Previous 6-Signing Classes

[Cooley]

Here's hoping the 2014 Class will end up being one of the more memorable classes in recent history. As always, we'll just have to wait and see. Here's also hoping that most actually make it to Denton and remain a part of the program. History shows, however, that defections will occur.

Dan McCarney (2011, 2012 & 2013)

2011

Name Pos. Hometown (HS)

Derek Akunne LB Garland, Texas (North Garland HS) Terell Brooks DT Dallas, Texas (Duncanville HS) Travis Ellard OL Deer Park, Texas (Deer Park HS) Jamone Greer DB Sugar Land, Texas (Kempner HS) Antoinne Jimmerson RB Dallas, Texas (DeSoto HS) Cooper Jones QB Lone Oak, Texas (Lone Oak HS) Laramie Lee DB Tyler, Texas (Chapel Hill HS) Cyril Lemon OL Marble Falls, Texas (Marble Falls HS) Alexander Lincoln DL Cibolo, Texas (Steele HS) Daryl Mason DE Garland, Texas (Rowlett HS) Andrew McNulty QB Iowa City, Iowa (Iowa City HS) Austin Orr DE Seabrook, Texas (Clear Lake HS) Chad Polk LB Dallas, Texas (Woodrow Wilson HS) Chaz Sampson WR Grand Prairie, Texas (Mansfield Timberview HS) Grant Shaw OT Forney, Texas (Forney HS) Kerry Swarn DB Dallas, Texas (Lincoln HS) Micah Thompson DT Jones, Oklahoma (Jones HS) Freddie Warner DB Dallas, Texas (Pinkston HS) Zac Whitfield RB Sherman, Texas (Sherman HS) *Brent Osborn QB Northwest (Miss.) CC *Andrew Power TE Arizona Western CC * Michael Stojkovic LB Valley Forge Millitary Academy

2012 Name Position Hometown/School Ryan Rentfro OL Flower Mound, Texas/Marcus HS Dutton Watson DT Midland, Texas/Midland HS Jamal Marshall DB Missouri City, Texas/Fort Bend Elkins HS Cam Feldt OL Pilot Point, Texas/Arkansas Marcus Trice DB Mesquite, Texas/Oklahoma Brad Horton DE Argyle, Texas/Liberty Christian HS Roderick Lancaster WR Dallas, Texas/Life School of Oak Cliff Boone Feldt OL Hays, Texas/Buda HS Dustin Clark LB Borger, Texas/Borger HS Jarrian Roberts LB Clarksville, Texas/Clarksville HS Jamarcus Jarvis RB Houma, Louisiana/East Ascension HS Rex Rollins DB Tyler, Texas/Chapel Hill HS Sir Calvin Wallace DT Tyler, Texas/Chapel Hill HS D.Q. Johnson DB Des Moines, Iowa/Iowa Western CC Carlos Harris WR Frisco, Texas/Frisco HS David Busby DB Coppell, Texas/Coppell HS Connor Trussell OL Arlington, Texas/Martin HS Malik Dilonga DE Cedar Hill, Texas/Trinity Christian School LaJaylin Smith LB LaPlace, Louisiana/St. Charles Catholic HS Devante Davis DB Baton Rouge, Louisiana/Woodlawn HS Nick Schrapps WR Beaumont, Texas/Kelly HS Xavier Kelly DB Katy, Texas/Mayde Creek HS Mark Lewis RB Livonia, Louisiana/Livonia HS Mustafa Haboul DT Arlington, Texas/Martin HS

2013

High School Signees Position Hometown (School)

John Schilleci DB Denton, Texas (Guyer HS) Sed Ellis LB Paris, Texas (Paris HS) Fred Scott LB Kennedale, Texas (Kennedale HS) Cody Nelson OL Keller, Texas (Keller HS) Wylie Reinhardt TE Saginaw, Texas (Saginaw HS) Harrison Sorge OL Wichita Falls, Texas (Rider HS) Turner Smiley WR Frisco, Texas (Frisco Wakeland HS) Calvin Minor LB Lewisville, Texas (Lewisville HS) Dominick Walker OL Sugar Land, Texas (Fort Bend Austin HS) Dajon Williams QB Pflugerville, Texas (Connally HS) Darvin Kidsy WR Missouri City, Texas (Fort Bend Elkins HS) Chad Davis DB Richmond, Texas (Fort Bend Bush HS) Syd Moore DL Van, Texas (Van HS) JC Transfers Position Hometown (School) Chris Loving TE Klein, Texas (Blinn CC) January Enrollees Position Hometown (School) Quenton Brown DE Tucker, Georgia (Eastern Arizona) Zed Evans DB Seagoville, Texas (Louisville) James Jones DB Houston, Texas (Kilgore JC) Justin Manu OL Salt Lake City, Utah (Snow JC) Shawn McKinney OL Hubbard, Texas (Trinity Valley CC) Andrew Tucker DB Tyler, Texas (Chapel Hill HS)

