2002 Football Signing Day - UT Official Signing List - University of Tennessee Athletics

2002 Recruiting Class

Coach Phillip Fulmer's Comments on the 2002 Recruiting Class

"I am very pleased with this 2002 recruiting class for the University of Tennessee. I believe we certainly addressed some immediate issues with the mid-term junior college young men we signed in Gibril Wilson, Leon Pinky and Mondre Dickerson, as well as Jason Allen, who came from high school. We expect them to impact our team this spring.

"The high school players, I believe, will impact our team both short and long term - and not only from a physical need standpoint. This is a strong group of young men in both character and academic standing.

"We were fortunate to have eight guys in the state we offered scholarships to, and these eight young men made up the foundation for our class. This was a very good year in Tennessee. At the same time, we were able to go far and wide to fill the needs for our team and I'm very pleased to have this total group of young men with us. As always, this season will depend on their adjustment to college life and football, their physical and mental maturity level and their conditioning when they arrive. I believe they all can help our team.

"I also want to thank the football staff, which traveled hard, spent the effort and sacrificed to do a great job. It would not happen without them. We have so much to offer at UT and we've been here together as a staff for some time. I believe it helps a lot."

Feb. 6 Tennessee Football Signees

James Banks - Quarterback, 6-3, 195
Indianapolis, Ind. (Ben Davis HS)

Heath Benedict - Offensive Line, 6-6, 285
Greer, S.C. (The Peddie School [N.J.])

Cody Douglas - Offensive Line, 6-6, 320
La Marque, Texas (La Marque HS)

Omar Gaither - Linebacker, 6-2, 215
Charlotte, N.C. (Myers Park HS)

Jason Hall - Defensive End, 6-3, 245
Chattanooga, Tenn. (McCallie)

Chris Hannon - Wide Receiver, 6-4, 180
Sarasota, Fla. (Riverview HS)

Parys Haralson - Defensive End/Linebacker, 6-2, 235
Flora, Miss. (Madison Central HS)

Justin Harrell - Defensive Tackle, 6-5, 300
Martin (Westview HS)

LaRon Harris - Defensive Tackle, 6-3, 303
Memphis (Kingsbury HS)

Brandon Jefferies - Offensive Line, 6-5, 275
Shelby, N.C. (Crest HS)

Greg Jones - 6-6, 265 - Defensive Tackle
Jonesboro, Ark. (Jonesboro HS)

Aaron Kirkland - Tight End/Defensive End, 6-4, 250
Fayetteville, N.C. (Jack Britt HS)

David Ligon - Defensive End, 6-5, 260
Memphis (Christian Brothers HS)

Jonathan Mapu - 6-3, 265 - Defensive End / Tackle
Kahuku, Hawaii (Kahuku HS)

Ruben Mayes - Fullback, 6-2, 240
Memphis (Ridgeway HS)

Marvin Mitchell - 6-3, 230 - Linebacker / Tight End
Norfolk, Va. (Lake Taylor HS)

Gerald Riggs Jr. - Running Back, 5-11, 217
Chattanooga, Tenn. (Red Bank HS)

Rob Smith - Offensive Line, 6-5, 306
Fort Thomas, Ky. (Highlands HS)

Antwan Stewart - Back, 6-0, 180
Dumfries, Va. (Potomac HS)

Jonathan Wade - Wide Receiver, 5-11, 180
Shreveport, La. (Evangel Christian HS)

James Wilhoit - Placekicker/Punter, 6-0, 190
Hendersonville (Hendersonville HS)

Signees currently enrolled at UT and will participate in Spring Practice

Jason Allen - Defensive Back / Athlete, 6-2, 200
Muscle Shoals, Alabama (Muscle Shoals)

Mondre Dickerson - Defensive End, 6-5, 265
Memphis (Coffeyville Community College)

Leon Pinky - Tight End, 6-3, 260
Northridge, California (College of the Canyons)

Gibril Wilson - Defensive Back, 6-1, 190
San Jose, California (City College of San Francisco)

Jason Allen
Defensive Back / Athlete, 6-2, 200
Muscle Shoals, Alabama (Muscle Shoals)
Enrolled at UT in January 2002 ... Received All-America honors from SuperPrep, Prepstar, and Borderwars.com ... Ranked as the No. 5 athlete and the No. 67 overall prospect in the country on the Rivals 100 ... Also listed as the No. 5 athlete in the nation by Tom Lemming of ESPN.com and The Sporting News ... Ranked as the No. 2 player in Alabama by SuperPrep ... Ranked as the No. 6 running back and No. 28 overall prospect in the nation on Theinsiders.com 101 ... Listed as the No. 4 skill athlete in the country by SuperPrep ... Listed in the Dallas Morning News' Top 100 prospects nationally ... Twice earned all-state at running back in Alabama's 5-A classification ... Member of the Student Sports All-Southeast team ... Named Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year ... Voted the No. 1 player in Alabama by both the Birmingham News and the Mobile Press-Register ... Named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Super Southern 100 ... Voted as the back of the year in Class 5A by the Alabama Sports Writers Association ... As a senior, ran for 1,740 yards and 21 touchdowns ... Added 378 yards and three scores receiving ... Muscle Shoals HS coach: Cody Keene ... Full name: Jason Jamar Allen ... Born: July 5, 1983.

