RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University head football coach Danny Hope announced today that 15 student-athletes, including three from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Colonels next fall. In addition, two other student-athletes joined the EKU program this past January. The class includes six linemen, three linebackers, three defensive backs, three wide receivers, one quarterback and one kicker.
“I was really pleased with the class that we signed,” Hope said. “The recruiting process went very smooth this year. We went after players that would make a difference for our program and love to play football. We also specialized a little more this year – wide receivers, edge rushers, cornerbacks, a punter/kicker – and felt like we hit on every need that we had.”
Six of the incoming players earned all-state honors including linebacker Trey Blackman and defensive back Jeremy Caldwell. Blackman was a first team 6A all-state player out of Lake Brantley High School. The native of Altamonte Springs, Fla., helped his squad reach the 6A state championship game. He also played both ways in the Central Florida All-Star game. Caldwell, a native of Chattanooga, Tenn., was the 2006 Region 4-4A Defensive Player of the Year. A three time all-region player, Caldwell compiled 41 tackles, three interceptions, 12 pass break-ups and two PAT blocks in 2006.
Quarterback Trevor Hoskins, wide receiver Charles Johnson and offensive lineman Wesley Woods all hail from Kentucky. Hoskins earned 2006 Conference Player of the Year accolades after throwing for 2,106 yards and 24 touchdowns at Middlesboro High School. The native of Middlesboro, Ky., also rushed for 779 yards and 14 scores. Johnson was a two-year starter at Lloyd Memorial High School where he twice picked up all-county honors. He was also a member of the school’s 4x100 relay team which was runner-up for the state championship. Woods played his prep football at Prestonsburg High School. A first team all-state selection, Woods was the 2006 EKU Line Camp MVP.
Both Aaron Jones III and Irving Fryar, Jr. enrolled at Eastern Kentucky for the 2007 spring semester. Jones, a transfer from Florida State, was a USA Today second-team All-American defensive lineman as a prepster at Edgewater (Fla.) High School. An all-league, all-area and all-state player in his senior season, Jones racked up 80 tackles and five sacks on his way to being rated the 10th best defensive tackle in the nation by Rivals.com. Jones’ father, Aaron Jones, played football at Eastern from 1984-87 and was drafted in the first round of the 1988 National Football League draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fryar was a first team all-district and all-academic performer at Northern Burlington County (N.J.) High School. The wide receiver compiled 90 catches for 1,100 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior prepster. He originally signed with New Mexico State out of high school. Fryar’s father played 17 years in the NFL, mainly with the New England Patriots, and was a five-time Pro-Bowler.
Eastern Kentucky finished the 2006 campaign with four straight wins to finish 6-5 overall and tied for fourth in the OVC with a 5-3 record. EKU will be in search of its 30th consecutive winning season next year and first league title since 1997.
Student-Athlete Profiles
Emory Attig
DL/LS, 6-2, 265
Alpharetta, Ga., Milton High School--Atlanta Journal-Constitution “Super 11” 2006
--2006 Team Captain
--2006 MVP for Milton High School
--Ranked 32nd out of top 100 Long Snappers by Prokicker.com
--Honorable mention all-region
--Second team All-North Fulton
--Honorable mention All-North Forsyth
--Chose EKU over Murray State, VMI and Charleston Southern
Trey Blackman
LB, 6-1, 225
Altamonte Springs, Fla., Lake Brantley High School--First team all-state 6A
--First team All-Central Florida, first team all-district, first team all-region
--Lake Brantley High School Defensive Player of the Year
--Seminole County Defensive Player of the Year
--Two time Orlando Sentinel Player of the Week
--Two time Friday Night Football Player of the Week
--Channel 6 Player of the Week
--Led team to the 6A state championship game
--Played both ways in Central Florida All-Star Game
--Four year starter on baseball team
--Recorded 148 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss in 2006
--Chose EKU over Troy State, Central Florida and Florida International
Jeremy (Ta-Ta) Caldwell
DB, 5-10, 175
Chattanooga, Tenn., Red Bank High School--2006 Associated Press all-state selection
--2006 all-state pick by the Tennessee Football Coaches Association (TFCA)
--Three time all-region player
--2006 Region 4-4A Special Teams Player of the Year
--2006 Region 4-4A Defensive Player of the Year
--2006 Tennessean Dream Team Member
--Returned nine kicks for a touchdown as a prepster
--Tallied 41 tackles, 12 pass break-ups, three interceptions (two returned for scores), and two PAT blocks
--Chose EKU over Tennessee State, UT Martin, Chattanooga and Middle Tennessee State
Evan Cromer
WR, 6-0, 180
Tampa, Fla., Tampa Jefferson High School--Second team all-state
--First team all-county and first team All-Sun Coast
--2006 leading receiver in Hillsboro County
--Member of the Track Team
--Recorded 63 receptions for 1,110 yards and 14 scores as a senior
--Has a 4.9 GPA and 1090 SAT score
-- Chose EKU over Air Force, Richmond, Northern Iowa and Western Kentucky
Keith Ferrell
LB, 6-4, 190
St. Mary’s Ga., Camden County High School--All-region
--All-Southeast Georgia
--Recorded 27 tackles, 31 tackle assists, six tackles for loss, one caused fumble and two recovered fumbles in 2006
--Runs the 40-meter dash in 4.5 seconds and the 200 meters in 23 seconds
--Chose EKU over Youngstown State and Georgia Southern
Antonio Fredrick
LB, 5-10, 200
Brunswick, Ga., Glynn Academy--Region 3-4A Defensive Player of the Year
--Team Captain
--Coca-Cola MVP
--Four-year starter at linebacker
--Tallied 120 tackles and three fumble recoveries last year
--Also wrestled as a senior
--Chose EKU over Georgia Southern
Irving D. Fryar Jr.