Todd Dodge 2008, 2009 & 20110 2010

Name Pos. Hometown (HS)

Richard Abbe DL Lubbock, Texas (Monterey HS) Aaron Bellazin DE Everman, Texas (Everman HS) Brandin Byrd RB Copperas Cove, Texas (Copperas Cove HS) Brelan Chancellor WR Copperas Cove, Texas (Copperas Cove HS) Blake Dunham ATH Argyle, Texas (Argyle HS) Graylan Hawkins OL Dallas, Texas (Skyline HS) Antonio Johnson OL Diboll, Texas (Diboll HS) Zach Olen K Richardson, Texas (Berkner HS) Zachary Orr LB DeSoto, Texas (DeSoto HS) Derrick Teegarden QB Odessa, Texas (Odessa HS) Will Wright DB Garland, Texas (South Garland HS) Mason Y’Barbo OL Sulphur Springs, Texas (Sulphur Springs HS) Christopher Bynes WR Coffeyville (Kan.) CC *Ryan Downing S Butler County (Kan.) CC Steven Ford S Fort Scott (Kan.) CC *Brad Graham LB Navarro JC *Jamison Hughes S Peark River (Miss.) CC *Forlando Johnson LB Butler County (Kan.) CC *D’Leon McCord CB Butler County (Kan.) CC Michael Miller DE Antelope Valley (Calif.) CC Jamize Olawale TE El Camino (Calif.) CC D’Andre Wood CB New Mexico Military Institute

2009

Shavod Atkinson DT Independence CC (KAN) Will Atterberry K Lewisville Jeremy Bean OL Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (Miami, OK) Chevy Bennett S Garland Sachse Ryan Boutwell DE China Spring Darius Carey ATH Helen Cox (Harvey, Louis.) Austin Fitzpatrick TE Friendswood Hilbert Jackson CB Rowlett Jamaal Jackson WR Southwest Mississippi CC Kelvin Jackson DT Itawamba CC (Fulton, Miss.) Daniel Mayberry WR Dallas Smith John Noble OL Rockwall Mike Outlaw WR East Mississippi CC (Scooba, MS) Daniel Prior LB Henderson Ira Smith DB Gulf Coast CC (Perkinston, MS) De'Andre Stewart ATH Houston North Forest Tyler Stradford WR New Orleans (La.) Walker/Oklahoma (transfer) Derek Thompson QB Glen Rose Tyler Washington DE Cedar Hill John Weber DE Itawamba CC (Fulton, Miss.) Kyle White DT McDonogh 35 (New Orleans, Louis.)

2008

Name Pos. Hometown (Prev. School)

*Adryan Adams DB Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Brandon Akpunku LB Cedar Hill, Texas (Cedar Hill HS) Kenny Barrett WR Mart, Texas (Mart HS) Desmond Brigham WR Caddo Mills, Texas (Caddo Mills HS) Tevinn Canty DT Arlington, Texas (Lamar HS) DaWaylon Cook DB Dallas, Texas (Samuell HS) Riley Dodge QB Southlake, Texas (Carroll HS) Lance Dunbar RB Haltom City, Texas (Haltom HS) Justin Edwards DB Eastern Arizona JC (Naman Forrest HS) Coleman Feely OL Austin, Texas (Anderson HS) Troy Franklin OL Celina, Texas (Celina HS) James Hamilton DB Cedar Hill, Texas (Cedar Hill HS) Joe Hawthorne DT Arlington, Texas (Martin HS) *Kylee Hill DB Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Royce Hill DB Houston, Texas (Cypress Ridge HS) Gabe Hollivay OL Itawamaba CC Alonzo Horton DE Northwest Mississippi CC Nate Jenkins OL Pearle River CC *Jeremy Knott K Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College Nick Leppo OL Southlake, Texas (Carroll HS) Jeremi Mathis RB Arlington, Texas (Martin HS) Jeremy Phillips DB Waller, Texas (Waller HS) Forrest Rucker WR Hearne, Texas (Hearne HS) John Shorter DB Dallas, Texas (Lake Highlands HS) Willie Taylor WR Dallas, Texas (Hillcrest HS) Darien Williams DB Vernon, Texas (Vernon HS)

