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Rice University Athletics
Graham Announces First Recruiting Class
2/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Graham's first Owl class includes two quarterbacks, four wide receivers, two tight ends, six defensive backs, two linebackers, one running back/linebacker, and one deep snapper. Fifteen of the players are from Texas high schools.
Graham will discuss the class during a news conference at 3:30 pm (CST) in the Owl Club, a session which will be televised live on RiceOwls.com All-Access. The general public will also hear about the class in a sold-out Owl Club reception at 6 pm.
The complete list:
Name, Position, (Hgt., Wgt., 40-Speed, Hometown/High School)
Joseph Agnew, DB (6-0, 190, 4.5, Southlake/Carroll)
Max Anyiam, DB (6-1, 195, 4.6, Garland/North Garland)
Pierre Beasley, QB (6-4, 212, 4.5, Houston/Spring Westfield)
Robert Calhoun, RB/LB (6-1, 212, 4.5, Duncanville/High)
Toren Dixon, WR (6-3, 200, 4.6, Baton Rouge, La./Redemptorist)
Evan Fentriss, WR (6-0, 185, 4.4, Southlake/Carroll)
Willie Garley, LB (5-11, 175, 4.5, Victoria/Memorial)
Terrance Garmon, DB (6-1, 205, 4.5, Tyler/John Tyler)
Dale Lloyd, DB (5-10, 185, 4.4, Houston/Lamar)
Brandon Long, DS (6-1, 218 (5.0, Deer Park/High)
Drew Mehringer, QB (6-1, 200, 4.5, Mansfield/High)
Kasey Nobles, TE (6-2, 210, 4.7, Lake Butler, Fla./Union County)
Andrew Novak, WR (6-3, 200, 4.6, Ennis/High)
Patrick Randolph, DB (5-11, 160, 4.4, Tuscaloosa, Ala./Paul W. Bryant)
Andrew Sendejo, DB (6-1, 195, 4.5, Canyon Lake/Smithson Valley)
Will Shoppa, LB (6-2, 210, 4.7, Fort Worth/All Saints Episcopal)
Corbin Smiter, WR (6-2, 200, 4.5, Southlake/Carroll)
Taylor Wardlow, TE (6-6, 210, 4.7, Grapevine/High)
Joseph Agnew, DB 6-0, 190, 4.5, Southlake (Carroll) Captain of Carroll's state and national champions... Two-year starter for coach Todd Dodge... Helped the Dragons to a 47-1 record during his three seasons, including 16-0 records in both 2004 and '05... Named all-state by the Associated Press and the Texas Sports Writers Association, and to the Fort Worth area super team by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram... High school teammate of fellow Rice recruits Evan Fentriss and Corbin Smiter... Had three interceptions on the season, but two were in the state championship game against Katy... Carries a high school average of 92.159 and is part of Carroll's Success Scholars Program... Member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church... Chose Rice over Tulsa, Baylor, Texas Tech, Air Force, Vanderbilt and Duke.
Max Anyiam, DB 6-1, 195, 4.6, Garland (North Garland) Honorable mention all-state selection for coach David Farris... Three-year starter who was the defensive MVP of District 11-5A... Had 64 tackles, one interception and two forced fumbles as a senior... Had 298 tackles and six picks for his career... Also competes in track for the Raiders... Member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes... Also recruited by Minnesota, SMU, Iowa, Iowa State, and Utah.
Pierre Beasley, QB 6-4, 212, 4.5, Houston (Spring Westfield) All-greater Houston selection for coach Corby Meekins... Led the Mustangs to a 12-1 record and the Class 5A state semifinals... Most valuable player in District 22-5A and second-team all-state... Completed 70 of 96 passes for 1,479 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior, and rushed for 308 yards and eight TDs... Threw only two interceptions in 13 games in 2005... Also a starter on Westfield's undefeated basketball team... Carries a 4.3 GPA (5.0 scale)... Member of the National Honor Society and Who's Who... Chose Rice over Tulsa and Northern Illinois.
Robert Calhoun, RB/LB 6-1, 212, 4.5, Duncanville (High) All-District 7-5A running back for coach Dan Schreiber... Gained 829 yards and scored 13 touchdowns as a senior, and gained more than 1,200 yards on the ground during his high school career... Helped the Panthers to a 6-4 record as a senior... Carries a 3.2 GPA... Active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and as a youth minister in his church... Also recruited by UNLV, UCF, Indiana, and Tarleton State.
Toren Dixon, WR 6-3, 200, 4.6, Baton Rouge, La. (Redemptorist) Second-team all-District 8-3A at both receiver and safety for coach Guy Mistretta... Helped the Wolves to the Class 3A state championsip... Had 37 receptions for 570 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior... Caught three more passes for two-point conversions in 2005... For his career, had 52 catches for 786 yards and 12 TDs on offense, and 62 tackles and six interceptions on defense... Also plays basketball and runs track at Redemporist... Carries a 3.29 high school GPA... Chose Rice over Louisiana-Lafayette, Fresno State, New Mexico State, South Florida, Southern Illinois and Texas Tech.
