UF Football Inks 27 on Signing Day

The University of Findlay football team inked 27 players on national signing day as they announced their 2014 recruiting class on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

The signing class features student-athletes from six states.  They received commitments from players in the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Georgia and Louisiana.

The breakdown by position is listed below:

Quarterback – 3
Wide Receiver – 5
Running Back – 2
Fullback - 1
Offensive Line – 1
Defensive Line – 2
Linebacker – 7
Defensive Back – 5
Athlete – 1

"We are really excited about our recruiting class and believe these individuals can help continue to move this program forward," said head coach Rob Keys.  "We identified some specific needs early on in the recruiting process and feel as though we met most of those needs.  This groups displays a high level of speed and athleticism, but most importantly, they are tremendous football players.  These individuals also have shown a tremendous work ethic, toughness and commitment to winning on and off the field."

2014 Oilers Football Signings

Jake Allton
Hometown – Ashland, Ohio
Previous School – Ashland
Position – Wide Receiver
Ht./Wt. – 5-10, 190
H.S. Head Coach – Scott Valentine

Bio Information – Played wide receiver, running back and defensive back for Ashland High School…Finished with 74 catches for 960 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior…Had 75 carries for 492 yards and 8 touchdowns…Named third team all-Ohio, first team all-Northwest District, first team all-Ohio Cardinal Conference and first team all-Times-Gazette…Was awarded Co-Defensive Back of the Year in the NCOFCA…As a kicker, he made his only field goal attempt and connected on 37-of-39 extra points tries.

Rhonald Houston
Hometown – Pepper Pike, Ohio
Previous School – Orange
Position – Wide Receiver
Ht./Wt. – 5-11, 160
H.S. Head Coach – Adam Bechlem

Bio Information – Was named first team all-Chagrin Valley Conference as a senior…Finished with 60 catches for 918 yards and 8 touchdowns as a senior…Was named to the Cleveland Plain Dealer All-Star Team.

Mike Campbell Jr.
Hometown – Abbeville, La.
Previous School – Vermillion Catholic
Position – Running Back
Ht./Wt. – 5-7, 162
H.S. Head Coach – Russ Kuhns

Bio Information – Played running back, wide receiver and defensive back…As a senior, he helped his team to a Louisiana state title…Had 209 carries for 1,867 yards and 33 touchdowns as a senior…Averaged 8.9 yards per carry…Caught 26 balls for 213 yards and 3 touchdowns…Named all-Louisiana, all-district and all-academic.

Terrance Cole Jr.
Hometown – Toledo, Ohio
Previous School – Springfield
Position – Defensive Back
Ht./Wt. – 5-11, 185
H.S. Head Coach – Pat Gucciardo

Bio Information – Was a two-year starter at defensive back…Finished his senior season with 59 tackles…Had 4 tackles for a loss, 4 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 1 sack…Named first team all-Northern Lakes League…Was a second team all-district pick…Named the "Fourth and Goal" Player of the Year.

Forrest Boyd
Hometown – Vermilion, Ohio
Previous School – Vermilion
Position – Quarterback
Ht./Wt. – 6-4, 180
H.S. Head Coach – Robert Duray

Bio Information – Named second team all-conference and honorable mention all-district…Finished with 423 passing yards and 6 touchdowns…Rushed for 412 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Dorian Hunter
Hometown – Springfield, Ohio
Previous School – Springfield
Position – Linebacker
Ht./Wt. – 5-11, 215
H.S. Head Coach – Eric Gillespie

Bio Information – Was a four-year varsity letterman…Was awarded all-GWOC honors as a junior and senior…Named all-area and all-Southwest District during his senior year…Finished with 88 tackles and 5 sacks his senior year…Also was a member of the National Honors Society.

Andrew Alten
Hometown – Loveland, Ohio
Previous School – Loveland
Position – Offensive Line
Ht./Wt. – 6-2, 285
H.S. Head Coach – Fred Cranford

Bio Information – Was a three-year starter on the offensive line…Named first team all-ECC in 2012 and 2013…Earned first team all-southwest Ohio and first team all-Ohio in 2013 after he helped lead the Tigers to a Division II Ohio State Championship…Was elected to play in Ohio North vs. South All-Star Game and was named the 2013 Anthony Munoz Offensive Lineman of the Year…Has qualified for the state wrestling championship as a senior.

Aaron Ivory
Hometown – Maple Heights, Ohio
Previous School – Glenville
Position – Defensive Back
Ht./Wt. – 6-1, 190
H.S. Head Coach – Ted Ginn Sr.