James Banks
Quarterback, 6-3, 195
Indianapolis, Ind. (Ben Davis HS)
Selected as one of seven quarterbacks on the Parade All-America team ... Garnered first team All-America honors from Tom Lemming, Student Sports, SuperPrep, PrepStar, Max Emfinger and Borderwars.com ... Named Indiana's Mr. Football and Defensive Player of the Year as a senior ... Member of East team for the U.S. Army All-America game ... Listed as the No. 8 quarterback and No. 18 overall prospect by Tom Lemming ... Ranked as the No. 3 dual-threat quarterback and No. 30 overall prospect by Rivals.com ... Student Sports lists him as the nation's No. 58 overall prospect and Midwest Player of the Year ... Rated as the No. 7 quarterback prospect nationally and the No. 2 prospect in the Midwest by SuperPrep ... Member of the PrepStar Dream Team and listed as the No. 1 recruit in the Midwest ... Listed in The Dallas Morning News' Top 100 prospects nationally and The Sporting News' Hot 101 ... Listed in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times' Top 33 Indiana prospects as a junior and senior ... Twice selected to the Indianapolis Star Super Team ... Named Class 5A All-State his junior and senior seasons ... Selected Marion County Player of the Year as a senior ... Named All-County, All-Metro and All-Conference for three straight years ... Led Ben Davis to back to back class 5A state titles as a junior and senior ... Compiled 42-2 record as a starter ... As a junior, passed for 1,741 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 765 yards and nine touchdowns ... As a senior, passed for 1,474 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for another 900 yards and 14 touchdowns ... Responsible for 94 career high school touchdowns ... Against Warren Central in 2001, passed for 175 yards, three touchdowns, ran for more than 100 yards and two scores, recorded 12 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown ... Also plays basketball at Ben Davis, averaging 11 points and six rebounds per game this season ... Coach at Ben Davis HS: Dick Dullaghan ... Full Name: James Richard Banks II ... Born: Aug. 14, 1983.

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Heath Benedict
Offensive Line, 6-6, 285
Greer, S.C. (The Peddie School [N.J.])
Named All-America by Parade Magazine, PrepStar, SuperPrep and Tom Lemming ... Listed as the No. 7 offensive tackle and No. 86 prospect overall by Rivals.com ... Listed as the No. 4 offensive lineman on the PrepStar Dream Team and No. 1 in the East region ... Named Defensive Player of the Year in New Jersey's MAPL by the coaches ... Named one of the nation's top 100 prospects by the Dallas Morning News and on The Sporting News' Hot 101 ... Ranked as the nation's No. 8 offensive lineman and New Jersey's No. 2 prospect by SuperPrep ... Member of the East team in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in January ... Named first-team All-State as a junior and senior by Newark Star-Ledger and NJISAA .. Trenton Times Prep Player of the Year as senior ... Also All-Area as junior and senior by Trenton Times ... Student Sports lists him as a second-team All-America and a first-team All-East performer ... Borderwars.com calls him the nation's No. 15 offensive line prospect ... Tom Lemming lists him as the No. 17 defensive lineman and No. 84 overall prospect nationally ... Recorded 58 tackles, 13 sacks, three blocked punts and three fumble recoveries (one returned 74 yards for TD) during junior and senior seasons combined ... Was four-year starter on offensive and defensive lines ... Team won New Jersey Class A Prep state title over Blair Academy, 28-27, in 2001 ... Given Maurice P. Shuman Award as outstanding football player at The Peddie School ... Also highly touted as a baseball pitcher, with a fastball clocked at 94 mph ... Led team to state baseball title and 21-2 record as a junior ... Coach at The Peddie School: Francis DeLaurentis ... Full Name: Heath Ryan Basil Benedict .. Born: June 30, 1983.

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Mondre Dickerson
Defensive End, 6-5, 265
Memphis (Coffeyville Community College)
Enrolled at UT in January 2002 ... Attended Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College prior to enrolling at UT ... Listed as the No. 1 defensive end and the No. 21 junior college prospect overall by Rivals.com ... Named second team All- America by the NJCAA ... Ranked as the No. 57 junior college prospect nationally by SuperPrep ... Named All-Region VI and All-KJCCC at defensive end ... Led the KJCCC with 11 sacks as a sophomore ... Finished junior college career with 194 tackles and 20 sacks ... Named Defensive Player of the Year at Coffeyville for the 2001 season ... Borderwars.com ranks him as the No. 5 overall defensive end prospect nationally for 2002 ... At Melrose High, was a Prepstar All-America selection ... Listed as a top 100 player by the National Recruiting Advisor and G&W Recruiting Service ... Ranked as the No. 13 defensive line prospect in the country by The Sporting News ... Selected to the Class 4A All-State team in both 1998 and 1999 ... Listed as the state's No. 3 prospect by SuperPrep and the Chattanooga Times-Free Press ... Helped Melrose to a 55-5 record in his four years at the school, including a 15-0 state championship season in 1996 ... Set state record, with five interceptions returned for touchdowns during his senior season ... Coffeyville CC coach: Jeff Leiker ... Full name: Mondre Khalid Dickerson ... Born: July 1, 1982.

