2003 Signees Ranked # 26 Nationally by Max Emfinger:
Louisiana Tech’s Feb. 5, 2003 football class was ranked No. 26 in the nation by recruiting guru Max Emfinger. Leading the class is Tech’s first ever Parade All-American First-Team kicker, Zach Myatt from A&M Consolidated HS in College Station, TX. Other top stars include Mangham WR Johnathan Holland, Birmingham, AL QB Zac Champion, and Washington-Marion LB Brannon Jackson.
Myatt is scheduled to red-shirt the 2003 season. He is Texas’ # 3 HS kicker all-time among all classifications and in only 3 years achieved career totals of 35 of 44 field goals and 94 of 100 extra points. He hit a 49 yard FG and a 51 yard FG in the same game.
Holland earned all-state honors in 2001 and 2002 while catching 95 passes for 1,457 yards and 24 touchdowns. The two-sport star also won numerous state championships as part of the Mangham track and field team, including being a member of the Louisiana Class A record setting 400- and 800-meter relay teams.
Champion lead Bessemer HS to a perfect 13-0 record and the 2002 Alabama ISA state title.
Brannon Jackson, one of Louisiana’s top 2 or 3 LBs this year per Max Emfinger, was two-time District 4-4A Most Valuable Player. He was rated as the No. 17 linebacker in the country by ESPN.com and recorded 140 tackles and seven sacks his senior year.
Offensive Line:
Lester Brown, 6-4 320, OL, 5.2/40, Victor Valley CC, Apple Valley, CA. Originally signed with Louisiana Tech last season, but did not qualify... Spent 2002 at Victor Valley and did not play sports... Two-time all-conference for coach Dave Hoover… All-state in 2001... Also participated in track and field at Victor Valley… Enrolled at Tech and will participate in spring drills… Chose Tech over Boise State, Baylor, Utah, and New Mexico State.
Tyler Miller, 6-7 285, OL, 5.3/40, Waco HS, TX. Lettered two years for Coach Johnny Tusa... Helped lead Waco to the 2002 district title ... Earned all-district honors in 2002 ... Also played basketball for Waco High School… Chose Louisiana Tech over Baylor and Houston.
Kevon Bagot, 6-7 320, OL, 5.4/40, Willowridge HS, Sugar Land, TX. Lettered three years for Coach Scurlock and the Eagles ... Helped lead Willowridge to the 2000 district title ... 2nd team all-district honors as a junior and a senior ... Voted to the All-Greater Houston squad as a senior... Also played basketball and participated in track and field at Willowridge ... Named to the Who's Who Among American High School Students three consecutive years... Chose Louisiana Tech over Houston.
Jason Gooch, 6-6 255, TE/OL, 4.9/40, Vidor HS, TX. Dave Campbell's Texas Football 2002 Texas Class 4A All-State Second Team… Lettered for three years for Coach Jeff Mathews and the Pirates ... 1st team all-district tight end in 2001 ... 1st team all-district offensive tackle in 2002 ... 2nd team all-state in 2002... Also played baseball (pitcher/1st base) and basketball in high school ... Chose Louisiana Tech over Houston and TCU.
Jason Lewis, 6-4 295 OL/DL, 5.2/40, St. James HS, LA. Lettered for four years for Coach Rick Gaille... Helped lead St. James to the state quarterfinals as a freshman and sophomore and the state semifinals as a senior ... Also helped lead St. James to the district runner up all four years… Honorable mention all-district as a junior ... All-district, all-bayou, all-River Parish and all-state as a senior… Was the lead blocker on a team that rushed for over 2,100 yards and passed for over 1,500 yards in 2002... Also participated on the track and field team and the power lifting team at St. James.
Quarterback:
Zac Champion, 6-2 190, QB, 4.7/40, Bessemer Academy HS, Birmingham, AL. Lead Bessemer Academy to the 2002 Alabama Independent Schools Association state championship title and a perfect 13-0 record… 2002 Mr. Football in Alabama nominee ... 2nd team all-state by the Birmingham News... 1st team all-metro by the Birmingham News ... Ranked as the 40th best quarterback in the country by Rivals.com ... Ranked No. 55 by Theinsiders.com ... Completed 101 of 175 passes for 1,948 yards 19 TDs and 6 INTs ... Also rushed for 784 yards ... Will participate in spring practice... Chose Louisiana Tech over Miss St, Clemson, Auburn, Memphis St, UAB, and Troy St.
