Commerce, Texas - A&M-Commerce football head coach Colby Carthel announced the Lion's 2016 High School signing class of 50 incoming players from across the state of Texas.

"We're really excited about this class, for a variety of reasons, Carthel said.  "Not only were we able to sign a great bunch of athletic players with length, but we were also able to attract a lot of guys that have received many accolades academically.  A big part of building a championship program is understanding you have to be a champion off the field first, and I think these guys represent that quality."

"I would like to thank our coaches, but more importantly their wives and families, for all their hard work and sacrifice during this time of year," Carthel added.  "We were also blessed with countless members of faculty/staff members from TAMUC, that gave up their Saturday's, to help us in our recruiting efforts.  The actions of so many in the One Stop Shop and across campus, helped make a difference in the success we had on Signing Day."





Addison Mahana | LB | Spring, Texas | Spring High School
Named 1st District All-Team... Defensive MVP... Team Captain...District Champions in 2015.



Ajahn Forrester | DB | San Antonio, Texas | Madison High School
Two-year letter at Madison High at the safety position ... All-district and all-star selection.



Alex Shillow | DB | Pflugerville, TX |Pflugerville High School
Three-year letter winner ... Recorded 115 Tackles, six interceptions, four touchdowns, 28 pass break ups and five sacks ... Also had 200 punt return yards ... Named 2nd Team APSE All-State as a defensive back ... Earned academic all-state second team and academic all-district ... Named all-context at defensive back ... First Team All-District Safety 13-6A ... TXHSFB Unsung Hero Award Winner 2015 ... Honorable Mention Safety District 13-6A in 2014 ... Academic All-District in 2014 ... Also lettered for two years in baseball.



Amon Simon | OL | Humble, Texas |Atascocita High School
Named second team all-district in 2014 ... Also earned first team all-district in 2015.



Andrew Hlavinka | DL | East Bernard, Texas | East Bernard High School
Second team all-district defensive lineman in 2014 ... First team all-district defensive end in 2015...Honorable Mention All-State ... Also lettered in track & field and powerlifting.



Anthony Means | WR | Channelview, Texas | Channelview High School
Played two years of varsity football at Channelview High School ... Had 35 total receptions for 772 yards and 13 touchdowns ... First-team all district.

Antonio Lealiee | RB | Copperas Cove, Texas | Copperas Cove High School
Named first team all-district ... Earned all-area and Offensive Player of the Year ... Offensive Team MVP...Finshed the season as the No. 5 rusher in the state in 6A ... High school Records, 2nd Longest Run in School History at 97 yards, 3rd most rushing yards in a season, tied for most touchdown's in a single game with five ... Also lettered three years in track.



Armando Washington | Defensive Back | Richardson, Texas | Richardson High School
Three-year letter winner ... Best game had a touchdown, 10 tackles and two pass break ups ... Also lettered threee years in track.



Austin Franks | OL | Mansfield, Texas | Mansfield Legacy High School
Three-year letter in football at Mansfield Legacy High School ... Was honored as a captain.



Brazos Hesskew | LB | Canton, Texas | Canton High School
Born in Sulphur Springs, Texas and attended Canton High School in Canton, Texas ... Three-year letter in football, and four-year letter in tennis ... Had 422 career tackles ... Second-team all-district linebacker as a sophomore ... Second-team all-district linebacker as a junior ... First-team all-district linebacker as a senior ... First-team all-East Texas linebacker ... Played in Chick-Fil-A Heart of the Champion Bowl ... Named defensive MVP, newcomer of the year and a three-time academic all-district.



Carandal Hale | RB | Greenville, Texas |Greenville High School
Named Dave Campbell Mr. Texas Football in 2015 ... Ford Built Tough Player of the Week in week two of the 2015 season ... Featured in Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd 2015 .... Also Lettered in track & field and powerlifting.



Christian Hernandez | OL | Frisco, Texas | Frisco Lone Star High School
Lettered in football for two years at Frisco Lone Star High School ... Named second-team all-district in 2014 ... Second-team all-district and team captain in 2015 ... 2015 state finalists ... Silver Star Award Winner in 2015.



Cole Cleveland | DL | Buffalo, Texas | Buffalo High School
Attended Buffalo High School in Buffalo, Texas... Lettered in football for two years ... Had 93 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries ... Second-team all-district in 2014 ... first-team all-district in 2015.



Coleton Lasseter | A | Hallsville, Texas | Hallsville High School
Named first team tight end 2015 and Second Team All-East Texas ... Also lettered in basketball.



Corey Smallwood | A | Bonham, Texas | Bonham High School
Accounted for 1,200 yards, 14 rouchdowns, recovered kickoff and had an interception in 2015 ... Named team MVP 2014 ... First team all-district ... First Team All-TXHomeland in 2015 ... Named All-State Honorable Mention ... Named First Team All-District in 2015 ... Named second team all-area ... Also lettered in basketball and track



Dakyon Ward | WR | Caddo Mills, Texas | Caddo Mills High School
Attended Caddo Mills High School ... Lettered two years in football and three years in basketball and track ... Two-time first-team all-district receiver and cornerback.



