Arkansas Tech announces 2020 signing class

February 5, 2020

By ARKANSAS TECH SPORTS INFORMATION

RUSSELLVILLE – Thirty-nine high school student-athletes and three four-year transfers have joined the Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys 2020 football program, announced by head coach Kyle Shipp on Wednesday.

Of the new additions, 24 are from the state of Arkansas, with student-athletes from Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Missouri also joining the program.

“I’m excited about all of the kids that we’re signing – I feel like it’s a very good class from top to bottom,” Shipp said. “This class is a building block to where we want to get to in the future. Along with our returning class we feel like this group will have the chance to be pretty special.”

A complete list of signees follows:

2019 High School Signees

NamePositionHeightWeightHometown/Previous School
Adam MartinQB6-0190Heber Springs HS, Ark.
Ayomide JohnsonOL6-4265Cedar Hill HS, Texas
Brandon BuntonDB6-0180Dardanelle HS, Ark.
Brenton BacheminOL6-4280Archbishop Rummel HS, La.
Bryce FoxOL6-7275Dierks HS, Ark.
Carmerius RucksLB6-0205El Dorado HS, Ark.
Christian CorkranOL6-4307Fontainebleau HS, La.
Christian StaffordDB6-0170Lufkin HS, Texas
Cole CannonOL6-4270Grandview HS, Texas
Connor WatsonATH6-0175Valley View, HS, Ark.
Damarius NewtonWR6-2195Van Buren HS, Ark.
Davy HarrodDT6-0255Henry County HS, Tn.
Dewayne SmithLB6-0190Conway HS, Ark.
Drew RustTE6-1270Pottsville HS, Ark.
Germany PowellLB6-0255Bastrop HS, La.
Hunter TaylorOL6-1285Pillow Academy, Miss.
Jayden WimberlyDE6-3220Vilonia HS, Ark.
Jayson CampbellDL6-3215Arkadelphia HS, Ark.
Jayvien FranklinOL6-0270Russellville HS, Ark.
John WashburnOL6-0285Hoxie HS, Ark.
Jordan EdingtonQB6-2237Little Rock Catholic HS, Ark.
Jude BartholomewWR6-1200Van Buren HS, Ark.
Korlin McKinneyDL6-0275Conway HS, Ark.
Kyle GreenDE6-1230Bryant HS, Ark.
Kyren HarrisonATH5-11180Arkadelphia HS, Ark.
Lorenzo LawsonDL6-1250Arkadelphia HS, Ark.
Mason RossWR6-0185Rogers HS, Ark.
Matt ArnoldDB6-0180Texas HS, Texas
Micah SeawoodWR6-2175Springdale Har-ber HS, Ark.
Nakiyah DavisWR6-2195Joe T. Robinson HS, Ark.
Nate BurkhartzmeyerOL6-4280Broken Arrow, Okla.
Sam BartisOL6-2280Sunnyvale HS, Texas
Sammy LeBlancQB6-1175Teurlings Catholic HS, La.
Travarus Shead Jr.ATH6-2210Drew Central HS, Ark.
Trey WhiteDT6-1270Evangel Christian Academy HS, La.
Tyler IvyDB5-11175Benton HS, La.
Tyler WilliamsWR6-2180Metairie Park Country Day HS, La.
Vincent SteppesRB6-0175Warren HS, Ark.
Xavier ClemonsATH5-11180Morrilton HS, Ark.

2019 Transfers

NamePositionHeightWeightHometown/Previous School
Detavion TurnerRB5-10220University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Ark.
Jacob CatoOL6-2310Iowa Central CC, Iowa
Devin BurnsDL6-1240Austin Peay University, Tenn.

ASU wins Exhibition Over UAPB

August 13, 2019

By ASU SPORTS INFORMATION

PINE BLUFF – The Arkansas State women’s soccer team opened the competition slate with a 3-0 exhibition win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff Tuesday evening at the Pumphrey Soccer Complex.

Sarah Sodoma scored in the 8th minute, when she was able to weave through multiple defenders to set up an excellent look on target, to put the Red Wolves ahead 1-0. The Manchester, Mo., native struck again, in the 55thminute, when she connected her second unassisted goal of the night from twenty yards out, to give the Scarlet and Black a 2-0 advantage over the Golden Lions.

Haley Husted added to the A-State advantage 3-0, in the 80thminute when she found the back of the net off an assist by Bailey Gellis. The Red Wolves finished the night with 22 shots, seven of which were shots on goal.

Megan McClure and Noel Miller both made a save apiece in the match.

Arkansas State will open the regular season on Thursday, Aug. 22, when it travels to Tennessee-Martin. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. at Skyhawk Field. 

Former Golden Lion takes step to making NFL Roster

August 29, 2019

By UAPB SPORTS INFORMATION

PINE BLUFF – Former University of Arkansas At Pine Bluff football star Terron Armstead and the key starters for the New Orleans Saints had the night off, while Jamie Gillan took another step toward making the Cleveland Browns’ roster on the final night of the NFL Preseason schedule.

Armstead, Drew Brees and other top players did not play in the Saints’ 16-13 home loss to Miami. New Orleans opens the season on Monday, Sept. 9 hosting Houston.

Gillan handled all punting duties for the second straight game, averaging 44.3 yards on six punts, including a 50-yard punt and one downed inside the 20. Gillan also continued to display his all-around skill with two special teams tackles while also serving as the holder on all four scoring kicks in the Browns’ 20-16 win over Detroit.