Edited February 7, 2014 by Cooley

[MeanGreenZen]

Wow! Dodge's 2010 class featured six all-conference players and another player who made the NFL. That was as good a class as I have ever seen in my almost 20 years following the program.

[MeanGreenZen]

Actually, I counted 7 all conference players from Dickey's 2000 class that included Brandon Kennedy. So I would give the nod to 2000, but it is close.

[Cooley]

Actually, I counted 7 all conference players from Dickey's 2000 class that included Brandon Kennedy. So I would give the nod to 2000, but it is close.

I think the 2010 class was more impressive. (of course we had to wait the necessary 3-4 years to see) I hate to keep bringing this up but the team back in the early 2000's (4 straight conference championship) played in a brand new conference, thrown together with a bunch of start-ups. Some schools hadn't even joined yet that later became a force.

Don't mean to diminish the accomplishments of the players but it must be pointed out. Dodge faced a more established and tougher Sunbelt. Wished the guy could have recruited to Apogee, in CUSA, with more money for coaches etc. We were not as committed to winning as we are now. It was clear with the number of Juco's signed that the guy felt the pressure to produce. Oh well, just a look back.

[All About UNT]

Maybe it should be noted that Dodge was fired 3/4 the way through the 2010 season and many of these recruits verbaled after the fact. Not saying Todd didn't get in on them before he was let go but in some cases I am sure that the fact that he was gone swayed at least a few into committing.

[emmitt01]

I think the 2010 class was more impressive. (of course we had to wait the necessary 3-4 years to see) I hate to keep bringing this up but the team back in the early 2000's (4 straight conference championship) played in a brand new conference, thrown together with a bunch of start-ups. Some schools hadn't even joined yet that later became a force.

Don't mean to diminish the accomplishments of the players but it must be pointed out. Dodge faced a more established and tougher Sunbelt. Wished the guy could have recruited to Apogee, in CUSA, with more money for coaches etc. We were not as committed to winning as we are now. It was clear with the number of Juco's signed that the guy felt the pressure to produce. Oh well, just a look back.

The thought of him dragging us into the dumpster in Apogee makes me cry on the inside. Thank God he never got that chance.

[greenit]

I can't quite put my finger on it but it seems like their could be a mathematical relationship to what happened in the basketball and football programs at roughly similar times.

Both departing coaches seemingly recruited well toward the end, bu both programs now seem headed in different directions. This can't really be about coaching ability can it?

And now you know..............the rest of the story.

[MeanGreenZen]

The 2010 class had just one winning season and never won a conference championship. If I could choose which career I could have as a college player, I would take the career of the class of 2000 over the career of the 2010 class.

[BillySee58]

Maybe it should be noted that Dodge was fired 3/4 the way through the 2010 season and many of these recruits verbaled after the fact. Not saying Todd didn't get in on them before he was let go but in some cases I am sure that the fact that he was gone swayed at least a few into committing.

The 2010 kids were freshmen that year. They were here before Dodge got fired.

[Cooley]

The 2010 class had just one winning season and never won a conference championship. If I could choose which career I could have as a college player, I would take the career of the class of 2000 over the career of the 2010 class.

No question it's more fun winning than losing but what if we started a new conference today with us and all the Southland Conference schools? We should win the next 4 conference titles; with a number of our guys making all conference. That was the early Sun belt football conference. When Dodge came on board it was a much tougher conference. Again, don't want to take away from those 2000 guys because they would do well today but wouldnt have won 4 straight titles. Don't mean to say that Dodge was a great college coach. Just saying the situations are often time different and we must take this into consideration when making comparisons.

The "Great" Darrell Dickey never became a head coach anywhere else after leaving (or before UNT). It is always easier to build from the bottom (or start-up) than to maintain dominance. With the help of a friend, he was able to get a football practice field named after him with a losing record.