Darryl Thomas | CB| Mansfield, Texas| Mansfield Legacy High School
Thomas is from Arlington, Texas and played two years of varsity football at Mansfield Legacy... In 16 games, had seven interceptions, 50 tackles and six tackles for loss ... Honorable mentioned two-time all-district team in 2014 and 2015 ... Academic all-district in 2014 and 2015 ... Richard Sherman in Thomas's favorites sports personality.

Darryl Thomas Jr. | DE | Richmond, Texas | George Ranch High School
Team won the 2015 Class 5A Division I State Champions ... Also Lettered in basketball



David Chassion | DL | Beaumont, Texas | West Brook High School
Chassion went to West Brook High School in Beaumont, Texas ... Played varsity football for two years, varsity basketball for three years, and varsity track for four years ... Football team captain, second-team all-district defensive end...area and regional qualifier for shot put and discus.



Demondre Lauderdale | LB | Fort Worth, Texas | Arlington Heights High School
Lettered for two years ... Named All-District in 2014 and 2015 ... Was honored as the 2015 defensive end team captain ... All-State defensive end in 2015 ... Back-to-Back District 7-5A Champs 2014 and 2015 ... Also lettered in track and basketball.



Derek Davis | DB | Sweeny, Texas | Sweeny High School
Lettered for three seasons ... Named second-team all-district receiver in 2015 and 16 season ... Second-team all-district defensive back in 2014 and 15 season.



Dominique Ramsey | DB | San Antonio, Texas | Judson High School
Named Thursday Night Lights MVP... Earned second team all-state ...Named all-district ... All-Area Thursday Night Lights MVP Scholar-Athlete of the Week...Also Lettered in Track...



Drake Flores | DL | San Antonio, Texas | Johnson High School
Defensive end out of San Antonio, Texas ... Played varsity football at Johnson High for two seasons ... Made an appearance at the state semi finals in 2013.



Elijah Earls | DL/LB | San Antonio, TX | John Paul Stevens High School
Named second team all-academic in 2014 ... Second team all-district in 2014 ... Earned second team all-city all-state honorable mention ... Earned first team all-district, all-city, all-state and district MVP in 2015 ... Thursday Night Light Game Champions ... Bi-District Champions ... Also lettered for two years in track & field.



Isaiah Fields | DB | Cibolo, TX | Steele High School
Three year letter winner at Steele High School ... Recorded 87 solo tackles, 121 total tackles, 22 Interceptions, three forced fumbles ... Had two games with three interceptions ... First Team All-State junior and senior year... Earned first team all-conference sophomore, junior and senior years.



Jackson Webb | OL | Elgin, Texas | Elgin High School
Lettered for two seasons at Elgin High School ... Academic all-state and first-team all-district in senior year.



Jalen Davis | WR | San Antonio, Texas | Brackenridge High School
Attended Brackenridge High in San Antonio, Texas ... Finished high school career with 84 catches for 1,334 yards ... Named to all-city team.



Jamorris Martin | DL/LB | Pflugerville, Texas | Pflugerville High School
Three-year letter in football at Plfugerville High ... Also lettered in track for four years...best individual game performance was 15 tackles and four sacks ... Academic all-district in 2015 and 2016.



Jaylon Hodge | DL | Richmond, Texas | William B. Travis High School
From Houston, Texas who played at William B. Travis in Richmond, Texas ... Hodge was a three-year letter in football ... Finished with 190 tackles and 16 sacks ... Two-time Defensive Lineman of the Year.



Jeremy Murphy | WR | Houston, Texas | Davis High School
Two-year letter winner ... Best high school game was two catches for 80 yards and a touchdown ... Also lettered two years in track and field.



Jerome Bias | DB | Prosper, Texas | Prosper High School
Three year letter winner at Prosper High School ... Had 270 tackles, three interceptions and 15 pass breakups in his career ... Named all-district safety as a sophomore, junior and senior ... Earned Academic All-District as a junior... Was a team captain during junior and senior years ... Named team MVP following junior year ... Earned special teams MVP after senior season ... Was a four-year letter winner in track & field.



Kade Satterwhite | DE | Amarillo, Texas | Randall High School
Three year letter winner ... Had 76 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2014 ... Had 73 tackles in 2015 ... Recorded 14 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks in 2015 ... Named 3-5A Defensive MVP 2014 and 2015 ... Was an honorable mention all-state performer in 2015 ... Amarillo Globe News Football Super Team member ... Named 5A All-State Team and a Preseason AGN Super Team defensive lineman ... FNF Magazine Preseason Top 100 Texas ... Three-year letter winner in track & field.



