New Orleans --- Football members of the Sun Belt Conference announced their initial 2002 signing lists today. 158 high school and junior college football players signed a National Letter of Intent to play for members of the second-year league. All Sun Belt teams will begin a second season of Sun Belt competition with seven non-conference games on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2002. On the line is a chance to play in the second annual New Orleans Bowl as the league champions on Dec. 17, 2002 in the Louisiana Superdome.
Arkansas State, under first-year head coach Steve Roberts, will open the 2002 Sun Belt Conference league season on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Louisiana-Monroe. Roberts, the former Northwestern State head coach, is one of two new head coaches in the Sun Belt in 2002. The other new face in the young football league is former Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle, who takes over the reigns of the Louisianas Ragin Cajuns program this season.
Arkansas State (24)
Steve Roberts, head coach
Name Pos Ht Wt Hometown (Previous School)
Myron Anderson OL-DL 6-4 255 Dallas, Texas (Carter H.S.)
Chaffin Brock DB 6-4 215 El Dorado, Ark. (El Dorado H.S.)
Anthony Camp LB 6-3 225 Baton Rouge, La. (Parkview Baptist H.S.)
Scott Carpino WR-DB 5-11 180 Paragould, Ark. (Paragould H.S.)
Mike Cox WR 5-10 170 Red Bluff, Calif. (Shasta College)
Terrence Dunbar RB 5-9 185 Metairie, La. (Archbishop Rummel H.S.)
Chris Easley RB 6-0 190 The Woodlands, Texas (The Woodlands Christian H.S.)
Reggie Green DL 6-4 218 Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite H.S.)
Jamarrow James LB-FB 6-0 245 Osceola, Ark. (Osceola H.S.)
Tanner Jenkins OL 6-2 290 Baton Rouge, La. (Parkview Baptist H.S.)
Charles Johnson WR 5-10 180 Memphis, Tenn. (Woodale H.S.)
Kimani Jones OL 6-4 300 Mound City, Miss. (Mississippi Delta CC)
Chris Littleton DB 5-11 195 Osceola, Ark. (Osceola H.S.)
Reid McKinney QB 6-3 220 Warren, Ark. (Warren H.S.)
Jermaine Montgomery LB-FB 6-0 214 Waxahachie, Texas (Waxahachie H.S.)
Prince Ogbekile DL 6-3 220 Dallas, Texas (North Dallas H.S.)
Blair Phillips FB-LB 6-3 235 Alexandria, La. (Bolton H.S.)
Brandon Rollins DL 6-5 220 Texarkana, Texas (Liberty-Eylau H.S.)
Ryan Shepard WR-DB 6-3 200 Monticello, Ark. (Monticello H.S.)
Gary Vincent WR 5-9 165 Arlington, Texas (Sam Houston H.S.)
Josh Ward DB 6-3 205 Dallas, Texas (Lincoln H.S.)
Marques Walker DB 5-9 175 Dallas, Texas (Sam Houston H.S.)
Joe Williams DB 5-9 175 McComb, Miss. (Southwest Mississippi JC)
Darius Woods DB 6-1 185 Dallas, Texas (South Oak Cliff H.S.)
Idaho (25) Tom Cable, head coach
Name Pos Ht Wt Hometown (Previous School)
Ryan Atoe DT 6-2 314 The Dalles, Ore. (College of the Redwoods)
Mike Barrow K/P 5-11 165 Ventura, Calif. (St. Bonaventure H.S.)
Rod Bryant CB 6-1 180 Friendly, Md. (West Hills JC)
Robert Davis S 6-4 195 Simi Valley, Calif. (Royal H.S.)
Keith Greer TE 6-2 250 Santa Ana, Calif. (Mater Dei H.S.)
Kody Kraus DE 6-3 228 Rexburg, Idaho (Ricks JC)
Brandon Mascorro WR/DB 5-9 170 Ventura, Calif. (St. Bonaventure H.S.)
Darryl Murphy CB 5-11 185 Palmdale, Calif. (College of the Canyons)
Kelly Nead DE 6-4 236 Driggs, Idaho (Ricks JC)
Matt Newell OL 6-8 285 Las Vegas, Nev. (Green Valley H.S.)
