Feb. 1, 2006

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Head football coach Charles Coe continued to lay the groundwork for the 2006 football season and beyond when he announced the signing of 16 student-athletes to National Letters of Intent Wednesday.

With the departure of a strong senior class, that included the likes of Tarvaris Jackson, Keldrick Williams, Robert Randolph, Alvance Robinson and Kerry Frazier, Coe understood the importance of bringing in talent that could contribute immediately and help the Hornets stay atop the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

"When you lose a guy like a Tavaris Jackson, or running backs as good as Williams and Randolph, you don't replace those guys overnight," Coe said. "But we feel like we've got some good guys coming in."

For the first time in four seasons, Jackson will not be under center for the Hornets. Instead, signees Alex Engram -- a Western Michigan trnasfer who has three years of eligibilty remaining -- and Darius Mathis of Salem High in Conyers, Ga., will battle with redshirt freshman Jason Bruce for the starting quarterback job.

"We wanted to bring in someone who's been in school a little bit who can battle with Jason Bruce and Mathis," Coe said of Engram, who is already enrolled at ASU. "Seeing what I've seen of him, he can help us out."

Four other signees -- defensive tackle Markell McKinley (Mississippi State), linebacker Michael Figgers (Cincinnati/Ellsworth CC), defensive end Johnny Sampy (Minnesota) and wide receiver Joe Hunter (West Virginia) -- have played at the Division I-A level.

"What we'd like to do is get a couple more linemen, either JUCO or transfer," Coe said. "We can fill the bill with high school players, but when you open up with Troy, you'd like to open with guys who've already been in the trenches," Coe said.

Of that group, McKinley might be the player who has the biggest impact, not only because of his ability but because the Hornets have a serious need on the interior defensive line.

"He's already showing great leadership in the weight room," Coe said. "He's a senior but he gives us some stability at the defensive tackle spot.

"I'm real comfortable with our linebackers and secondary. But we really had to address the offensive and defensive lines."

The Hornets also hauled in several in-state prospects, including three that played in Montgomery -- defensive back Emmett Bacon (Robert E. Lee), wide receiver Antonio "Tiger" James (St. Jude), and linebacker Byron Powell (G.W. Carver).

Coe stressed the importance of bringing in local talent to strengthen the vitality of the program.

"Bringing in local favorites will help generate more interest in Alabama State. It helps increase attendance and, hopefully, in the future it will help attract more of their friends to come to the school."

The remainder of the ASU signees include running backs Dustin Gracie (Demopolis) and Corderal Smith (Ashford), offensive lineman Ernest Bell (Conyers, Ga.), defensive tackle Chris Preer (Phenix City), linebackers Adrian Hardy (Selma) and Justin Wright (Bessemer), and defensive back Derrick Marshall (Wetumpka).

2006 Alabama State University Football Signees