MonticelloLive

The University of Arkansas at Monticello filled an urgent need at quarterback by signing three high school signal callers to letters of intent on National Signing Day Wednesday.

Boll Weevil head coach Gwaine Mathews gained the signatures Scott Buisson, the Louisiana Coaches Association 5A most valuable player, Stuttgart’s versatile Joseph Lockwood, an all-state selection in both football and baseball, and Blake Barousse of Lafayette, La., the Louisiana district 2-5A offensive MVP.

“We knew going into this recruiting period that we needed quarterbacks and the three that we signed will give us a lot of depth and talent at that position, “ said Mathews. “The only thing that kept Scott Buisson from being a big-time Division I recruit is he’s not 6-3 or 6-4. We think we got a real steal there. Joseph Lockwood is a great athlete who seems to excel at whatever sport he tries. Plus he’s a top student who could have gotten an academic scholarship to almost any school in Arkansas. Barousse is another guy who was recruited by D-1’s but because of his size, we were able to get him.”

Other signees include a pair of massive offensive linemen – Tripp Boatner, 6-5, 335, of Lee County High School in Leesburg, Ga., and Dominique Lambert, 6-0, 310, of John Ehret High School in the New Orleans suburb of Marrero.

The Weevils also signed John Ehret High athlete Joseph Accelus, 6-2, 215, who played running back, defensive end, linebacker and safety. Accelus projects as a free safety in college.

Also signing with the Boll Weevils was wide receiver Dandrick Weatherby, 6-2, 180, of Kosciusko, Miss., who received an offer from LSU last summer.

The Weevils added defensive help with the signing of Monticello linebacker Lee Moore, 5-11, 225; Tim Morrell, a 6-0, 290-pound defensive lineman from Leesburg, Ga.; Fordyce High’s Julius Rogers, a 6-0, 180-pound defensive back; and Chad Cheek, 6-2, 190, a versatile athlete who played quarterback as a senior at East Ridge High School in Clermont, Fla., but projects as a cornerback at UAM.

The Weevils also added the signature of Fred Leak, a 6-1, 185-pound defensive back from Independence (Kan.) Community College.

UAM also added four transfer players in January. They are running back Cornelius Blount of Kentwood, La., and Southwest Community College; quarterback Mike Dunn of Orlando, Fla., and East Central (Miss.) Community College; tackle-fullback Kenneth Turner of Marrero, La., who transferred from the University of Memphis; and quarterback Justin Tyler of Gray, Ga., by way of Georgia Military College. Each of the transfers has enrolled at UAM and will take part in spring practice.

For more information, check out UAM’s sports page.