February 2007 Football

Boll Weevils Ink 10 High School Players,
One JUCO On National Signing Day
 February 7, 2007

MONTICELLO --- The University of Arkansas at Monticello filled an urgent need at quarterback by signing three high school signal callers to letters of intent on National Signing Day Wednesday.

Boll Weevil head coach Gwaine Mathews gained the signatures Scott Buisson, the Louisiana Coaches Association 5A most valuable player, Stuttgart’s versatile Joseph Lockwood, an all-state selection in both football and baseball, and Blake Barousse of Lafayette, La., the Louisiana district 2-5A offensive MVP.

“We knew going into this recruiting period that we needed quarterbacks and the three that we signed will give us a lot of depth and talent at that position, “ said Mathews. “The only thing that kept Scott Buisson from being a big-time Division I recruit is he’s not 6-3 or 6-4. We think we got a real steal there. Joseph Lockwood is a great athlete who seems to excel at whatever sport he tries. Plus he’s a top student who could have gotten an academic scholarship to almost any school in Arkansas. Barousse is another guy who was recruited by D-1’s but because of his size, we were able to get him.”

Other signees include a pair of massive offensive linemen – Tripp Boatner, 6-5, 335, of Lee County High School in Leesburg, Ga., and Dominique Lambert, 6-0, 310, of John Ehret High School in the New Orleans suburb of Marrero.

The Weevils also signed John Ehret High athlete Joseph Accelus, 6-2, 215, who played running back, defensive end, linebacker and safety. Accelus projects as a free safety in college.

Also signing with the Boll Weevils was wide receiver Dandrick Weatherby, 6-2, 180, of Kosciusko, Miss., who received an offer from LSU last summer.

The Weevils added defensive help with the signing of Monticello linebacker Lee Moore, 5-11, 225; Tim Morrell, a 6-0, 290-pound defensive lineman from Leesburg, Ga.; and Fordyce High’s Julius Rogers, a 6-0, 180-pound defensive back.

The Weevils also added the signature of Fred Leak, a 6-1, 185-pound defensive back from Independence (Kan.) Community College.

UAM also added four transfer players in January. They are running back Cornelius Blount of Kentwood, La., and Southwest Community College; quarterback Mike Dunn of Orlando, Fla., and East Central (Miss.) Community College; tackle-fullback Kenneth Turner of Marrero, La., who transferred from the University of Memphis; and quarterback Justin Tyler of Gray, Ga., by way of Georgia Military College. Each of the transfers has enrolled at UAM and will take part in spring practice.

2007 UAM Football Signees

Joseph Accelus, Free Safety, 6-2, 215, Marrero, La. (John Ehret High School)Honors: (2006) All-West Bank, All-Metro New Orleans, All-District 5-5A.
Notes: Team captain. Played four positions in high school – running back, defensive end, linebacker, and safety. Member of 4x100-meter relay team.
Coach Mathews’ Comments:  “Joe may be the best athlete of this group. He has all the tools, and could play almost any position on the field. I have always had success recruiting kids from John Ehret, and Coach North runs a great program. Joe is a typical John Ehret player – tough, athletic, and not afraid to hit.” 

Blake Barousse, Quarterback, 6-0, 190, Lafayette, La. (Lafayette High School)Honors: Four-time Acadiana Player of the Week, 1st team All-District 2-5A, All-District 2-5A Offensive MVP, Class 5A 1st Team Quarterback, 5A Offensive MVP, Honorable Mention Academic All-State, 2nd Team All-Pelican Preps.
Notes: Team Captain. Led Lafayette High School to only second district championship in 16 years.
Coach Mathews’ Comments: “In all my years as a d-2 recruiter, I have yet to sign a player that can throw like Blake.
Offensive Coordinator Will Hall’s Comments: “Blake is a coach’s kid who knows how to win. He is a pure passer who can make all the throws. Coach Barousse runs an intricate passing system at Lafayette High School that will have him prepared for our league.” 

Tripp Boatner, Offensive Line, 6-5, 335, Leesburg, Ga. (Lee County High School)
Honors: Georgia Super 75; Dynamite Dozen of Southeast Georgia, All-Region, All-Metro Honorable Mention.
Offensive Line Coach Sam Gregg’s Comments: “Tripp is a huge player who I can’t wait to coach. It’s not very often that we get to coach a player of his caliber at this level. He will be a staple in our offensive line for years to come.”

