Bearkats head football coach Willie Fritz and his shorthanded staff were up against the clock when it came time to put together this year’s recruiting class.

But the Kats’ new coach feels like Sam Houston State got a good one. The Bearkats loaded up with 24 high school signees, two junior college transfers and one Football Bowl Subdivision player on national signing day Wednesday.

“We are obviously very excited about our signing class we had this season,” Fritz said. “This will be my first signing class at Sam Houston, so it will always be a special class. We got a late start and were actually only out on the road for 13 days. But I really feel like we made up a tremendous amount of ground during that time.

“We were shorthanded with our staff. We had a lot of people that pitched in and allowed us to, I think, have an outstanding signing class.”

The Bearkats really put an emphasis on adding depth to the offensive and defensive lines.

Sam Houston signed six offensive linemen, including Colton Cline, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound monster from Seminole, Okla., who was the only signee outside of Texas.

The Bearkat brought in five defensive linemen, including 6-3 defensive end John Trotter of Rusk and 6-foot, 270-pound tackle Gary Lorance of New Boston.

“I think a lot of these guys are going to have the chance to travel with us. Maybe a lot of these guys are going to challenge for a starting position,” Fritz said about the new linemen. “We wanted to try to get bigger as well and sign guys that might be able to play on the defensive side of the ball and the offensive side.

“Once you get them into camp and work with them a few weeks, then you can make your decision on where exactly you want to play them at.”

One of the guys who could play on either side of the ball is Huntsville’s Forbes Baggett. The 6-2, 270-pound lineman was a three-time all-district selection on defense and a two-time selection on offense.

“... One of the guys I want to highlight is Forbes Baggett from here in Huntsville,” Fritz said. “We always want to do a good job of recruiting close around town here. Forbes is a guy that is like a lot of the guys we recruited. We think he can play on either side of the ball.”

The Bearkats also lost the majority of their wide receivers, so it wasn’t a surprise that Sam Houston added four recruits at that position. Two of the new wideouts should make an immediate impact.

Grant Merritt is a 6-1 transfer from Blinn College who had 606 receiving yards during the Buccaneers’ run to the NJCAA national championship last season. Seth Patterson joins SHSU from Western Michigan.

“We lost seven of our 10 wide receivers from last season, so we signed two quality receivers in Grant Merritt, who played at Blinn Junior College, which were the national champions of the NJCAA,” Fritz said. “He was their leading receiver. Seth Patterson from Round Rock Stony Point High School went to Western Michigan and wanted to get back closer to home.

“I think they are going to be two quality receivers.”

Sam Houston also added another quarterback to the mix. The Bearkats have five signal callers on the roster, but according to Fritz, China Spring’s Brian Bell was too good to pass up.

The 6-2, 170-pound Bell led China Springs to the area finals in 2009 and was District 7-3A’s Most Valuable Player.

“We weren’t anticipating signing a quarterback this year because we have five young men who are here on campus,” Fritz said. “But we had to beat some good schools to get Brian. His older brother is Shawn Bell, who started at Baylor for a few years. His father is also the head high school coach at China Spring.

“After we got the videotape and really evaluated him, he came here last summer to camp and some of our coaches had a little bit of experience with him, we felt like this was a guy that was too good to pass up.”

The Bearkats also signed two linebackers, five defensive backs, two running backs and two tight ends.

People around the area, especially in New Waverly, might remember one of the running backs Sam Houston inked Wednesday. Koko Smith rushed for 114 yards on 14 carries and scored five touchdowns to lead Daingerfield to a 61-14 victory over the Bulldogs in the Class 2A Division II Region III semifinals two years ago.

Smith isn’t very big (5-6, 170), but he led the Tigers to back-to-back state titles and rushed for 3,853 yards and 52 scores during that stretch.

“There are a lot of things that (Koko) can do,” Fritz said. “He can be a running back for you. He can be a slot receiver and return punts and kicks. They are two-time defending state champions, and one of the things I look at, not all the time, but do these guys come from a winning program. Certainly Koko has won a bunch of games at Daingerfield.”



