CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas football coaching staff added 20 new recruits on Wednesday, the first day of the National Signing period, giving head coach Steve Campbell and his staff 28 newcomers to the Bears program.

    The 20 newcomers join a group of eight mid-year transfers already enrolled at UCA.

    The across-the-board signing class includes five offensive linemen, four running backs, four receivers, four defensive backs, three defensive linemen, two tight ends, two linebackers, one quarterback, one placekicker, one punter and one long snapper.

    The state-by-state breakdown features eight from the state of Arkansas, seven from Mississippi, five from Texas, two from Oklahoma, Florida and Louisiana and one each from Georgia and Alabama.
    
    The Bears open the 2016 season with three consecutive home games, beginning on Thursday, Sept. 1 against Southland Conference foe Houston Baptist.

• MID-YEAR TRANSFERS •

• Chandler Dexter
6-6, 255, Tight End
Northeast Mississippi Community College, Booneville, Miss.
Tishomingo High School
Luka, Miss.
• Tishomingo High School
All Conference 2012, 2013
All Division 2012, 2013
All Region 2012
East/West All-Star 2013
7on7 National Tournament
2013 Team Captain
Played basketball
1st Team defensive player baseball, with five home runs
• Northeast Community College
All Conference TE 2013-2014=
22 Receptions for 250 Yards and 2 Touchdowns
3.6 GPA
Phi Theta Kappa member
Noted as a Blocking TE

• James Graves
6-1, 235, Linebacker
Mississippi Gulf Coach Community College, Perkinston, Miss.
Bassfield (Miss.) High School
• Bassfield HS
2012 MaxPreps All-American LB
2012 Miss/Ala All Star Game
2012 All State LB
2012 2A Defensive player of the year
2012 State Champions (16-0)
4-year letter winner basketball
Wendy's High School Heisman Award
Class Valedictorian
Beta Club, Mu Alpha Theta, FCA
4.019 GPA
• Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
2015 led team with 95 tackles
2015 had 55 solo tackles
Honors program
Member Phi Theta Kappa - 3.8 GPA

• Jaylon Lofton
6-1, 180, Cornerback
East Central Community College, Decatur, Miss.
Forest (Miss.) High School
• Forest HS
2013 All State
2013 All District
2013 North/South All Star game
2011 3A State Champions
All Region Track (100m, 4x200m, 4x100m)
2013 All District Soccer player
3.2 GPA
• East Central Community College
2015 2nd Team All State
2015 Playoff Appearance
2015 Heart of Texas Bowl
Finished in the top 10 in the country

• Austin McIntosh
5-11 200, Long Snapper
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Perkinston, Miss.
D'Iberville High School, Biloxi, Miss.
• D'Iberville High School
2-year letter winner
2013 District Champions
2014 East/West All Star pitcher in baseball
Honors program
3.4 GPA
• Mississippi Gulf Coast CC
2-year letter winner
2015 North/South All Star game
2014, 2015 Playoff appearances
2015 South State Champions
3.4 GPA

• Trai Mosley 
Mid-Year Transfer                
5-10, 170, Defensive Back            
University of Nebraska            
Hendrickson High School            
Pflugerville, TX            
2013 Class 5A Division II State Playoffs        
2013 All-District Team        
Top 60 Cornerback in the Nation by Scout.com        
Top 105 Players in Texas by 24/7 Sports        

• Micah Parten
6-2, 300, Offensive Line
East Central (Miss.) Community College, Decatur, Miss.
Northwest Rankin High School
Flowood, Miss.
• Northwest Rankin
North/South All-Star 2013
All-Metro 2013
All-State 2013
Playoff appearance 2011, 2013
Team Captain 2012, 2013
Honors Student - 3.4 GPA
• East Central Community College
Team Captain 2015
Playoff Appearance 2015
Heart of Texas Bowl 2015
Ranked 10th Country 2015

• James Patrick Ponder
6-1, 190, Punter
Jones County Junior College, Ellisville, Miss.
Bay High School
Bay St. Louis, Miss.
• Bay High School
All District Kicker 2013, 2014
North/South All-Star 2014
All Sea Coast Team 2014
All District Soccer 2013
State Champions Soccer 2013
Honors Society Member
4.0 GPA
• Jones County JC
All State 2015.
All Region 2015
First-team NJCAA All American 2015
43.1 punting average

• Conner Wood
6-6, 300, Offensive Lineman
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Miami, Okla.
Owasso (Okla.) High School
• Owasso HS
2013 All District Team
2013 All State Team
3-year starter, letter winner
2012, 2013 State playoffs
2-year letterman in track
Member of FCA
3.6 GPA
• Northeastern Oklahoma A&M
Started every game (18)
2015 2nd Team All Area

