Story by Zach Scott, Contributing writer
Murray State football Head Coach Mitch Stewart and his staff worked hard this offseason by hauling in 25 commitments for his program on National Signing Day.
Following a disappointing 3-8 campaign this year, Stewart made recruiting a priority to try and get this program where he wants it to be.
“Recruiting is a lifeline; it’s what we love to do,” Stewart said.
Stewart wanted to emphasize improvements to the offensive line this offseason, signing nine offensive linemen in this recruiting class.
The offensive line recruits included: Nick Courinos, from Phoenix, Arizona, Oistin Jones, from Fort Myers, Florida, E.J Rheinecker, from Belleville, Illinois, Dallas Danner, from Tunica, Mississippi, Michael Gause, from Byhalia, Mississippi, Jacob Frye, from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Cole Williamson, from Sharpsburg, Georgia, Ty McCaskill from Mishawaka, Indiana and Christopher Georgia, from Warner Robins, Georgia.
Stewart also concentrated on improvements to the defensive side of the ball, especially at the cornerback and safety positions.
Murray State’s new defensive backs included: Bobby Jackson, from Clarksville, Tennessee, Dior Johnson, from Detroit, Michigan, Edmond McGhee, from Champaign, Illinois, Jarad McCray, from Nashville, Tennessee, Marcis Floyd, from Louisville, Kentucky, Glenn Adams, from Montgomery, Alabama, Brantley Seadrow, from Sarasota, Florida and Davonta Wilson, from Miami, Florida.
Stewart also added eight athletic playmakers on offense, five wide receivers and three running backs. The Racers struggled running the ball last season, being held to under 100 yards rushing in nine of their 11 games. In two of those games, the Racers ran for negative yards.
The wide receivers included Armani Hayes, from West Palm Beach, Florida, Jacob Bell, from Vero Beach, Florida, Cameron Garrett, from Louisville, Kentucky, Jared McCray, from Nashville, Tennessee, Malik Honeycutt, from Tallahassee, Florida.
The running backs are Justin Connor, from Sardis Mississippi, Quarderman Sloan, from East Point, Georgia, and Cory Thomas, from Attala, Alabama.
Stewart is especially excited about Sloan getting to campus.
“When you give him the ball, he can go,” Stewart said regarding Sloan. “Really shifty and electric player.”
Stewart said in the past he focused on “really big and really small guys” when it came to his playmakers, but this year he tried to bring in some “medium-sized” guys to help even out the field.
The last area that Stewart and his staff focused on was the defensive line, bringing in six at that position. The new Racers on the defensive line include Brandon Legendre, from Brea, California, KJ Presley, from Trussville, Alabama, Blake Hester, from Birmingham, Alabama, Scotty Humpich, from Louisville, Kentucky and Amari Ferdinand, from Deerfield Beach, Florida.
Stewart also was able to land Matz Peters, from Cologne, Germany.
“He’s what you think a German would be like,” Stewart said about Peters and his build.
The linebackers include Anthony Koclanakis, from Anaheim, Florida, Dametri Hill, from Winter Garden, Georgia and Darnel Victor, from Melbourne, Florida.
Stewart also brought in two quarterbacks in this class, Garrett Bass, from Woodstock, Georgia and Michael Hiers, from Mobile, Alabama.
Bringing in multiple quarterbacks was something Stewart planned to do.
“The quarterback position is different; you’re always one turned ankle away from the next guy, you better have another one ready.”
“As you can see, we really tried to make an effort to go down to Georgia and Florida…we really wanted to make a presence there,” Stewart said.
The Racers welcome nine and four recruits from the Sunshine and Peach states, respectively.
Murray State kicks off its 2018 football season on Thursday, Aug. 30 against Southern Illinois at Roy Stewart Stadium.