SAM HOUSTON STATE 2010 RECRUITING CLASS



FORBES BAGGETT

Huntsville HS

6-2, 270

Defensive Line/Offensive Line

Honors: Three-time All-District 18-4A selection on defense ... twice All-District as offensive lineman including first-team honors as a senior.

Scouting report: Baggett is a strong, hard-nosed player. He’s versatile and could play offensive or defensive line for the Kats.



BRIAN BELL

China Spring HS

6-2, 170

Quarterback

Honors: First team All-District 7-3A ... District Most Valuable Player ... honorable mention All-State and Super CenTex.

Scouting report: Bell has the pedigree to be a special quarterback for the Bearkats. His older brother, Shawn, was the starting quarterback at Baylor in 2005 and 2006.



ROB BOYD

Ennis HS

6-2, 240

Defensive Line

Honors: First team All-District 16-4A ... Academic All-State ... led team in tackles

Scouting report: Boyd comes from a successful high school program, but will need to beef up to make an immediate impact in the fall.



COLTON CLINE

Seminole, Okla./Norman North HS

6-4, 305

Offensive Line

Honors: First team All-State and All-District selection

Scouting report: Cline has the size to be a force on the SHSU offensive line. His previous experience as a wrestler in high school will help him continue to develop as a pass blocker.



SAQWAN EDWARDS

Manvel HS

6-1, 170

Wide Receiver

Honors: Two-time All-District and All-County ... honorable mention All-State ... Rivals.com 3 Star WR

Scouting report: Edwards has the size and speed to boost the depleted SHSU receiving corps. He was a member of the 4-by-200 regional qualifying relay team at Manvel last year.



RIDGEWAY FRANK

Houston/Spring HS

5-9, 180

Running Back

Honors: All-District ... All-State as a junior

Scouting report: Frank isn’t a big back, but he has the speed to find the hole and break long runs.



CORY HAMLETT

Jacksonville HS

6-0, 190

Cornerback/Safety

Honors: All-District 14-4A honorable mention selection

Scouting report: Hamlett is a multi-sport athlete and if he develops, with his size, he could be an asset to the SHSU secondary.



JUSTIN HAVARD

Diboll HS

6-6, 260

Offensive Lineman

Honors: Second team All-District ... Academic All-State and All-District

Scouting report: If Havard puts on a little weight and gets stronger, he could battle for a spot on the depth chart next season.



JEREMY JACKSON

Bellville HS

6-0, 215

Linebacker

Honors: Two-time All-District 25-3A first-team selection ... Defensive MVP as senior

Scouting report: A little undersized, Jackson, uses speed and strength to make plays.



DREW JOHNSON

Denton/Guyer HS

6-0, 240

Offensive Line

Honors: Deep snapper for the Broncos ... All-District 5-4A first-team and All-Area second-team selections

Scouting report: Johnson could play right away with the departure of SHSU deep snapper Justin Humphrey.



KEN JONES

Spring/Klein Collins HS

6-1, 230

Offensive Line

Honors: First-team All-District 13-5A deep snapper ... Academic All-District

Scouting report: Jones should compete with Johnson for the starting deep snapper position.



DWIGHT KENNEDY

Terrell HS

5-11, 250

Defensive End/Defensive Tackle

Honors: Two-time first-team All-District 15-4A selection ... first team All-Area and All-Metroplex ... honorable mention All-State

Scouting report: Kennedy doesn’t look like the ideal defensive lineman, but if he bulks up, he could develop into a run-stopping nose tackle.



GARY LORANCE

New Boston HS

6-0, 270

Defensive Tackle

Honors: Two-time first team All-District 16-3A ... two-time All-Bowie County ... Bowie County Defensive MVP and District Defensive MVP as junior in 2008

Scouting report: Lorance possesses the strength to make a difference on the interior of the defensive line.



