CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas football program added 25 new student-athletes on the opening day of the NCAA signing period Wednesday.

    The class includes nine student-athletes from Mississippi and eight from Arkansas, with eight states represented in all. The breakdown included six transfers from four-year schools (five NCAA Division I schools and one Division II), eight junior college transfers and 11 high school signees, four of which are set to be early enrollees. All of the transfer will be mid-year enrollees and will participate in spring practice with the Bears.

    "We are excited about the early signing period group we were able to sign today,' said UCA head coach Nathan Brown. "We hit a lot of immediate needs and gained a lot of experience as well. Our coaching staff has really hustled over the past 3 to 4 weeks to put together this group of student-athletes.

    "We have signed kids from eight different states and have high school, junior college, and four-year college transfers in this group. A vast majority of these guys will be enrolling in January. That will be good so we can get them integrated into our program with our current players that are returning and we can start developing a rapport through the spring semester.

    "We were able to sign 25 student-athletes today which will be most of our recruiting class. We will add a few more key spots in the later signing period on the first Wednesday in February. We will have a more in depth announcement with all the players we signed today and in February on that day. It was a great day for the Bear football program.'

Mid-Year Enrollees
QB    Will McElvain    6-0    190    University of Northern Iowa/Des Moines, Iowa
LB    Noah Mitchell    6-2    230    University of TX San Antonio/Leakesville, Miss.
WR    Trustin Oliver    6-4    215    University of Colorado/Los Angeles, Calif.
DB    Detravion Green    6-0    210    Arkansas State University/Ashdown, Ark.
OL    Jack Green    6-2    280    University of South Alabama/Brandon, Miss.
DE    David Walker    6-2    255    Southern Arkansas University/Stuttgart, Ark.
OL    Jacob Cox    6-3    310    MS Gulf Coast CC/Amory, Miss.
DB    CJ Bosket    5-11    170    Navarro TX CC/Saluda, S.C.
DT     Stephon McGlaun    6-3    285    Northeast MS CC/Tupelo, Miss.
LB    Corley Hooper    6-2    225    Itawamba MS CC/Ecru, Miss.
DT    Javeon Jones    6-2    265    Jones MS CC/Heidelberg, Miss.
DB    TD Williams    6-1    185    Hinds MS CC/Hollandale, Miss.
WR    Cole Brown    6-3    205    Iowa Western CC/Dallas, Ga.
DE     Jace McCoy    6-3    255    MS Gulf Coast CC/Summit, Miss.

High School Mid-Year Enrollees
LB     Jace Benesch    6-0    200    Hoxie HS/Hoxie, AR
LB     Deorius Cobbs    6-2    205    Jacksonville HS/Jacksonville, AR
WR    Isaiah King    6-0    180    Manvel HS/Manvel, TX
OL     Jack Streubing    6-2    290    Har-Ber HS/Springdale, AR

High School Signees
TE    Tyler Siddons     6-4    245    Salem HS/Salem, AR
OL    Mark Welch     6-3    300    Camden Fairview HS/Camden, AR
DB    Dillon Williams     6-0    195    Southaven HS/Southaven, MS
WR    Manny Smith     5-8    175    Conway HS/Conway, AR
WR    Triston Edwards     6-0    180    Red Oak HS/Red Oak, TX
OL    Chaylin Peine     6-4    300    Anderson Co. HS/Garnett, KS
WR    Chris Wolfe     5-10    170    Valdosta HS/Valdosta, GA

HIGHLIGHTS