Drew Amerson

WR, 6-0, 170

San Diego, Calif. Morse HS/Cal State-Northridge

Transfers to Troy State from Cal State-Northridge, which disbanded its program following the 2001 season

will be eligible to play immediately and have one season of eligibility remaining

earned Sports Network and Associated Press first-team I-AA All-America honors last season at CSN

recorded a school-record 97 catches for 1,244 yards and five touchdowns in 2001

also had 13 rushes for 152 yards, 15 punt returns for 112 yards and 21 kickoff returns for 406 yards for the Matadors

had a career-long rush of 42 yards against Troy State last season

recorded a career-best 15 catches for 147 yards against Portland State in the Matadors’ final game

led the Matadors in receptions, receiving yards and all-purpose yards as a junior and senior

finished as Cal State Northtridge’s all-time leader in receptions (239) and career receiving yards (2,958)

ranks second in CSN history in career touchdown receptions with 20

was redshirted as a freshman in 1998

prior to attending CSN, played football and baseball at Samuel F.B. Morse High School in San Diego, Calif.

earned All-Eastern League honors as a receiver in his junior and senior seasons also played cornerback.

Dominque Bacon

DE, 6-5, 243

St. Petersburg, Fla.

Northeast HS

Played three seasons at Northeast High School in St. Petersburg, Fla., for head coach Jerry Austin

team won the Class 4A, District 7 title as a sophomore in 1999

team won the city championship in 1999 and 2001

team posted a 23-10 record during Bacon’s career, including a 10-2 mark in 2001, when the squad advanced to the second round of the 4A playoffs

played tight end and defensive end for the Vikings

named to the second-team All-Pinellas County squad by the St. Petersburg Times as a junior, recorded 48 tackles and 16 sacks

also had 18 receptions as a tight end with four touchdowns in 2000

as a senior, he recorded 46 tackles and nine sacks on defense while recording 16 receptions and two touchdowns at tight end.

Kirbie Bodiford

OL, 6-4, 271

Montgomery, Ala.

Sidney Lanier HS

Played three seasons at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Ala., for head coach Robert Fuller

started as a junior and senior team posted a combined 23-11 record during his career, advancing to the playoffs twice, including a berth in the 6A semifinals in 1999, when the Poets won the school’s first region title since the 1970s

also played defensive end for the Poets, recording more than 70 tackles and seven sacks

graded out at 75 percent for the season

played best offensive game of the season against Northview, grading 80 percent.

Larry Brackins

WR, 6-5, 200

Dothan, Ala.

Dothan HS

Started two seasons at wide receiver and free safety at Dothan (Ala.) High School for head coach Jimmy Addison team posted a 7-3 record in 2001 and advanced to the 6A state playoffs for the second consecutive year

named to the first-team All-State squads as a senior by the Alabama Sportswriters Association and Birmingham News

named to the Dothan Eagle’s Super 12 Wiregrass squad listing south Alabama’s top college prospects as a junior and senior

also listed among the Montgomery Advertiser’s Elite 11 of top college prospects in Alabama

recorded 32 catches for 643 yards receiving and six touchdowns as a senior in 2001

had nine kickoff returns for 277 yards as a senior, a 31-yard average per return, and also rushed 22 times for 137 yards and five touchdowns in 2001

defensively, Brackins recorded 57 tackles and an interception, which he returned more than 60 yards for a touchdown against city rival Northview in a 30-10 victory

was named to the Birmingham News’ All-State squad as a junior as well after recording 43 catches for 772 yards and eight touchdowns

recorded 104 tackles and five interceptions as a junior, returning two for touchdowns.

Chris Dickerson

LB, 6-3, 217

Bartow, Ga.

