Press Conference Video
HOUSTON – HBU signed 12 more student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on National Signing Day, raising its 2019 class to 23, Huskies head coach
Vic Shealy announced at a press conference on campus Wednesday.
The Huskies have signed quarterback
Blaise Bentsen (Sherman) and three defensive backs:
Keaton Dickey (Cypress), Montez Evans (Upland, Calif.) and
Delon Smith (Atlanta, Ga.). Wednesday's signings also include three linebackers –
Christian Guillory (Lake Charles, La.),
Philip Ossai (Conroe) and
James Thomas (Bakersfield, Calif.) – and two offensive linemen –
Jade Ashalintubbi (Elysian Fields) and
Christian Hood (Marshall). The group is rounded out by wide receiver
Ben Ratzlaff (San Diego, Calif.), running back
Jaelon Woods (Cypress) and kicker
Gino Garcia (Richardson).
Of Wednesday's 12, nine will be freshmen and three are junior college transfers. Seven are from Texas, three are from California and one each from Louisiana and Georgia.
The early signees include seven freshmen and four junior college transfers. The Huskies were active in addressing a key need by signing four offensive linemen, along with two wide receivers and one each at defensive line, linebacker, safety, an athlete and a kicker/punter.
In total, HBU signed six offensive linemen, four defensive backs, four linebackers, three defensive backs, two kickers, a quarterback, a running back, a defensive lineman and an athlete. The class consists of 16 freshmen and seven junior college transfers. Thirteen hail from Texas, four from California, two each from Oklahoma and Louisiana, one from Georgia and one from Australia.
HBU begins spring practice Monday, Feb. 11 and will conclude Friday, March 22 with a full scrimmage at 7 p.m. at Husky Stadium. The Huskies open the 2019 season on the road against UTEP Aug. 31 at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
2019 HBU Football Signing Class (*early signee)
Jade Ashalintubbi – OL – 6-6 – 315 – Elysian Fields, Texas (Elysian Fields)
Ashalintubbi played at Elysian Fields High School for coach Scott Ford.
*Kyler Baugh – DL – 6-3 – 273 – Talihina, Okla. (Talihina)
Baugh was a three-year letterwinner at Talihina High School for coach Kelly Gravitt. As a senior, he made 122 tackles and was named a Vype 100 Player in Oklahoma. Baugh made 119 stops as a junior and earned 6A Defensive Player of the Year, all-state and Black Diamond All-Conference honors. He was a member of the Oklahoma Indian Honor Society Superintendent Honor Roll all four year.
Blaise Bentsen – QB – 6-5 – 235 – Sherman, Texas (Sherman)
Bentsen played one year at Texoma Christian, before playing his final two seasons at Sherman High School for coach JD Martinez. As a senior, completed 121-of-253 passes for 1,450 yards, nine touchdowns and rushed for 462 yards and nine scores. Earned District 7-5A honorable mention. As a junior, completed 134-of-238 passes for 1,677 yards, 13 touchdowns and rushed for 530 yards and five touchdowns. Named second-team All-District 5-5A and named
Herald Democrat All-Texomaland second team. As a sophomore, completed 94-of-204 passes for 1,456 yards, 14 touchdowns and rushed for 344 yards and six touchdowns. Earned academic all-state honors. Also lettered in basketball, baseball, golf and soccer. Won a state championship in soccer as the goalkeeper. Was a member of the National Honor Society, PALS and was president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
*Nathan Beveridge – OL – 6-4 – 295 – Santa Barbara, Calif. (Dos Pueblos/Santa Barbara City)
Breveridge will come to HBU as a sophomore after playing one season at Santa Barbara City College. He was a three-year letterwinner at Dos Pueblos High School for coach Nate Mendoza. Breveridge was a first-team all-league, all-Southern section and All-CIF as a senior.
*Reynard Burnett Jr. – OL – 6-5 – 320 – Edmond, Okla. (Santa Fe)
Burnett played at Edmond Santa Fe High School for coach Kyle White. He was a Semper Fi All-American and his max bench press is 300 pounds.
Keaton Dickey – CB – 6-2 – 180 – Cypress, Texas (Cy Ranch)
Dickey started one year at Cypress Ranch High School for coach Gene Johnson, in his only season at the school. As a senior, made 24 tackles, four pass breakups and three interceptions. Named first team All-District 13-5A and named to the first team All-District 14-6A A/B Honor Roll. Played two seasons at Liberty High School in Frisco. His father, the late Troy Dickey, a standout wide receiver at the University of Arizona. His brother, Brayden, played at New Mexico and Washington, and his grandfather, Eldridge, quarterbacked Tennessee State to the National Black College Football Championship in 1966.
*DJ Dormeus – WR – 6-1 – 176 – Killeen, Texas (Killeen)
Dormeus was a three-year letterwinner at Killeen High School for coach Neil Searcy. As a junior, he made 53 catches for 958 yards and five touchdowns and earned first-team all-district honors. He was a two-time academic all-district selection and earned academic all-state as a senior.
Montez Evans – S – 6-0 – 212 – Upland, Calif. (Upland/Mt. SAC)
Evans played two seasons at Mount San Antonio College for coach Bob Jastrab…as a sophomore, totaled 48 tackles, two sacks and scored a pair of touchdowns to earn second-team all-conference honors. He also posted a 3.1 GPA. Played at Upland High School for coach Tim Salter. As a senior, earned first-team All-America honors, registering 111 tackles, two interceptions and a touchdown.