WR, 6-2, 195
Jobstown, N.J., Northern Burlington County High School
--First team all-district, all-academic and all-county
--First team all-academic
--First team all-county
--Recorded 90 catches for 1,100 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior. Also tallied 55 tackles and 12 interceptions.
--Originally signed with New Mexico State out of high school
Quinton Gaddy
DB, 5-11, 185
Charlotte, N.C., West Mecklenburg High School--Two-time first team All-Queen City Conference
--2006 second team All-Mecklenburg County
--2006 West Mecklenburg High School Defensive MVP
--Averaged 33 yards per kickoff return.
--Recorded 64 tackles, 15 pass break-ups and two interceptions last year
--Chose EKU over Wofford and Elon
Jaren Gooden
DB, 5-11, 175
Sunrise, Fla., St. Thomas Aquanis High School--Two-year starter
--2007 All-Broward County team
--Honorable mention all-state
--Team Captain
--Two-time Player of the Week in 2007
--His high school team made two state championship games
--Tallied 105 career tackles, six interceptions (two returned for scores), five fumble recoveries, one punt block
--Member of 4x100 relay team that won the state championship
--Chose EKU over Eastern Illinois, Hofstra, and Tennessee State
Trevor Hoskins
QB, 6-2, 180
Middlesboro, Ky., Middlesboro High School--2006 conference Player of the Year.
--Two-time first team all-conference
--As a sophomore, notched honorable mention all-state and first team all-conference honors as a wide receiver
--Threw for 2,106 yards (162 ypg) as a senior with 24 touchdown passes. Also ran 14 779 yards and 14 scores.
--Chose EKU over Middle Tennessee State and Western Kentucky
Charles Johnson
WR/FS, 6-3, 185
Elsmere, Ky., Lloyd Memorial High School--Two-year starter
--Two-time all-county selection
--Two-time all-division team
--Voted to the KSHAA All-Star team
--Will play in Northern Kentucky All-Star game
--Recorded 67 receptions, six interceptions, 75 tackles as a prepster
--A three-year starter at forward on the basketball team, averaging 12 ppg and 10 rpg
--Part of 4x100 relay team which was a runner-up for state championship
Aaron Jones III
DT, 6-3, 290
Orlando, Fla., Edgewater High School--A five-star player by Rivals.com and the No. 10 rated defensive tackle in the nation
--USA Today second-team All-American defensive tackle
--Earned all-league, all-area and all-state honors while racking up 80 tackles and five sacks his senior season.
--As a junior, he earned all-league, all-area and all-state honors
--Was a starter for the East squad in the 2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas
--Born in Richmond, Ky.
--Transferred from Florida State University
Chris Moore
DL, 6-3, 205
Cape Coral, Fla., Cape Coral High School--First team all-conference
--First team all-district
--Team captain and three-year starter
--Also played wide receiver
--Member of the basketball team
--Tallied 85 tackles, five sacks and one interception in 2006
--Chose EKU over Southern Illinois, Youngstown State and Tennessee State
Logan O’Connor
PK/P, 5-11, 205
Knoxville, Tenn., Halls High School--Ranked No. 7 nationally by Prokicker.com
--Runner-up in Tennessee as Mr. Football (specialist)
--First team all-state
--Region 3-4A Special Teams Player of the Year
--Career long 56-yard field goal
--168 total points, third in school history
--Averaged 39.6 yards per punt
--Carries a3.66 GPA and scored 24 on the ACT
--Chose EKU over Tennessee Tech and Austin Peay
David Ogunlari
DE, 6-4, 210
Melbourne, Fla., Florida Air Academy--Selected to play in the Central Florida All-Star Game
--Has only played football for two years
--Played cornerback, tight end, wide receiver, outside linebacker and defensive end as a senior
--Born in Lexington, Ky.
--Carries a 4.1 GPA and scored 1080 on the SAT
--Averaged 5.1 tackles per game to go along with three sacks and two fumble recoveries in 2006
--Chose EKU over Wofford, Florida A&M and Colorado State
Jack Schroepfer
DL, 6-3, 250
Valdosta, Ga., Lowndes High School--Three-year starter
--A member of two Georgia state championship teams
--Two-time all-region
--2006 team captain
--Won the 2004 Team Academic Award
--Chose EKU over The Citadel
Wesley Woods
OL, 6-3, 250
Prestonsburg, Ky., Prestonsburg High School--First team all-district
--First team all-state
--Team captain
--2006 EKU Line Camp MVP
--Tallied 135 tackles, seven tackles for loss and six sacks in 2006
