Football

Football Signs 31 to NLI

Southwestern Oklahoma State University has announced that 31 student-athletes have agreed to play football next season for the Bulldogs, dramatically improving their chances in the rugged Lone Star Conference.


Kyler Skinner & Kenny Johnson
WEATHERFORD, Okla. - Southwestern Oklahoma State University has announced that 31 student-athletes have agreed to play football next season for the Bulldogs, dramatically improving their chances in the rugged Lone Star Conference.

Second-year coach Dan Cocannouer and his staff revealed the list today (Wednesday, Feb. 3) in conjunction with the National Letter of Intent signing date. SWOSU split its emphasis between Oklahoma and Texas with 30 of the 31 coming from the two neighboring states.

"We're very excited about the signing class this year," Cocannouer said.  "We had lots of needs, and we took care of most of them through this signing class. I have no doubt that the kids we are bringing in can help us get going in the right direction and compete in the Lone Star Conference.

The 31 signees will join with another 17 mid-year transfers who are already on campus to form the nucleus of what promises to be a much better football team in 2010.

Among those high school signees include Weatherford's Kyler Skinner and Kenny Johnson along with Clinton quarterback Ryan Stringer. Skinner and Johnson were a part of Weatherford's best football team in a number of years as the Eagles finished the season with an 11-1 record and advanced to the Class 4A semifinals. Stringer was a three-year starter for Clinton and helped the Red Tornadoes to the Class 3A state title in 2007.

The following is a list of the high school signees along with the mid-year transfers.

High School Signees


Josh Dorman

QB Josh Dorman, 6-1, 180, North Richland Hills, TX (Birdville HS)
THSCA All-State selection...Completed 251-of-380 passes (66%) for 3,898 yards and 49 touchdowns as a senior...Once threw for 553 yards in a single game...Set all-time Texas prep record with eight TD's in a game...District 6-4A MVP....APSE All-state team...TOC 4A DFW All-Area Team...Fort Worth Star Telegram Football Super Team...One-star recruit by Scout.com.

QB Paul Lopez, 6-3, 210, Palm Desert, CA (St. Paul HS)
Three-year starter who won team's coaches award (Bryan Graves Memorial) after completing 49-of-87 passes (56 percent) for 520 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions as a senior. Also rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns and even caught two passes for 81 yards.


Ryan Stringer

QB Ryan Stringer, 5-11, 180, Clinton, OK (Clinton HS)
Completed 84-of-172 passes (49%) for 1,213 yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions as a senior...Quarterback of the 2007 Class 4A state championship team.

WR Jordan Davis, 5-10, 175, Pantego, TX (Arlington HS)
All-district 4-5A selection at Arlington High School.

WR Dakota Davis, 6-5, 185, Broken Arrow, OK (Broken Arrow HS)
Team made it to the Class 6A semifinals before losing to eventual champion Tulsa Union.

WR Kyler Skinner, 6-0, 180, Weatherford, OK (Weatherford HS)
Helped lead Weatherford High School to a 11-1 record and a berth in the Class 4A state semifinals...Caught 23 passes for 509 yards and 6 touchdowns...Also had 69 tackles as a defensive back....Coaches Aid Class 4A for the West All-Star team.

WR Kevin Roberts, 5-10, 170, Madill, OK (Madill HS)
Third-leading receiver in Class 3A finishing with 62 catches for 886 yards (14.0 average) and eight touchdowns....Had 10 rushes for 88 yards...Also had 54 tackles...Selected to the Oklahoma Coaches Association Class 3A East All-State team.

WR Alex Cochran, 5-10, 170, Broken Arrow, OK (Broken Arrow HS)
Broken Arrow's top receiver who finished the year with 32 catches for 531 yards and six touchdowns...Team finished the season with an 11-2 record and advanced to the Class 6A semifinals.


Cory Hines

WR Cory Hines, 6-0, 185, North Richland Hills, TX (Birdville HS)
1st team District 6-4A wide receiver...1st team wide receiver Star Telegram Super Teams 4A and 5A...Favorite target of Dorman at Birdville High School...Caught 75 passes for 1,085 yards (14.5 average) and 12 touchdowns.

WR Brad Smithey, 5-11, 175, Mesquite, TX (Dallas Christian)
Member of TAPPS 4A state semi-finalist team...Caught 24 passes for 817 yards and eight touchdowns...All-state and academic all-state selection...Named to Texas HS Football Players-to-Watch List...Listed to Nike Elite Camp Players-to-Watch list.

WR Andrew Muga, 5-11, 175, Borger, TX
Caught 61 passes for 865 yards and 11 touchdowns as a freshman...Named to the Class 2A-3A Spreat taem...Nominated for the Texas High School Coaches Assocaition All-star game...District offensive MVP...Averaged 25 yards per punt return

RB Trevion Miller, 6-2, 190, Dallas, TX (Carter HS)
Played defensive back and running back at Carter High School..Received a "4" rating on the NCSA...Older brother plays for San Diego State...Rushed for more than 500 yards as a junior...Played in only two games a senior before injury ended his season.

