Tulane Football Signs 23
Feb 6, 2002 | Football
Feb. 6, 2002
NEW ORLEANS, La. - Twenty-three players from around the South signed letters of intent to play football at Tulane University in 2002, Green Wave Head Coach Chris Scelfo announced Wednesday. The signees list includes 11 players who have earned all-state honors in Louisiana, Texas, Florida or Georgia.
Notes on the 2002 Tulane Recruiting Class
"We addressed some obvious needs with this class," Scelfo said. "This group will be a good supplement to our present team. We were fortunate to draw kids from many different areas that fit the profile of Tulane University."
The Green Wave signed at least one player at every position (except kicker) with the offensive line group numbering six to lead the way. Tulane signed three defensive linemen, three linebackers, three defensive backs and three wide receivers. Quarterbacks Nick Cannon of Hahnville, La. and Billy Don Malone of Blossom, Texas signed with the Green Wave as did tight ends Robert Hand (Spring, TX) and Tye Graham (Kingwood, TX). St. Petersburg, Florida's Jovon Jackson was the lone running back signed by Tulane in 2002 while Tommy Griffin, one of three players from Tyler, Texas' John Tyler High School, is listed as an athlete.
"I think we addressed a need at every position," Scelfo said. "The amount of scholarships we had available allowed us to fulfill that goal."
Tulane's 2002 signing class includes 11 players from Texas, six from Louisiana, four from Florida and two Georgians, both from Stephenson High School. Linebacker Anthony Cannon and safety Sean Lucas are the Georgians on the list while the Wave plucked local talent Scott Holt (OT, Holy Cross), Jeremy Foreman (CB, Lutcher), Derek Rogers (OL, St. Amant) and Bubba Terranova (WR, Slidell) in addition to Hahnville's Cannon. The other Louisianan on Tulane's 2002 list is Shreveport receiver Damarcus Davis.
The Tyler trio lead the way from Texas as Griffin and teammates William Blaylock, a first team all-state honoree in 2001, and Donald Madlock join former Lions Cletus McGee and Floyd Dorsey at Tulane. Five players from the Houston area signed with the Green Wave, including Hand, Graham, Katy's Taurean Brown, Terrence Peterson from Alvin and Michael Roberts out of Houston and Memorial. Receiver Gary Malone joined his brother Billy Don in signing with the Wave while Dripping Springs' Michael Purcell rounds out the Texas 11.
The Florida Foursome of linebackers Demiah Freeman (Titusville, Fla.) and Kelvin Johnson (Florida City, Fla.), offensive lineman Mark Burgess (Odessa, Fla.) and Jackson complete the class.
"Tulane has been a place where young players have come in and contributed in the past couple of years," Scelfo said. "I think the biggest generation gap we have is at offensive line and linebacker, but all of these signees will have an opportunity to come in and compete."