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Cody Douglas
Offensive Line, 6-6, 320
La Marque, Texas (La Marque HS)
Named All-America by PrepStar and Tom Lemming ... Ranked as the No. 14 offensive lineman on the PrepStar Dream Team and No. 13 by Tom Lemming ... Listed as the No. 12 offensive guard by Rivals.com ... Borderwars.com says he is the No. 19 offensive lineman in the nation ... Named to SuperPrep's All-Southwest team and listed as their No. 53 prospect in the Lone Star State ... PrepStar lists him as the No. 2 offensive lineman in the Midlands Region ... Named third-team All-State as a junior and first-team All-State as a senior ... Named All-District and All-County by the Galveston Daily News ... First team All-Mainland Texas (Gulf Coast) selection his junior and senior seasons ... Listed among the State's Top 50 prospects by the Dallas Morning News ... Helped La Marque to a 9-3 record and the second round of the state playoffs as a senior ... Recorded over 100 pancake blocks and graded out at over 90 percent both his junior and senior seasons ... Had more than 20 pancake blocks in 2001 game against Texas City, and more than 20 his junior year against Willis ... Two-year starter at offensive tackle after being injured as a sophomore ... Played in U.S. Army All-America Bowl and was named Speed and Strength All-America ... Team made playoffs all three high school seasons, with overall record of 30-9 ... Also participates in power lifting, with a best mark of 1,600 pounds in bench press (450), squat (630) and dead lift (520)... Coach at La Marque HS: Larry Walker ... Full Name: Cody Deran Douglas ... Born: Nov. 25, 1983.

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Omar Gaither
Linebacker, 6-2, 215
Charlotte, N.C. (Myers Park HS)
A PrepStar All-America selection and ranked as the No. 7 linebacker in the Atlantic region ... Also received All-America honors from Tom Lemming and Borderwars.com ... Listed as the nation's No. 10 outside linebacker by Rivals.com ... Tom Lemming lists him as the nation's No. 14 linebacker prospect ... Rated as the country's No. 27 linebacker prospect by Borderwars.com ... Member of the Student Sports All-Southeast team ... Listed in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Super Southern 100 ... Listed as North Carolina's No. 13 prospect by SuperPrep and a member of their All-Mid-Atlantic team ... Listed as the No. 5 propect in North Carolina by the Charlotte Observer ... Named Student Athlete of the Year by the Charlotte Touchdown Club ... At the 2001 Shrine Bowl, recorded a blocked field goal, two blocked punts, an interception, nine tackles, three quarterback hurries, two sacks and three knockdowns to earn North Carolina Defensive Most Valuable Player ... Three-time Class 4A All-State selection and four-time All-Conference choice ... Two-time All-Piedmont selection by the Charlotte Observer... As a senior, recorded 94 tackles, five forced fumbles and three interceptions ... As a running back, contributed 810 yards rushing and nine touchdowns on 91 carries ... Best game was 16 tackles against Richmond in 1999 ... First Myers Park athlete to earn 12 athletic letters (four each in football, basketball and track) ... Has 4.1 grade-point average and plans to major in mechanical engineering ... Averaging 13 points and eight rebounds in basketball this season, and has a long jump of 23-4 ... Coach at Myers Park HS: Tommy Strahan ... Full Name: Omar Thabiti Gaither ... Born: March 18, 1984.

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Jason Hall
6-3, 245 - Defensive End
Chattanooga, Tenn. (McCallie)
Ranked as the nation's No. 52 defensive end prospect by Rivals.com ... Finalist for the Mr. Football (lineman) award in 2001 for Division II AAA , the large private school division in the state ... Named to the Division II All-State team by the Associated Press as a senior ... Named to the PrepStar All-Southeast Region team ... Listed as the No. 8 prospect in the state by the Knoxville News Sentinel ... Named Player of the Year in Division II AAA by the coaches and the TSSAA... Named All-City by the Chattanooga Times-Free Press ... Three-year starter at tight end and a two-year starter at defensive end ... Had seven tackles and a sack against Montgomery Bell Academy in 2001 ... Recorded three tackles, an interception and a 78 yard reception for a score against Christian Brothers in the second round of the playoffs as a senior ... 2001 team went 12-0 and won state title ... 2000 team was 9-2, losing in the first round of the playoffs ... 1999 team was 8-4, splitting two games in the playoffs ... Averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds as a junior for the Blue Tornado ... Threw shot put for school track team, with best mark of 50 feet ... Also played lacrosse as a freshman and sophomore ... Coach at McCallie: Ralph Potter ... Full name: Jason Rollins Hall ... Born: Oct. 31, 1983.