Wendell Octave WR 6-1 185 St. James, La. (St. James H.S.)
Robert Ortega CB 6-1 200 Alta Loma, Calif. (Chaffey JC)
Johnny Parra DT 6-3 310 San Diego, Calif. (Southwestern JC)
Shung Peoples TB 5-10 182 Lakewood, Calif. (Long Beach City College)
Nick Pilon DE 6-4 231 Coeur dAlene, Idaho (Lake City H.S.)
J. R. Ruffin CB 6-1 190 Detroit, Mich. (Citrus College)
Malfred Shaw TB 5-10 207 Sacramento, Calif. (Sierra College)
Andrew Stobart FB 6-2 235 Boise, Idaho (Borah H.S.)
Jade Tadvick OL 6-5 298 Stevensville, Mont. (Stevensville H.S.)
Kelly Talavou DT 6-2 310 Los Angeles, Calif. (Fountain Valley H.S.)
Hank Therien OL 6-7 318 Corvallis, Ore. (Crescent Valley H.S.)
Cedric Thompson WR 5-8 175 Denver, Colo. (College of the Canyons)
Nate VanderPol OL 6-6 290 Federal Way, Wash. (Federal Way H.S.)
Jaron Williams LB 6-1 200 Pasadena, Calif. (Muir H.S.)
Geoff Zuber DT 6-4 280 Gold Beach, Ore. (Gold Beach H.S.)
Louisiana-Lafayette (14) Rickey Bustle, head coach
Name Pos Ht Wt Hometown (Previous School)
Jerry Babb QB 6-3 205 Lafayette, La. (St. Thomas More H.S.)
Rashon Brown LB 6-3 215 Shreveport, La. (Captain Shreve H.S.)
Brandon Cox OL 6-8 295 Irving, Texas (Nimitz H.S.)
Mack Fair LB 6-1 215 New Orleans, La. (O.P. Walker H.S.)
Johnny Felders DB 6-1 180 Pine Grove, La. (St. Helena H.S.)
Terryl Fenton CB/S 6-2 190 New Orleans, La. (Holy Cross H.S.)
Josh Harrison WR 5-7 175 Copperas Cove, Texas (Copperas Cove H.S.)
Anthony Hills DE 6-4 225 Carrollton, Texas (Newman Smith H.S.)
Chester Johnson RB 5-10 205 Shreveport, La. (Evangel Christian Academy)
Jarvis Murchison DB 5-9 175 Jasper, Texas (Jasper H.S.)
Michael Peterson DE/LB/DS 6-2 215 West Monroe, La. (West Monroe H.S.)
Eric Rekieta QB 6-3 230 Paducah, Texas (Navarro JC/Paducah H.S.)
Ross Rix RB 5-9 185 Baton Rouge, La. (Christian Life Academy)
Tyler Wheeler WR 5-10 180 Denham Springs, La. (St. Helena H.S.)
Louisiana-Monroe (23) Bobby Keasler, head coach
Name Pos Ht Wt Hometown (Previous School)
Josh Alexander LB 6-1 215 Shreveport, La. (Evangel H.S.)
Chris Berymon LB/TE 6-2 195 Monroe, La. (Carroll H.S.)
Demarea Caldwell WR/DB 6-1 185 Bastrop, La. (Bastrop H.S.)
Daniel DaPrato QB 6-1 180 West Sacramento, Calif. (Chabot College)
Larry Davenport WR 5-11 175 Bastrop, La. (Bastrop H.S.)
Desi Edwards OL 6-5 240 Franklin, La. (Franklin H.S.)
Derrick Guillory DB 6-1 168 Bunkie, La. (Bunkie H.S.)
Errol Hogan RB 5-9 192 New Orleans, La. (O.P. Walker H.S.)
John Jackson DE 6-5 225 Monroe, La. (Neville H.S.)
Adrone James WR 6-2 187 Roseland, La. (Amite H.S.)
L.B. Jeter, Jr. LB 6-1 215 Shreveport, La. (Byrd H.S.)
Dilandos Johnson DT 6-4 285 Hammond, La. (Hammond H.S.)
Zan Johnson RB 5-11 210 Winnfield, La. (Winnfield H.S.)