Gillan had punts of 38, 42, and 48 yards in the first quarter, as he made the tackle on his punt of the opening stanza.  Gillan had a 45-yard punt in the second quarter, a 43-yard punt in the third quarter, and a 50-yard punt in the fourth quarter.

Following a safety, Gillan booted the free kick 67 yards and also made the tackle on the return.

In four preseason games, Gillan averaged 46.6 yards on 17 punts, with an NFL-long of 74 yards with six downed inside the 20.

Gillan will learn his status soon as final cuts of the NFL Preseason must be made by 3 p.m. CT on Saturday.

UAPB opens season at TCU

August 31, 2019

By UAPB SPORTS INFORMATION

FORT WORTH – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football team as the Golden Lions will play at TCU Saturday.

HOW TO WATCH, LISTEN, ATTEND:

The Golden Lions held their final walkthrough Friday morning and will now finalize preparations through meetings and rest prior to kickoff.

“I think the guys are really focused,” said UAPB head coach Cedric Thomas. “In looking at them based on the walkthrough and the pertinent information in I’s being dotting and t’s being crossed, they have a good wherewithal of what this high-powered team is going to give them. We’ll just continue to iron out the small details between now and Saturday night.”

Both teams are coming in off winning finishes to the 2018 season. UAPB won in the Lone Star State with a 15-10 at Texas Southern on November 17. TCU won its final two games to earn a bowl bid and ended 2018 on a three-game win streak with an overtime victory in the Cheez-It-Bowl on December 26.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve hit someone else other than ourselves and get the chance to compete against another opponent,” Thomas said. “Competitors love to compete, and Saturday presents another opportunity to do so. For these seniors, we’re on this countdown to their journey be done as college players. We’re going to celebrate each gameday opportunity and it starts in a couple of hours.”

SEASON TICKETS STILL ON SALE FOR UAPB HOME GAMES: Season tickets for the six-game Golden Lion home football schedule are on sale o Season tickets are on sale now for the six-game home schedule. General admission tickets can be purchased online at uapblionsroar.com/tickets starting at only $60.

Reserved chairback and benchback seats, as well as the five-game family pack and first responders’ discounts can be purchased in person at the UAPB ticket office at Simmons Bank Field Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

Single game tickets go on sale Monday, Sept. 9.

For more information, call 870-575-8601 or email Brenda Jones at jonesb@uapb.edu.

UAPB drops Pair of Matches

August 30, 2019

By UAPB SPORTS INFORMATION

NEW ORLEANS – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on the first day of the UNO Invitational, hosted by the University of New Orleans Friday at the Human Performance Center. UAPB fell to Louisiana- Monroe 3-0 and to North Dakota 3-1 in the night cap.

ULM 3 UAPB 0 

The Lady Lions went toe to toe in the first two sets with Louisiana-Monroe but fell 21-25, 22-25, 19-25 in game one. The Lady Warhawks pulled away late, taking the third set in a hard-fought match by the Lady Lions. Junior Kaila Robinson and freshman Reagin Williams lead the way with seven kills apiece. Freshman Elyssa Kennedy had a game-high 15 assists, followed by Robinson with a team-high 10 digs.

“I think the girls did well against ULM,” said first-year UAPB head coach Chelsey Lucas. “Our ultimate goal is every time we touch the floor, we compete at a higher level. Something that we talk about all the time is we want to be known as a deep volleyball team, and what it’s going to take is work on the smaller things.”

North Dakota 3  UAPB 1 

The Lady Lions stormed out in game two against the Fighting Hawks by taking the first set 25-23 but fell short in the final three sets 19-25, 20-25, 16-25. 

Freshman Zyaire Garrit led the frontline for the Lady Lions with nine kills, followed by sophomore Haley Gomez with eight. Junior Delilah Cardenas made a solid contribution with 15 digs, followed by senior Micayala Pope with 19 assists and nine digs in the match.

“North Dakota was definitely longer and in some sets were a little more skill in certain areas,” said Lucas. “I felt at some point the team was making good strives to compete to win.”

UAPB Cross Country impresses in First Meet

August 30, 2019

By UAPB SPORTS INFORMATION

Clinton, Miss. – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men’s and women’s cross country teams competed at the Mississippi College Opener on Friday evening at the Choctaw Trails.

The men’s squad had an impressive showing capturing first place overall, despite the humid conditions in their first race of the season. The Golden Lions conquered the challenging 5K with a strong returning unit from the 2018 team.

UAPB men’s earned a total of 48 points in the meet with their top five runners finished in the top 25.  Sophomore Toshin Agbede led the way for UAPB finishing third overall with a time of 16:29.58.  Senior Laurel Heath placed sixth with a time of 16:48.07, followed by Romario Marshall placing 20th with a time of 17:38.44, twin brother Akeem Marshall placed 22nd with a time of 17:45.82, and senior D’Andre Mighty rounding out the top 25 with a time of 17:52.9. 

Agbede was also named MVP of the cross country meet.  

On the women’s side, the Lady Lions finished seventh overall as a team with a total of 171 points in the 4K.  Senior Camiya Knight crossed the finish line for UAPB placing 25th overall with a time of 17:48.15 followed by senior Ciara Thuston in 34th with a time of 18:17.42.

UAPB will be back in action on Saturday, Sept. 7, as they travel to Conway to compete in the UCA Cross Country Challenge.