University of Central Arkansas Coach Steve Campbell has bolstered depth for his second season with the signing of eight mid-year transfers, the school announced Wednesday.
The position that will benefit most is wide receiver, where the Bears added one local product who started three games this season for another in-state school and another player who reportedly had offers from seven FBS schools.
Wide receiver Brandon Cox will transfer from Arkansas State to UCA, returning to the town where he was a two-time all-state receiver for Conway High School.
Cox caught 30 passes for 300 yards in two seasons at ASU. He caught 16 passes for 110 yards and rushed 8 times for 40 yards this season, starting three games in place of injured J.D. McKissic.
Cox will have two years of eligibility remaining. He will join a Bears team that loses Dezmin Lewis, an All-Southland Conference player who finished second all-time at UCA in receptions and third in receiving yards.
UCA also picked up two junior-college receivers to go along with two tight ends, two defensive linemen and a linebacker.
"We signed some guys that will definitely be able to come in and fill some holes and be impact players for us," Campbell said through a university release. "We lost some outstanding wide receivers, and the tight end position was hit hard by graduation. We were able to fill both those spots with players that we feel are going to come in and be outstanding players in our program."
Receiver Jacquez McMillian comes from Itawamba Community College in Mississippi after catching 48 passes for 818 yards and 8 touchdowns in 2 seasons. He was rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, which said he had offers from ASU, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, North Texas, Southern Miss, Troy and Alabama-Birmingham.
Receiver Brady Moore played at Butler (Kan.) Community College, where he caught 30 passes for 800 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2 seasons.
Zach Gougler and Scott Matiaha signed as tight ends. Gougler came from Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, and Matiaha is from Northeastern Oklahoma Community College. Defensive linemen Rostell King and Javian Williams will add to a position that lost just one senior.
Sports on 12/18/2014