Kader Kohou | DB |Euless, Texas | Euless Trinity High School
Named all-District first team ... Led the district in interceptions ... Team won the dDistrict cChampionship ... Beat the No. 1 Team in the nation during senior season ... Also lettered in track & field.



Kareem Adeniyi | WR | Mansfield, Texas | Mansfield High School
Lettered for two seasons at Mansfield High School in football and basketball ... Had 22 catches for 240 yards and two touchdowns ... Named all-district honorable mentioned in 2014 ... In 2014 and 2015 was named academic all-district.



Kelan Smith | WR | Dallas, Texas | First Baptist Academy
Three year letter winner ... Had 88 Receptions, 1,178 yards and 21 touchdowns ... Best game of his career came with 20 receptions for 268 yards and four touchdowns ... Earned first team all-state and all-district ... Was named the team's co-offensive MVP... Was the top rated wide receive in Dallas-Fort Worth ... Ford Built Tough Offensive Player of the Week in Sportsday ... Team won the Bi-District Championship and regionals ... Also lettered in basketball, baseball and track & field.



Kendall Mathis | OL | Maud, Texas | Maud High School
Four-year letter winner ... Named first team all-district on the offensive line in 2013 and 2014 ... Named the districts' offensive lineman of the Year in 2015 ... First team all-area offensive lineman performer in 2015 ... First Team All-State offensive lineman ... Was an academic ... Also lettered in basketball, baseball and track & field.



Kendall Stovall | LB | Buda, Texas | Hays High School
Recorded 288 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two Interceptions and six fumble recoveries in his career ... Named all-district as a sophomore, junior and senior ... Was a team captain in 2015 ... Was a letter winner in track & field.



Kenneth Adams | WR | Houston, Texas | Benjamin O. Davis High School
Was a two-year letter winner ...Named first team all-district Skill Player of the Year... Team won the District Championship senior season ... Also lettered in baseball for three seasons.



Kybrin Sheridan | LB | Longview, Texas | Longview High School
Played football for Longview High School ... Named the team's defensive end MVP in 2015 ... Was the 15-5A Defense Most Valuable Player.



Larry Brown | LB | Aledo, Texas | Aledo High School
Three-year letter winner at Aledo High School ... Two-time first-team all-district player ... Two-time academic all-district and honorable mention all-state performer in the classroom ... Named first-team all-state ... Was a finalist for Player of the Year in the state ... Was named the district's Most Valuable Player ... Two-time 5A state champion.



Mark Westbrook | DB | Schertz, Texas | Samuel Clemens High School
Selected to Play in San Antonio All Star Game.



Matthew Price | DL | Irving, Texas | Irving MacArthur High School
Price played two years at Irving MacArthur High School ... First-team all-district player in 2015 ... Member of district championship team in 2014-15.



Pierre Leonard | DL | Tyler, Texas | John Tyler High School
Recorded 170 tackles, 17 sacks, six forced fumbles and eight block punts in his career ... 16-5A Newcomer of the Year in 2015 ... Named Mr. Texas Football Player of the Week during the season ... Earned first team all-district and all-state honorable mention ... Named ETSN.fm Defensive Player of the Week ...Was a first team all-district in 2015 ... Holds School Record for total tackles for loss...Also lettered in powerlifting and track & field.



Rashad Fisher | DB | Irving, Texas | MacArthur High School
Three year letter winner ...Two-Time first team all-district player as a safety ... Named the 2015 Preseason Most Valuable Player at the 6A level ... Also lettered in track and field.



Stadrian Taylor | DB | Lancaster, Texas | Lancaster High School
Named an all-district corner in 2014 and 2015 ... Also lettered in track & field.



Steven Field | DL | China Spring, Texas | China Spring High School
Three-year letter winner at China Spring High School ... Accumulated 283 tackles and 18 sacks in his career ... Named All-State Honorable Mention in 2015 ... Earned All-Super Centex 1st Team honors ... Named the district's defensive Most Valuable Player in 2015 ... Also lettered in track & field.



Ty'Kearon Hayter | LB | Nacogdoches, Texas | Garrison High School
Three-year letter winner in football at Garrison High School ... Named to the all-district team three consecutive seasons ... Played in the Border War All-Star Game and was named team captain ... Two-year letter winner in basketball and baseball ... Named first team all-district on the diamond.



Tyler Villegus | LB/DE | Seguin, Texas | Seguin High School
Two-year letter winner at Seguin High School ... Accounted for 59 solo stops, 112 total tackles, 11 Sacks... and 15.5 tackles for loss during his career ... Was named to the District 27 5A All-District First Team in 2014 and 2015 ... Also lettered in track & field.



Xavier Morris | LB | Converse, Texas | Judson High School
Two-year letter for football at Judson High School ... Was an All-Star-East-San Antonio selection ... Named the team's most valuable player and was a team captain.

Fans can follow all the action from the 2015-16 season on www.LionAthletics.com, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics.