ARKADELPHIA, Ark.- Following a 2011 season in which they captured the inaugural Great American Conference championship, the Ouachita Tigers look forward to future success with the announcement of their signing class for the Class of 2012. The Tigers signed a total of 15 players, including 11 from the state of Arkansas and four from the state of Texas. The class is very diverse, including eight offensive players, six defensive players and a special teams player.
 
“What this class lacks in numbers it makes up for in quality,” said offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Brett Shockley. “This staff has put together another great high school signing class to carry on the tradition that we have going at Ouachita. This class addressed all of our needs and has the potential to be like the championship class that we just graduated.”
 
Ouachita shares this news after finishing the 2011 season as the only team in the state of Arkansas with a winning record over the past four seasons. The Tigers look to fill the places of their 18 graduating seniors, 16 of which are four year graduates, who had a combined record of 26-14 during their time at Ouachita.
 
 “We are really proud of our senior class,” said Head Coach Todd Knight. “They were guys who stayed with it, paid the price and helped to put our program in the regional and the national spotlight. We are proud of their dedication and the example they have set for the younger players, as well as the high standards that they have set for the Ouachita football program.”
 
On the offensive side of the ball, the Tigers signed four offensive linemen, all from the state of Arkansas, a record-setting quarterback, two explosive wide receivers and a big-bodied tight end to carry on the tradition of dominating tight ends.
 
“Our biggest need offensively was filling spots of three All-Conference linemen,” commented Knight. “We feel like we accomplished this goal by filling them with quality high school talent.”
 
On the defensive side of the ball, the Tigers focus was athleticism, they accomplished this by signing two explosive linebackers and four athletically gifted defensive backs.
 
“We look to improve our secondary and our ability to defend the pass,” Knight said. “We feel like the athleticism that we added in the secondary as well as the quality of our returning defensive line will give us a chance to improve defensively.”
 
The Tigers also added a kicker/punter to the roster.
 
The Tigers return 44 lettermen for the 2012 season, including 15 on the offensive side of the ball and 25 on the defensive side of the ball and four special teams players. Among these returning letterman are six All-Conference players and the Great American Conference Player of the Year at quarterback.
 
Ouachita's annual spring game will be held on March 10 at A.U. Williams Field. Ouachita begins spring practices on February 13.
 

 
Signees are listed in alphabetical order by last name:
 
Markel Bulliner          (6'0, 180)         DB       Fordyce, AR (Fordyce HS)

Bulliner earned 9 athletic letters while starring at Fordyce HS. He earned each in Football, Basketball, & Track.  In his senior campaign for the Redbugs, Bulliner had 29 Receptions for 665 yds and 6 TD's on offense.  While on Defense he had 65 tackles and 5 interceptions with an int. return long of 73yds.  His special teams stats are equally impressive with 6 punt returns for a 32.83 yd average per return and 1 TD.  He also had 10 Kick-Off returns for 460 yards and 2 TD's.  Markel was also ALL-State in Basketball for the 2010 and ALL-State in Track for the 2011 Season.  He has also been a 2 year member of the Arkansas Wings Basketball Organization.
Coach Tim Rodgers says: “Markel is a stellar athlete who has great range on the field. He can run sideline to sideline and brought great athleticism to our secondary while being able to communicate and get our defense lined up.”
 
Aaron Garrett   (6'3, 200)     WR      La Porte,TX (La Porte HS)
 
Garrett capped off his career at La Porte High by receiving 1^st-Team All-District Honors in 5A at Defensive Back. In 2010, he was also named a 1^st-Team All-District selection at defensive back. During his senior season, Garrett recorded 18 receptions at wide receiver for a total of 233 yards and four touchdowns while also recording two interceptions as a defensive back.
Coach Jeff Lareau says:  “Aaron is going to develop into a great college player he has all the intangibles and he's just learning to play the game.  He can develop into a deep threat that will create lots of physical mismatches for smaller cornerbacks.”
 
Christon Garrett        (6'1, 185)        LB       Ashdown, AR (Ashdown HS)
 
Garrett earned 6 varsity letters while being a Football and Basketball star at Ashdown.
Garrett was named All-State, All-District, as well as All-Southwest at the linebacker position during the 2011 season. Garrett was also named an All-District Linebacker during the 2010 season at AHS. He led his team with 94 tackles during his 2011 campaign, including 12 tackles for loss, two interceptions and 4.4 sacks. Garrett was also voted his team captain. 
Coach Matt Richardson says: “Christon has some of the best range of motion and instincts he's seen at the linebacker Position.  He has great intangibles as a team leader and competitor.”