Evan Fentriss, WR 6-0, 185, 4.4, Southlake (Carroll) All-District 5-5A pick for coach Todd Dodge... Helped Carroll to Class 5A and mythical national championship in 2005... Caught 47 passes for 953 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season... In the Dragons' final four playoff games, had 16 catches for 321 yards and five scores, including a 33-yard TD in the state championship win over Katy... High school teammate of Corbin Smiter and Joseph Agnew, fellow members of this year's Rice recruiting class... Transferred to Carroll for his senior season after earning all-District 10-5A accolades as a junior at Lake Highlands... Led the Wildcats with 16 catches in 2004... Member of Carroll's track squad... Has a 3.0 GPA... Selected Rice over SMU, Baylor and S.F. Austin State.
Willie Garley, LB 5-11, 175, 4.5, Victoria (Memorial) District 28-5A defensive player of the year for coach Jerry Campbell... The Vipers' most valuable player and captain... Named to all-area teams at linebacker by the Victoria Advocate and Corpus Christi Caller-Times... Helped Memorial to the Class 5A state playoffs in 2005... Had 100 tackles with three sacks, 19 tackles for loss, one interception, two pass deflections, three forces and one recovery as a senior... For his career, had 156 tackles, 24 TFLs and 4.5 sacks... Also competes in track for the Vipers... Carries a 3.68 high school GPA... Second-team academic all-state and academic all-district... Member of the National Honor Society, FCA, and Health Occupational Students of America... Active in his church as an usher... Also recruited by Kansas State, Baylor and Sam Houston State.
Terrance Garmon, DB 6-1, 205, 4.5, Tyler (John Tyler) All-East Texas safety for coach Thomas Brooks... All-District 12-5A selection who played in the All-American Bowl game... Had two interceptions, two recoveries and three forces for the Lions' 8-3 playoff team... Also a two-year letterman in track, and played club soccer... Regional qualifier as a junior in both hurdle events... Carries a 3.72 high school GPA, and ranks sixth in a class of 412... Member of the National Honor Society, the National Honor Roll, Who's Who Among American High School Students, and Top Teens of America... Awards include the Rotary Club Outstanding Senior and the YMCA Ralph Spence Leadership Award... Executive vice president of John Tyler's student council, and participates in the International Bacculareate Program... Church activities include the choir, ushering, and serving as treasurer for both the youth department and his Sunday School... Chose Rice over Houston, Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Texas A&M, Missouri, UTEP, SMU, TCU, Arizona, Colorado State, Tulsa and Sam Houston State.
Dale Lloyd, DB 5-10, 185, 4.4, Houston (Lamar) Two-time all-District 21-5A selection for coach Tom Nolen... Helped Lamar to district titles in 2003 and '05 and playoff bids all three varsity seasons... Had two interceptions and forced two fumbles for the Redskins' 10-1 team in '06, and had five picks and seven forces for his career... Also competes in baseball for Lamar... Has a 3.23 GPA... Elected to Who's Who Among American High School Students, is active in his church, and volunteers with the Mayor's Youth Council... Chose Rice over New Mexico, Trinity, Texas A&M-Kingsville, and Southern.
Brandon Long, DS 6-1, 218, 5.0 (Deer Park (High) Twice a special teams all-District 23-5A pick for coach Chris Massey... one of the top deep snappers in the state... Had three tackles on punt coverage as a senior... Second-team academic all-state... Helped Deer Park to a 7-4 record as a senior and a berth in the Class 5A state playoffs... Plays on the Deer baseball team... Had a 4.79 GPA (5.0 scale)... Member of the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta (math honorary)... Active in his church and PALs (Peer Assistance Leadership)... Also recruited by Northwestern, Washington, Syracuse, Northern Illinois and Boston College.
Drew Mehringer, QB 6-1, 200, 4.5, Mansfield (High) All-District 4-5A quarterback for coach Kirk Thor, a former Rice graduate assistant coach... Helped the Tigers to a 5-5 record as a senior... Completed 68 of 185 passes for 954 yards and six touchdowns as a senior, and 159 of 389 for 2,416 yards for his career... Rushed a 990 yards during his career... Also competes in baseball and track for Mansfield... Had a 3.97 GPA (4.0 scale)... Member of the National Honor Society, active in his church, and president of Mansfield's chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes... Picked Rice over Colorado State, Georgia Tech, UTEP and SMU.