• FIRST-YEAR PLAYERS • 

• Carlos Blackman
6-1, 220, Running Back            
Gosnell (Ark.) High School            
2012 Conference Champs        
2013 Conference Champs        
2014 Conference Champs        
2014 1st Team All-Conference        
2015 1st Team All-Conference        
2015 1st Team All-State         
Academic Honor Roll        
2015 Stats    
269 Points Scored in Regular Season (most in Arkansas)
2,368 Rushing Yards
12 Yards Per Carry
215.3 Yards Per Game
38 Total Touchdowns (including a 97 yd TD Run)
Scored 6 TDs in a game 3 Times
Hooten's Magazine rated #20 player in Arkansas

• Kierre Crossley
5-8, 156, Running Back            
Everman (Texas) High School            
2015 All-State Team        
2015 All-District Team        
2015 District Leading Rusher        
2015 District MVP        
Junior Olympian (Track and Field) 5 Straight years        
Career Stats    
7,009 Rushing Yards
775 Carries
175.2 Rushing Yds per Game
88 Rushing Touchdowns
9.0 Yds per Rush
Rushed for over 3,000 yards as a junior, 2nd in the nation
24/7 Sports 2-star
#114 running back in the nation
Rivals 2-star

• Breyden DeSpain
6-3, 200, Wide Receiver            
Oologah (Okla.) High School            
2015 Tulsa World All-World WR Nominee        
2015 All-District 4A-3        
2015 Verigris Valley All-Confrence Team        
2015 Tulsa World All-State Team        
#47 Rated Player in Oklahoma        
2015 Oklahoma All-Star        
2 Time 4A State Runner-Up        
Career Stats    
129 Receptions
2,752 Receiving Yards
25.3 Yards per Reception
32 Receiving Touchdowns
Three-sport athlete (football/basketball/track)

• Nathan Grant
6-4, 225, Defensive End            
Hebron High School            
Carrollton, TX            
2015 All-District Team        
3 Time Academic Honor Roll
All-District track and field athlete        

• Joe Hampton
6-2, 180, Wide Receiver            
Little Rock (Ark.) Christian Academy                        
2015 5A West Wide Receiver of the Year        
2015 Team Captain        
2013 All-Conference Team        
2015 All-Conference Team        
2015 All-State Team        
2015 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All Arkansas Team        
2015 Career    
157 Receptions
2,125 Receiving Yards
24/7 Sports 3-star
Rivals 2-star
#13 player in state by Arkansas Varsity
#26 player in state by Hooten's Magazine

• Adrian Harris 
6-4, 289, Offensive Line            
John Tyler High School            
Tyler, TX            
2015 1st Team All East Texas Super Team        
2015 1st Team All-District 16-5A        
2015 1st Team All East Texas        
2015 FCA All-Star Game
2015 Stats    
106 Knockdowns
67 Pancakes
2 Sacks as Defensive Tackle
3 Tackles for Loss
24/7 2-star
Rivals 2-star

• Jackie Harvell
5-11, 187, Running Back            
Gurdon (Ark.) High School                        
2013 All State Team        
2014 All State Team        
2015 All State Team        
2015 Offensive Gurdon Player of the Year        
2015 Farm Bureau Awards Finalist        
352 Rushing Yards in a Single Game        
Set the school record for single season rushing yards        
2015 2A Track and Field Championship        
2015 Stats    
2,152 Rushing Yards
213 Carries
32 Receiving TDs
2-Star Rivals
Rated #37 player in state by Arkansas Varsity
Hooten's Magazie rated #31 player in state

• Victor Hill
6-2, 210, Linebacker            
West Florida Tech High School            
Pensacola, FL            
2015 Super Senior Award        
2015 District 1-5A Champions        
2014 District 1-5A Champions        
Selected to play in the 2015 Subway High School All-Star Game
24/7 2-star rated

J.W. Jones
6-4, 235 lbs, Defensive End            
Rayville (La.) High School            
2015 2nd Team All State        
2015 All-District Team        
2014 All-District Team        
2013 All-District Team        
2015 Co-Captain Defensive Player of the Year        
2015 District All-Academic Team        
National Honor Society        
2015 Stats    
46 Solo Tackles
22 Assisted Tackles
7 Tackles for Loss
2 Interceptions
3 Sacks
1 Fumble Recovery
brother Edgar Jones played 8 years in the NFL (Ravens/Chiefs/Cowboys/Browns)

• Justin Meadows
6-1, 190, Wide Receiver            
Lonoke (Ark.) High School            
2015 4A State Triple Jump Champion
2015 4A State Long Jump Champion        
2015 4A All-State Team        
2014 4A All-State Team        
2015 Hootens All-Arkansas Team        
Arkansas Varsity's #35 Ranked player in Arkansas        
2015 4A State 100m Runner-Up        
2015 4A State Long Jump Champion        
2015 Stats    
805 Rushing Yards
14.9 yds per attempt
54 Carries
80.5 yds per game
17 Rushing Touchdowns
35 Total Touchdowns
15 Receiving Touchdowns
Rated #45 player in state by Arkansas Varsity