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Chris Hannon
Wide Receiver, 6-4, 180
Sarasota, Fla. (Riverview HS)
Rated as the No. 19 athlete prospect by Rivals.com ... Ranked as the No. 44 prospect in Florida by SuperPrep ... Member of the SuperPrep All-Dixie team ... Selected as a top 150 quarterback prospect by Borderwars.com ... Preseason All-America selection by Tom Lemming ... Selected All-District and All-Area by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune ... Selected third-team Class 6A All-State by the Florida sportswriters ... Led Riverview to a 7-3 record and district title in 2001 ... As a junior, ran for 1,000 yards and passed for 800 yards and 18 touchdowns ... His senior campaign, rushed for more than 1,000 yards and passed for another 680 to go with 15 touchdowns ... Best game as a senior was 190 rushing yards against East Lake HS ... Also competes in track, with a best time of 10.5 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.8 in the 200 ... Member of his school's Renaissance Club (3.0 grade-point average or higher) ... Coach at Riverview HS: John Sprague ... Full Name: Christopher Lee Hannon ... Born: Feb. 18, 1984.

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Parys Haralson
Defensive End/Linebacker, 6-2, 235
Flora, Miss. (Madison Central HS)
Received All-America honors from SuperPrep, PrepStar, Borderwars.com and Max Emfinger ... Listed as the nation's No. 5 weakside defensive end and No. 71 overall prospect by Rivals.com ... Ranked as the nation's No. 7 defensive end by Borderwars.com ... SuperPrep ranks him as the country's No. 34 linebacker and as the No. 10 overall prospect in Mississippi ... Listed as the No. 10 defensive line prospect in the Southeast by PrepStar ... Listed among the nation's top 100 players by the Dallas Morning News ... Listed in The Sporting News Hot 101 ... Member of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger's Dandy Dozen prospects in Mississippi ... Two-time Class 5A All-State selection and All-Metro three times ... Helped Madison Central to a state title as a sophomore with a 15-0 record ... Junior (9-2) and senior (10-3) teams also advanced to the playoffs .. As a junior, recorded 80 tackles, 12 sacks and two interceptions ... recorded 148 tackles, 10 sacks and an interception as a senior ... Coach at Madison Central: Mike Justice ... Full Name: Parys Sharron Haralson ... Born: Jan. 24, 1984.

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Justin Harrell
Defensive Tackle, 6-5, 300
Martin (Westview HS)
Tennessee's 2A Mr. Football (Lineman) in 2001... Named to the SuperPrep All-America team, where he was listed as the state's No. 10 prospect ... Listed as an All-America performer by PrepStar ... Listed as the nation's No. 29 tight end prospect by Rivals.com ... Ranked as the No. 2 tight end in the Southeast region by PrepStar ... Borderwars.com says Harrell is the nation's No. 35 offensive line prospect ... Named preseason All-America by Tom Lemming ... Named West Tennessee's Defensive Player of the Year by the Jackson Sun ... Class 2A All-State selection in 2001 ... Helped lead team to 13-2 record and state runner-up finish in 2001 ... Named to the TACA team for the Tennessee-Georgia All-Star Game ... Three-year starter on both offense and defense ... As a junior tight end, rang up 21 receptions for 291 yards and 3 touchdowns ... As a defensive lineman, recorded 61 tackles, 12 for loss, and four PBUs ... His senior campaign saw him haul down 18 catches for 354 yards and six touchdowns ... Defensively, he had 72 tackles, 19 for loss, four sacks and eight PBUs ... Three-year starter in basketball and averaging 17 points per game this season ... Coach at Westview HS: Don Coady ... Full Name: Justin Tyrell Harrell ... Born: Feb. 14, 1984.

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LaRon Harris
Defensive Tackle, 6-3, 303
Memphis (Kingsbury HS)
Named to PrepStar's All-America team and is ranked as the No. 23 defensive line prospect in the Southeast ... Ranked as the No. 20 defensive tackle prospect in the nation by Rivals.com ... Borderwars.com says he is the nation's No. 33 defensive line prospect ... SuperPrep rates him as the state's No. 7 overall prospect and lists him on their All-Dixie team ... The Knoxville News Sentinel ranks him the No. 11 prospect in the Volunteer State ... Two-time Class 3A All-State performer as chosen by the Tennessee Sportswriters Association ... Named to the TACA team for the Tennessee-Kentucky All-Star Game ... Named to the Class 2A/3A All-Metro Team by The (Memphis) Commercial-Appeal ... Finished junior season with 112 tackles and 13 sacks ... Senior season saw him tally 72 tackles, 15 sacks and cause four fumbles ... Led Kingsbury to a region championship and 8-4 record in 2001 ... Four-year starter at offensive guard and defensive tackle and nose guard ... Had four sacks against Dyer County in 2000, and against Raleigh-Egypt in 2001 had nine solo tackles, three sacks, two caused fumbles and one fumble recovery ... Also a stellar track athlete ... Finished second in the shot put at the Class 3A state track and field championships his sophomore and junior seasons, and third as a freshman ... Coach at Kingsbury HS: Duron Sutton ... Full Name: Laron Harris ... Born: May 15, 1984.

