ADA - With an emphasis on increased competitiveness and depth, East Central University head football coach Tim McCarty announced the signing of 37 players for the 2010 season on Wednesday.

     "We are happy with this recruiting class. We feel that we addressed several areas of concern as well as lifting the team up to have healthy competitive depth at all positions," said McCarty, who will be embarking on his second season of his second stint as the Tiger head coach.

     Included in this signing class, were eight junior college players and transfers, who came to ECU at the beginning of the semester.

OFFENSE

     Among those recruits are 6-foot, 6-inch quarterback Tyler Vanderzee, out of Mt. San Antonio Junior College (Calif.) and 5-11, 205-pound running back and junior college transfer Shomari Grant, who was the leading rusher in Dade County, Fla., as a senior and had committed to the University of Iowa out of high school.

     Vanderzee had a pass efficiency rating of 155.0 at Mt. San Antonio and was a Christian League Most Valuable Player in high school.

     "He has tremendous ball skills and pocket presence with poise. He has a strong arm and can throw a variety of balls," McCarty said.

     Depth was certainly addressed at the running back spot with the signing of Albert Richard, another junior college transfer, who rushed for 55 touchdowns in high school along with three players out of high school in Miles Jackson, Domonique Massengil and Richard Peoples.

     Peoples is the son of former Tiger Richard Peoples.

     ECU also nabbed a big tight end in 6-6, 250 Cody Nall, out of Ardmore.

     "Cody's frame allows us to have a big fella with soft hands, along with a great blocking body," said McCarty.

     On the offensive line, the Tigers landed two outstanding junior college tackles in junior Carlos Savala (6-6, 310) , who had originally signed with South Florida, and Rodney Picou (6-6, 310), who was ranked the ninth best offensive lineman in the country and was a U.S. Army All-American as a prep senior. Picou was a redshirt at Nebraska, before transferring to Riverside Community College (Calif.).

     "Carlos is a very wide person who is a terrific pass protector and Rodney is a very athletic and dominant offensive lineman," McCarty said. "Both of these players fell into our lap by word of mouth."
      Also signed for the offensive line was Desmond Farris (6-3, 290), who started on two national championship teams and protected Vanderzee at Mt. San Antonio.

     Two high school signees who can make an impact on the offensive line are Kenneth Blake, from Davis, and Eric Gardner, out of Lone Grove.

     "Both have size and great promise along with several other signees at that position," said McCarty.

     At receiver, Ricky McMurtrey, from Evans, Ga., is described as a multi-talented player, who played several positions in high school. He is the son of former Tiger Rick McMurtrey.

DEFENSE

     Up front, McCarty is expecting big things out of Lonnell Rice (6-6, 280). Rice originally committed to USC and then Kansas State out of junior college.

     "He is a superior pass rusher. He also has good speed and an enormous wing span." McCarty said.

     McCarty is also excited about nabbing Brandon Keys (5-11, 315), another junior college transfer, and Lamar Shields (6-3, 270), out of Del City High School, for the defensive line. Shields was ready to sign with Utah State, but decided to stay closer to home.

     "Brandon is a straight up physical player. He generates great power along the line of scrimmage," said McCarty. "Shields is a terrific talent."

     Dalton Hunter, at 6-3, 290, played linebacker in high school, but is also a candidate signed for the defensive line.

     "He can run and is a great fit for ECU," McCarty said.

     Two strong linebacker prospects signed out of Oklahoma City include: Jameel Whitney and Ken Berry, who was the No. 2 rated inside linebacker in Oklahoma by Rivals.com.

     "We feel fortunate to have landed Jameel. He was courted by Kansas and some other D1 schools. Ken is another great one."

     Those signed for the Tiger secondary include: Dontea Smith, a two-time All-American and Defensive Player of the Year out of Reedley College in Northern California, and Markell Walker, who rewrote the records books for interceptions at tradition-rich Carl Albert High School in Midwest City.

