SAN ANTONIO — UTSA head football coach Frank Wilson announced Wednesday that 11 highly-decorated student-athletes will join his program for the upcoming 2016 season. Today’s recruiting class joins a group of 10 signees who previously were announced and already are enrolled in classes at UTSA, which brings the total number of student-athletes to 21.
Eric Banks (DE-LB/Memphis, Tenn./East HS), Jack Giblin (TE/Port Neches, Texas/Port Neches-Groves HS), Jaquelle Green (S/Biloxi, Miss./D’Iberville HS), Carrington Kearney (CB/Pflugerville, Texas/Hendrickson HS), Teddrick McGhee (CB/Memphis, Tenn./East HS), Jarrod McLin (DE/Carthage, Texas/Carthage HS), Josh Oatis (OT/Gulfport, Miss./West Harrison HS), Franklin Uesi (DT/Pleasant Hill, Calif./College Park HS/Diablo Valley [Calif.] JC) and Solomon Wise (DE/Coppell, Texas/Coppell HS) all signed National Letters of Intent, while Marquez McNair (WR/Magee, Miss./Magee HS/Hinds [Miss.] CC) and Ronnie Feist (LB/Edgard, La./West St. John HS/LSU) signed financial aid agreements. Feist graduated from LSU in December and will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Ten student-athletes already are attending classes at UTSA this spring.
Stefan Beard (OG/Austin, Texas/Westlake HS/Navarro [Texas] JC), Austin Blake-Smith (TE/Fayetteville, Ga./Spalding HS/Nassau [N.Y.] CC/Mesa [Ariz.] CC/Ventura [Calif.] JC), Anthony Hickey (LB/San Juan Capistrano, Calif./JSerra Catholic HS/Wagner/Saddleback [Calif.] JC), Les Maruo (LB/Wichita, Kan./Goddard HS/Hutchinson [Kan.] CC) and Tanner Myers (OT/Gardner, Kan./Gardner-Edgerton HS/Highland [Kan.] CC/Coffeyville [Kan.] CC) all came to the Alamo City from the junior college ranks, while Brenndan Johnson (CB/Waco, Texas/Midway HS/Naval Prep Academy) joined the Roadrunners by way of prep school.
Meanwhile, DeQuarius Henry (DE/Houston, Texas/Sharpstown HS), Avery Jackson (CB/Austin, Texas/Johnson HS) and Zach Pare (OT/Georgetown, Texas/East View HS), who all took a greyshirt last fall, and Jesse Ebozue (WR/Arlington, Texas/Bowie HS), who signed a financial aid agreement back in October and graduated high school early in December, also are on campus.
Nearly every member of the class has earned all-state, all-area, all-region, all-district or all-conference honors during their career.
“We are very pleased with this class,” Wilson said. “It was one that was strategic in addressing the needs of our team as far as roster management goes. We were able to bring in a good mix from a classification standpoint with guys from junior college and high school. We also feel like we were able to address some of our position needs.”
Thirteen of the signees will be freshmen this fall, while six will be juniors and two will be seniors.
Eight of the signees will suit up for the offense, while 13 will call the defensive side of the ball home.
“Offensively, we met our needs at some key positions,” Wilson said. “We are bringing in some offensive linemen that we’re going to count on as key contributors. At receiver, we think we found players who can help us right away and down the road. We’re also adding a pass-catching tight end to the group, and that will allow us do some of the things that we want to do schematically.
“Defensively, we recognize that big men lead our team. We had needs at defensive end and linebacker. We were able to add players who we believe can contribute at those positions, some right away. Another need was in our secondary. We’ve added a few defensive backs who should be able to give us some quality depth at a position that is in high demand in our conference with the spread offenses that we will see.”
The class features 10 players from the state of Texas, three from Mississippi, two each from California, Kansas and Tennessee and one from both Georgia and Louisiana.
“Overall, we are very pleased with our class, although we’re not finished yet,” Wilson said. “There are still some key components that we hope to bring into this group. We’ll continue to work on getting those players here so that we can have the complete class that we are looking for.
“I want to personally thank all of the high school and junior college coaches we have met during the past few weeks while out on the road. They welcomed us with open arms and I can’t thank them enough for being so friendly and helpful during this important process.”