Scott Buisson, Quarterback, 5-10, 180, Metairie, La. (Arch Bishop Rummel High School)
Honors: Louisiana Football Coaches Association All-State Most Valuable Player, WWL-TV All-District MVP, New Orleans Times Picayune All-District, All-Metro and All-East Jefferson Parish; Jackson Clarion Ledger All-Catholic League, Louisiana Sportswriters Honorable Mention All-State.
Notes: Team captain.
Coach Mathews’ Comments: “This one is huge for the Weevils. When was the last time any D-2 school signed the 5A Coaches’ MVP from any state that is academically qualified. Scott can do it all. He can run and make all the throws. Our quarterback job is wide open, and we are looking for that special guy. Scott is a leader, winner and battler. He comes from a great football school, and Coach Roth has done a great job with him.”
Offensive Coordinator Will Hall’s Comments: “Scott is a tremendous athlete who is a true run-pass threat at quarterback. He brings energy to his team every time the ball is snapped.”

Dominique Lambert, Offensive Line, 6-0, 310, Marrero, La. (John Ehret High School)
Honors: 1st Team All-District 5-5A, 1st Team All-West Bank.
Coach Mathews’ Comments: “Dominique is a great signee for us. We like the fact that he is a center and great long snapper. He has a high ACT score which is always a plus at his position.” 

Joseph Lockwood, Quarterback, 6-2, 180, Stuttgart, Ark. (Stuttgart High School)
Honors: (2006) Class 4A All-State Quarterback, Class 4A All-State in baseball, Hooten’s State Farm 4A Offensive Player of the Year Finalist, Wendy’s Heisman Finalist, All-Southeast Arkansas Scholar-Athlete; (2005) Arkansas Democrat Gazette Top 40 Junior, All-Southeast Arkansas Player of the Year, All-State in both football and track.
Notes: Coached in high school by former UAM assistant coach Bobby Bolding (now head coach at Pine Bluff High School) and by quarterbacks coach Kevin McCarn, who holds the UAM and state collegiate record for career passing yards.
Coach Mathews’ Comments: “Since I arrived in Monticello, I have had my eye on Joseph Lockwood. When Will Hall arrived he was the first tape that I showed to Coach Hall. He adds so much to this program as a person and player.”
Offensive Coordinator Will Hall’s Comments: “Joseph is a smart player who has been the best player in southeast Arkansas the past two years. His ability to throw the football will be a tremendous asset to our offense. He was tutored in the early stages of his career by former UAM great Kevin McCarn. He will have no problem excelling in our scheme.”

Lee Moore, Linebacker, 5-11, 225, Monticello, Ark. (Monticello High School)
Honors: (2006) All-Southeast Arkansas, Class 5A All-State, All-District. (2005) Honorable Mention All-District at fullback and linebacker.
Defensive Line Coach Randall Bentley’s Comments: “Lee is a tough and aggressive player with excellent numbers in off-season testing. We are very excited about signing one of the best linebackers in southeast Arkansas." 

Tim Morell, Defensive End, 6-0, 290, Leesburg, Ga. (Lee County High School)
Honors: (2006) All-Metro, All-Area. (2005) All-Region, All-Metro Honorable Mention.
Defensive Line Coach Randall Bentley’s Comments: “Tim is a big, strong interior defensive lineman who has a great motor. Tim joins a great group of young defensive linemen, and could come in as one of our strongest players.

Julius Rogers, Defensive Back, 6-0, 180, Fordyce, Ark. (Fordyce High School)Honors: (2006) Hooten’s Arkansas Football All-4A Team, All-District 8-4A in both football and basketball. (2005) All-District 8-3A in football, All-Southeast Arkansas, Top 35 Juniors in Arkansas. (2004) All-District 8-3A in football and basketball, Arkansas Democrat Gazette Super Sophomore.
Defensive Coordinator Donald Dykes’ Comments: “Julius is an outstanding corner who is very physical. I am looking forward to coaching him.” 

Dandrick Weatherby, Wide Receiver, 6-2, 180, Kosciusko, Miss. (Kosciusko High School)
Honors: All-Region in both 2005 and 2006, four-time BREEZY 101 Player of the Week.
Notes: Rated one of top 15 receivers in Mississippi by Rivals.com and Scout.com, Jackson Clarion Ledger Top 100 seniors in Mississippi.
Offensive Coordinator Will Hall’s Comments: “Dandrick is a tremendous wide receiver with a ton of potential. He was offered by LSU last summer. We are counting on him to make an instant impact this season.”

Fred Leak, Outside Linebacker, 6-1, 185, Palestine, Ark. (Palestine-Wheatley High School, Independence Community College)
Notes: Signed with UAM in 2005 but spent last season at Independence CC.

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