Indiana State inks 18 to football national letter of intent

 

TERRE HAUTE, IN (2-1-2006) – Second-year Indiana State head football coach Lou West announced today (Feb. 1) the inking of 18 student-athletes to national letters of intent.  Included in the 2006 signing class are four mid-year transfers that are presently enrolled at ISU, two other junior college transfers and 12 high school seniors.

 

The Indiana State football program has improved itself with a tremendous upgrade in team speed.  ISU focused
on bringing in athletes that will be able to contribute immediately and fit into West's systems on both sides of the
ball.

 

"We have signed a very athletic group of kids," head coach Lou West commented.  "All of these athletes play hard and come from programs that have coaches which take pride in running successful programs. This is a good group of hard-working kids. We hope that these young athletes will come in and make an immediate impact in a positive way on our program."

 

Giving the signing class a local flavor is Kyle Toney (Terre Haute, Ind./South), who will get a look at both the quarterback and safety positions for the Sycamores. He lettered in football and basketball for multiple seasons for the Braves. He holds the MIC record of 475 single-game passing yards and was a two-time All-Wabash Valley selection.

 

Rodney and Russell Dedeaux (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side) are twin brothers who each garnered first team all-state honors as prepsters. ISU also signed Charles Dowdell (Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop) to build up depth at the quarterback position.

 

Mid-year transfers Dominic Howard (Judson Valley, N.Y., Randallstown), Brian Jackson (Lansing, Mich./Western Michigan), Reilly Murphy (San Diego, Calif./Grossmont J.C.) as well as Jayden Everett (Newton, Ind./Coffeyville J.C.) joined ISU at the start of the spring semester and will participate in spring football drills.

 

Also joining ISU this season will be Darrius Gates (Country Club Hills, Ill./Hillcrest), Henry Lemons (Colerain, Ohio/Colerain), Andre London (Hammond, Ind./Morton), Donye McCleskey (Chaminade, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne), Eric Monroe (Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West),  Brodis Morris (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern), Evan Parker (Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville), Quinton Scott (Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side), Scooter Simpson (Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington) and David Wright (Scarborough, Texas/Blinn J.C.)

 

2006 Indiana State Football National Signing Day Class

Name                        Position        Ht.     Wt.      Class                Hometown/Previous School
Rodney Dedeaux            DB           5-10    180       Fr.           Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side
Russell Dedeaux             DB           5-10    170       Fr.           Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side
Charles Dowdell             QB            6-0     190       Fr.           Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop
Jayden Everett              LB            6-1     210       So.           Newton, Ind./Coffeyville J.C.
Darrius Gates                RB            5-9     170       Fr.            Country Club Hills, Ill./Hillcrest
Dominic Howard             CB           5-10    190       So.           Judson Valley, N.Y./Randallstown
Brian Jackson               WR            6-4     212       Jr.            Lansing, Mich./Western Michigan
Henry Lemons                CB           5-11   180        Fr.           Colerain, Ohio/Colerain High
Andre  London               WR           6-3    215        Fr.            Hammond, Ind./Morton
Donye McCleskey           DB            6-0    200        Fr.           Chaminade,  Ohio/Chaminade-Jul.
Eric Monroe                  TE             6-6    225        Fr.           Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West
Brodie Morris              DE/TE           6-7    230        Fr.           Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern
Reilly Murphy                 QB            6-3    220        Jr.           San Diego, Calif./Grossmont J.C.
Evan Parker                   QB           5-10   190        Fr.           Merrillville,  Ind./Merrillville
Quinton Scott                S             5-10   185        Fr.           Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side
Scooter Simpson            ATH          6-0     200       Fr.           Indianapolis,  Ind./Arlington
Kyle Toney                  QB/S           6-1    187        Fr.          Terre Haute, Ind./South
David Wright                 DT             6-3    303        Jr.           Scorborough, Texas/Blinn J.C.


Rodney Dedeaux
Defensive Back/Freshman
Fort Wayne, Ind./Fort Wayne South
5-10, 180


Named all-state, Top 33, All-SAC and all-conference … Lettered four years in football …
High School football team first in school history to reach semi-state … Plans to major in
personal training and health education

Russell Dedeaux
Defensive Back/ Freshman
Fort Wayne, Ind. /Fort Wayne South
5-10, 170


Named first team all-state, All-SAC, all-area (Northeast), and Big 33… In high school let-
tered four years in football, four years in track, and two years in basketball … In football,
his team was first in school history to reach semi-state … Plans to major in education

Charles Dowdell
Quarterback/Freshman
Fort Wayne, Ind./Northrop High School
6-0, 190


Lettered four years in football, two years in basketball, and two years in track … Named
Co-MVP in football, Pre-Season Top 30 team … Elite II Quarterback participant … Plans to
major in sports medicine.