Johnson County HS

Played three seasons at Johnson County High School in Bartow, Ga., for head coach Bill Bonds

played multiple positions during his career, including quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, linebacker, free safety and defensive end

will likely play linebacker at Troy State

team combined for a 28-8 record during his career, including 12-1 and 10-3 records his final two seasons, respectively

team won regional titles in 2000 and 2001

earned All-State and All-Region honors as a senior in 2001 earned All-Middle Georgia honors and was named the 2001 Region Player of the Year

was also awarded the "Heart of Georgia Two-Way Player Award" as a senior

finished junior season with 92 tackles and 12 sacks

also scored five touchdowns

finished senior season with 105 tackles, six sacks, more than 1,300 all-purpose yards and 13 touchdowns.

Marlo East

RB, 6-0, 180

Sandersville, Ga.

Washington County HS

Played three seasons as a running back and defensive back at Washington County High School in Sandersville, Ga., for coach Rick Tomberlin

earned All-State honors as a senior and All-Region honors as a junior and senior at the Class 3A school

also earned All-Middle Georgia honors as a junior and senior

rushed for 644 yards, had 246 yards receiving and 400 yards in returns as a junior

recorded 1,200 rushing yards on 179 carries (6.7 yards per carry), 210 yards receiving and 281 yards in returns as a senior

also had seven rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown as a senior, while averaging 31.2 yards per kickoff return

completed three of four pass attempts, with all three completions for touchdowns team combined for a 30-8 record during his career, including 12-2 and 11-2 marks his junior and senior seasons, respectively also runs track.

James Gardner

OL, 6-4, 280

Dothan, Ala.

Dothan HS

Started two seasons on the offensive line at Dothan (Ala.) High School for head coach Jimmy Addison

team posted a 7-3 record during his senior season in 2001 and advanced to the 6A state playoffs for the second consecutive year

listed by the Dothan Eagle among its Super 12 Wiregrass team of the top college prospects in south Alabama

earned first-team All-State honors by the Birmingham News and Alabama Sportswriters Association as a senior

graded 80 percent for the season in a system where 70 percent is above average

graded 90 percent in the team’s playoff loss to McGill-Toolen, a season best

had 101 total knockdown blocks, 28 pancake blocks as a senior

also recorded six "Big Movement" hits in 2001, where a defender is pushed back more than five yards has qualified academically with a 3.8 grade point average and 25 on the ACT.

Kenny Griffin

OL, 6-4, 275

Stockbridge, Ga.

Eagles Landing HS

Played on the offensive and defensive lines at Eagles Landing High School in McDonough, Ga., for head coach Bob Stinchcomb lists hometown as Stockbridge

earned All-Region honors on the offensive line as a junior and senior

was listed among the Atlanta South Metro area’s "Top 11" recruits

was nominated for a position in this year’s Georgia-Tennessee All-Star game team finished with a 6-4 record in 2001

also participated in track & field at ELHS, throwing the shot put and discus.

Johnny Jackson

DE, 6-6, 275

Aliceville, Ala.

Aliceville HS/East Miss. CC

The native of Aliceville, Ala., played last season at East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss., as a defensive end

finished with 50 tackles and five sacks in 2001, helping lead ECCC to a 7-4 record

team finished as the South State runner-up in 2001 earned honorable mention All-State honors in 2001 and was named among the top five junior college defensive ends by the Jackson Collegiate

played three seasons at Aliceville High School from 1997-99, helping team to the 3A state title as a sophomore in 1997 and semifinal berths in his junior and senior seasons

team posted a combined 37-6 record during his career at AHS

earned second-team All-State honors as a junior and first-team All-State honors as a senior

also earned second-team All-Region honors as a junior and first-team All-Region honors as a senior

was named team’s Defensive MVP as a senior

also played basketball in high school, helping AHS to the regional finals his senior year.

David Johnson

LB, 5-11, 220

Tampa, Fla.

