Steve Campbell has coached two seasons at Central Arkansas, but really put his stamp on the program by unveiling his largest signing class Wednesday.
Campbell's third class as coach of the Bears is a collection of 28 players, seven of whom are already on campus as mid-year transfers and are expected to help out immediately. UCA also pulled in eight in-state signees and got players from eight different states.
The class addressed several immediate needs, like in the defensive backfield, and depth to help out in future years on the offensive line. Campbell was able to address both thanks to having room for 28 players, made possible by the departure of a 26-man senior class.
"This was our first big, full signing class, where we could sign large numbers," said Campbell, who signed 21 players last year. "We were very pleased. I felt like we were able to know the area better and know exactly what we needed."
UCA signed two mid-year transfers on the offensive line and in the secondary, and one each at tight end and linebacker with hopes of making up for losses last season. That group includes cornerback Trai Mosley, who transferred from Nebraska, and offensive linemen Micah Parten from East Central (Miss.) Community College and Conner Wood from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.
Parten, a guard or center, and Wood, a guard or tackle, will help make up for the loss of five offensive linemen, all of whom contributed to last year's 7-4 season.
The class could have been a bit better had UCA not lost out on two in-state players late. Offensive lineman Dylan Hays of Little Rock Christian elected to greyshirt at Arkansas, while Dardanelle wide receiver Chris Kershner elected to go to Navy.
Campbell said that's a validation of his staff's evaluations.
"If you're on the right guys, that's a part of it," Campbell said. "We don't worry about the ones that we didn't get, we want to make sure the ones that we did get are good players."
Even without those two, UCA hauled in eight Arkansans, the most of the in-state Division I schools. The Bears signed quarterback Breylin Smith from Conway; running backs Carlos Blackman from Gosnell and Jackie Harvell from Gurdon; receiver Joe Hampton from Little Rock Christian; defensive lineman Austin Norris from Conway; and defensive back Leandre Rucks from Strong.
Campbell called Smith "a very tough football player with a strong arm."
UCA was also able to address needs in special teams, following the departures of its punter, kicker and long snapper. The Bears signed kicker John Parker Romo from Peachtree City, Ga., punter James Patrick Ponder from Johns County (Miss.) Junior College and long-snapper Austin McIntosh from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.
McIntosh and linebacker James Graves each signed from Mississippi Gulf Coast, where Campbell coached for 10 seasons prior to taking the UCA job. UCA signed two others from Mississippi junior colleges that Campbell is familiar with.
Along with the eight from Arkansas, UCA signed seven from Mississippi, five from Texas, two each from Florida, Louisiana and Oklahoma, and one each from Alabama and Georgia.
"We always start from the state and work out," Campbell said. "From there, we go to the areas that we know."
Sports on 02/04/2016