The Roadrunners will kick off spring drills on Monday, March 21, and the sixth annual UTSA Football Fiesta Spring Game is scheduled to be played at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, at the Alamodome. UTSA will open its sixth year of play at home on Saturday, Sept. 3, against Alabama State.
Eric Banks
Defensive End/Linebacker
6-5 · 235 · Fr.-HS
Memphis, Tenn. (East HS)
Played quarterback and defensive line for head coach Marcus Wimberly at the prep level but will focus on defense at UTSA … high school teammate of fellow UTSA signee Teddrick McGhee … earned first-team All-Region 8-4A honors at quarterback and was a second-team all-region pick at defensive end as a senior … completed 73-of-126 passes for 1,199 yards and 10 touchdowns and added seven more scores on the ground as a senior as the team won 12 games and the District 8-4A Championship … connected on 65-of-136 throws for 930 yards and six scores and also rushed for six more TDs as a junior … also a member of the basketball team and helped the lead squad to the state tournament as a junior.
Stefan Beard
Offensive Guard
6-4 · 315 · Jr.-TR
Austin, Texas (Westlake HS/Navarro [Texas] JC)
Junior college transfer is attending classes at UTSA this spring … played in all 11 games this past season for head coach Cody Crill … helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 43.5 points and 513.6 total yards (328.8 pass/184.8 rush) as a sophomore … saw action in 10 contests as a true freshman for head coach Brian Mayper … offense scored 52.8 points and racked up 612.3 yards (335.1 rush/277.2 pass) per outing that fall … selected to play on the 2014 USA Football Under-19 national team … attended Austin Westlake High School in 2013 after moving from his hometown of Chicago, Ill., but did not play.
Austin Blake-Smith
Tight End
6-5 · 240 · Sr.-TR
Fayetteville, Ga. (Spalding HS/Nassau [N.Y.] CC/Mesa [Ariz.] CC/Ventura [Calif.] JC)
Junior college transfer is attending classes at UTSA this spring … played in seven games this past season at Ventura (Calif.) Junior College for head coach Steve Mooshagian … caught 18 passes for 197 yards (10.9 avg.) and two touchdowns en route to first-team Southern California Football Association All-Northern Conference honors … posted season highs of four receptions in two contests and had 51 yards against Allen Hancock (Nov. 7) … attended Mesa (Ariz.) Community College in 2014 after beginning college career at Nassau (N.Y.) Community College the previous season … did not start playing football until his senior year of high school … primarily played baseball (pitcher) at the prep level.
Jesse Ebozue
Wide Receiver
6-2 · 195 · Fr.-HS
Arlington, Texas (Bowie HS)
Graduated from high school early and is attending classes at UTSA this spring … recorded 14 receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns for head coach Danny DeArman as a prep senior … caught five passes for 54 yards as a junior … also played defensive back and returned kicks during his career in addition to running track for two seasons.
Ronnie Feist
Linebacker
6-2 · 240 · Sr.-TR
Edgard, La. (West St. John HS/LSU)
Played in 14 games and registered eight tackles the past four years at LSU … saw action on both sides of the ball, as well as special teams … originally came to LSU as a linebacker, but also spent time as a defensive end and shifted to fullback midway through the 2015 season due to injuries … graduated in December 2015 with a sports administration degree … had 13 sacks as a prep senior and registered 73 tackles, including 35 for loss and 22 sacks, as a junior … named the 2011 Louisiana 1A Defensive Player of the Year … coached by Robert Valdez … participated in the 2011 Under Armour All-America Game.
Jack Giblin
Tight End
6-3 · 210 · Fr.-HS
Port Neches, Texas (Port Neches-Groves HS)
Big, physical target who played wide receiver at the prep level for head coach Brandon Faircloth … will make the move to tight end at UTSA … earned first-team all-area, All-District 22-5A and academic all-state honors as a senior … helped lead his team to nine wins while recording 840 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015 … caught 17 passes for 315 yards and three scores as a junior.
Jaquelle Green
Safety
6-1 · 220 · Fr.-HS
Biloxi, Miss. (D’Iberville HS)
Played both quarterback and defensive back at the prep level for head coach Buddy Singleton but will play safety for UTSA … earned All-South Mississippi accolades as a senior … completed 51.9 percent of his passes for 1,234 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for another 1,459 yards and 19 scores that season … added 26 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups on defense in 2015 … registered 800 all-purpose yards, 25 stops and three picks as a junior … picked off seven passes and returned four for touchdowns as a sophomore … also played for the basketball team.