Running Back:
Shelton Richardson, 6-2 230, RB, 4.5/40, Holmes CC, MS (Grenada HS, MS). Lettered for two years for head coach Hugh Shurden at Holmes Community College ... Lead Holmes to the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior College (MACJC) state championship title in 2002 ... Played both QB & RB during JuCo career ... Honors: Named first team All-MACJC, first team NJCAA All-Region 23 and an NJCAA All-American nominee at Holmes this year... Also named the Most Valuable Offensive Player ... Rushed 128 times for 627 yards and six touchdowns in only nine games in 2002 ... Averaged 4.9 yards per carry and 69.6 yards per game ... Also completed 11 of 38 passes for 116 yards and two scores… Chose Louisiana Tech over S. Miss, Ole Miss, and Miss St.
Kermit Givens, 6-0 195, RB, 4.4/40, Crescent City Baptist HS, Metarie, LA. Lettered for two years for head coach Steve Ceravalo and the Pioneers ... Honors: Named first team all-district in 2001 and 2002 ... Also named first team all-metro in 2001 and 2002 ... Earned honorable mention all-state honors in 2002 ... A Rivals.com Top 100 running back ... Rushed 196 times for 1,661 yards and 15 touchdowns as a senior ... Averaged 8.5 yards per rush attempt ... Also caught 31 passes for 427 yards and 2 TDs... Also ran track in high school ... Will sit out one year to concentrate on academics ... Chose Louisiana Tech over LSU and Michigan.
TE/WR/DB:
Johnathan Holland, 6-0 180, WR/DB, 4.48/40, Mangham HS, Archibald, LA. Lettered for four years for head coach Alan Ensminger and the Dragons ... All-district in 2000 and 2001, as a free safety in 2001 and as a wide receiver in 2002 ... All-state by the state coaches in 2001 and by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association in 2002 ... All-Northeast Louisiana in 2001 and 2002 ... Returned nine kicks for TDs in his career (5 punt returns, 4 kickoffs) ... Caught 95 passes for 1,457 yards and 24 touchdowns in his high school career ... Also rushed 59 times for 506 yards and five scores in 2002 ... Recorded 102 tackles and nine INTs in two years at free safety ...Track Achievements: Was the state champion in the 400 meters in 2001 (49.98) and a member of the state runner-up 800-meter relay team (1:30.23) ... Was a member of the 400-meter (42.07), 800-meter (1:27.57) and 1600-meter (3:23.23) relay teams in 2002 ... The 400-meter and 800-meter relay times were Louisiana Class A records ... Was also the state runner-up in the 400-meters (49.80) in 2002 ... Recorded times of 10.69 in the 100-meters and 21.47 in the 200-meters during 2002... Chose Louisiana Tech over OK State and S. Miss.
Hiram Eugene, 6-2 195, DB, Pearl River CC, MS, (Jeanerette HS, LA). Was a 2-year starter for PRCC with 52 total tackles (27 solo, 25 assisted). Intercepted 2 passes, including 1 for a TD. Eugene also recorded 1 QB sack... Second team All-South Division of Mississippi Junior Colleges in 2002 ... All-State honorable mention as a freshman… In HS earned all-district and all-state honors in both 1997 and 1999 at free safety and wide receiver ... Also earned all-state honors in basketball and track and field (high jump and long jump) in 1999.
Defensive Line:
Johnny Jackson, 6-7 285, DL, 4.8/40, East Central CC, MS, (Aliceville HS. AL). Lettered three years for head coach Jackie Hurst... Lead Aliceville to the 1997 Class 3A State championship and district titles in 1997, 1998 and 1999 ... First team all-state, all-district and all-county honors in 1999 at Aliceville HS ... Scond team all-state and all-district honors in 1998... Named second team all-state at East Mississippi CC in 2002 ... Named one of the top five JUCO defensive ends in Mississippi ... Recorded 50 tackles, five sacks in 2002 helping lead ECCC to a 7-4 record and the South Division state runner-up title. Signed with Louisville out of high school but did not qualify... Enrolled at Tech and will participate in spring drills.
James Atkins, 6-2 250, DE, Pearl River CC, MS (Hattiesburg HS, MS).
Named second team All-South Division in the Mississippi Junior Colleges in 2002 ...
Fourth leading tackler on team with 61 total stops (19 solos, 42 assists). Forced two fumbles and recovered another. Was as a freshman at PRCC & has 3 years of eligibility remaining.
Josh Muse, 6-4 285, DL, 4.85/40, Denham Springs HS, Baton Rouge, LA. Lettered three years for head coach Nolan Gill... First team all-district on defense and second-team all-district on offense as a senior... Honorable mention all-state and honorable mention Super Dozen in 2002... Named all-metro first team and played in the Metro All-Star game ... As a junior he was named 1st team all-district defense and all-metro ... Also named first team all-district as a sophomore… Member of the Rivals.com Louisiana Top 30 team ... Recorded 79 tackles including 10 tackles for loss and five sacks in 2002 ... Also registered three fumble recoveries and one interception ... Recorded 89 tackles and 10 sacks as a junior... Also played basketball as a sophomore and junior and participated on the track and field team as a sophomore and senior… Chose Louisiana Tech over LSU, S. Miss, and Tulane.