Jayden Everett
Linebacker/Sophomore
Newton, Ind./Coffeyville J.C.
6-1, 210


Lettered three years in football and three years in basketball … Named Preseason All-
American … Named first team all-conference … Plans to major in Psychology

Darrius Gates
Runningback/ Freshman
Country Club Hills, Ill./Hillcrest High School
5-9, 170


Named all-conference, all-area, and all-state … Named conference Offensive Player of the
Year, Star Newspaper Offensive Player of the Year, and Team Offensive MVP … Lettered
three years in football, three years in baseball, and one year in basketball … Holds the
school's single season rushing record of 2,070 yards and single season touchdown record
of 32 … Had 65 career touchdowns … Plans to major in Sports Management


Dominic Howard
Cornerback/Sophomore
Judson Valley, N.Y./Randallstown High
5-10, 190


Played football and lacrosse in high school … Named all-conference and Preseason All-
American … Was a team captain … Plans to major in psychology

Brian Jackson
Wide Receiver/ Junior
Lansing, Mich./Western Michigan
6-4, 212


Lettered four years in football, four years in track, two years in basketball, and two years in
swimming … Named all-state honorable mention and all-state 400m in track … Holds high
school record for most receptions … Majoring in psychology.

Henry Lemons
Cornerback/Freshman
Colerain, Ohio/Colerain High School
5-11, 180


Named all-conference … High school team won state championship … Played football,
basketball and track

Andre London
Wide Receiver/ Freshman
Hammond, Ind./ Morton Senior High School
6-3, 215


Lettered three years in football and four years in basketball … Named first team AP All-
State, first team all-area, first team all-conference and made the all-region team … Named
Offensive MVP.

Donye McCleskey
Safety/Freshman
Chaminade, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne
6-0, 200


Named all-league, all-district, All-Southwest Ohio, all-area, and All-Ohio… Lettered two
years in football … Named Most Valuable Defensive back two years in a row … Received
Team Captain Award … Plans to major in Accounting


Eric Monroe
Tight End/Freshman
Cincinnati, Ohio/Lakota West High School
6-6, 225


A two-year letterwinner in football, he also lettered in baseball for one season ... Named
Alll-GMC and All-Butler Country following his senior season ... Recorded 17 catches for 270
yards and two touchdowns last season.

Brodie Morris
Defensive End, Tight End/Freshman
Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern
6-7, 230


Named all-conference, all-county, and all-state honorable mention… Lettered two years in
football and two years in basketball … Team Leader for S.A. … Indiana State Runner-Up as
a senior … Holds school-record in sacks with 17 … Led the team in tackles for loss with 17
… Plans to major in business.

Reilly Murphy
Quarterback/Junior
San Diego, Calif./Grossmont Junior College
6-3, 220


MVP of California State Championship game … JUCAL Transfer All-State Team, Junior
College Grid-wire Scholar-Athlete All-American … Joe Roth  Academic/Athletic Excellence
Award Recipient … High School MVP, Team Captain, all-league quarterback…San Diego
Union-Tribune Scholar Athlete Award.

Evan Parker
Quarterback/ Freshman
Merrillville, Ind./Merrillville High School
5'10, 190


Lettered four years in football, three years in baseball, and one year in basketball … Re-
ceived all-state honorable mention, DAC Conference player and second team all-area hon-
ors … Most improved player his junior season … MVP and team captain his senior season …
Holds high school touchdown passing record with 39 … Plans to major in business and
marketing.

Quinton Scott
Safety/Freshman
Fort Wayne, Ind./South Side
5-10, 185


Named all-state honorable mention … Lettered four years in football … Named Player of the
Year in Fort Wayne … MVP three years … named all-area two years … Plans to major in
criminal justice


Scooter Simpson
ATH/Freshman
Indianapolis, Ind./Arlington High School
6-0, 200


Named all-conference and all-city … Lettered four years in football, three years in basket-
ball, two years in baseball and two years in track … Team MVP as a senior … Plans to major
in business.

Kyle Toney
Quarterback, Safety/ Freshman
Terre Haute, Ind./South
6-1, 187


Lettered four years in football and two years in basketball … two time all-state honorable
mention, named to Tremendous 26, Preseason Indiana Top 50, two-time Herald Times
junior all-state special mention and Herald Times honorable mention … Three time all-
county, two-time, all-county MVP, two time outstanding offensive back award, two time All-
MIC Conference and two time All Wabash Valley … Holds a MIC record of 475 single game
passing yards … Plans to major in marketing.

David Wright
Defensive Tackle/ Junior
Schorborough, Texas/Blinn J.C.
6-3, 303


At Blinn J.C., recorded 44 tackles, including 10 for losses ... Recorded four sacks and 11
quarterback hurries with an interception ... Also had three fumble recoveries ... At
Scarborough H.S., was an first team all-conference and all-district for two years ... Voted
Most Athletic and played offensive line with 32 pancake blocks and no sacks allowed in two
seasons ... Majoring in Criminology.


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Revised: February 01, 2006 .