Football 2/2/2022

The Tigers landed the highest-ranked football recruit to sign with an FCS program directly out of high school with defensive back and five-star prospect Travis Hunter.

Travis Hunter – DB/ATH
Suwannee, Georgia
Twitter: @TravisHunterJr
Instagram: @db3_tip

Jackson State Overview
-Travis comes to Jackson State as the first five-star high school prospect to sign with an FCS football program since ESPN began college football rankings in 2006.
– He is also the highest-ranked recruit to commit to an HBCU.

More on Travis
-Came out of Collins Hill High School as the top prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. Click here to watch his selection video.
-Selected as the MaxPreps Player of the Year representing the state of Georgia.
-Has also garnered multiple All-America Team selections, and All-Georgia awards.

DEFENSIVELY
-Recorded 114 total tackles in high school, of which 102 were solo in 40 games.
-Intercepted 19 passes for 235 interception yards (averaged 12.4 yards-per-interception).
– Standout year as a junior, wrapping up 51 solo tackles with an average of 3.4 tackles-per-game.

OFFENSIVELY
– Finished his high school career with 3,807 reception yards on 263 catches, for an average of 14.5 yards-per-catch.
-Saw career-high 137 targets caught as a junior, averaging 116.4 reception yards-per-game.

POINTS ON THE BOARD
-Scored 300 points on 50 touchdowns (46 receiving) and averaged 7.5 points-per-game.
-As a junior, scored 26 touchdowns, a career high.

TRAVIS SAYS
“Jerry Rice, Doug Williams, and of course the legend, JSU’s own Walter Payton— Historically Black Colleges and Universities have a rich history in football. I want to be a part of that history, and more, I want to be a part of that future. I am making this decision so that I can light the way for others to follow, make it a little easier for the next player to recognize that HBCUs may be everything you want and more: an exciting college experience, a vital community, and a life-changing place to play football.

I look forward to working with the iconic Deion Sanders, and especially with my fellow Tigers. Along with Coach Prime, they have made me feel like I’m already part of the team. Like I’m home. And I can’t wait to welcome the next class of top athletes into the family of HBCUs.”

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Camron Buckley – WR
Cedar Hill, Texas
Texas A&M
Twitter: @camdahoudini
Instagram: @camdahoudini

Jackson State Overview
-Camron will come to Jackson State as a graduate student-athlete.
-He has previously played at Indiana and Texas A&M.

College Stats
-Graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in university studies with three seasons played as an Aggie.
-Appeared in 13 games as a freshman (2017) posting 282 yards on 17 catches with three touchdowns.
-Made three starts as a sophomore and appeared in all 13 games, recording 474 yards on 34 catches with one touchdown. His performance against no. 2 ranked Clemson was a career-high game in which he caught four passes for 93 yards.
-Made one start and appeared in each game as a junior, averaging 11 yards-per-catch with a total of 121 receiving yards.
-Transferred to Indiana after missing the 2020 season due to injury.

More on Camron
-Came out of Cedar Hill High School (Texas) as a Rivals and Scout four-star prospect.
-Under Armour All-American.
-As an upperclassman, caught 57 passes for 810 yards.

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Christian Henderson – OL
Greenwood, Miss.
Louisiana Tech
Instagram: @bighen_72

Jackson State Overview
-Christian will come to Jackson State as a junior.
-He has previously played at Copiah-Lincoln C.C. and Louisiana Tech.

College Stats
-Was up front blocking for a Co-Lin offense that recorded 2,505 total offense yards, and averaged 278.3 yards-per-game as an offensive unit.
-Appeared in a combined 20 games redshirt freshman and sophomore at La. Tech on the offensive line after spending his freshman year as a redshirt.

More on Christian
-Selected to play in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game.
-Earned All-District Honors three times in high school.

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Jason Mercier – DL
Boynton Beach, Fla.
Florida International
Instagram: @vviral.15

Jackson State Overview
-Jason will come to Jackson State as a junior.
-He has previously played at Florida International University.

College Stats
-Started in four of five games at FIU in the 2020 season, leading the DL in solo tackles with 12 solo.
-Recorded 15 tackles on the year with 11 solo tackles in ten games as a true sophomore.
-Appeared in 13 games at defensive end as a freshman with 13 solo tackles and 31 total tackles, with one tackle for a loss.

More on Jason
– Came out of Atlantic H.S. as a three-star prospect.
-Had 29 total offers to play collegiate football.

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Mike Pleas, Jr. – LB/DE
Tallahassee, Fla.
Southern Miss.
Instagram: @mikepleas0

Jackson State Overview
-Michael will come to Jackson State as a freshman.
-He has previously played at Southern Miss.

College Stats
-Started two games and appeared in eight as a freshman at Southern Miss.
-Had four solo tackles (12 total) with two tackles for a loss as a freshman.