DeQuarius Henry
Defensive End
6-4 · 220 · Fr.-HS
Houston, Texas (Sharpstown HS)
Sat out the 2015 season as a greyshirt but is attending classes at UTSA this spring … former basketball standout made a successful transition to the gridiron his final two seasons for head coach Charles Perridon … earned first-team All-District 20-5A accolades as a senior … a second-team All-District 21-4A selection as a junior.
Anthony Hickey
Linebacker
6-4 · 235 · Jr.-TR
San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (JSerra Catholic HS/Wagner/Saddleback [Calif.] JC)
Junior college transfer is attending classes at UTSA this spring … played in 13 games as a sophomore at Saddleback (Calif.) Junior College for head coach Mark McElroy … racked up 57 tackles, including 8.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks, one interception and three pass breakups that season … team won 10 contests and captured the Southern California Football Association Regional Championship … played 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2014 at Wagner, primarily on special teams, and posted eight stops … a second-team All-Trinity League selection and voted team Defensive MVP as a prep senior … recorded 36 tackles and four sacks that fall and also registered five receptions for 92 yards and a pair touchdowns … nominated to the 2013 Orange County All-Star Game.
Avery Jackson
Cornerback
5-10 · 170 · Fr.-HS
Austin, Texas (Johnson HS)
Sat out the 2015 season as a greyshirt but is attending classes at UTSA this spring … versatile athlete who played quarterback and defensive back for his father, Andrew, as a senior … tabbed third-team All-Central Texas (Austin American-Statesman) and was the District 26-5A Offensive Most Valuable Player after completing 53-of-75 passes (70.7 percent) for 1,085 yards and 15 touchdowns to go along with 98 rushes for 828 yards (8.5 avg.) and 11 more scores in seven district contests … helped lead team to 11 victories and a berth in the UIL Class 5A Division semifinals … played his junior campaign at Waxahachie High School for head coach David Ream … also an all-district outfielder in baseball.
Brenndan Johnson
Cornerback
5-11 · 175 · Fr.-HS
Waco, Texas (Midway HS/Naval Academy Prep)
Began attending classes at UTSA this spring … originally signed a Letter of Intent with Navy in February 2015 and spent last fall at the Naval Academy Preparatory School … coached by Terry Gambill as a prep senior in 2014 and helped lead Midway High School to 12 wins that season … registered 73 tackles, including five for a loss and two sacks, one forced fumble and three pass breakups en route to second-team All-District 12-6A accolades at outside linebacker … also an academic all-district selection that season … prep career began at Reicher Catholic High School in Waco … posted 50 stops as a junior.
Carrington Kearney
Cornerback
6-0 · 175 · Fr.-HS
Pflugerville, Texas (Hendrickson HS)
An athletic prep dual-threat quarterback for head coach Chip Killian … will make the move to cornerback for UTSA … helped lead his team to nine wins and a District 13-6A Championship as a senior … earned first-team all-district laurels at punter that season … racked up 1,745 total yards (869 pass/876 rush) and accounted for 20 total touchdowns (13 rush/7 pass) as a junior … also a member of the basketball team.
Les Maruo
Linebacker
6-1 · 235 · Jr.-TR
Wichita, Kan. (Goddard HS/Hutchinson [Kan.] CC)
Junior college transfer is attending classes at UTSA this spring … appeared in 22 games the past two seasons for head coach Rion Rhoades … ranked second on the squad with 85 tackles, including 11 behind the line of scrimmage and two sacks, in 11 contests of action last fall … had a 15-stop performance against Ellsworth Community College (Oct. 31) … registered 22 tackles, 1.5 TFLs and a fumble recovery in 11 games as a true freshman in 2014 when he was a teammate of current Roadrunner La’Kel Bass … the Blue Dragons finished with an 11-1 overall record that year and No. 4 national ranking, the highest in program history … racked up 79 stops in nine games as a prep senior and another 59 in 10 contests as a junior.