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Brandon Jefferies
Offensive Line, 6-5, 275
Shelby, N.C. (Crest HS)
Selected as a first-team All-America by Parade Magazine, SuperPrep,PrepStar, Riddell Footwear, Borderwars.com and Student Sports ... Listed as the No. 9 offensive lineman and No. 85 overall prospect by Tom Lemming ... Nation's No. 20 overall prospect on the Insiders 101 ... Listed on the Dallas Morning News Top 100 national prospects ... Listed in The Sporting News' Hot 101 ... Rated as the country's No. 2 offensive guard and No. 19 prospect overall by Rivals.com ... Ranked as the No. 2 offensive lineman nationally by Borderwars.com ... Named to the Fox Sports Net All-Southeast team ... Ranked as the No. 14 offensive lineman by SuperPrep and the No. 4 prospect in North Carolina ... Listed in the Charlotte Observer's Top 50 in the Carolinas ... Member of the PrepStar Dream Team and ranked as the No. 2 offensive lineman in the Atlantic region ... Listed on the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Super Southern 100 ... Named first-team All-State as a senior by the North Carolina Sportswriters ... Two-time first-team All-Piedmont by the Charlotte Observer .. Had more than 100 pancake blocks during his junior and senior seasons and graded out at better than 91 percent during both campaigns ... Had eight pancakes against Anson County in 2001 ... Holds school record for pancake blocks in a season (52), and had 123 for his career ... Three-year starter at offensive guard ... Team compiled 35-3 record (all three losses in (layoffs) over his career with three postseason appearances ... Helped lead team to a state runner-up finish and a 14-1 mark as a senior ... Also a standout for the basketball and track (discus) teams ... Averaging 12 points and 11 rebounds this season, and best discus mark is 150 feet ... Nephew of former North Carolina State and Denver Nuggets star David Thompson ... Member of Beta Club .. Coach at Crest HS: Roy Kirby ... Full Name: Brandon Tyler Jefferies ... Born: June 18, 1984.

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Greg Jones
6-6, 265 - Defensive Tackle
Jonesboro, Ark. (Jonesboro HS)
Named All-America by PrepStar, SuperPrep, Max Emfinger and Borderwars.com ... Rated the country's No. 15 defensive tackle prospect by Rivals.com ... Borderwars.com ranks him as the nation's No. 29 defensive tackle prospect ... PrepStar rates him as the No. 12 defensive line prospect in the Southeast region ... He is the nation's No. 27 Offensive Line prospect by SuperPrep and the No. 3 prospect in Arkansas ... Listed on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Super Southern 100 ... Two-time All-State selection ... Recorded 61 tackles, six sacks and caused four fumbles as a junior ... As a senior recorded 95 tackles, 5 sacks and caused three fumbles ... coach at Jonesboro HS: Jim DeVazier ... Full Name: Gregory R. Jones ... Born: Oct. 15, 1982.

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Aaron Kirkland
Tight End/Defensive End, 6-4, 250
Fayetteville, N.C. (Jack Britt HS)
Named to the All-America teams of PrepStar, Riddell Footwear, Borderwars.com and Max Emfinger ... Rated as the nation's No. 3 tight end and No. 77 overall prospect by Rivals.com ... Ranked as the No. 3 player in North Carolina by the Charlotte Observer ... Rated as the No. 7 tight end prospect nationally by Borderwars.com ... Ranked as the No. 1 tight end in the Atlantic Region by PrepStar ... Listed in the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Super Southern 100 ... Member of The Sporting News Hot 101 ... Listed in The Dallas Morning News Top 100 prospects nationally ... First-team All-State as a senior ... Selected All-Southeast Region (USA) by Fox Sports Net ... Also named All-State and All-Region in addition to being selected All-District and All-Area by the Fayetteville Observer in 2001 ... Named the state's No. 1 prospect by the Fayetteville Observer ... Caught 11 passes for 179 yards and five touchdowns as a senior and recorded 101 tackles on defense ... Had 60 pancake blocks as a senior ... In only its second year, Britt HS finished 7-4 and barely missed the playoffs ... Was elected team captain and was named team MVP in his junior and senior seasons ... Played in the North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl on both sides of the ball ... Coach at Jack Britt HS: Richard Bailey ... Full Name: Aaron Diarius Kirkland ... Born: July 13, 1983.