Thomas Jefferson HS

Started four seasons at Class 4A Thomas Jefferson High School in Tampa, Fla., for head coach Mike Simmonds

team posted a combined 31-6 record during final three seasons, including an 11-2 mark as a senior in 2001

team won district titles in 2000 and 2001 and the regional crown in 2001

played linebacker, fullback and nose guard

TJHS defense allowed just 9.8 points per game in 2001, when Johnson recorded 112 total tackles, four interceptions, five sacks and scored a defensive touchdown

as a junior, he recorded 108 tackles, seven sacks and one interception

finished his career with more than 350 total tackles

earned All-District honors as a sophomore, junior and senior

earned All-Region and All-County honors as a senior

was also a team captain in 2001.

Bragg Knott

QB, 6-4, 210

Homewood, Ala.

Homewood HS

Played three seasons at Homewood High School in Birmingham, Ala., for head coach Bob Newton

two-year starter at quarterback

team posted a combined 27-3 record during final two seasons, winning the 5A state title in 2000 and finishing as state runner-up in 2001

earned All-Metro honors from the Birmingham News as a junior and senior

completed 94-of-153 passes for 1,015 yards and six touchdowns as a junior, throwing just three interceptions

also had 103 rushes for 570 yards and six touchdowns as a junior

as a senior, completed 91-of-132 passes for 1,109 yards and six touchdowns

had just three interceptions that season as well while rushing 60 times for 310 yards and 11 touchdowns

finished career with 2,124 passing yards (185-of-285) with 12 touchdowns rushed for 880 yards and 17 touchdowns in his career.

Matt Ray

QB, 6-3, 205

Quincy, Calif.

Quincy HS/UNLV/Butte College

The native of Quincy, Calif., played the 2001 season at Butte College in Oroville, Calif., after playing the 1999 season at UNLV

led Butte to an 8-3 record and the Northern California Conference championship in his only season

also played in junior college Holiday Bowl, earning all-conference and team MVP honors completed 168-of-281 passes for 1,990 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2001

had just two interceptions while setting six school records during the season

also recorded eight rushing touchdowns at UNLV, he started the final three games of the 1999 season, completing 36-of-67 passes for 541 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions

at Quincy High School, he starred three seasons for his father and coach, Jeff Ray, breaking 40 Northern Section career records in the process

finished his career with 6,080 career passing yards, 6,944 yards total offense and 90 total touchdowns, all Northern Section records

finished with 65 career touchdown passes, which was just two shy of the section mark

also had 25 career rushing touchdowns

as a senior in 1998, Ray led Quincy to a 10-1 record and was named All-League and All-Section while also earning Northern Section MVP honors … finished that season with 2,686 yards passing while completing 139-of-221 passes with 30 touchdowns

earned All-League honors as a sophomore and junior as well

was a regional All-American in football as a senior

also played basketball, baseball and ran track, earning All-League honors in all three sports.

Zsan Robinson

WR, 6-2, 180

Rockledge, Fla.

Rockledge HS

Played at Class 3A Rockledge (Fla.) High School for head coach Chuck Wood

earned All-State and All-Space Coast honors as a senior, when he made 54 catches for 967 yards and 14 touchdowns team won the Class 3A state championship in 2001

also kicked and punted for Rockledge

played soccer as well.

Toris Rutledge

WR, 6-3, 175

Reddick, Fla.

North Marion HS

Played at North Marion High School in Citra, Fla., for head coach Craig Damon

lists his hometown as Reddick

recorded 27 receptions for 581 yards and five touchdowns as a wide receiver in 2001 also recorded three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns, at his defensive back position in 2001

had another touchdown on a punt return

team posted an 8-3 record, won the District 3 title and advanced to the Class 3A playoffs in 2001 earned All-Area honors as a senior

was selected as part of the Sunshine Network’s "All-Gridiron Dream Team" in 2001.

Torrence "Boo" Smith

LB, 6-1, 235

Raleigh, N.C.

