University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Head Football Coach Jeff Bower's Signing Day News Conference
2/7/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 7, 2007
Opening statement: "I think we had a good day, and our staff is extremely pleased with the quality of this class. We met a lot of our target needs, and above all, we got some good kids. Character issue was always big in the evaluation process. It was a really good job by our coaching staff, and we've got to compliment them on the effort that they put into recruiting and also our student athletes that had a part in it when we had prospects here on official visits. Everyone that was involved, our support staff, did a good job. We're really pleased with this signing class. I think it's really good. We've got a few of them in already, but I look forward to getting them here."
On any positions not being covered: "There are always things that will happen and there will always be some good players out there that are still available. If I had to target anything, I would way another offensive lineman, a defensive lineman, possibly a wide receiver. I think other than that, we did pretty well."
On the offensive linemen: "Gray (Julius) is a junior college guy, who is a really good player, and we think he could probably be an offensive guard. He's got really good feet. Brady (James) is probably a guy who needs a redshirt year, but he is very athletic. He can really move his feet, and he is typical of a lot guys that we've signed in the past that are athletic and need to develop a little physically. We had Jake Thames in camp and saw how athletic he was. He also played some tight end. He's got a good frame, and he's going to get big."
On if Julius Gray will be able help next season: "I think that typically when you sign guys from junior college, you're looking for immediate help."
On the quarterback situation: "This was a big year for that because it's difficult for a quarterback to play as a freshman. We felt like we really had to bring in two quality players there, and I think we did. Randy Hardin can throw the ball really well. He had a big year down in Florida, and we think he's an outstanding prospect for us. We have a local kid here, Darin Farris, who we were always impressed with. We had both of those kids in camp last summer, so we had a good look at both of them. Darin has a big arm and makes plays. They are two good players."
On if he feels good about the six new players in the defensive backfield: "Yes, I do. I think we have some corner safety types and even some guys who we think might grow into outside backers. We needed immediate help there, and I think it was good. Hopefully Gene Anderson will be able to come in and play for us at corner."
On who might end up at linebacker: "We've got Jeremy Snowden, who was a quarterback and defensive back and has a good frame. We listed him as a linebacker as a projection, but he could play a lot of places. He could be a defensive back or a wide receiver. He's really athletic. Ken Daily, who was another camper for us last year, he played defensive back, safety and corner, but we think he has the frame like guys we've had in the past like Antoine Cash and Michael Boley. These guys are along those same lines."
On surprises: "There are always surprises. You always get last-minute surprises."
On if Taiwan Easterling was a surprise: "We felt good about him. He had a good visit, and all of the feedback we got was very positive. You're never sure until you see that paper come in, but we felt like we had a great chance at him."
On if the surprises are frustrating: "That's part of recruiting."
On how they get recruits from many different locations: "Ronnie Sanders. Ronnie finds them. He's been a great addition as the recruiting coordinator for us. He's done a good job of beating the bushes and finding some guys that are out there. We evaluated a lot of kickers, and we had them from all over the place. We really like Justin Estes. I have to give a lot of credit to Ronnie in finding those kids."
On Antwain Easterling: "He's very, very good. He can make you miss, and he's got breakaway speed. He had a huge year down there. I was concerned at running back, because we had a hard time getting anybody with the two true freshmen (Damion Fletcher, Tory Harrison) here that did what they did. We really liked V.J. Floyd on tape and thought that he was a great player. At one point in time, I thought it was going to be hard to get two running backs, but we did. We got two really good ones."
On how the guys from distant locations fit in here: "They fit in really well. Tim Green and Easterling both had great visits. They wouldn't be here unless they had good visits, but they fit in really well."
On how many in the signing class were in camp here: "My count is 11."
On how the running back situation will work: "We'll play the best ones. It's wide open. I know a lot of people will say `he's going to redshirt.' I don't care, and I think we proved that last year. We're going to play the best players, and there's nothing better than healthy competition."
On if there are any players who will grey shirt or go to junior college: "Potential grey shirts and a couple of placements in here that we'll send to junior college. Overall, from an academic standpoint, this is a real good class."
On Rashod Henry will come right in: "I hope so if he can work to get eligible. He's working really hard on it."
On why there weren't as many signees from Mississippi as usual: "It wasn't the same year in Mississippi as last year. Last year, it might have been as good as I've seen it in the state. We stayed within our recruiting areas with the exception of a couple of guys that Ronnie found. It was a thinner year throughout the state."
On if Justin Estes will be able to come right in: "I hope so. I hope they all do."
On the status of Cornelius Magee and C.J. Bailey: "Both of them are in junior college taking classes to get the required hours. Hopefully, they'll rejoin the football team this summer."
On if there will be any more signees: "Possibly. We don't ever know. There are a few unknowns who are still out there."
On Micah Pellerin: "He was a late find. He was displaced after Katrina and moved to Jackson. He got hurt his junior year and didn't play. He's athletics. He could be a receiver or a defensive back. He can go on either side of the ball in either of those positions. We really liked him. He's a sharp kid and an outstanding student."
On the defensive tackles: "I think a couple of the linemen can grow into being tackles. They've got good frames. Logan (Hickman) is probably the only pure tackle signee, but I think that Andrew Burns can go a lot of places. Cordarro Law is similar to that. He was a running back, so he can play running back, tight end or defensive end. You like to sign guys who can play numerous positions."
On if Blake Spiers will be able to see playing time in the middle: "We really thought he was good. Being able to get him here for the spring is really going to help. I think he's a pure inside linebacker. He'll be one of those guys who we'll be looking to for help on all of the special team."
On when spring practice begins: "We'll start mid-March, right after spring break."
On who else could be a middle linebacker: "Williams (Korey) is a pure middle guy. That was a good signee for us. He is a really physical player and another good student."
On where Tim Green will play: "He'll probably play outside."
On where they found Green: "We were recruiting a lineman up there, and he kind of showed up on tape. That's how we got on him."
On if Ken Dailey will play outside: "He'll be either there or safety. I'm not sure that he doesn't have a chance to play corner. He's about the same size as Michael Boley."
On Antonio Leonard: "He was a camper for us. He did a good job in camp and tested out really well. He likes to hit you. Actually, he was a safety and a running back in high school. We really liked him out of camp."