Steven Jyles QB 6-1 180 Glen Oaks, La. (Glen Oaks H.S.)
Chad Leggett DE 6-5 225 Monroe, La. (River Oaks H.S.)
Joseph Merritt III WR 6-0 180 Oakdale, La. (Oakdale H.S.)
Desmon McNeil DB 6-0 160 Lafayette, La. (Northside H.S.)
Kevin Payne RB 6-1 200 Junction City, Ark. (Junction City H.S.)
Drouzon Quillen WR 6-6 187 New Orleans, La. (Marion Abramson H.S.)
Jason Schule RB 6-0 223 Chalmette, La. (Archbishop Hannan H.S.)
Alnecco Shine DE 6-3 255 Jonesboro, La. (Jonesboro-Hodge H.S.)
Eric Smith RB 5-11 200 Kenner, La. (Archbishop Rummel H.S.)
Joel Stelly K/P 6-0 190 Cecilia, La. (Cecilia H.S.)
Middle Tennessee (33) Andy McCollum, head coach
Name Pos Ht Wt Hometown (Previous School)
Jonathan Bonner LB 6-0 215 Birmingham, Ala. (Huffman H.S.)
Dennis Burke LB 6-2 215 Marietta, Ga. (Sprayberry H.S.)
Paul Cantrell OL 6-4 316 Canton, Ga. (Sequoyah H.S.)
Kevin Copeland DB 5-9 185 Warm Springs, Ga. (Manchester H.S.)
Kevin Davis RB 5-10 216 Pine Mountain, Ga. (Manchester H.S.)
Kenny Edwards LB 6-0 225 Madison, Fla. (Georgia Military JC)
Germayle Franklin OL 6-5 295 Waycross, Ga. (Ware Co. H.S.)
Marcus Gates DL/OL 6-4 265 LaGrange, Ga. (LaGrange H.S.)
Kelvin German RB 5-11 190 Fairburn, Ga. (Sandy Creek H.S.)
Eugene Gross DB 5-11 195 Statesboro, Ga. (Statesboro H.S.)
Josh Harris QB 6-3 180 Santuck, S.C. (Union H.S.)
John Henry OL 6-6 305 Nashville, Tenn. (Hillsboro H.S.)
Tyrone Hicks DB 5-10 175 Huntsville, Ala. (Lee H.S.)
Pierre Ingram WR 6-4 200 Stockbridge, Ga. (Stockbridge H.S.)
Dominic Jones DE 6-4 275 Coffeeville, Miss. (Northwest Mississippi JC)
Vernon Jones ATH 6-4 205 DeFuniak Springs, Fla. (Baker H.S.)
Jeff Littlejohn DL 6-3 342 Gaffney, S.C. (Gaffney H.S.)
Clint Marks QB 6-2 180 Fort Myers, Fla. (Estero H.S.)
Will Martin DB 6-1 200 Clarksville, Tenn. (Coffeyville CC)
Nick McAfee FB 5-11 222 Marietta, Ga. (Marietta H.S.)
Brent Moore LB 6-3 210 Dalton, Ga. (Northwest Whitfield H.S.)
Charlie Myles LB 6-1 240 Pascagoula, Miss. (Gulf Coast CC)
Bobby Payne DE 6-5 262 Morrilton, Ark. (Morrilton H.S.)
Aaron Pitts DB 6-0 175 Silver Creek, Miss. (Copiah-Lincoln JC)
Justin Rainey ATH 6-1 185 Rock Hill, S.C. (Northwestern H.S.)
Devarick Scandrett DE 6-4 240 Forsyth, Ga. (Mary Persons H.S.)
Chris Sapp DL/OL 6-5 240 Albany, Ga. (Dougherty H.S.)
Tony Sutton DB 6-0 193 Troup, Texas (Tyler (Texas) JC)
Doug Waller OL/DL 6-4 290 DeFuniak Springs, Fla. (Southwest Mississippi JC)
Sean Waller WR 5-10 160 Madison, Tenn. (Hunters Lane H.S.)
Michael Watkins WR 6-2 175 College Park, Ga. (Banneker H.S.)