[Cerebus]

That 2000 class beat the CUSA champion and whipped a BCS team (Baylor) by 38. Both are major accomplishments and both got the program a lot more publicity and recognition than beating UNLV did.

Say what you want about the SBC at that time, but it wasn't THAT much better when Dodge managed to get us donkey stomped by it for years. I really don't understand why I have to spend so much of my time defending those SBC champion teams, leave the downplaying of their accomplishments to the UTSA fans.

[All About UNT]

The 2010 kids were freshmen that year. They were here before Dodge got fired.

damn you sir......damn you

[emmitt01]

No question it's more fun winning than losing but what if we started a new conference today with us and all the Southland Conference schools? We should win the next 4 conference titles; with a number of our guys making all conference. That was the early Sun belt football conference. When Dodge came on board it was a much tougher conference. Again, don't want to take away from those 2000 guys because they would do well today but wouldnt have won 4 straight titles. Don't mean to say that Dodge was a great college coach. Just saying the situations are often time different and we must take this into consideration when making comparisons.

The "Great" Darrell Dickey never became a head coach anywhere else after leaving (or before UNT). It is always easier to build from the bottom (or start-up) than to maintain dominance. With the help of a friend, he was able to get a football practice field named after him with a losing record.

While we're making sure to adjust for the era things took place in let's remember that Dickey was winning just after the Helwig era, ZERO focus had been put on winning in athletics and the situation was even more depressing than the one Dodge coached under. And this doesn't even begin to discuss the almost non-existant NT bowl history that Dickey quadrupled. If we're truly going for historical accuracy let's not conveniently forget that the Dickey era was trailblazing by NT standards.

And I'm still amazed that anyone can look at today's crowds and forgetthat a lot of those folks on the alumni side were sitting in the student section a decade ago enjoying an entire college career full of bowls. Were it not for Dickey and his "overrated" bowl. Era against "Southland" schools every publication in America would talk about how the HOD bowl win was the first since fans traveled to games in covered wagons. And those "overhyped"kids from 2000 would, with a few exception, start or play significant minutes THIS YEAR.

And I forget, how did that Todd Dodge head coaching career post North Texas turn out? Surely he was able to explain his two win seasons by pointing to the "establsished" Sun Belt that he was faced with.

Only at North Texas are we unable to enjoy the successes of today without denigrating the (few) successes of yesterday for comparison's sake.

Edited February 8, 2014 by emmitt01

[Cooley]

4 years ago I truly believe I signed with the best recruiting class in the history of North Texas s/o to my class of 2010 bros! Love y'all!

— Zach Orr (@ZO35)

February 6, 2014

Edited February 15, 2014 by Harry

[Cooley]

While we're making sure to adjust for the era things took place in let's remember that Dickey was winning just after the Helwig era, ZERO focus had been put on winning in athletics and the situation was even more depressing than the one Dodge coached under. And this doesn't even begin to discuss the almost non-existant NT bowl history that Dickey quadrupled. If we're truly going for historical accuracy let's not conveniently forget that the Dickey era was trailblazing by NT standards.

And I'm still amazed that anyone can look at today's crowds and forgetthat a lot of those folks on the alumni side were sitting in the student section a decade ago enjoying an entire college career full of bowls. Were it not for Dickey and his "overrated" bowl. Era against "Southland" schools every publication in America would talk about how the HOD bowl win was the first since fans traveled to games in covered wagons. And those "overhyped"kids from 2000 would, with a few exception, start or play significant minutes THIS YEAR.

And I forget, how did that Todd Dodge head coaching career post North Texas turn out? Surely he was able to explain his two win seasons by pointing to the "establsished" Sun Belt that he was faced with.

Only at North Texas are we unable to enjoy the successes of today without denigrating the (few) successes of yesterday for comparison's sake.

I believe Matt Simon had a better winning record than Darrell Dickey. Dennis Parker wasn't much less. We didn't go to bowl games because we had been independent for a number or year or went to the D1AA playoffs. We also played in a more developed Big West that that Start Up Sunbelt. We actually did go on the road and win some OOC games (TTech 2-3 times and Rice at their place). Helwig and Simon fell out because Helwig wanted Simon to focus on recruiting the Texas market exclusively. (instead of wasting money around the country) Helwig also insisted that we play the top D1 teams and avoid the cream puff matchups. Not saying Helwig was all of that but he was not bad and provided a budget commensurate with others in the Big West. It was only after he left that we decided to water down football with a new cream poof league.