Bio Information – Helped lead his team to an appearance in the Division II state championship game…Played for legendary coach Ted Ginn Sr…Finished second on his team in interceptions...Transferred to Glenville from St. Peter Chanel where he was named the team MVP.

Alex Osborn
Hometown – Pandora, Ohio
Previous School – Pandora-Gilboa
Position – Wide Receiver
Ht./Wt. – 6-3, 195
H.S. Head Coach – Carey Arthur

Bio Information – Named first team all-Blanchard Valley Conference…Was named all-academic…Led the conference with a 22.4 yards per catch average…Finished his senior season with 604 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns…Finished with 86 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles and a sack on defense.

Jared Tousley
Hometown – Pandora, Ohio
Previous School – Pandora-Gilboa
Position – Defensive End
Ht./Wt. – 6-4, 210
H.S. Head Coach – Carey Arthur

Bio Information – Was a three-year starter on both sides of the ball…Finished with 58 tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks and 1 fumble recovery as a senior…Recorded 12.5 sacks in his career…Served as a team captain…Lettered in basketball, baseball and track.

Cody Downs
Hometown – Bowling Green, Ohio
Previous School – Otsego
Position – Defensive Back
Ht./Wt. – 6-0, 195
H.S. Head Coach – Matt Dzierwa

Bio Information – Was a two-year starter…Played running back, quarterback and defensive back…Named second team all-conference as a defender…Earned honorable mention all-conference honors as a quarterback…Voted honorable mention all-district…Rushed for 2,429 yards and 17 touchdowns in his career…Totaled 1,384 passing yards and 12 touchdowns…Had 205 receiving yards…Finished his career with 167 tackles, 8.5 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions.

Nikolas Ricks
Hometown – Canton, Ohio
Previous School – Canton McKinley
Position – Linebacker
Ht./Wt. – 6-1, 225
H.S. Head Coach – Todd Filtz

Bio Information – Was a four-year letter winner...Had 72 tackles and 16 tackles for a loss as a senior…Also registered 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions…Returned one of his picks for a touchdown…Carried the ball 8 times for 145 yards and 3 touchdowns on offense.

Josh Pennington
Hometown – Oregon, Ohio
Previous School – Clay
Position – Quarterback
Ht./Wt. – 6-2, 185
H.S. Head Coach – Mike Lee

Bio Information – Was a team captain…Named honorable mention all-Three Rivers Athletic Conference twice…Finished with 111 completions for 1,889 yards and 18 touchdowns…Rushed for 385 yards and 6 touchdowns…Threw for 2,025 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior…Recorded 411 yards and 5 touchdowns as a junior.

Kyle Shreves
Hometown – Vermilion, Ohio
Previous School – Vermilion
Position – Linebacker
Ht./Wt. – 5-11, 230
H.S. Head Coach – Robert Duray

Bio Information – Named second team all-WSC…Voted honorable mention all-district…Named second team all-Lorain County…Led his team with 81 tackles…Had 4 sacks.

Thomas Smith
Hometown – Lorain, Ohio
Previous School – Clearview
Position – Linebacker
Ht./Wt. – 5-11, 200
H.S. Head Coach – Mike Collier

Bio Information – Earned third team all-Ohio honors…Named all-PAC twice…Was voted first team all-Lorain County…Earned first team all-Northeast District…Led his league with 120 tackles…Recorded 16 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 2 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles…Set a school record with 21 tackles in a game…Earned defensive MVP honors for his team.

Dylan Belcher
Hometown – Angola, Ind.
Previous School – Angola
Position – Linebacker
Ht./Wt. – 6-0, 211
H.S. Head Coach – Josh Schoeff

Bio Information – Was a four-year letter winner…Served as the team captain twice…Was named all-NECC twice…Led his conference in tackles for a loss…Led his team in tackles…Named first team all-area…Earned all-Northwest Indiana honors.

Chauncey Bridges
Hometown – North Farmington, Mich.
Previous School – North Farmington
Position – Running Back
Ht./Wt. – 5-10, 175
H.S. Head Coach – Todd Schultz

Bio Information – Played running back and defensive back…Was named all-Michigan twice as a running back…Was twice named the Offensive Player of the Year…Named all-area twice as a defensive back…Earned all-conference honors three times…Selected as a Detroit area "Dream Team" pick…Rushed for 1,580 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior…Averaged 10.6 yards per carry…Had 12 receptions for 350 yards…Recorded 645 return yards and 2 touchdowns…Made 37 tackles and 1 interception as a defender.