Eddie Moss, 6-3 250, DE, 4.6/40, East Central MS CC, Meridian, MS. Lettered two years for Tom Goodz at East Mississippi Community College ... Played fullback his first year at East Mississippi and defensive end his second year... Selected to play in the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges All-Star game ... Named second team all-state by the MACJC ... Recorded 46 tackles (39 solo) in 2002 ... Also registered 2 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 2 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery and 16 QB pressures.
Thaddeus Williams, 6-3 215, DE/LB, 4.55/40, Independence HS, LA. Lettered two years for coach Keith Carona... Helped lead Independence to the co-district championship in 2001 and district runner up title in 2002 ... First team all-district and honorable mention all-state in 2002 ... Honorable mention all-district as a junior ... Stats: Recorded 80 tackles, nine sacks and one fumble recovery in 2002... Also ran track for four years in high school ... Will sit out one year to concentrate on academics.
Linebacker:
Brannon Jackson, 6-2 220, LB, 4.5/40, Washington-Marion HS, Lake Charles, LA. Lettered for four years for Coach Ed Thomas... Helped lead Washington-Marion to four straight district titles ... Two-time 1st team all-district ... Two-time District 4-4A MVP ... 1st team all-state as senior ... 2nd team all-state as junior ... 1st team all-southwest Louisiana ... all-southwest Louisiana MVP ... Rated the No. 17 linebacker in the country by ESPN.com ... No. 32 by Rivals.com ... No. 56 by Theinsiders.com ... Stats: 136 tackles in 2001 ... 140 tackles, 7 sacks, 5 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 INT in 2002... Also participated in track and power lifting… Chose Louisiana Tech over Virginia.
Bryon Young, 6-2 245, LB, 4.6/40, Bossier HS, LA. Lettered three years for head coach Billy Don McHalfey at the Bearkats ... Helped lead Bossier to the 1-4A District title in 2000 and to the LHSAA state playoffs three straight years ... All-parish linebacker in 2000, All-district linebacker and all-parish tight end in 2001 ... Named all-district and all-parish linebacker and fullback in 2002 ... Named the District 2-4A and parish MVP at linebacker as a senior ... Also named all-city and all-state at linebacker in 2002 ... Stats: Ran for 1,036 yards and 13 TDs as a senior while recording 86 tackles and two interceptions ... Track Achievements: Named all-city and all-parish in the shot put ... Finished fifth in the state in the shot with a mark of 54-9… One of the strongest players in the state with a 685 pound squat. Earned a 3.04 GPA in high school… Chose Louisiana Tech over Tulane and LSU.
Terrance (T.J.) Jackson, 6-1 235, LB, Pearl River CC, MS (Columbia HS, MS). Lettered for three years for head coach Joey Porter and the Columbia HS Wildcats ... Helped lead Columbia to the 1998 and 2000 district titles ... Columbia was the South State Champs in 1998 ... Also played two years for Pearl River Community College ... All-district in 1998 at linebacker ... Honorable mention all-state in 1999 ... All-state and all-region honors in 2000 ... Selected to the Mississippi JUCO All-State team in 2002 ... Recorded 118 tackles in 1998, 70 tackles in 1999 and 120 tackles in 2000 ... Recorded 107 tackles in 2002 at Pearl River CC, including a 20-tackle performance against Holmes CC in the MACJC playoffs... Also played basketball and participated in track and field ... Finished second in the state in the shot put in 2000-01.
Kicker:
Zach Myatt, 5-11 175, K/P, 4.65/40, A&M Consolidated HS, College Station, TX. Lettered for three years for head coach Jim Slaughter and the Tigers ... Helped lead A&M Consolidated to the 2002 Bi-District title, regional championship and state quarterfinals ... 2002 First team PARADE All-American ... 1st team Student Sports Magazine All-American ... 2nd team Kicking.com All-American ...1st team 13-5A All-District kicker ...1st team all-area kicker ... 1st team Associated Press All-State kicker ... 2nd team TSWA All-State kicker ... Ranked as the No. 3 kicker in the nation by Theinsiders.com ... Ranked as the No. 6 kicker in the nation by Rivals.com; 2001 Honors: 1st team 16-5A All-District punter ... 2nd team 16-5A All-District kicker ... 1st team all-area kicker ... 2nd team TSWA All-State kicker… Also an accomplished baseball player.
Career Stats:
2002 (Sr.): 17-23 FGs, long of 53 yds.; 49-51 PATs
2001 (Jr.): 14-16 FGs, long of 47 yds.; 17-17 PATs
2000 (So.): 4-5 FGs, long of 48 yds.; 28-32 PATs
Chose Louisiana Tech over SMU, Florida, Southern California, Baylor, & Nebraska.
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