RB Dexter Braziel, 6-0, 200, Fort Worth, TX (Haltom HS)
Rushed for 948 yards on 186 carries (5.1 average) and 13 touchdowns...Second team All-district selection for 3-5A...Made visit to SMU.

K Taylor Inman, 5-10, 160, Claremore, OK (Sequoyah-Claremore HS
Honorable mention all-state selection by the Tulsa World

K Kenny Johnson, 5-10, 170, Weatherford, OK (Weatherford HS)
Kicker on Weatherford's Class 4A semifinal team.

P Cord Gothard, 6-2, 220, Velma, OK (Velma HS)
Team advanced to the Class A playoffs with a 8-2 regular-season record


Carlos Cuevas

OL Carlos Cuevas, 6-3, 290, Plano, TX (Plano HS/Utah State)
Rivals two-star recruit in 2007 who played two seasons at Utah State...Will enroll in Fall of 2010...A unanimous selection to the first team 5A all-District and all-Area team.

OL Mackenzie Cannon, 6-4, 290, Arlington, TX (Lamar HS)
Second-team all-district 5A-4...Captain of his high school team...Father, Mark, played for the Green Bay Packers in the 1980s.

OL Bradley Chapman, 6-3, 280, Corinth, TX (Lake Dallas HS)
Considered one of the top football offensive line prospects in District 5-4A...Honorable mention all-district selection...Team finished with a 10-3 record and had nearly 5,000 yards of toal offense.

OL Bryce Davidson, 6-4, 260, Waxahachie, TX (Waxahachie HS)
Two-year starter...Team was bi-district champion in 2008...Senior year team ended the season with a 13-1 record...Maintains a 3.6 GPA.


Drew Carnahan

OL Drew Carnahan, 6-3, 270, Southlake TX (Carroll HS)
Second team all-district selection for 6-5A...Starting tackle on nationally-known Southlake Carroll High School team

DL Chase Neumann, 6-0, 280, Dewey, OK (Dewey HS)
Multi-year standout for Dewey High School where he helped lead team to the Class 3A semifinals...Selected to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State team.

DL Kimes Gilbert, 6-1, 225, Oklahoma City, OK (Southmoore HS)
All-district 6A-1 selection as an offensive lineman...Helped lead the Sabercats to a 11-2 record and berth in the Class 6A semifinals.

DL Wes Carter, 6-5, 220, Arlington, TX (Lamar HS)
All-district 5A-4 selection.


Lorenzo Barnes

DL Lorenzo Barnes, 6-1, 315, Burkburnett, TX (Burkburnett HS)
Squatted 825 pounds at the THSPA Regional Meet on March 7 at Decatur High School. The squat is the highest ever recorded in and the second highest ever by a youth 16-17 years old in the THSPA.

LB Ryan Feller, 6-1, 215, Altus, OK (Altus HS)
Oklahoma Coaches Association All-Star by Class for 5A West team...Recorded for than 400 tackles as a three-year starter for the Bulldogs.

 LB Taylor Soles, 6-0, 205, Littlefield, TX (Sudan HS)
District 5-1A offensive MVP...First-team defensive end selection...Had 82 rushes for 510 yards and five touchdowns...Returned 12 kickoffs for 263 yards, 47 solo tackles and 38 assists and five sacks.

LB Anthony Chiofalo, 6-0, 205, Haslet, TX (Northwest HS)
Team made the playoffs as a senior.

LB Brad Avery, 6-1, 200, Madill, OK (Madill HS)
Oklahoma Coaches Association All-Star by Class 3A East...District defensive co-MVP for 3A-2...Had 120 tackles and three interceptions as a senior...Two-year starter.

LB Mitch Hartshorne, 5-11, 220, Allen, TX (Allen HS)
First team all-district 8-5A selection for Allen High School.

DB Marcus Polanco, 6-0, 175, North Richland Hills, TX (Richland HS)
Second-team all-district 3-5A selection...Selected to the 3-5A all-academic team...Winner of the All-Rebel Award.

DB Drake Keys, 6-0, 190, Skiatook, OK (Skiatook HS)
Tulsa World honorable all-state selection as a defensive back last season.

DB Cliff Nyagesiba, 5-10, 190, Arlington, TX (Lamar HS)
Had over 100 tackles in each of his last two seasons.

Mid Year Transfers

Luke Chalfant, 6-0, 220, R/Fr., Hinton, OK (Hinton HS)

Eric Charles, 5-10, 175, WR, Jr., Highland, CA (San Gorgonio HS/San Bernardino Valley) College)
Played in only four games as a sophomore at SBVC after promising freshman campaign...Led the team with 42 receptions for 372 yards and had 535 yards in 2008...Named Mountain Conference Special teams Player-of-the-Week after totaling 173 all-purpose yards and scoring one touchdown...Graduate of San Gorgonio High School where he was a first-team, all-county selection...Caught 62 passes for 914 yards and 14 TDs as a senior.