[hickoryhouse]

And people think they don't read the board...

[Mean Green 93-98]

I believe Matt Simon had a better winning record than Darrell Dickey. Dennis Parker wasn't much less.

Simon .411

Dickey .396

Parker .348

Simon may have been the most gutsy game day coach I've ever seen. His teams were never boring to watch.

[emmitt01]

I believe Matt Simon had a better winning record than Darrell Dickey. Dennis Parker wasn't much less. We didn't go to bowl games because we had been independent for a number or year or went to the D1AA playoffs. We also played in a more developed Big West that that Start Up Sunbelt. We actually did go on the road and win some OOC games (TTech 2-3 times and Rice at their place). Helwig and Simon fell out because Helwig wanted Simon to focus on recruiting the Texas market exclusively. (instead of wasting money around the country) Helwig also insisted that we play the top D1 teams and avoid the cream puff matchups. Not saying Helwig was all of that but he was not bad and provided a budget commensurate with others in the Big West. It was only after he left that we decided to water down football with a new cream poof league.

You do know that one of those wins against Texas Tech was under Dickey, right?

And what exactly was the upside of getting crushed against the nation's best while recruiting in Fouts Field? Also, Helwig was the most rigid, arrogant man I had ever encountered at North Texas...this was a "small time" program in his eyes and he treated it that way.

Again, only at North Texas are we unable to just enjoy the success stories. Tell me, to a NON North Texas grad, what was the relevance of all those1AA and non bowl eligible years? I'll tell you...not much.

[Cooley]

What was the relevance in winning the startup Sun belt Conference 4-years in a row? We were still viewed a bottom 10 team in the worst league in America. Attendance didn't improve. It didn't help with realignment, it was boring football and it didn't help recruiting. We also had the worst record as any in games outside this new conference. Dickey was fired a couple seasons later when Dodge came into a mess. We hired Dodge because we could only afford so much in salaries and squeeze in just enough more for his HS assistants.

I don't know what point I am trying to make. We've just been a bad program! There's plenty of blame to go around. I just don't think anyone can just point to one guy and blame him or point to one guy as a savior. Collectively, we took this thing down and hopefully, collectively we will restore it. I think Mac gets too much praise having come into a much better situation.

I really don't care at this point. Just win!

[emmitt01]

What was the relevance in winning the startup Sun belt Conference 4-years in a row? We were still viewed a bottom 10 team in the worst league in America. Attendance didn't improve. It didn't help with realignment, it was boring football and it didn't help recruiting. We also had the worst record as any in games outside this new conference. Dickey was fired a couple seasons later when Dodge came into a mess. We hired Dodge because we could only afford so much in salaries and squeeze in just enough more for his HS assistants.

I don't know what point I am trying to make. We've just been a bad program! There's plenty of blame to go around. I just don't think anyone can just point to one guy and blame him or point to one guy as a savior. Collectively, we took this thing down and hopefully, collectively we will restore it. I think Mac gets too much praise having come into a much better situation.

I really don't care at this point. Just win!

On that we agree

Edited February 15, 2014 by emmitt01

[UNT90]

One year does not a savior make. I looks like we are heading in the right direction, but the next 3 years will tell the tale.

[ChristopherRyanWilkes]

damn you sir......damn you

Owned.

[MeanGreenZen]

Parker and Simon had a recruiting advantage over later UNT coaches in that they could immediately play D1 transfers without them sitting out a year. We will see how UTSA does now that they have to play by the same transfer rules as everyone else.

[Cooley]

Parker and Simon had a recruiting advantage over later UNT coaches in that they could immediately play D1 transfers without them sitting out a year. We will see how UTSA does now that they have to play by the same transfer rules as everyone else.

We played in the Southland Conference (D1-AA) Every school in the conference was on the same level playing field. Don't think we had any transfers to speak of anyway. The top kids preferred to sit out at a D1 school rather than play D1-AA ball.

[GrandGreen]

Even awful teams have starters and about the same number of players see action as members of very good teams. Point, is that just because a class produced players doesn't mean much if they were on bad teams. About half the players are going to be significant contributors whether it for Alabama or Idaho.

Thinking UTSA had an advantage getting talent being a start up is strange logic. Their advantage was that they got a group of players that basically started together and grew as a unit.