Kasey Nobles, TE 6-2, 210, 4.8, Lake Butler, Fla. (Union County) Two-time all-state selection for coach Buddy Nobles, his father... Helped the Tigers to a 7-4 record and a spot in the state playoffs as a senior... Played on Union County's 2003 team which reached the state championship game... Three-time all-district pick at tight end... Named to all-area teams by the Florida Times-Union and Jacksonville Sun in 2004-05... Played in the North-South Shrine all-star game... Had 19 catches for 283 yards and three touchdowns despite playing the final nine games of the season with a broken hand... Also rushed for 42 yards on seven carries as a senior... Defensively, had 20 tackles and four sacks at linebacker... For his four-year schoolboy career, had 88 catches for more than 1,400 yards and 16 TDs, plus 75 tackles and six sacks at LB... Also competes in baseball and in weightlifting... Carries a 3.7 high school GPA... Union County's nominee for the Wendy's High School Heisman... Member of the A/B honor roll, as well as the Future Farmers of America, Future Business Leaders of America and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes... Picked Rice over Valdosta State, Georgia Southern. Charleston Southern, UCF, Wofford and Jacksonville.
Andrew Novak, WR 6-3, 200, 4.6, Ennis (High) Second-team all-state receiver for coach Sam Harrell... Three-year letterman who played on the Lions' 2004 state championship team... Helped Ennis to a 11-2 record as a senior with 95 catches for 1,365 yards and 19 TDs... Was the offensive MVP of District 14-4A as a senior, earning all-district honors after all three of his varsity seasons... Named the league's sophomore of the year in 2003... Had 232 catches for 3,346 yards and 42 TDs for his career... Also competes for the Lions in track... Carries a high school average of 96.4... Four-year member of the honor role and a member of the National Honor Society and FCA... Will graduate in the top 10 percent of his class... Also recruited by SMU, Tulsa, Baylor, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, and Colorado State.
Patrick Randolph, DB 5-11, 160, 4.4, Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Paul W. Bryant) Two-year starter for coach Scott Booth... Helped the Stampede to the state playoffs as a senior... Earned a pair of player of the week honors for his play against Tuscaloosa Central (WVUA) and Northridge (Athlete's Foot)... Holds Bryant school records for a 97-yard TD run and his 13.6 yards per carry average on the season... In track, holds Bryant school records in the high jump (6'4") and long jump (21'8")... Has a 3.3 high school GPA... Teaches Sunday School at the First Baptist Church in Northport, Ala... Recruited by Tulsa, Alabama, Georgia Tech, Toledo and Vanderbilt... Son of Rice assistant head coach/defensive coordinator Paul Randolph.
Andrew Sendejo, DB 6-1, 195, 4.5, Canyon Lake (Smithson Valley) Two-time all-San Antonio area selection for coach Larry Hill... Helped the Rangers to a 13-2 record and the Class 5A semifinals as a senior... The Comal County defensive player of the year... Twice an honorable mention all-state pick, and a two-time all-District 26-5A honoree... Had 75 tackles, including three for losses, four interceptions, eight pass deflections, one force and one fumble recovery as a senior... Carries a 95.48 grade average... Selected Rice over Tulane, Army, North Texas, Northwestern and New Mexico.
Will Shoppa, LB 6-2, 210, 4.7, Fort Worth (All Saints Episcopal) Two-time all-state linebacker for coach Matt Cook... Two-year member of Fort Worth Star-Telegram's all-private schools team in 2004-05... Helped Saints to Division II titles in the Southwest Preparatory Conference in 2002 and again in 2004... Team captain and most valuable player for Saints as a senior linebacker/running back... Rushed for 589 yards and five touchdowns as a senior, along with one receiving TD... Defensively, credited with 89 tackles, four forces and one interception in '05... For his career, had more than 340 tackles in four seasons as a varsity starter, plus five interceptions, 12 forces, 11 recoveries... Had more than 1,250 yards rushing in his career and scored 18 TDs... Also competes in track and baseball... Son for two former Rice athletes: his father, Chris Shoppa, was a three-year football letterman (1980-82) as a defensive end, and his mother, Laura E. Wright-Shoppa, was a sprinter on Rice track teams (1982-84), once holding the school record in the 400-meter dash... Also recruited by SMU, Colorado State, Air Force and Navy.
Corbin Smiter, WR 6-2, 200, 4.5, Southlake (Carroll) Solid member of two state championship squads for coach Todd Dodge... Helped the Dragons to a 16-0 mark and a victory in the state title game against Katy... Had 52 catches for 748 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior, averaging 14.4 yards per catch... High school teammate of fellow Rice recruits Joseph Agnew and Evan Fentriss... Also competes in track and basketball at Carroll... Carries a high school GPA of 3.0... Chose Rice over New Mexico, Utah, SMU and Wyoming.
Taylor Wardlow,TE 6-6, 210, 4.7, Grapevine (High) Two-year starter for coach Gary Mullins... Member of the northeast Tarrant County super team and the all-DFW second team as a wide receiver... Shared the offensive MVP award for the Mustangs... All-District 5-5A pick... Had 66 catches for 1,003 yards and 10 TDs as a senior, and 95 for 1,450 yards and 16 scores for his varsity career... Also competes for Grapevine in track and basketball... Honorable mention all-district in basketball as a junior... Carries a 3.758 GPA (5.0 scale)... Named to Who's Who Among American High School Students, and active in the FCA and Students Standing Strong... Also recruited by Houston, Tulane, SMU, Iowa, Wyoming, Louisiana-Monroe and UTEP.