Kendrick Henderson              (5'11, 175)     DB       Hooks, TX (Hooks HS)
 
Kendrick was a three sport standout at Hooks earning 9 varsity letters in Football, Basketball, & Track.  During his senior year at Hooks High School, Henderson was a 1st Team All-District selection at the cornerback position and was also named as an Honorable Mention selection as a running back.  This helped earn Honorable Mention All-State honors for his senior season. His junior year, Henderson was named 1st Team All-District at cornerback and wide receiver, while he was named an Honorable Mention selection at cornerback during his sophomore season. Henderson recorded 60 tackles, three forced fumbles and two interceptions in 2011, while racking up 180 tackles, seven interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries during his time at Hooks. 
Coach Art Jeanis says: “Kendrick is quite possibly the most explosive player at Hooks in a long time.  He takes hard plays and makes them look easy.  He is never out of position because of his athleticism.”
 
Jamarlin Jackson       (5'10, 175)     WR      Clarendon, AR (Clarendon HS)
 
Jackson was a two-sport athlete at Clarendon, lettering in football, as well as basketball. While on the gridiron, Jackson was a key piece of the Clarendon offense and defense, recording 3,180 yards on the ground and 3,123 passing yards. During his time on the offensive side of the ball, Jackson also recorded 600 receiving yards for nine touchdowns. Jackson returned kicks and punts, recording over 1,500 return yards. Jackson was a two-time All-State selection in Clarendon, while also being named All-Conference three times. Jackson was chosen to participate in the AAA All-Star Game at both wide receiver and defensive back. Jackson was also an offensive force on the basketball team, averaging 26 points per game while racking up more than 1,800 points over his career. He was a three-time All-State and All-Conference selection and was an All-Star selection for his play during his senior year.
Coach Hugh Lumpkin says: “Jamarlin is the most exhilarating athlete to play in these parts in a long time. He can change the game at the drop of a hat with a TD catch or a KO or Punt Return. He follows a long line of great players to come through Clarendon over the past decade.  There's no doubt Jamarlin has the talent to make it to the next level.”
 
Corey Johnson         (5'11, 170)      DB       Schertz, TX (Emporia St.)
 
Johnson collected seven varsity letters, including three in football and four in track. Johnson participated in the regional finals in track as a hurdler. Johnson was All-District and All-Region at cornerback and was a regional finalist in the 4x100 relay, 4x200 relay and the 4x400 relay. Johnson recorded 12 interceptions during his junior year of high school and was only challenged three times throughout his senior season.
Coach Kenny Washington says: “He struck fear in the minds of opposing offensive coordinators. His speed and athleticism cut the field in half.”
 
Moe Malugen               (6'0, 180)       QB      Jonesboro, AR (Jonesboro HS)
 
Malugen has been a mainstay behind the center for Coach Randy Coleman and the Hurricanes.  He has earned 6 varsity letters in Football and Baseball while starting all three years at the sports.  Malugen received a number of honors during his time at Jonesboro High, including being three time All-Conference, 2009-2011, and two-time All-State honors in 2010-2011. Malugen was an Academic All-Conference Player from 2009 to 2011 and was also named Conference Newcomer of the Year in 2009. In 2010, Malugen placed third in the U.S. Marines Top Gun QB Challenge. In 2011, he was named Channel 7 Super Team 1st Team Quarterback, Jonesboro Sun Best Under the Sun Quarterback and was also selected to play in the AAA East-West All-Star game.
Coach Randy Coleman says: “Moe is the most accurate QB in the state he can make all the throws and put the ball right where you want it. His leadership and character are beyond reproach.”
 
Curtis Martin             (5'10, 160)       DB       Warren, AR (Warren HS)
 
Curtis made a huge splash for the Lumberjacks in his first year of competition.  He led the team in tackles with 120 and also with interceptions at 6, with an interception return long of 65 yards.  Martin garnered All-Southeast Arkansas and All-Conference honors in only his season of competition. 
Coach Bo Hembree said: “The impact he made on our team after just one year is amazing.  He struck fear into opposing receivers coming over the middle.  He is the quietest, most ferocious little hitter I've ever coached.  He really does speak softly and carry a big stick."
 