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David Ligon
Defensive End, 6-5, 260
Memphis (Christian Brothers HS)
Named to the SuperPrep All-America team and also ranked by that publication as the nation's No. 28 defensive lineman prospect ... Listed on the PrepStar and Borderwars.com All-America teams ... Listed as the nation's No. 19 strongside defensive end prospect by Rivals.com ... Tom Lemming named him preseason All-America before his senior year ... PrepStar lists him as the No. 13 defensive lineman in the Southeast ... Selected to the Super Southern 100 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ... SuperPrep says Ligon is the state's No. 2 prospect, while the Knoxville News Sentinel says he is No. 6 overall in Tennessee ... Received first-team all-state honors as a junior from the Tennessee Sports Writers Association ... Named to the all-metro team by the
Memphis Commercial-Appeal as a junior ... Senior season was cut short by a fractured fibula in the second game against Memphis Hamilton ...Three year starter at tight end and offensive tackle and defensive end ... Had 12 tackles, two sacks and nine quarterback pressures prior to his injury ... As a junior, recorded 74 tackles, eight sacks, 12 quarterback pressures, four fumbles caused and three recovered ... Best game of junior season came against Memphis Melrose, with six tackles, six pressures, one sack and forced one fumble ... In 2000, had 15 tackles (10 solo), two sacks and two blocked field goals against McCallie ... Also competes on the track team, where he has garnered all-metro honors as a shot putter, with a toss of 58-7 ... Coach at Christian Brothers HS: G. David Ligon (his father)... Full name: David Christopher Ligon ... Born: Jan. 12, 1984.

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Jonathan Mapu
6-3, 265 - Defensive End / Tackle
Kahuku, Hawaii (Kahuku HS)
Earned first-team All-America honors from Parade Magazine, PrepStar, SuperPrep, Borderwars.com, and Max Emfinger ... Named second-team All-America by Student Sports ... Ranked as the No. 3 defensive end and No. 33 overall prospect by Rivals.com ... Rated as the No. 12 defensive tackle prospect nationally by Borderwars.com ... Listed on The Sporting News Hot 101 ... Member of the PrepStar Dream Team and listed as the No. 4 defensive lineman in the west region ... SuperPrep ranks him as the No. 30 prospect in the Far West and No. 2 in Hawaii ... A two-time All-State selection ... Helped lead Kahuku to back to back state titles as a junior and senior ... Named Hawaii's Defensive Player of the Year as a senior ... Also stars for the basketball team at Kahuku ... Coach at Kahuku: Siuaki Livai ... Full Name: Jonathan Scott Mapu ... Born: April 16, 1984.

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Ruben Mayes
Fullback, 6-2, 240
Memphis (Ridgeway HS)
Listed as the nation's No. 8 fullback prospect by Rivals.com ... SuperPrep named him to their All-Region team and listed him as the No. 8 prospect in the state ... The Knoxville News Sentinel listed him as the state's No. 15 prospect ... Named first-team Class 3A All-State as a junior (offense) and senior (defense) ... Named the Memphis Back of the Year by The (Memphis) Commercial-Appeal in 2000 ... Also named to the MIAA 3A/2A All-Metro team by The Commercial-Appeal in 2000 and 2001... Named to the 2002 TACA team for the Tennessee-Georgia All-Star Game ... Twice selected Player of the Week by the Memphis Touchdown Club ... Rushed for 1,612 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior ... Followed that with 1,339 yards and 19 touchdowns his senior season ... Team record 39-12 his four years at Ridgeway ... Also recorded 56 tackles and nine sacks from his linebacker position as a senior ... Best game as a junior saw him rush for 226 yards and five touchdowns against Dyer County ... Best senior game was a 225-yard effort with two touchdowns against Westwood ... A four-year starter on defense and a three-year offensive starter ... Coach at Ridgeway HS: John Cooley ... Full name: Ruben Kenneth Mayes ... Born: July 15, 1983.

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Marvin Mitchell
6-3, 230 - Linebacker / Tight End
Norfolk, Va. (Lake Taylor HS)
Listed as the No. 56 Linebacker prospect nationally by Rivals.com ... Selected as second-team All-Tidewater by the Virginia Pilot ... Listed as a top 125 linebacker by Borderwars.com ... Preseason All-Atlantic Coast team by Tom Lemming ... Named to SuperPrep's MidAtlantic team and ranked as the No. 38 prospect in Virginia ... Voted second-team All-East Region by the coaches ... Selected All-District as both a tight end and linebacker, also voted co-MVP by the coaches ... Three-year starter at linebacker and two-year starter at tight end ... As a junior, caught 35 passes for 497 yards, recorded 67 tackles and 12 sacks ... Caught 29 passes for 500 yards and recorded 131 tackles, six interceptions, five sacks, caused four fumbles and recovered two on defense as a senior ... Voted team co-MVP his senior season ... Team posted a combined 17-13 record his three years at the school ... Registered 18 tackles in a game against Booker T. Washington HS his senior season ... Also plays averages 12 points and 13 rebounds for the basketball team and runs the 400 meters and throws the shot put for the track squad ... Team coach at Lake Taylor HS: Hank Sawyer ... Full Name: Marvin Lee Mitchell ... Born: Oct. 21, 1984.

