Feb 7th, 2007 04:52PM
by:

By STEVE EAST
UCA SID

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Bears added 27 football players on Wednesday’s national signing day, including six from within the borders of Arkansas and five mid-year transfers already enrolled in school.

The Bears, 8-3 last year and with a Top 25 finish in their first season in NCAA Division I, signed six student-athletes from Louisiana, five from Texas, three from Mississippi and Oklahoma, and one each from Tennessee, California, South Carolina and New Mexico.  

MID-YEAR TRANSFERS
MARQUEZ BRANSON (6-3, 242, TE, East Miss. CC, Starkville (MS) HS)
Scout.com 2-Star recruit; 2006 Mississippi JUCO All-State selection; 2006 Mississippi JUCO All-Star game; 2-time high school All-State selection; 60 receptions, 6 TDs in high school

MIKE NEAL (6-1, 228, LB, College of the Desert, Yucca Valley (CA) HS)
2-time All-Foothills Conference selection (College of the Desert); earned 7 varsity letters in football/track; 3-time All-Conference  selection at LB; 2004 DEANZA Conference MVP

QUADERRICK SANDERS (6-3, 235, DE, Itawamba CC, Grenada (MS) HS)
Scout.com 3-Star recruit; 2006 stats: 40 tackles, 6 sacks, missed three games with injury; 2004 Grenada HS stats: 106 tackles; 13 sacks; Mr. Charger Award - Outstanding Male Athlete at Grenada

BENNIE WASHINGTON (6-2, 295, DT, Arkansas State, Rivercrest HS, Wilson, AR)
Scout.com 1-Star recruit; 2004 All-State selection in football/basketball; KAIT TV8 Super Team selection; 2002/2003 Arkansas high school state finalists

JAMES WILLIAMS (6-0, 175, CB, New Mexico Military, Bishopville (SC) HS)
2006 stats: 60 tackles; 3 INT, 1 TD; 3-time All-Conference selection; All-State selection in high school

NEW SIGNEES
ERIC BLANCH (5-11, 190, ATH, Camden Fairview HS, Camden, AR)
3-year letterman/track; 1,600 career rushing yards, 25 TDs; 2005 starter at defensive back; Arkansas AAAAA 100M sprint champion (10.61); also ran 48.1 400M time

MARKELL CARTER (6-5, 225, DE, Bartlesville HS, Bartlesville, OK)
Max Emfinger 4-Star recruit; Oklahoma Fab 40; 2006 Max Emfinger All-American Game; Wendy’s High School Heisman nominee; 2-time All-Metro DE/WR; 2006 stats: 25 receptions, 292 yards, 3 TDs; 47 tackles; 6 sacks; 4-year letterman in basketball       

NICK CHRISTIE (6-4, 245, OL, Vian HS, Vian, OK)
2006 Muskogee Phoenix All-Area team; 2-time All-District; 4-year letterman/3-year starter; state shot put

MATT DICKERSON (6-5, 250, OL, Neville HS, Monroe, LA)
2-year starter; 2-time All-District/All Northeast Louisiana; Neville went 21-6 in last two seasons; also participated in baseball and track and field

RYAN DUHON (6-1, 170, PK/P, St. Louis HS, Lake Charles, LA)
2006 All-State/All-Southwest Louisiana/All-District; 2006 stats: 34 of 36 PATs, 7 of 11 FG, long of 47 yards; 37 touchbacks, 39.5 yard punting average; member of 3 state championship soccer teams; 2006 national champion soccer team

VANCE FIZER (6-2, 200, OLB, Northshore HS, Houston, TX)
Rivals.com recruit; 2006 Texas 5A All-Academic; 2006 17-5A All-District; Northshore MVP; 2006 stats: 550 yards rushing, 770 yards passing as quarterback, accounted for 16 touchdowns; team was 16th in the nation in USA Today

NORVELL GABRIEL (6-4, 230, DE, Jacksonville HS, Jacksonville, AR)
Hooten’s Finalist; 2006 All-State selection/All-Conference; 2006 Arkansas High School All-Star Game selection; 2006 stats: 91 tackles, 6 sacks, 15 tackles for loss

JASON GILLIHAN (6-5, 250, TE/OT, Batesville HS, Batesville, AR)
2-year starter/3-year letterman; 2006 All 5A-East; 2006 stats: 11 receptions, 113 yards; 2 TDs; Batesville 31-6  last three seasons

