Tyler Arndt leads Texas State Bobcat’s Recruiting Class

February 3, 2010

San Marcos, Texas- Texas State head football coach Brad Wright announced that two transfers and 11 high school players have signed to play with the Bobcats.

One transfer is Jarrad Stewart, a former standout safety from Pearland who spent last season at the University of Utah.

“We had Jarrad Stewart come in between semesters so we only had 12 scholarships to offer,” Wright said. “We talked to a lot of people who told us that he went to class, and worked hard. He just needed to be closer to his family. He is enrolled here and leading us through drills now.”

One of those 12 scholarships went to Thaddeus Watkins, a junior college offensive lineman from Diablo Valley College in California.

“Thaddeus is one of those guys whose best football is ahead of him,” Wright said. “He is 6’ 4” and up to 260 pounds. He looks like he weighs 180. He is going to fill out to 285-290 easily. He has quick feet and athletic. That is the type of player who you want to play at the tackle position.

The high school players include one of the nation’s Top 32 high school quarterbacks, a running back, three wide receivers, two tight ends, along with one defensive lineman, two linebackers and a defensive back.

The quarterback on the list is Tyler Arndt, who ESPN has listed as one of the top 32 quarterbacks in the nation and who threw for over 7,100 yards and 75 touchdowns during his high school career. Arndt also led Cuero High School to a 36-5 record during his career, including a 13-1 mark in 2009.

“Tyler is one of those guys who we feel very fortunate in getting when you see the list of schools that offered him,” said Wright. “We really feel he can come in here and be a difference maker right away if he can handle the mental part of it. He has all of the physical tools to be great quarterback. He is as big of a recruit that we have had around here.

“He has the complete package. He is 6’ 4”, weighs 205 pounds and completed 63 percent of his passes during his career. He took his team to the State semifinals three years in a row. Then you look at him reading a zone and pulling the ball down and out-running folks. He can do it all.”

The Bobcats signed three wide receivers in Michael Gilmore of La Marque, Deche Milburn of Clear Springs in League City and Marquis Walker from Austin Lanier., while, and Walker rushed for 986 yards. Milburn caught 81 passes for 1,378 yards and 16 touchdowns. Gilmore was named the District 24-4A Special Teams MVP.

“Deche is a bigger and stronger version of Cameron Luke, who was a pretty good receiver for us,” Wright said. “He is a physical receiver that when the ball is in the air, he just goes up and gets it. He is one of the best blocking wide receivers I have seen at any level. Cal was calling him during the week so we feel fortunate to get him as well.

“Michael Gilmore is the prototypical body type of an inside receiver,” Wright said. “What he can do is make you miss. He is an excellent punt and kickoff returner. Marquis is a guy who can stretch the field as a 10.5 guy.”

The running back is Terrence Franks of Angleton High School. Franks ran for 688 yards as a senior.

“Terrence Franks ran a time of 10.39 seconds in the 100 meters during AAU track last year,” Wright said. “We actually had Angleton’s highlights for the season and he was back-up to a player who signed with Missouri. When we were watching the highlight tape, all of a sudden, we asked ‘who was that’ when he was making a run into the line, jumped out to the left, and ended up running down the sideline for a touchdown. He might be a diamond in the rough for this class.”

The two tight ends are Trent Guiberteau of Taylor High School in Katy and David Lewis from King High School in Kingsville. Guiberteau was listed among the Top 25 recruits in the Greater Houston area and Lewis caught 22 passes for 320 yards as a senior. He also played quarterback and threw for 543 yards and rushed for 645 yards as well.

“We are looking to be more versatile and not so one-dimensional at the tight end position,” Wright said. “We want to have someone who can block, but also get out and run routes on passing plays. Both Trent and David are very athletic players who we feel will help us become more versatile.”

DeShun Williams is an All-State defensive lineman who helped lead Carthage High School to two consecutive State championships.

“We signed a bunch of defensive linemen last year, so we had targeted nose guards,” Wright said. “DeShun was the Player-of-the-Year in East Texas. For a defensive lineman to get that award, he has to be a special player. ”

The two linebackers are Drew Hamilton of Lake Dallas High School in Hickory Creek and Byron Hudson from DeSoto High School. Hamilton has been selected to play in the Texas High School Coaches Association All-Star game in San Antonio, while Hudson averaged nearly 11 tackles per game while playing for former Bobcat record-setting running back Claude Mathis.

“The way Drew Hamilton runs and hits, he is what you want in a linebacker,” Wright said. “Byron was a quarterback and running back before moving to linebacker at DeSoto. He can definitely runs to the football and makes contact when he gets there.

The defensive back is Craig Mager, who played on both sides of the football at Luling. As a running back, he gained 814 yards and scored six touchdowns. He also caught 46 passes for 841 yards and 10 TDs.

“We are excited to sign him in that he is from right down the road in Luling,” Wright said. “He will start out as a cornerback because he is a physical player who can run. That is what we look for in a cornerback.”

Overall, Wright was very pleased with this year’s recruiting class even though he and his staff had just 12 scholarships to offer.

“We feel like we did good job in signing some players who have good character and can make us more athletic as a team,” Wright concluded. “When you have 25 scholarships, you can miss on one or two guys, but when you are offering only 12, you better get it right. I think our coaches did a good job in getting the right guys.”