Teddrick McGhee
Cornerback
6-1 · 180 · Fr.-HS
Memphis, Tenn. (East HS)
A tall, physical cornerback who also played wide receiver for head coach Marcus Wimberly … high school teammate of fellow UTSA signee Eric Banks … earned all-state honors from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association as a senior after helping his team to a 12-win season and the District 8-4A Championship … also earned first-team All-Region 8-4A honors at both wide receiver and cornerback that season … rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns and caught 30 passes for 408 yards and another half dozen scores in 2015 … garnered second-team all-district laurels as a junior after hauling in 17 receptions for 308 yards and a pair of touchdowns and adding 23 tackles and three interceptions … also a member of the basketball team.
Jarrod McLin
Defensive End
6-3 · 225 · Fr.-HS
Carthage, Texas (Carthage HS)
Played defensive end and tight end for head coach Scott Surratt … shared District 9-4A Division I Defensive Most Valuable Player accolades and also was a first-team All-East Texas selection as a senior … registered 120 tackles, including 20 TFLs and four sacks, 34 quarterback pressures and eight pass breakups for a 14-win team that season … also an honorable mention all-area pick at tight end … posted 80 tackles and five sacks as a junior en route to first-team all-district honors on both sides of the line of scrimmage … added another 75 stops and 10 sacks as a sophomore and helped lead the squad to 15 victories and the UIL Class 4A Division I State Championship.
Marquez McNair
Wide Receiver
6-1 · 185 · Jr.-TR
Magee, Miss. (Magee HS/Hinds [Miss.] CC)
Played the last two seasons for head coach Gene Murphy … saw action in the first two games of his sophomore campaign before missing the rest of the year due to injury … had three receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns that season … caught 30 passes for 433 yards and four scores as a freshman … former prep quarterback … nephew of the late Steve McNair, who played quarterback in the National Football League from 1995-2006 after winning the 1994 Walter Payton Award (NCAA Division I-AA top player) and finishing third in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
Tanner Myers
Offensive Tackle
6-7 · 310 · Jr.-TR
Gardner, Kan. (Gardner-Edgerton HS/Highland [Kan.] CC/Coffeyville [Kan.] CC)
Junior college transfer is attending classes at UTSA this spring … helped lead Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College to eight victories and a final No. 14 national ranking last season … played all 11 games and earned second-team All-Jayhawk Conference accolades as a sophomore for head coach Aaron Flores … helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 50.5 points and 486 total yards (335.9 pass/150.2 rush) per contest … did not play in 2014 … college career began in 2013 at Highland (Kan.) Community College … a 2012 second-team All-Eastern Kansas League selection as a prep senior at Gardner-Edgerton High School.
Josh Oatis
Offensive Tackle
6-6 · 280 · Fr.-HS
Gulfport, Miss. (West Harrison HS)
Versatile lineman who played on both sides of the ball and even caught a 16-yard touchdown during his senior year for head coach Sean Harden … earned first-team All-Region 4-5A accolades as a senior … the first Football Bowl Subdivision signee in school history … also a member of the basketball team.
Zach Pare
Offensive Tackle
6-4 · 275 · Fr.-HS
Georgetown, Texas (East View HS)
Sat out the 2015 season as a greyshirt but is attending classes at UTSA this spring … earned honorable mention all-state accolades and was tabbed the District 25-5A Offensive Lineman of the Year as a senior … helped lead team to nine wins and 41.4 points per game that season … an All-District 17-4A choice as a junior … coached by Robert Davies.
Franklin Uesi
Defensive Tackle
6-3 · 280 · Jr.-TR
Pleasant Hill, Calif. (College Park HS/Diablo Valley [Calif.] JC)
Played the past two seasons for head coach Mike Darr … earned All-National Bay 6 Conference honors as a sophomore after posting 29 tackles, 4.5 TFLs,1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery … registered 28 stops, 5.5 TFLs, one sack and a forced fumble as a freshman … played along both the offensive and defensive lines during his prep career.
Solomon Wise
Defensive End
6-4 · 230 · Fr.-HS
Coppell, Texas (Coppell HS)
Played for head coach Mike DeWitt … earned second-team All-District 7-6A laurels as a senior after racking up 36 tackles, eight TFLs, five sacks, 17 quarterback hurries and three forced fumbles.