The University of Akron Athletics
JD Brookhart Signing Day Opening Statement and Assessment of the Class of 2009
February 04 | Football
2009 Signing Day Press Conference
Head Coach J.D. Brookhart's Opening Statement:
I'm extremely excited with our 2009 class. With the help of the
President, Athletic Director, and athletic staff, we are able to
showcase the potential of this University especially with the
addition of InfoCision Stadium/Summa Field, which continues to add
to the attraction of this University. In the end, I think it's the
people here at Akron that make the families and recruits choose
this school. There are a lot of people to thank from academics to
food services to our administration.
Obviously, I'd like to thank my staff, I think they did a great job
recruiting. Each and every year we know that we are going to get
some for four-star guys and that sometimes there's a chance you
won't get any. I believe we got the best guys that are going to
help us achieve what we want to achieve on the field next year. We
stayed on track, continuing to recruit the type of character we are
building for this team. Of the last two classes 41 players are
still part of this program and that retention is great for us to
build on. All our current players that got a chance to socialize
with our recruits during their visits said they were a great fit
for our program.
We got a couple junior college players that are expected to come in
and compete for playing time. I'm not even going to try to guess
which of the freshmen will come in and compete right away because
I'm always wrong. The freshman will compete, and we will play the
best 11 guys on all sides of the ball to start the season. Our
class addressed a lot of areas for us and we continued to build
depth with all the guys we have returning. Who comes in and helps
immediately will be based on summer and fall camp.
On each member of the 2009 signing class:
Bill Alexander: Is a corner out of Georgia. The
competition level down there is great. He is a very versatile
player that does some returning. He has great hips and
acceleration. We will work him in at corner.
Broderick Alexander: He is a running back that is also
from Georgia. He came up unofficially during the year and really
enjoyed the University. He is a very big, strong kid that
physically could come in and compete. His body is ready to play
and he will have opportunities to compete.
David Anderson: Is a linebacker out of Cincinnati. He's a
fantastic athlete that is going to grow into a 230-pound
linebacker. He is very physical and likes to run sideline to
sideline. I think we got another steal with him.
Jake Brandt: He is a guy that could play either offensive
or defensive line for us. Right now he is 6'5" and about
250-pounds. He could play defensive line because he is that good
of an athlete. He has very good speed. He fits right in with what
we like to do with our offensive linemen. We like to take tall,
athletic body types and grow them into big guys.
Josh Couch: He is a punter for Ohio that is a big time
talent. He has been coached by Tim Williams (former Ohio State
kick), so he has great instruction. He's a big kid that goes about
6'3" and he has great potential.
Jake Delmonico: Is a kid we had in camp from the
Pittsburgh area. Jake earned his spot in camp. He is very
competitive, physical kid. We will start him off playing corner,
but we could move him to safety if need be. In a lot of way he
reminds me of a John Mackey type player.
Jerrod Dillard: Is a very tall wide receiver from
Michigan. I saw his tape and immediately fell in love with his
ability. I think he is a big time talent. He has great grades,
character, and family. I expect him to be a very big force on this
team when he gets bigger.
Blake Fraley: Is a linebacker form Ohio. He is
the typical tough, hard-nosed Ohio linebacker. He likes to hit,
work hard, and play the game. He's a guy we had in camp and got to
see first hand.
Dee Friesen: He will be a fast slot back for us. He's a
good return guy that can run the football. He comes from a very
similar scheme to what we run, where they got the ball to him on
reverses and passes. He is what we want out of a slot
receiver.
Randy Greenwood: He's another Ohio kid that we had at
camp. He is extremely impressive on tape playing wide receiver.
He's just a tremendous athlete.
Chris Henderson: Is a defensive lineman out of Milford
Military Academy. He was a non-qualifier out of high school. His
opportunity here is great. In high school he was a 270-pound
fullback that was athletic and could move. We are excited to have
him because the talent upside to him is tremendous.
Abdullah Homayed: He's a linebacker/ defensive lineman.
He played linebacker in high school. He has a big frame. He is
explosive; runs well, and bring his hips when he tackles. I can't
imagine how big he's going to end up getting.
Jordan Houser: Another Ohio kid out of the Dayton area.
He is a fine cornerback that also played receiver and returned
kicks. We are very fortunate to get him. We will work him at
corner.
Jeremy LaFrance : Is a good size receiver and great return
guy. He was a Hurricane Katrina victim that was displaced to
California. He has taken advantage of his opportunities. He is a
very explosive and dangerous player in the return game. I expect
him to compete for time at wide receiver.
Anthony Meriwether: Is another big wide receiver that is
nowhere close to how big he's going to be. He's just a kid that is
starting to mature. We had him in camp. He has great ball skills,
size, and speed. In my mind he is the prototype boundary receiver
that will make plays with his hands.
Patrick Nicely: I went to a number of camps, and he's the
best quarterback I saw. His family was a little shocked when they
first came down here and decided to go elsewhere. Situations then
changed. We stayed in contact with him. He gave us an opportunity
to get involved. He knows what it takes to operate in this system.
He's into it. Big-time arm. After seeing his junior tape, I
questioned his arm. He said, 'Coach, I can't let loose or those
guys won't catch it.' More importantly, it was the intangibles."
He will be one of those guys asking for a key to the office so he
can watch tape, and that's what it takes to be successful at this
level.
Joe Petrides: Is an offensive lineman from
Maryland. He's another tall, big kid that is still growing.
Eventually he will be a 300-pound lineman with great feet and
athleticism. His dad is a high school football coach so he has
been trained well. I look forward to what his future holds.
Nolan Proctor: Was one of our first commitments as a
slot receiver out of Michigan. He is a guy that can return kicks,
play corner, or receiver. He has great change of direction, good
speed, and can make things happen with the ball in his hands.
Jon Root: Is a tight end that we had in camp. He has
mostly played a split receive in high school. He is extremely
athletic and runs very well. In two years he will out on 30 to 40
pounds and go from a good receiver to a very athletic receiving
tight end.
Adam Steiner: Is a great long snapper. He's a good size
kid that is very athletic. We worked him out at linebacker and
tight end at our camp. He is a 4.6 forty-yard dash kid. He could
also be used as a tight end down on the goal line if need be.
Phil Tonga: Is a junior college transfer. He is a big
kid, very athletic. When we saw him in the spring, he was a
linebacker. He has some very good 40 times posted. We expect him to
come in and compete for a starting job. Very powerful player that
plays hard. He hung with the commitment when he had some other
opportunities to play closer to home.
Joe Vidovic: Is an offensive tackle from Ohio. He
is a young guy that has only played for two years, so he has lots
to learn. He thought he was going to be a basketball recruit.
Without question he is going to be 300-pound athlete.
Diamond Weaver: He's a junior college kid origanlly out of
Alabama. He is a great corner. He is explosive and plays the ball
well in the air. More impressive is the type of kid he is. He is
a self-made man that just gets it. He's a guy I see with
leadership skills.
Grant Williams: Is a tight end that we saw at a number of
camps. He is another big, athletic wide-out/tight end that is only
going to get bigger here. He will grow into what we are looking
for in a pass catcher and special teams player.
Overall, I'm pleased with this class. The coaching staff gave a
great effort to bring in these great recruits. I'm very proud to
show off what we have here from an opportunity standpoint. I think
the kids feel and see the excitement about what a great place this
is to play college football.