     "Dontae is a great playmaker. Markell is very fast with excellent coverage skills," said McCarty. "Reuben Tiller and Carlos Nazario are the same type of person as Markell in that they are very fast and have excellent coverage skills."

SPECIAL TEAMS

     Matt Berrey transfers in from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College after playing at Purcell High School.

     "He can kick the deep ball as well as control his kicks. He will make us a better team," McCarty said. "We also signed several players who are defensive backs and running backs, who are outstanding return men.

 2010 East Central University Football Signings

Name                                  Pos.     Ht.       Wt.      Hometown (Previous School)

Matt Berrey                  K         5-11     180      Purcell, Okla. (Northeastern Okla. A&M JC)

Ken Berry Jr.               LB       6-1       215      Oklahoma City, Okla. (John Marshall HS)

Kenneth Blake             OL       6-3       275      Davis, Okla. (Davis HS)

Brenden Brown            DB       5-10     190      Norman, Okla. (Norman North HS)

Michael Cane               TE        6-2       215      Okmulgee, Okla. (Okmulgee HS)

Chance Carey              DB       5-11     180      McAlester, Okla.  (McAlester HS)

Keldin Choate              LB       6-1       205      Shawnee, Okla. (Shawnee HS)

Deon Criss                   DB       5-8       180      Lancaster, Texas (Lancaster HS)

Dakota Crumbie          TE        6-2       220      Tulsa, Okla. (Booker T. Washington HS)

Desmond Ferris           OL       6-3       290      Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (Mt. San Antonio CC)

Eric Gardner                OL       6-3       290      Lone Grove, Okla. (Lone Grove HS)

Shomari Grant             RB       5-11     205      Kissimmee, Fla. (Compton CC)

Chris Hartfield             LB       6-0       230      Martinez, Ga. (Martinez HS)

Dalton Hunter              DL       6-3       290      Maysville, Okla. (Maysville HS)

Miles Jackson              RB       5-10     175      Oklahoma City, Okla. (John Marshall HS)

Brandon Keys              NT       5-11     315      Hattiesburg, Miss. (Pearl River CC)

Domonique Massengil  RB      5-11     205      Lawton, Okla. (Lawton HS)

Ricky McMurtrey        WR      5-11     185      Evans, Ga. (Lakeside HS)

Cody Nall                    TE        6-6       250      Ardmore, Okla. (Ardmore HS)

Carlos Nazario             DB       5-10     170      Lawton, Okla. (Lawton HS)

Richard Peoples          RB       5-11     185      Norman, Okla. (Norman North HS)

Rodney Picou              OL       6-6       310      Moreno Valley, Calif. (Riverside CC/Nebraska)

Sean Reed                 OC       6-1       265      Shawnee, Okla. (Shawnee HS)

Lonnell Rice                DE       6-6       275      Moreno Valley, Calif. (College of the Desert CC)

Albert Richard             RB       5-9       180      Picayune, Miss. (Pearl River CC)

Sean Rigney                 OL       6-1       280      Shawnee, Okla. (Shawnee HS)

Carlos Savala               OL       6-6       310      Fontana, Calif. (College of the Desert)

Burgess Shaw              OL       6-1       280      Sand Springs, Okla. (Charles Page HS)

Tyler Shaw                  NT       5-11     250      Edmond, Okla. (Santa Fe HS)

Lamar Shields              DL       6-3       270      Oklahoma City, Okla. (Del City HS)

D.J. Sims                     OL       6-4       260      Edmond, Okla. (Santa Fe HS)

Dontea Smith               DB       6-1       200      Deland, Fla. (Reedley CC)

Robert Thomas            QB       6-3       200      Sulphur, Okla. (Cowley County CC)

Reuben Tiller               DB       5-11     185      Ardmore, Okla. (Ardmore HS)

Tyler Vanderzee          QB       6-6       230      Chino, Calif. (Mt. San Antonio CC)

Markell Walker             DB       6-1       180      Midwest City, Okla. (Carl Albert HS)

Jameel Whitney            LB       6-1       210      Oklahoma City, Okla. (Bishop McGuiness HS)