Laceem McCall
Hometown – Lawrenceville, Ga.
Previous School – Peachtree Ridge
Position – Defensive End
Ht./Wt. – 6-2, 235
H.S. Head Coach – Mark Fleetwood

Bio Information – Was named the MVP for his team…Recorded 45 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss and 6 sacks as a senior…Ranked as the 22nd best defensive end in Georgia by MaxPreps…Was awarded the Player of the Month honor in October for Gwinnett County.

Daouda Sylla
Hometown – Ypsilanti, Mich.
Previous School – Ypsilanti Community
Position – Athlete
Ht./Wt. – 5-10, 210
H.S. Head Coach – Rufus Pipkins

Bio Information – Lettered in football and soccer, serving as team captain in both sports…Won three championships in AAU soccer…Earned first team all-Michigan honors…Registered 61 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 4 forced fumbles…Carried the ball 59 times for 495 yards and 5 touchdowns on offense…Was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year…Named first team all-conference.

Rico Lewis
Hometown – Detroit, Mich.
Previous School – East Village
Position – Defensive Back
Ht./Wt. – 6-1, 180
H.S. Head Coach – Rod Oden

Bio Information – Won three letters and started at wide receiver and defensive back…Finished with 51 tackles and 6 interceptions during his senior season…Also lettered in basketball and track…Was a member of the state champion 4x400-meter relay team in high school…Earned all-conference honors in football, basketball and track…Ranked as a two-star Rivals recruit.

Ta'Vaughn Morton
Hometown – Louisville, Ky.
Previous School – Butler
Position – Wide Receiver
Ht./Wt. – 6-0, 180
H.S. Head Coach – Gary Wheeler

Bio Information – Played four years of varsity football where he helped lead the Bears to three consecutive appearances in the state semifinals…Played running back, wide receiver and defensive back…Had 38 catches for 831 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior…Also had 6 punt returns for scores…Named honorable mention all-Kentucky and was selected for the "Best of the Bluegrass" All-Star Game.

Cody Alt
Hometown – Ottawa, Ohio
Previous School – Ottawa-Glandorf
Position – Linebacker
Ht./Wt. – 6-1, 190
H.S. Head Coach – Ken Schriner

Bio Information – Won three letters in football…Named second team all-Northwest Ohio…Was an all-Western Buckeye League pick…Was a Lima area "Dream Team" performer…Had 78 tackles as a senior...Recorded 11 tackles for a loss and 5 fumble recoveries...Forced 3 fumbles and returned one for a score...Scored 2 touchdowns on offense...Won an Ohio state championship in basketball as a junior.

Brian Zawicki
Hometown – Eastpointe, Mich.
Previous School – East Detroit
Position – Fullback
Ht./Wt. – 5-8, 205
H.S. Head Coach – Branden Banks

Bio Information – Played on offense and defense in high school…Started 20 straight games…Made the Macomb Area Conference all-academic team.

Justin Short
Hometown – Flint, Mich.
Previous School – Grand Blanc
Position – Linebacker
Ht./Wt. – 6-0, 200
H.S. Head Coach – Joe Delaney

Bio Information – Was a two-year starter on defense…Recorded 70 tackles…Had 2 forced fumbles and blocked a field goal…Earned the KLAA Academic Award.

Jalen Parker
Hometown – Eastpointe, Mich.
Previous School – East Detroit
Position – Defensive Back
Ht./Wt. – 5-8, 170
H.S. Head Coach – Branden Banks

Bio Information – Was a three-year starter…Played defensive back and wide receiver…Had 35 tackles and 2 interceptions as a senior…Recorded 120 receiving yards…Was named first team all-conference…Earned defensive MVP honors.

Mat Buntin
Hometown – Benton, Ill.
Previous School – Benton
Position – Quarterback
Ht./Wt. – 6-1, 175
H.S. Head Coach – Jeremy Clodfelder

Bio Information – Named first team all-conference twice…Earned all-Southern Illinois honors twice…Is the all-time leading rusher at Benton…Became Benton's first player to have 1,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a single season…Was selected to play in the Southern Illinois vs. Western Kentucky All-Star Game…Earned academic all-Illinois honors.

Jared Peters
Hometown – Norwood, Ohio
Previous School – Norwood
Position – Wide Receiver
Ht./Wt. – 5-10, 165
H.S. Head Coach – Chris Majors

Bio Information – Played four years of varsity football…Was named honorable mention all-Ohio…Earned first team all-district honors…Had 67 catches for 854 yards and 9 touchdowns as a senior…Also had 3 rushing scores…Recorded 38 tackles and 2 interceptions on defense.