JOSEPH HARRIS (6-4, 180, WR, La Grange HS, Lake Charles, LA)
2006 stats: 40 receptions, 715 yards, 9 TDs; State finalist 400 meters; Basketball All-District/All-Southwest Louisiana

TIM HOLLOWAY (6-3, 260, DE, Jones CC, Seminary HS, Seminary, MS)
Scout.com 3-Star recruit; 2006 stats: 45 tackles, 11.5 sacks at Jones CC; 2-time All-State selection LB/RB; Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game participant; Mississippi State signee in 2005

BRANDON HYSLOP (6-7, 295, OL, Cy Falls HS, Houston, TX)
2006 All-State selection; 2006 Academic All-State selection; 175-A All-District; 2006 Cy-Fair HS State 5A semifinalist

JOE LEHOCKY (6-4, 255, DT, Cibola HS, Albuquerque, NM)
4-year letterman/3-year starter; 2-time All-District TE; 2006 All-District DL; All-Metro TE/DL; All-State TE/DL; New Mexico All-Star game selection; only second 4-year football letterman in school history

LLOYD LOGGINS (6-1, 300, DT, Carter HS, Dallas TX)
2-time All-District selection; 2006 All-Area/All-City selection; 2006 stats: 96 tackles, 4.5 sacks,  3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries; 2005 District shot put champion/regional finalist; WFAA.com Player of the Week; DISD Dandy Dozen

CURTIS MARKS (5-10, 180, RB, Whitehaven HS, Memphis, TN)
Scout.com 1-Star recruit; 2-year starter/letterman; 2,887 career rushing yards; 28 TDs; 2006 Region 8-5A preseason All-American; 2-time All-Shelby Metro team; 2-time Region 8 All-State team; 2006 Liberty Bowl All-Star game selection; Track All-State 4x100M relay

CHRIS MCKNIGHT (5-10, 222, LB, Mayflower HS, Mayflower, AR)
2006 All-State selection; 2-time All-Conference; 2-time All-Faulkner County; Arkansas Democrat-Gazette AAA Defensive Player of the Year; runnerup State Farm player of the year; Two-time Burlsworth Award winner; Log Cabin Democrat Offensive MVP; 227 career tackles; 1,400 rushing yards as a senior

JERREL MCKNIGHT (6-2, 180, DB, Grand Prairie HS, Grand Prairie, TX)
Top 50 DFW Area recruit; Top 10 Fort Worth Star Telegram; 2006 All-District/All-Area; 2006 team captain; Great Texas Scholar Award winner for academics; 2006 stats: 83 tackles, 4 INT, 5 tackles for loss, 3 sacks; 10 punt returns, 207 yards, 1 TD, long of 75

HENRY MINOR (5-10, 170, ATH, Catholic HS, Baton Rouge, LA)
Rivals.com 2-star recruit; 64th rated RB by Scout.com; 2006 stats: 632 yards rushing, 6 TDs; 275 yards receiving, 3 TDs; 2006 All-Metro/All-District; committed to Kentucky; track 10.7 100M; state finalist 4x100M /100M.

QUINTON MORRIS (5-10, 180, WR, Ouachita HS, Monroe, LA)
2-time All-Northeast Louisiana/All-District; 83 career receptions, 22 TDs; Track - 200M regional finalist

LOGAN ROUBIQUE (6-2, 270, Center, Catholic HS, Baton Rouge, LA)
Scout.com 1 Star recruit; 2006 All-State/All-Metro/All-District; 2006 Academic All-State; 3-year letterman/2-year starter; Catholic High state semifinalists three consecutive years

CARLOS SMITH (6-0, 185, DB, Muskogee HS, Muskogee, OK)
2006 Oklahoma Coaches All-State selection; 6A East All-State; Muskogee Phoenix All-Area team; 4-year letterman/3-year starter; 378 career tackles; Ronnie Bennett Scholarship Award

DEREK SMITH (6-4, 220, DE, Rogers HS, Rogers, AR)
2006 All-State selection; 2006 AP Super Team selection; AP Super Team in Arkansas; Daily Record Defensive Player of the Year; KURN Dream Team; Arkansas sack records - single game (6), single season (19)

DERRICK WYATT (6-1, 170, WR, The Woodlands, Houston, TX)
2006 stats: 1,000 all-purpose yards; 26 receptions, 619 yards, 7 TDs; 2006 All-Area/All-District; 7-time letterman in football and track; 10.8 in 100M; 48.1 in 400M