HOUSTON – In less than a month as a full staff, HCU head football coach
Braxton Harris and his coaching staff are bringing home a top-10 FCS recruiting class, the top FCS class in the state of Texas and the highest-rated recruiting class in program history with the addition of five signees announced by Harris on Wednesday.
According to 247Sports.com, the Huskies' recruiting class ranks first among all Southland Conference programs and first among all Texas FCS programs. Today's five signees join six early signees and three transfers in boosting the program's recruiting class to 14.
"We're number one in the FCS in the state of Texas," said Harris. "I think that stands out and shows what the opportunity at HCU provides. Kids are starting to see the opportunities we have here and that we can give them. It's attracting the best talent across the nation. We believe HCU is that opportunity and you're seeing kids pick us because they see it as that opportunity, as well."
AJ Salley – OL – 6-5 – 260 - Miamisburg, Ohio
Salley is a three star offensive tackle from Miamisburg High School where he played for coach Lance Schneider. The highest-rated recruit in program history, he was a second team all-Greater Western Ohio Conference performer as a junior and fielded 15 scholarship offers, including from FBS programs Miami (FL), Oregon and Tennessee.
Rodney Leaks – OL – 6-5 – 290 - Chatsworth, California
Leaks is a three star offensive tackle from Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California where he played for coach Jon Ellinghouse and won a California Southern Section Division II championship as a senior. He was an all-district performer at Las Vegas Desert Pines as a junior. Leaks held offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State and UNLV, among others.
Khalil Peart – LB – 6-3 – 218 – Inglewood, California
Peart is a three star linebacker from Inglewood High School where he played for coach Mil'Von James and was part of a 13-1 Sentinel team as a senior. He previously played at Sierra Canyon where he totaled 56 tackles with five tackles for loss across 17 games. He also played running back and scored five touchdowns. Peart also had offers from Florida State, Utah State and San Jose State.
Trent Savage – OL – 6-4 – 270 – Kingwood, Texas
Savage, an offensive lineman, is a local product from Kingwood Park High School where he played for coach Clayton Maple. A three-year starter for the Panthers, he was an all-district and academic all-district performer.
Evan Stein – TE – 6-4 – 215 – Frisco, Texas
Stein comes to HCU after a successful career playing for coach Jeff Rayburn at Lone Star High School. The tight end from Frisco totaled 643 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns across three varsity seasons that saw the Rangers total 25 wins. Stein was a two-time time all-state performer.
The Huskies' six signees join three additional Division I transfers who have joined the program in offensive lineman Kameron King, quarterback Colby Suits and linebacker Justin Macias.
Joining the five signees today are three transfers with FBS experience coming home to Texas to further their careers with the Huskies.
Kameron King – OL – 6-2 – 310 – Marshall, Texas (Southern Miss)
King spent four seasons at Southern Miss, appearing in eight games on the Golden Eagles' offensive line. He was a three-time all-district selection at Marshall High School and comes to HCU with one year of eligibility remaining.
Colby Suits – QB – 6-4 – 250 – Forney, Texas (ULM)
Suits spent four seasons at ULM where he appeared in 16 games, making eight starts during the 2020 season. In his career with the Warhawks, Suits threw for 1,755 yards and nine touchdowns, completing 172 of his 291 pass attempts. As a senior at North Forney High School, Suits accounted for 4,298 yards of total offense and 61 touchdowns.
Justin Macias – LB – 5-11 – 237 – Hempstead, Texas (ULM)
Macias is a three star linebacker who spent two years at ULM, including a redshirt season in 2021. He was a two-time all-district and academic all-district players for coach Royce Hill at Hempstead High School, earning the No. 74 spot on the Houston Chronicle top-100 area high school prospects as a senior.
"One of the needs we had to address was the offensive line room. It starts and ends right there with those guys. To get those guys in the boat was a big piece for us. We're going to be committed to building that room the right way, with high school kids, to build it up."
"I'm really proud of our staff, as far as recruiting, headed up by our recruiting coordinator,
Ross Hornor. Ross has done a great job being able to organize everything.
Blake Moore, director of player personnel, and
David Crane, director of football operations, also did a ton of work to make this class happen in a short period of time. You're talking about getting this signing class in less than a month, and with Christmas in there, as well. It shows you the coaching staff we have here and the enthusiasm and energy they have. There's not going to be any grass that grows underneath our feet. We're going to keep moving and we're going to move fast as a program."
These eight players join the six Huskies who signed during the early period and bring the HCU class to 14.
Darius Bean – S – 6-0 – 180 – Woodville, Texas/Woodville
Chase Cross – K – 6-1 – 198 – Manvel, Texas/Manvel
Andrew Huff – DE – 6-2 – 215 – Stafford, Texas/Stafford
Tim Marshall – DL – 6-2 – 255 – Galena Park, Texas/Galena Park
Vontrelle Sanders – WR – 6-0 – 166 – Sherman, Texas/Sherman
Cutter Stewart – QB – 6-0 – 175 – Alice, Texas/Alice