Tommy Cogburn, 5-8, 183, Jr., El Monte, CA (South El Monte HS/Golden West College)
Played both defensive back and wide receiver for the GWC...Finished year with 29 tackles and two interceptions...Caught four passes for 83 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown against San Diego Southwest....Graduate of South El Monte High School where he was an all-league selection.

Jonathan Darby, 6-0, 200, Jr., DB, Sante, CA (West Hills HS/Grossmont College)
Finished 2009 as the second-leading tackler for Grossmont with 57 stops with four interceptions and a fumble recovery...Team finished with an 8-3 record and participated in the U.S. Bank Beach Bowl where they beat El Camino, 27-22...Graduate of West Hills High School in San Diego.

Brandon Elmore, 5-11, 175, R/Fr. Blanchard, OK (Blanchard HS/Coffeyville Community College)

Sean Gordon, 6-2, 225, DE, Jr., Lake Forrest, CA (Laguna Hills HS/Golden West College)}
Two-year starting defensive end at Golden West where he finished the year with 28 tackles and three and one-half sacks... Squad won the last seven games of the season and finished as Rooster Bowl Champions with a 37-35 overtime victory over Ventura...Graduate of Laguna Hills High School where he was the team's most valuable player...Father, Scott, played in the NFL with the Houston Oilers.

Terrence Humes, OL, 6-5, 320, Jr., San Bernardino, CA (San Bernardino HS/San Bernardino Valley College).
Started 20 consecutive games for SBVC at right tackle...Graduate of San Bernardino High school where he was a two-time all league selection and selected as the team's lineman of the year in 2005.

Jace Johnson, QB, 6-4, 180, So., Bethel, OK (Bethel HS/East Central)

Cecil Kirkendoll, DB, 5-8, 175, R/Fr., Clinton, OK (Clinton HS)

Preston Margain, 5-11, 205, Jr., Fountain Valley, OK (Fountain Valley HS/Golden West College).
Starting linebacker for Golden West where he finished second on the team with 53 tackles, five of which were for losses totaling 14 yards...Started every game at GWC for two consecutive seasons...One of four former GWC Rustlers on this year's SWOSU team...Graduate of Fountain Valley High School where he was a second-team, all-league selection...Listed on the Principles Honor Roll four consecutive years.

Gordon Perry, 5-11, 170, R/Fr., Weatherford, OK (Weatherford HS)

Reed Ryan, 6-1, 255, R/Fr., OL, Roanoke, TX (Justin Northwest HS/New Mexico Highlands)
Spent one season at New Mexico Highlands after starring at Justin Northwest High School in Texas...Team made it to the second round of the state playoffs as a senior.

Kemaine Thurston, DL, 6-1, 285, Jr., San Bernardino, CA (Arroyo Valley HS/San Bernardino Valley College)
Two-year starter for SBVC where he helped the Wolverines to a 5-5 record which included four-straight victories and a 29-21 season-ending victory over Los Angeles Harbor...Graduate of Arroyo Valley High School where he was a three-year starter and also a member of the school's varsity wrestling team.

Marvin Tribble, 5-11, 175, Jr., CB, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Independence Junior College).
Played in eight of nine games for Independence where he was coached by current SWOSU graduate assistant Anthony Randle...Finished the season with 15 tackles...Native of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Isaac Tucker, RB, 5-10, 195, Jr., Covina, CA (West Covina HS/Citrus College)
Team's leading rusher as both a freshman and sophomore...Rushed for nearly 800 yards during his career, including back-to-back seasons with an identical 395 yards...Played in a California Junior College All-Star game...Graduate of West Covina High School where he was named the team's offensive MVP as a senior.

Mike Van Deripe, QB, 6-0, 180, Jr., Cypress, CA (Cypres HS/Golden West College)
All-time leading passer in Golden West College history with over 5,000 career yards...Earned American Division Mountain Conference first-team quarterback selection in 2009 when he completed 215-of-361 passes for 2,826 yards and 27 touchdowns...Led GWC to its first post-season appearance in 34 years with a 37-36 win over Ventura College...Graduate of Cypress College where he was a first team, all-conference selection and threw for over 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior...Also rushed for 1,100 yards and scored 11 rushing TDs.

Bronze Withem, 5-11, 225, LB, Jr., La Verne, CA (San Dimas HS/Citrus College)
Injuries limited him to just two games during his sophomore campaign...As a freshman had 90 tackles for the Owls which earned him all-conference and ranked him third among freshman in the Southern California Football Association...Graduate of San Dimas High School where he led team with 130 tackles as a senior and earned all-area selection...Finished high school career with better than 350 tackles.