PAT's…70% of kickoffs where touchbacks.
Levi Cain (5-11, 220, FB, Fr., Cache, Okla. (Cache))- Team made it to first round of playoffs during senior year had over 100 tackles and two interceptions his senior year…named first team all-state, first team all-district, Class 4A All-Star and Daily Oklahoman First Team 4A All-state.
D'Marija Caine (5-9, 165, CB, Fr., Edmond, Okla. (Edmond North))- Finished senior season with 48 tackles, 18 PBU's, and one interception…a first team all-district selection and an Oklahoma Vype top 100 player.
Caleb Collins (6-0, 180, CB, Fr., Oklahoma City, Okla. (Millwood))- Team finished 14-0 and class 2A State Champions during senior year…finished with 31 tackles and six interceptions…a first all-district selection.
Connor Cluck (6-1, 290, C, Fr., Tulsa, Okla. (Berryhill))- Team finished 12-1 his senior season…team advanced to the state semi-finals and claimed the district championship…43 pancake blocks… a First Team Tulsa World All-Conference, Second Team Tulsa World All-State, 3A All-Star, District Offensive Lineman of the Year, first team all-district, Daily Oklahoman First Team 3A All-State and EPS All-American.
Ontario Douglas (5-11, 195, Fr., RB, Lawton, Okla. (Lawton Eisenhower))- Finished senior season with 1,311 receiving yards, 400 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns…a first team all-district, first team all-conference, and Daily Oklahoman First Team 5A All-State pick.
Mark Garner (6-6, 280, So, OL, Poteau, Okla. (NEO JC))- In high school was first team all-state, OCA All-State, District Lineman of the Year, Vype Top 100 player and first team all-district.
Tony Garland (6-5, 240, Fr., TE, Cache, Okla. (Cache))- Team made it to first round of playoffs during senior season…led class 4A in sacks his senior year…a 4A All-Star, Daily Oklahoman First Team 4A All-State and first team all-district selection.
Art Gomez (6-6, 285, So., OL, Compton, Calif. (Cerritos College))- Went to Fresno State out of high school…a 2-star offensive tackle according to 247 sports…at Cerritos College was a first team all-conference player.
Dream Green (6-3, 190, Jr., CB, Oakland, Calif. (Chabot College))- Finished junior college playing career with back-to-back conference championships…advanced to the playoffs in both seasons…finished his senior season with 20 tackles, one interception, and six PBU's…a first team all-conference selection.
Justin Hayden (6-1, 200, Jr., CB, St. Louis, Mo. (West Hills College))- Finished sophomore year with 50 tackles, 6.5 TFL's, one fumble recovery, three interceptions and sixPBU's…a first team all-state, and first team all-conference selection.
Wes Hill (6-4, 230, Fr., TE, Amarillo, Texas (Bushland))- Team finished 6-5-1 his senior year…a first team all-district player.
Zane Hudson (6-0, 170, Fr., DB, Ardmore, Okla. (Plainview))- Finished senior year as state runner-up…recorded 14 catches for 360 yards with five touchdowns…on defense had 110 tackles and two interceptions, with one returned for a touchdown…named All-Ardmorite Super Team DB, first all-district, and safety of the year in the district.
Cameron Jones (6-0, 185, Fr., DB, Sulphur, Okla. (Sulphur))- Team was district runner-up and led team to second round of playoffs…had 1,300 yards rushing and 700 passing…co-offensive player of the year in the district, first team all-district, Daily Oklahoman First Team 3A All-State.
Ethan Moore (6-2, 200, Fr., LB, Lone Grove, Okla. (Lone Grove))- Team claimed district championship twice in his career…finished senior year with 54 tackles, six TFL's and two forced fumbles…First Team All-Ardmorite, and first team all-district selection.
Tanner Murphy (6-2, 215, Fr., LBr, Jefferson, Texas (Jefferson))- Team was 9-3, district champions and made it to the second round of playoffs as a senior…recorded 147 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery…Mr. Texas Football Player of the Week…first team all-district and a captain of his team.