AARON MUELLER

Caldwell HS

6-3, 230

Defensive End/Defensive Tackle

Honors: First team All-District 24-3A, second team All-Brazos Valley and honorable mention All-State

Scouting report: Mueller comes in a little undersized, but can make up for it with a little time in the weight room.



CHUKS ORABUCHI

Denton/Guyer HS

6-0, 165

Cornerback

Honors: First team All-District 5-4A selection

Scouting report: Orabuchi has the speed and the ability to effectively cover receivers downfield.



RICKEY SMITH

College Station/A&M; Consolidated HS

6-1, 190

Wide Receiver

Honors: First team All-District 12-5A ... second team All-Brazos Valley

Scouting report: Smith has great hands and has the opportunity to fit into formations for short yardage.



KOKO SMITH

Daingerfield HS

5-6, 170

Running Back

Honors: Two-time first team All-State, All-Area, All-District 17-2A and District MVP ... rushed for 3,853 yards and 52 touchdowns as a junior and senior

Scouting report: Smith is a small, yet slippery back who has the speed to make defenders miss and can change the complexion of the game instantly.



BOOKIE SNEED

Conroe/Conroe HS

6-0, 180

Cornerback

Honors: Two-time first-team All-District 14-5A selection

Scouting report: Sneed uses his pure athleticism to take advantage of mismatches.



STEVE SOLOMON

Lovelady HS

6-4, 242

Offensive Lineman

Honors: First-team All-District 22-1A offensive lineman and second-team defensive lineman

Scouting report: Solomon has plenty of size, but if he can become quicker on his feet, he can help create a pocket for the quarterback.



TYLER SWEATT

Argyle HS

6-1, 230

Tight End/Fullback

Honors: First team All-District 9-3A ... All-Region selection

Scouting report: Sweatt has a lot of strength and can be effective as an extra blocker on screen passes.



ADRIAN TARPLEY

Longview/Spring Hill HS

6-2, 280

Offensive Lineman

Honors: Three-time All-District 17-3A ... Second-team All-East Texas.

Scouting report: Tarpley is big and strong. He could push for a spot on the travel squad in 2010.



JOHN TROTTER

Rusk HS

6-3, 240

Defensive End

Honors: First team All-District 18-3A both as an offensive and defensive lineman as senior ... second team All-District on defense as a junior

Scouting report: Trotter is a strong, athletic end, who can, with a little work, be dangerous as a pass rusher.



MICHAEL WADE

Arp HS

6-0, 185

Safety

Honors: First team All-District 19-2A ... District defensive MVP

Scouting report: Wade is a physical defensive back, who has a knack for breaking up deep passing plays.



RYAN WILSON

Carrollton/Creekview HS

5-10, 185

Running Back

Honors: Two-time All-District 9-5A selection ... Rivals.com 3-Star running back ... brothers Travis and Corey Wilson both played at Oklahoma

Scouting report: Wilson is an athletic back, who can help complement the running game.



JARVIS YOUNG

Houston/Jersey Village HS

5-11, 175

Safety/Cornerback

Honors: First team All-District 15-5A ... “Comeback” Player of the Year ... Academic All-District

Scouting report: Young lacks the size for a cornerback, but can keep up with opposing receivers.



TRANSFERS



GRANT MERRITT

Sugar Land (Blinn College)

6-1, 203

Wide Receiver

Previous experience: Merritt caught 606 yards of passes on Blinn College’s 11-1 national championship team in 2009.

Scouting report: Merritt can help revive a receiving corps that is depleted by the absence of graduating seniors.



GARRETT ROGET

Arlington (Tyler Junior College)

6-1, 215

Linebacker

Previous experience: Credited with 66 tackles for TJC, which went 7-3 in 2009

Scouting report: Roget has a knack for getting to the ball and creating turnovers.



SETH PATTERSON

Round Rock (Western Michigan)

6-3, 185

Wide Receiver

Scouting report: Patterson comes to SHSU from Western Michigan, where he redshirted in 2008. Patterson has the opportunity to make a healthy contribution to the Bearkats’ young receiving corps.