*Tra Fluellen – S – 6-2 – 185 – Gilmer, Texas (Gilmer)
Fluellen as a two-year letterwinner at Gilmer High School for coach Matt Turner. As a senior, he made 46 catches for 1,006 yards on offense and made the honor roll. Was also a standout in track.
Gino Garcia – K – 6-2 – 195 – Richardson, Texas (Pearce)
Garcia started one year at J.J. Pearce High School for coach David Collins. Made all 53 extra points and was 7-for-7 on field goal attempts, including a long of 49 yards. Made three 40-plus yard field goals in a playoff win over Cedar Hill. Earned second-team all-state, RISD Special Teams Player of the Year and first-team all-district honors.
Christian Guillory – LB – 6-0 – 215 – Lake Charles, La. (Washington-Marion)
Guillory was a three-year starter at Washington-Marion High School. Was named defensive MVP as a junior. Played in the I-10 All-Star Game. Made the honor and banner rolls.
Christian Hood – OL – 6-2 – 305 – Marshall, Texas (Marshall)
Hood was a three-year starter at Marshall High School for coach Claude Mathis. Was a three-time all-district and three-time all-state honorable mention selection. Made the All A's Honor Roll.
*Danny Lenard II – LB – 6-2 – 205 – McKinney, Texas (McKinney)
Lenard was a four-year letterwinner at McKinney High School for coach Marcus Shavers. As a junior, he recorded 73 tackles, a sack and two quarterback hurries. Lenard has earned academic all-district honors twice.
*Doro Omerhi – OL – 6-4 – 300 – Pearland, Texas (Pearland/North Texas/Blinn)
Omerhi redshirted at North Texas, before playing two seasons at Blinn College, where he was an all-conference selection. He was a two-year letterwinner at Pearland High School for coach Tony Heath, earning All-District 22-6A First Team honors in 2015. He also lettered in track, winning the district championship in the shot put as a senior and was also a letterwinner in choir.
Philip Ossai – LB – 6-1 – 245 – Conroe, Texas (Oak Ridge)
Ossai started one year at Oak Ridge High School for coach Dereck Rush. Named second-team academic all-district, making 48 tackles (34 solo), six sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Brother, Joseph, is a sophomore on the University of Texas football team.
*Blake Patterson – P/K – 6-2 – 200 – Round Rock, Texas (Cedar Ridge/North Texas/Tyler JC)
Patterson tied for 12
th nationally with 60 points as a sophomore at Tyler Junior College for coach Danny Palmer, making 8-of-12 field goal attempts and a perfect 36-for-36 on extra points. Patterson also ranked sixth in the nation with a 40.2-yard punt average, with a long of 59 yards. As a freshman at North Texas, he averaged 41.1 yards per punt, with a long of 69 yards. Patterson was a three-year letterwinner at Cedar Ridge High School for coach Todd Ford. As a receiver, he made 130 catches for 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns, while hitting 15-of-18 field goals, including a long of 48 yards. Patterson also lettered in golf and track, was an academic all-conference selection and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Ben Ratzlaff – WR – 6-2 – 190 – San Diego, Calif. (Westview/Golden West)
Played two seasons at Golden West College for coach Nick Mitchell. As a sophomore, made 37 catches for 660 yards and six touchdowns, earning first-team All-SCFA honors and made the honor roll. Was a three-year starter at Westview High School for coach Mike Woodward. As a senior, made 61 catches for 805 yards and 11 touchdowns. Was a
San Diego Tribune Scholar Athlete from 2014-16 and was a three-year letterwinner in basketball.
Delon Smith – CB – 6-1 -190 – Atlanta, Ga. (North Gwinnett/Georgia State/Antelope Valley)
Smith was a first-team all-state selection at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster , Calif., recording 45 tackles, five interceptions, a sack and two forced fumbles. Earned second-team all-county honors at North Gwinnett High School, recording 45 tackles and three interceptions as a senior. Was named player of the month and also played basketball.
James Thomas – LB – 6-1 – 245 – Bakersfield, Calif. (Independence/Bakersfield)
Thomas was a two-year starter at Bakersfield College for coach Jeff Chudy. As a sophomore, was a second-team all-conference defensive end and was a second-team all-conference outside linebacker as a freshman. Also made the honor roll as a sophomore. Was a three-year starter at Independence High School for coach Lucas Lucero.
*Branden Walker – WR – 5-9 – 180 – Sulphur, La. (Sulphur)
Walker was a three-year letterwinner at Sulphur High School for coach Jeff Wainwright. As a senior, he made 41 receptions for 592 yards and six touchdowns, while rushing for 336 yards and four TDs. Walker made 23 catches for 427 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore.
*Dan Wilkins – OL – 6-5 – 310 – Brisbane, Australia (Alexandria Hills State HS/Tyler JC)
Wilkins did not play football at Alexandra Hills State High School in Australia, but played rugby and was named the school's Male Sportsman of the Year. He played two seasons at Tyler Junior College for coach Matt Gordon.
*KJ Willie – ATH – 6-1 – 175 – Allen, Texas (Allen)
Willie was a two-year letterwinner at Allen High School for coach Terry Gambill. Won the 6A state championship as a junior.
Jaelon Woods – RB – 5-11 – 200 – Cypress, Texas (Cy-Fair)
Woods was a three-year letterwinner at Cypress Fairbanks High School for coach Ed Pustejovsky. As a senior, rushed for 1,106 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a junior, rushed for 466 yards and three scores. As a sophomore, totaled 330 yards and four touchdowns. For his career, he rushed for 1,902 yards, 19 rushing touchdowns and had 122 receiving yards and a score.