Niko Whiteside ATH 5-11 193 Gadsden, Ala. (Gadsden H.S.)
Sam Williams ATH 6-2 180 Spartanburg, S.C. (Greenwood H.S.)
New Mexico State (16) Tony Samuel, head coach
Name Pos Ht Wt Hometown (Previous School)
Adrian Bredell DL 6-3 230 San Diego, Calif. (Mission Bay H.S.)
Nick Cole OL 6-2 235 Lawton, Okla. (Eisenhower H.S.)
Chris Davis DB 5-9 175 Long Beach, Calif. (Poly H.S.)
Brandon Hearne DL 6-2 260 Andrews, Texas (Andrews H.S.)
Eric Higgins RB 5-10 205 Lexington, Ky. (Reedley JC/Dunbar H.S.)
Jeremiah Imperial DB 5-10 185 San Diego, Calif. (S.D. Mesa CC/Rancho Bernardo H.S.)
Chris Lumpkin WR 6-1 185 San Diego, Calif. (Grossmont JC/Mission Bay H.S.)
Nick Mangosing OL 6-5 305 Glendale, Ariz. (Phoenix College/Apollo H.S.)
Glenn McCrary DB 6-1 185 Victorville, Calif. (Silverado H.S.)
Nathan Nuttall RB/DB 6-0 195 Clovis, N.M. (Clovis H.S.)
Jose Quinones OL 6-2 285 Miami, Fla. (Columbus H.S.)
Chris Sneed DL 6-2 210 Marshall, Texas (Marshall H.S.)
Tyrell Spain QB 6-2 190 San Diego, Calif. (Hoover H.S.)
Tim Tolbert WR 6-3 180 Las Cruces, N.M. (Mayfield H.S.)
Joey Vincent QB 6-1 190 Chandler, Ariz. (Hamilton H.S.)
Jeremy Weeks DL 6-2 270 Wichita Falls, Texas (Wichita Falls H.S.)
North Texas (23) Darrell Dickey, head coach
Name Pos Ht Wt Hometown (Previous School)
Nick Bazaldua K/P 5-10 164 DeSoto, Texas (DeSoto H.S.)
David Blevins OL 6-7 290 Muskogee, Okla. (Muskogee H.S.)
Jesse Brown OL 6-3 270 Hughes Springs, Texas (Hughes Springs H.S.)
Shawn Early LB 6-0 210 Jacksonville, Fla. (Ribault H.S.)
Joel Foster TE 6-4 240 Austin, Texas (Connally H.S.)
Kurk Francis DL 5-11 287 Mesquite, Texas (Mesquite H.S.)
Philip Graves RB 6-2 205 Hutto, Texas (Hutto H.S.)
Robert Harmon TE 6-4 255 Houston, Texas (Kashmere H.S.)
LeMario Hollis CB 6-0 170 Longview, Texas (Longview H.S.)
Brandon Hooks OL 6-3 300 Colleyville, Texas (Blinn JC)
Ronnie Hull DE 6-3 220 Sugar Land, Texas (Elkins H.S.)
Steve Ingram OL 6-2 270 San Antonio, Texas (Madison H.S.)
Dylan Lineberry OL 6-3 310 Houston, Texas (North Shore H.S.)
Cullen Mills QB 6-3 227 Killeen, Texas (Harker Heights H.S.)
James Mitchell RB 5-9 191 Aubrey, Texas (Liberty Christian H.S.)
Kevin Moore RB 5-9 195 Houston, Texas (North Shore H.S.)
Joel Nwigwe WR 5-11 170 Alief, Texas (Elsik H.S.)
Sky Pruitt DL 6-2 295 Hayden Lake, Idaho (Lakeland H.S.)
Johnny Quinn WR 6-0 181 McKinney, Texas (McKinney H.S.)
Michael Ruff RB 5-11 190 Dallas, Texas (Lincoln H.S.)
Ricardo Smith RB 6-1 190 Fort Worth, Texas (Paschal H.S.)
Cass Starks DB 6-1 198 Denton, Texas (Ryan H.S.)
Koryee Wyatt LB 6-1 216 Oklahoma City, Okla. (Northeastern Okla. A&M)
-Sun Belt-