Our look back at Southern’s previous four signing classes (2007-10) continues with the final group of players signed by Pete Richardson, who, lest we forget, won five Southwestern Athletic Conference championships, though his last title came in 2003.
This is the 2009 class.
Four years later, these players should be gearing up to be seniors next season, or, if they redshirted, fourth-year juniors.
Either way, if you’re Stump Mitchell and you’re three years deep into your program, you’d like to have these guys around as core veterans, as leaders, as productive players.
Here’s a look at how each of them fared:
SOUTHERN SIGNEES (2009)
Adonis Armstrong, DB, 5-10, 175, Clinton, Miss. (Clinton HS)
Never made it to campus.
Verlis Martin, DB, 5-10, 170, Houston (Eisenhower HS)
Never made it to campus.
Marcus Thompson, DE, 6-0, 215, Houston (Eisenhower HS)
Never made it to campus.
Terrence Fletcher, DB, 5-11, 180, Houston (Eisenhower HS)
Never made it to campus.
Brandon Haskin, OL, 6-3, 285, Baton Rouge (Desire Street Academy)
Never made it to campus. Ended up at Tennessee State.
Joshua Gant, LB/DS, 6-0, 220, Amite (Amite HS)
Practiced early in 2009 camp, but never made it through the NCAA Clearinghouse.
Darin Self, RB, 6-1, 227, Greensburg (St. Helena Central HS)
Practiced early in 2009 camp, but never made it through the NCAA Clearinghouse.
David Daye, LB/SS, 5-11, 230, Houston (Southeast Prep HS)
Made 12 tackles in ’09 under Pete Richardson, but did not return to play for Mitchell.
LeAndre Thompson, QB, 6-3, 195, Baton Rouge (McKinley HS)
Tossed off the team, he threw for 2,060 yards last year at West Los Angeles Community College.
Jeremiah McGinty, QB, 6-0, 200, Houston (Southeast Prep HS)
After throwing for 1,271 yards, 9 TDs and 6 INTs in 2010, he was tossed off the team in ’11.
Pierre Warford, DB, 5-10, 170, Amite (Amite HS)
He had 40 tackles and two INTs from 2009-10, but did not return to the team last year.
Dion Palmer, DE, 6-3, 230, Houston (Southeast Prep HS)
He had three tackles in six games in 2010, but tore an ACL in the first game of 2011.
Lynnon Coleman, LB, 6-1½, 230, Baton Rouge (Scotlandville HS)
Made 15 tackles in ’09 as a freshman; was academically ineligible and never played again.
*Brandon Rice, RB, 5-9, 205, Columbus, Ohio (Walnut Ridge)
Has 229 rushing yards and 2 TDs in three years, including one carry for minus-1 yard in 2011.
*Richard Wilson, WR, 5-8, 170, Monroe (Richwood)
A return specialist, he had 884 all-purpose yards in 2010, but did not return last season.
*Brandon Turner, DL, 6-5, 280, Indianapolis (Lawrence Central)
Made 15 tackles the past two seasons, but was benched for the final two games in ’11.
*Nik Trabue, DL, 6-3, 265, Indianapolis (Lawrence Central)
Flip-flopped between offense and defense. He left the team after Mitchell came aboard.
*Derrion Robinson, DL, 6-2, 250, Shreveport (Byrd)
Flip-flopped between offense and defense, playing only occasionally. Left the team last season.
*Kadeem Lewis, DE, 6-4, 240, Metairie (Grace King)
Redshirted in 2009, he has 34 tackles 2½ sacks over the past two seasons.
*Clinton Boyd, OL, 6-3, 285, Atlanta (Dutchtown)
Redshirted in 2009; academically ineligible in ’10; used as a tackle and blocking TE last season.
*Traé Tiller, OL, 6-2 289, Reynoldsburg, Ohio (Harvest Prep)
Redshirted in 2009; played sparingly on the offensive line; moved to DT last season.
*joined the program after signing day.
Slightly better here, but still cringing.