More on Michael
-Rated as a three-star recruit.
-Recorded 27 solo tackles (41 total) and six sacks as a linebacker in high school.

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Evan Henry – OL
Twitter: @EvanHenry51
College Stats
-Played in three games for ULM in 2021. In 2020, was an All Sun-Belt performer
More on Evan
-Two-year starter as an offensive guard at DeSoto (Texas) High School and helped the Eagles to a combined record of 19-5 (.792) over his final two seasons . Two-time first-team all-district selection . . . named to the Academic All-State Team as a senior.

Kevin Coleman – WR
St. Louis, Mo.
St. Mary’s High School

Jackson State overview

-Consensus 4-star recruit
-No. 1 ranked recruit from Missouri and sixth ranked wide receiver in the country
-No. 6 wide receiver in the country
-35 offers from FBS programs
-Played in All-American and Polynesian bowls

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Jasper Friis – OL
Munich, Germany/Oakland, California
Cal/Iowa Western

Aquinas HS (Class Of 2018)

-Played two varsity campaigns as a 2016 junior and 2017 senior after transferring from Otto-von-Taube Gymnasium in Germany
-Signed with Cal out of high school; did not see playing time and transferred to Iowa Western Community College
-Earned first-team All-Ambassador League as a 2017 senior on a squad that finished 14-1 overall and reached the California 2-A semifinals after winning CIF Section Division 9 and conference titles
-Participated for the Inland Empire in the postseason Makasi Bowl against San Diego following his senior campaign
-A second-team All-Ambassador League selection during his 2016 junior campaign for a squad that was 11-3 overall and won a share of the conference crown while finishing as the CIF Section Division 10 runner up
-Helped his senior squad average 446.1 yards of total offense per game including 303.9 yards on the ground while junior team averaged 446.0 per game of total offense and an average of 257.6 on the ground
-Helped pave the way for Branden Rankins, who finished his prep career as the school’s all-time leading rusher and third all-time in the Southern Section with 8745 rushing yards and 106 scores on the ground
-Also saw action in five games at nose guard as a 2016 junior and contributed nine tackles

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Simi Moala – OL
Los Angeles, Calif.
Utah

At Utah
-2021: Has started two games at right tackle (Weber State, BYU)
-2020: Played in all five games, starting at left tackle in the last four
-Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll
-2019: Played in all 14 games on the offensive line, starting 12 at right tackle
-Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention
– Three-star defensive end by Rivals and 247Sports, 91st-ranked defensive end in the nation in 2015 by Scout
– Played in Kingdom Bowl USA
– Had 117 career tackles, including 50 tackles for loss and 13 sacks
– 70 tackles as a senior in 2015

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Shauntavis Vardaman – OL
Hazlehurst, Miss.
UAB

At UAB

-2020: Played in two games on the year… Part of a Blazer offensive line that allowed only four sacks on the season, the fewest in Conference USA and fourth-fewest in the nation… Helped UAB’s running backs rush for 1,800 yards on the season, good for an average of 200 yards per game
-Played JUCO ball at Copiah-Lincoln Community College and started 10 games

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Keveon Mullins – TE
Memphis, Tenn.
South Carolina

-2021: Third-year player who transitioned from a wide receiver position to tight end in the spring of 2020… has more of an “H-Back” body type… brings a speed factor on the perimeter… gaining confidence in his blocking… showed flashes and could be primed for a breakout season.
-2020: Redshirt freshman who appeared in five games after making the transition from wide receiver to tight end… had three catches for 110 yards, a gaudy 36.7-yard average… made his debut in the season opener against Tennessee… caught his first pass, a nine-yard reception, at Florida… tallied two catches for 101 yards at LSU, including a career-long 57-yard reception… injured his foot on that play and was sidelined for the remainder of the season… named to the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll.

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Jordyn Williams – WR
Albany, Ga.
Indiana
-One of 10 true freshmen to appear in 2021
-Appeared in two games … made collegiate debut at Michigan (11/6)
-Wide receiver for head coach Andre Hart at Trinity Christian School
-ESPN four-star prospect

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Juriente Davis – LB
Greensboro, Ga.
Middle Tennessee State

-Started 12 games
-Tallied 71 tackles
-6.5 tackles for loss
-3 sacks
-2 fumble recoveries

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Tru Thompson – DL
Grayson, Ga.
Florida State

-2019: Appeared in 12 games with one start and recorded 15 tackles, including 2.0 for loss with 1.0 sack, and one quarterback hurry…ACC Honor Roll…started Sun Bowl vs. Arizona State and recorded season-high four tackles with one quarterback hurry…made three tackles in 38-31 victory at Boston College…matched tackles total, with 2.0 for loss and 1.0 sack, the next week in 49-12 win vs. Alabama State

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Frankie Burgess – LB/DE
Pahokee, Fla.
Maryland

-2020: Appeared in four games
-Tallied 60 tackles (39 solo), three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries for Pahokee High School in his senior season

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