• Joshua Nix
6-5, 250, Tight End            
Deshler High School            
Tuscumbia, AL            
2015 1st Team All-Area        
2014 4A State Runners-Up        
2015 4A State Playoffs        
2014 4A State Playoffs        
2013 4A State Playoffs        
2012 4A State Playoffs        
2015 Stats    
100 Tackles
21 Tackles for Loss
11.5 Sacks

• Austin Norris
6-5, 258, Defensive Line            
Conway (Ark.) High School            
2014 7A Central All-Conference        
2014 7A All-State        
2015 7A Central All-Conference        
2015 7A All-State        
2015 Hooten's All-Arkansas Team        
Arkansas Varsity #15 rated player in Arkansas        
2015 Stats    
92 Tackles
9 Sacks
11 Tackles for Loss
15 QB Hurries
1 Fumble Recovery
5 Pass Breakups
Rivals 2-star
24/7 Sports 2-star
Rated #15 player in state by Arkansas Varsity
Rated #17 player in state by Hooten's Magazine

• Brandon Northcross
6-0, 185, Wide Receiver            
Ashdown (Ark.) High School            
Career Stats    
134 Carries
754 Rushing Yards
49 Receptions
676 Receiving Yards
13.8 Yards per Catch
54 Solo Tackles
5 Interceptions
680 Return Yards
22 Total Touchdowns
Rivals 2-star
24/7 Sports 2-star
Rated #28 player in state by Arkansas Varsity
Rated #23 player in state by Hooten's Magazine

• Kevin Perkins
6-0, 215, Running Back            
Rosa Fort High School            
Tunica, MS            
2015 All-State Team        
2015 All-District Team        
2014 All-District Team        
2015 District Player of the Year        
Academic Honor Roll        
Career Stats    
1954 Rushing Yards
8.1 Yards per Carry
240 Carries
948 Passing Yards
41 Total Touchdowns
24/7 2-star
2nd-rated running back in Mississippi
Rated Top 100 player by Clarion-Ledger
 

• Robert Rochell
6-2, 180 lbs, Defensive Back            
Fair Park High School            
Shreveport, LA            
2015 All-District Team        
2015 All-Shreveport Team        
2015 Stats    
922 yds Rushing
93 Carries
465 yds Receiving
25 Receptions
3 Pass Breakups
3rd in state of Louisiana in 100 meters (10.8)

• John Parker Romo            
5-11, 157, Kicker            
McIntosh High School            
Peachtree City, GA            
5 Sport Athlete        
2014 Special Teams MVP        
2015 All-Region Team as Kicker        
2015 All-Region Team as Punter        
2015 UCA Kicking Camp Champion        
2014 Soccer Team finished 22-0 (#1 in the Nation)        
2012 Special Teams Player of the Year        
2011 Top Charting Score at Jackson Kicking Camp in
Orlando, FL        
2015 Georgia Southwest Bowl I Nominated Kicker and Punter        
2015 Stats    
23/31 Touchbacks
15/15 PATs
5/11 FGs (Long 48)
42 yd Avg Punt (Long 61)
TJK rating 4-star
Chris Sailer Kicking #48 kicker in nation

• Leandre Rucks
6-6, 180, Safety            
Strong (Ark.) High School            
2015 1st Team All District 8-2A        
2015 Union County All-Area Team        
2015 2A State Playoffs        
2015 Stats    
824 Rushing Yards
405 Receiving Yards
13 Total Touchdowns
63 Tackles
4 Interceptions
10 Yards per carry
36 Total Touchdowns
Rated #39 player in state by Arkansas Varsity

• Breylin Smith
6-3, 187, Quarterback            
Conway (Ark.) High School            
2013 All-Conference Team        
2014 All-State Team        
2015 All-State Team        
THV 11 Player of the Week (September 11, 2014)        
Passed for over 2,000 yards all 3 years as a starter        
2013 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All Metro Team        
2015 Stats    
2,333 Total Yards
17 Total Touchdowns
6.3 Rushing Yards Per Carry
212 Yards per Game
3-star by 24/7 Sports
2-star by Rivals
Rated #18 player in state by Arkansas Varsity
Rated #12 player in state by Hooten's Magazine
    
• Tyler Wallace
6-6, 254, Offensive Line            
Milton (Fla.) High School                    
Defensive Player of the Week        
2015 2nd Team PNJ All-Area Team        
Selected 2015 Scholar Athlete
All-Area track and field athlete

• Hunter Watts
6-7, 295, Offensive Line            
John Marshall High School            
San Antonio, TX            
2015 1st Team All-District        
2015 Starter in San Antonio All-Star Game        
2015 Team Captain        
Academic Honor Roll