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Leon Pinky
Tight End, 6-3, 260
Northridge, California (College of the Canyons)
Enrolled at UT in January 2002... Two-year starter at tight end for College of the Canyons (Calif.) ... Listed as the No. 47 junior college prospect in the nation by SuperPrep ... Ranked as the No. 30 overall tight end prospect in the country by Borderwars.com for 2002 ... Named first team Western State Conference as a freshman at tight end and second team all-conference as a sophomore at wide receiver ... Made 38 catches in his junior college career, while gaining 640 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns ... At Granada Hills High, earned all-conference honors in his junior and and senior seasons ... Made 100 catches for 1,581 yards and 14 touchdowns in his career ... College of the Canyons coach: Chuck Lyons ... Full name: Leon Lee Pinky ... Born: Nov. 9, 1980.

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Gerald Riggs Jr.
Running Back, 5-11, 217
Chattanooga (Red Bank HS)
Considered by most services as the top prospect in Tennessee ... Received All-America accolades from PrepStar, Parade Magazine, SuperPrep, Tom Lemming, Borderwars.com and Riddell Footwear ... Ranked as the state's No. 1 prospect by the Knoxville News Sentinel and SuperPrep ... Rated as the No. 4 running back and the No. 26 overall prospect in the country by SuperPrep ... Listed as the nation's No. 3 running back and No. 5 overall prospect by Tom Lemming ... Rivals.com says Riggs is the country's No. 2 running back and No. 11 overall prospect ... Two-time 4A All-State selection ... Two-time Tennessee Mr. Football (back) choice (Class 5A as junior, Class 4A as senior) ... Listed among the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Super Southern 100 and the Dallas Morning News' Top 100 prospects nationally ... PrepStar lists Riggs as the No. 5 prospect in the Southeast region ... Winner of the Chattanooga Times-News Free Press Best of Preps award for football in 2001 ... Member of the East team in the U.S. Army All-American game in January 2002 ... Led team to Class 5A state title over Murfreesboro Riverdale as a junior in 2000, earning state championship game MVP honors ... Rushed for 2,437 yards and 39 TDs as a junior ... Added 1,725 yards and 27 TDs as senior ... Also played linebacker at Red Bank, where he finished his career with 225 tackles ... In 1999, had 25 carries for 325 yards against Hixson, with four TDs (three rushing and an 85-yard kickoff return) ... In 2000, had five rushing touchdowns against Bradley Central ... A four-year high school starter (free safety as a freshman, linebacker as a junior and senior and running back his last three years) ... Team had 37-12 record during his career, making playoffs all four years ... Named 2001 Bobby Dodd National Back of the Year by Atlanta Touchdown Club ... Holds school career records for scoring (550), rushing yards (6,046), touchdowns (90) and rushing attempts (724) ... Also holds school game records for longest rush (98) and yards in a game (325) ... Season records for points (244), rushing yards (2,437) and touchdowns (39) ... Also a member of the track team, where he has a best time of 10.6 seconds in the 100 meters ... Coach at Red Bank HS: Tom Weathers ... Full Name: Gerald Antonio Riggs Jr. ... Born: Sept. 28, 1983.

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Antwan Stewart
Back, 6-0, 180
Dumfries, Va. (Potomac HS)
Named to the Prepstar All-America team, and the publication also lists him as the No. 6 running back in the Atlantic region ... Ranked as the No. 23 cornerback prospect in the nation by Borderwars.com ... Rivals.com says he is the nation's No. 32 running back prospect ... SuperPrep rates him as Virginia's No. 26 overall prospect and lists him on their All-Mid-Atlantic team ... Selected all-region both as a defensive and offensive player, playing in the 3A classification ... During his junior season, Potomac finished 11-2 after losing in the state final ... Team finished 9-3 his senior year, losing in the regional final ... Best game was against Osborne, when he had five TDs in the first half on two punt returns and three via rushing ... As a punt returner, scored three touchdowns this season ... Rushed for 1,147 yards and 14 TDs as a senior ... Also runs track, where he has turned in a 10.4-second 100 meter time ... Coach at Potomac HS: Ben Stutler ... Full Name: Antwan Lamar Stewart ... Born: November 5, 1983.

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Rob Smith
Offensive Line, 6-5, 306
Fort Thomas, Ky. (Highlands HS)
Named first-team All-America by Parade Magazine, USA Today, Student Sports, Tom Lemming, SuperPrep, Reebok and PrepStar ... Listed as the No. 5 offensive guard and No. 95 overall prospect nationally by Rivals.com ... Ranked as the No. 11 offensive lineman by Borderwars.com ... Ranked as the No. 5 offensive lineman and No. 61 overall prospect by Tom Lemming ... Member of the PrepStar Dream Team ... Played on the East team in the U.S. Army All-America Bowl in January 2002 ... Listed as the nation's No. 17 offensive lineman and Kentucky's No. 1 overall prospect by SuperPrep ... Named to the Super Southern 100 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution ... Named Kentucky's Gatorade Player of the Year ... Finalist for Kentucky's Mr. Football award in 2001 ... Named District and Conference Player of the Year as a senior ... Named to the All-Northern Kentucky team by the Cinncinati Inquirer ... Two-time All-State by the Kentucky sportswriters ... Given the prestigous "That's My Boy Award" by the Cincinnati coaches and media to the best citizen/student-athlete ... Helped lead Highlands to three straight Class 3A state titles from 1998-2000 ... Helped lead Highlands to an overall 53-5 record during his four years ... More than 400 career pancake blocks ... Favorite game memory was playing against nationally-ranked Elder HS at Cincinnati's Paul Brown Stadium in front of 35,000 ... Coach at Highlands HS: Bill Mueller ... Full Name: Robert
William Smith ... Born: March 8, 1984.