Derek Morgan           (5'10, 170)       K         Greenwood, AR (Greenwood HS)
 
Jonathan Powell       (6'5, 225)         TE       Searcy, AR (Searcy HS)
 
Powell was a standout athlete during his time at Searcy High School en route to obtaining eight letters during his tenure. Powell lettered three times in football and basketball and twice in track. He was named All-State during his junior and senior season and was also named to the All-Vype Magazine Team during his junior and senior years. Powell was named Hootens All-Arkansas during the 2011 season, as well as being named to the ESPN All-Arkansas team as a senior. According to Rivals and Scout.com, Powell is a two-star recruit. Along with all of his honors on the football field, Powell also received All-Conference Track honors during his freshman year.
Coach Tim Harper says: “JP is going to do nothing but get better.  He is a long lean kid who is going to really blossom when he starts playing football full time. I can't wait to see his body over the next four years develop, he has all the tools to become another dominating tight end at Ouachita.”
 
Javin Prunty              (6'2, 260)         OL       Jonesboro, AR (Jonesboro HS)
 
During a three year career for the Hurricanes, Prunty received a number of honors. As a sophomore he was named to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette Super Sophomore Team. During his junior season at Jonesboro, Javin was named All-Conference. He followed that up with a senior season in which he was named All-Conference and All-State while helping to lead the Hurricanes to the 6-A State Semifinals. He was named the Jonesboro Chevrolet Player of the Week three times during his senior season, leading his team in knockdown blocks and not allowing any sacks during the season. He finished the season with an average blocking grade of 93 percent and before coming to Ouachita in the fall, will participate in the AAA All-Star Game this summer.
Coach Randy Coleman says: “Javin has the best feet out of all the great linemen we've had here at Jonesboro. His athleticism is that of a linebacker or tight end with the body of an offensive lineman. He has the power to dominate defensive linemen with the speed to get out on screens and work in space.”
 
Justin Rose               (6'2, 270)         OL       Sheridan, AR  (Sheridan HS)
 
Rose wrapped up his high school career by being named to the All-Southeast Arkansas All-Star Team, as well as receiving All-Conference honors. He was a three year starter and three year letterman at Sheridan High, while being named Offensive team captain during his junior and senior seasons. Rose was the recipient of the Hunter Mills Memorial Award and the 2011 “Bad Day 4 U” Player of the Year Award. Rose totaled over 100 knockdown blocks throughout his career for the Jackets, while only allowing 8 sacks over a three year period. During his career at Sheridan he lettered in Football and Track.
Coach Louis Campbell says: “Justin was the bell cow of our team. He showed up every day with his hard hat ready to work. When we needed a yard, we were confident we could get it behind Justin.”
 
Michael Russell         (6'5, 275)         OT       Charleston, AR (Charleston HS)
 
Russell helped Charleston High capture the AAA State Championship in December with a 13-1 record. He was also named AAA All State, 4AAA All Conference, and Southwest Times Record All Area only after playing one year of organized football at Charleston.  He led the team in knockdown blocks and allowed no sacks on the season.  Mike's team voted him Team Captain for the 2011 season. 
Coach Doug Loughridge says: “Mike's potential is unbelievable he is just now starting to learn the game of football. He has work ethic that won't quit and loves the weight room. He takes more pride in executing his blocking assignment than any other linemen I've ever coached.”
 
James Scott               (6'0, 230)         LB       Houston, TX  (Alief Taylor HS)
 
Scott was named a 1st-Team All-District Selection during the 2010 and 2011 seasons. He was also named Scholar Athlete of the Month during his time at Alief Taylor High School. During his junior season, Scott led his team in tackles and was voted team captain entering his senior campaign.  Scott's senior year was cut short due to injury and he only competed in 2 games on the season.  Scott was a two year letter winner in football and will be a three letter winner in track where he competes on the 4X100, 4X200, the 100 & 200 meter dash.
Coach J.D. Jordan says: “James was one of our most physical players who played a multitude of positions for us. When he went out this year it really hurt our team.  He was our leader and captain. Ouachita definitely got a steal with James I can't wait to see what he does for Tigers over the next three seasons
 
Jordan Sharp                        (6'1, 260)         OL       Arkadelphia, AR (Arkadelphia HS)
 
Sharp was a two year starter on the offensive line for the Badgers. He was named to the 2011 All-Conference 5A Southwest team and was a key cog on the offensive line for Arkadelphia in consecutive playoff appearances during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.  Sharp allowed only 2 sacks on the 2011 season.
Coach J.R. Eldridge says: “Jordan is an extremely smart center who doesn't know the word quit. He kept our offensive line in check and made all the calls. He is like having another coach on the field.”
 
-Josh Fink, Sports Information Director