Chaz Newton (6-1, 170, Fr., WR, Coyle, Okla. (Coyle))- Team advanced to the quarterfinals in the playoffs…a first team all-district player…also a Cass B All-Star.
Braden Parker (6-1, 190, Fr., QB, McAlester, Okla. (McAlester))- Led team to district championship and to quarterfinal playoff appearance…threw for 2,572 yards, 42 touchdowns through the air and two on the ground…named the district most outstanding quarterback…also earned 5A All-Star, team offensive MVP, and Daily Oklahoman First Team 5A All-State honors.
Todd Polver (6-6, 265, Fr., OL, Jefferson, Texas (Jefferson))- Team was 9-3 and district champions his senior season…advanced to the second round of playoffs…earned 32 pancake blocks…a first All-State Class 3A, first team all-district, and district offensive lineman of the year selection.
Marcel Reliford (6-2, 285, Jr., DT, Oakland, Calif. (Chabot College))- Finished junior college playing career with back-to-back conference championships…team advanced to the playoffs in both seasons…during sophomore season had 36 tackles, eight TFL's, two sacks, and a fumble recovery…named first team all-state and first team all-conference.
Bobby Schmidt (6-1, 190, Fr., K/P, Sapulpa, Okla. (Sapulpa))- Made 100% of PATs, 70% of kickoffs inside the three yard line and 7-of-8 on field goals…named special teams player of the year in the district.
Ty Scott (6-3, 245, Fr., DE, Wewoka, Okla. (Wewoka))- Team qualified for playoffs in each of his four years…was a basketball state champion….a three time first team all-district defensive end…named district defensive MVP and a 2A All-Star.
Yosef Scott (5-8 170, Fr., WR, Tulsa, Okla. (Booker T Washington))- Teams leading receiver his senior year…a first all-district selection during his senior season.
Deon Smith (6-0, 195, Fr., RB, , McAlester, Okla. (McAlester))- Led team to district championship and to quarterfinal playoff appearance…recorded 1,255 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns…first team all-district selection.
Brandon Talley (6-6, 400, Fr., OL, Grand Prairie, Texas (Grand Prairie))- Team was one game out of the playoffs during his senior season…a first team all-district selection.
Trey Walker (5-11, 175, Fr., WR, Tulsa, Okla. (Berryhill))- Team finished 12-1 on the season and advanced to the semi-finals and claimed the district championship…tallied 1,200 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns his senior season…named first team all-state, first team all-district, district wide receiver of the year, and Daily Oklahoman First Team 3A All-State.
Shing West (6-4, 220, Fr., DE, Holdenville, Okla. (Holdenville))- Team finished 6-4 on the season…recorded nine sacks, four quarterback hurries, 45 total tackles and two TFL's…named defensive lineman of the year in the district.
Moses Williams (6-0, 270, Fr., OL, Stroud, Okla. (Stroud))- Team was in playoffs three out of his four seasons…four time all-district selection, district offensive lineman of the year his senior year, and First Team OCA All-State.
RJ Williams (6-0, 240, Fr., LB, Grand Prairie, Texas (Grand Prairie))- Team was one game out of the playoffs during his senior season…named district sophomore of the year…a first team all-district selection as a senior.
Bruen Wood (6-4, 300, OL, Durant, Okla. (Durant))- Team finished with a 5-5 record…a first all-district selection as a senior…also was a top finisher at the state track and field championships in the shot put.
Jonathan Wright (6-3, 280, OL, Ardmore, Okla. (Plainview))- Finished senior year as state runner up…a first team all-district, 3A All-Star, Daily Oklahoman First Team All-state 3A pick.
Marshall Zabonik (6-2, 220, Fr., DE, Lone Grove, Okla. (Lone Grove))- Team claimed district championship twice in his career…as a senior recorded 95 tackles, 16 sacks and 12 TFL's…a first all-district and 3A All-Star selection.