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Jonathan Wade
Wide Receiver, 5-11, 180
Shreveport, La. (Evangel Christian HS)
Listed as the nation's No. 6 athlete and No. 84 overall prospect by Rivals.com
... Borderwars.com ranks him as the No. 15 cornerback prospect nationally ...
Tom Lemming lists Wade as the nation's No. 14 athlete prospect ... Listed
among the top 100 prospects nationally by the Dallas Morning News and on The Sporting News Hot 101 ... SuperPrep rates him as the No. 23 prospect in
Louisiana ... Named to PrepStar's All-Southeast region team ... Listed as a
preseason All-America performer by Tom Lemming and SuperPrep ... Named
All-District and All-City by The Shreveport Times ... Class 5A All-State
performer as a senior ... Helped lead team to 5A state championship in 2001
... Recorded 13 receptions for 229 yards and 4 touchdowns in his career as a
receiver ... As a junior, had 10 tackles, 7 PBUs and 2 interceptions ... Recorded 24 tackles, 30 PBUs and three interceptions as a senior ... Teams
have gone 54-3 in his career, including three Class 5A state titles and a 1999
national championship ... Was a three-year starter at cornerback and a
two-year starter at wide receiver ... Best game as defensive back was against
Holy Cross, with seven PBUs in holding one of the state's top receivers
without a catch ... Also an accomplished track athlete ... Won the 200 meters
with a time of 20.95 at the 2001 World Youth Championships ... Also won the
state 100 and 200 meter titles in 2001 ... Holds the state record in the 200
meters (21.03), and his best 100 meters time is 10.15 ... Was Louisiana 2001
Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year ... Was All-City, All-District and
All-State MVP in track his junior season by The Shreveport Times ... Named to
the Principal's List in 2001 and an Honor Roll student for the past three
years ... Coach at Evangel Christian HS: Dennis Dunn ... Full name: Jonathan
Charles Wade ... Born: March 27, 1984.

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James Wilhoit
Placekicker/Punter, 6-0, 190
Hendersonville (Hendersonville HS)
Regarded by most services as the best kicking prospect in the country ...
Received first team All-America honors from Parade Magazine, PrepStar,
SuperPrep, Student Sports and Borderwars.com ... Rated as the No. 1 kicking
prospect by Rivals.com, PrepStar and Borderwars.com ... Listed as the No. 4
prospect in the state by the Knoxville News Sentinel and No. 5 in the state by
SuperPrep ... Named the No. 1 kicker on the PrepStar Dream Team ... Named to the Fox Sports Net All-South team ... Named Mid-State defensive player of the year by The Tennessean ... Named Region 5 special teams player of the year ... Received Class 5A All-State honors as a junior and senior ... Holds state records for field goals in a season (21) and career (32) ... Connected on
11-of-21 field goals as a junior, with a long of 53, and placed 81 percent of
his kickoffs through the end zone ... Added a 42.3-yard punting average ... As
a senior, connected on 21-of-35 field goals, with a long of 58, and a 78 percent touchback percentage... Added a 43.2 yard punt average ... Made 18-of-20 field goal attempts inside 45 yards as a senior ... Thirteen of his missed field goals were from 50 yards or more ... Helped his team to a state runner-up finish his senior season, setting a state championship game punting average record of 49 yards against Murfreesboro Riverdale ... Named to the TACA team for the Tennessee-Kentucky All-Star game in 2002 ... Member of the All-State Chorus in high school ... Coach at Hendersonville HS: Bruce Hatfield ... Full Name: James Howell Wilhoit ... Born: June 30, 1983.

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Gibril Wilson
Defensive Back, 6-1, 190
San Jose, California (City College of San Francisco)
Enrolled at UT in January 2002 ... Attended City College of San Francisco prior to enrolling at UT ... Listed as the No. 2 defensive back and the No. 25 overall junior college prospect by Rivals.com ... Listed as the No. 2 safety and No. 45 overall junior college prospect in the JCFootball.com 101 ... Listed as the No. 17 overall junior college prospect nationally by SuperPrep ... Borderwars.com ranks him as the No. 7 overall safety prospect in the nation for 2002 ... Named first team junior college All-America as a sophomore ... All-Golden Gate Conference as a freshman and sophomore ... Had 135 career tackles, 9 1/2 sacks and 5 interceptions while at CCSF ... Helped CCSF win two national, state and conference titles ... Attended Oak Grove High in San Jose ... City College of San Francisco coach: George Rush ... Full name: Gibril Donald Wilson ... Born: Nov. 12, 1981.

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2002 Football Signing Day - UT Official Signing List

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