Garner HS

Started three seasons at Garner High School in Raleigh, N.C., for head coach Nelson Smith

team posted a combined 34-4 record during his career, including 12-1 records during his junior and senior seasons, advancing to the quarterfinals of the 4A state playoffs

team won the Tri-Six championship in 1999 and 2000 and the TAAC Six championship in 2000 and 2001

earned All-State, All-Region and All-Metro honors as a senior

earned All-District honors as a junior and senior

named Conference Player of the Year in 2001 as a senior

also named team MVP as a senior in 2001 after recording 186 tackles, 15 sacks, four interceptions and returning two fumbles for touchdowns

recorded 98 tackles as a junior and 95 as a sophomore

benches 410 pounds, squats 600 pounds and runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash.

Derron Tagger

ATH, 5-8, 160

Prattville, Ala.

Prattville HS

Played three seasons at Prattville (Ala.) High School for head coach Bill Clark

team won a share of region title in 2000 and the outright region crown in 2001

team finished 12-1 as a senior and 9-2 as a junior

selected to the Alabama Sportswriters Association first-team All-State squad as a senior

earned All-Metro honors as a junior and senior

Montgomery Advertiser’s 6A Metro Player of the Year in 2001

Team MVP as a senior

selected as the Montgomery Area Player of the Year by the Montgomery Quarterback Club

named Autauga County Offensive Player of the Year by the Prattville Progress

as a junior, played wide receiver and had 300 yards receiving with eight touchdown receptions

also had two punt returns for touchdowns

as a senior, moved to the quarterback position and recorded 1,850 all-purpose yards (1,481 rushing) with 24 rushing touchdowns

also had four punt returns for touchdowns as a senior

completed 23-of-46 passes for 377 yards

as a senior, Prattville finished first 10-0 regular season in school history, winning all four games against Montgomery 6A high schools, also a first.

Frank Taylor

WR, 6-2, 190

Moulton, Ala.

Lawrence County HS

Played three seasons at Lawrence County (Ala.) High School for head coach Tim Gillespie

team posted an 8-4 record in 2001, advancing to the second round of the Class 4A playoffs

named to the Alabama Sportswriters Association and Birmingham News Class 4A All-State teams as a senior in 2001 after recording 43 catches for 843 yards and 17 touchdowns

finished career with 35 touchdown receptions, catching 84 passes for 1,607 yards

had 28 catches for 495 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior

had 13 catches for 269 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore

also earned honorable mention all-state honors as a punter in 2000

participated in track & field also

was a member of the 2001 Class 4A state champion 4×400-meter relay team (44.64) runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash.

Martin Teal

WR, 6-5, 210

St. Petersburg, Fla.

Northeast HS

Played four seasons at Northeast High School in St. Petersburg, Fla., for head coach Jerry Austin

team won the Class 4A, District 7 title as a sophomore in 1999

team won the city championship in 1999 and 2001

team posted a 35-11 record during Teal’s career, including a 10-2 mark in 2001, when the squad advanced to the second round of the 4A playoffs

played wide receiver for the Vikings, recording 12 catches for 301 yards and three touchdowns as a senior in 2001

named to the first-team All-Pinellas County squad by the St. Petersburg Times as a senior

as a junior at defensive end, recorded 40 tackles and six sacks

also had 28 catches and seven touchdowns as a wide receiver as a junior

as a senior, recorded 45 tackles, nine sacks

also had 32 receptions with 10 touchdowns

also played basketball, earning team MVP honors as a junior.

Brenton Thomas

RB, 6-0, 185

Mableton, Ga.

Pebblebrook HS

Played three seasons at Pebblebrook High School in Mableton, Ga., for head coach Chuck Stines

played running back all three seasons, rushing for 1,242 yards and 29 touchdowns as a junior and 1,900 yards and 19 touchdowns as a senior

was listed among the Georgia "Top 50" top college prospects as a senior by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

was a two-time selection as the Cobb County Player of the Year as a junior and senior earned first-team AAAA all-state honors as a junior and senior was the Georgia AAAA Player of the Year in 2000.